Posts by Emily Eisenlohr
Who’s “Socialist?” Those Too-Big-to-Fail Banks — Still
The Largest U.S. Banks Remain Too-Big-to-Fail The largest U.S. banks remain Too-Big-to-Fail (TBTF). Their structure is thoroughly “socialist.” Political rhetoric in some circles seems to define “socialism” as any involvement of the government and the taxpayer in citizens’ lives. The U.S. banking structure is socialism for the richest. It also exacerbates the widening of income…
Read MoreCandidates for U.S. President 2024: What Will You Do with Social Security’s Generational Conflict?
A direct question to any candidate for President is: “What will you do with Social Security?” We’d like a direct answer. Legislative proposals. Budget implications. The question we ask ourselves is: “Will Social Security be there for me?” The answer to that is more complex. The story isn’t solely that Social Security’s Trust Fund will…
Read MoreCivics Education: Information Sources Putting “Civil” into Politics
Finding balance between competing political and economic forces and ideas is the biggest challenge facing our democracy and is an objective of this blog. The balance between civil rights and responsibilities wasn’t as big an issue at our nation’s founding as it is now. There was less need for a Bill of Responsibilities back in…
Read MoreBooks for Defending Democracy and Constructive Debate
Aaron Burr may have sung about being “in the room where it happens” in Hamilton. The musical refers to the room where a pivotal compromise was struck over a meal at Thomas Jefferson’s. (There’s a book about that! Dinner at Mr. Jefferson’s. The wines, the food. Only three people. No servants present.) In a democracy,…
Read MoreSocial Security’s Structure and Pending Trust Fund Depletion
Essential Things to Know About the Social Security Program 1) Its official name is the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance program. Drop the “Federal” and you can see where the acronym often used comes from: OASDI. It operates under Congressional legislation that dates back to 1935. OASI is the acronym for…
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