Free-Market Idolatry and Hatred of Democracy Go Hand in Hand
The wildest fantasy of hypercapitalist ideologues isn’t to expand democracy but to avoid its reach or even snuff it out.
24 Articles by: Max B. Sawicky
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Max B. Sawicky is an economist and writer in the wilds of Virginia. He has worked at the Government Accountability Office and the Economic Policy Institute.
American Unemployment Insurance Is a National Disgrace. It’s Time to Federalize It.
The slow, decades-long destruction of the US unemployment insurance system has resulted in more than just personal hardship for millions of workers — it has further weakened the fighting strength of the whole working class. The solution is to fully federalize it.
The Left Has Slightly Loosened the Cold Grip of Austerity Under President Biden
The politics of taxes, spending, and deficits are more congenial to the Left than they have been in years — but there are still some clouds on the horizon. Here’s a guide to where things stand on the Biden budget proposal.
“Progressive Capitalism” Is Impossible
Progressive economist Joseph Stiglitz means well, but the dream of a “progressive capitalism” will remain just a dream, its horizons always strictly limited by capitalist private ownership.
Capitalism Is Killing Liberal Democracy
The claim that capitalism goes naturally with liberal democracy has never been more discredited. Today, capitalism’s liberal form is increasingly challenged by a statist authoritarian model — and in many places it’s buckling under the strain.
Why Impeachment Matters
A Trump reelection is the worst-case scenario, and the Left needs to be part of the struggle to prevent it. Impeachment is part of that struggle.
The Left Case for Impeachment
Impeachment is about more than Donald Trump — it has the potential to undermine the right-wing forces that stand behind him. Socialists should see impeachment as an opportunity to attack a movement that poses a long-run threat to the Left’s very existence.
Looking at Impeachment From the Left
How should the Left view the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump? Are they a political opportunity or a distraction from the issues that leftists care about? A Jacobin roundtable.
Politics Is Not Arithmetic
UBI advocates have a habit of mistaking politics for arithmetic. Proving that a policy is mathematically possible isn’t enough — and it can distract from more compelling left priorities.
Andrew Yang Is Ross Perot for Millennials
Andrew Yang likes to present himself as a serious policy thinker. But he’s just the latest corporate salesman pitching a quack remedy to suffering people.
The Sunset of Neoliberalism
To anyone who lived through the Clinton years — or merely remembers the Obama era — the discrediting of neoliberal ideas that were once sacrosanct among Democrats is nothing short of astonishing.
Grappling with the Market
Arguing with free-market enthusiasts can be tedious, but somebody’s got to do it. In his most recent book, social-democratic economist John Quiggin examines the case for markets and where it goes wrong.
The Candidates’ Policies On Inequality: A No-Bullshit Guide
What are the 2020 candidates proposing to do about inequality, one of the defining issues of our time and a proxy for the class struggle? We’ve scoured their campaign websites and tallied up the pros and cons.
8 Points on Venezuela
The Trump administration’s aggression toward Venezuela is grotesque, self-serving, and imperialistic. The US should stay out of Venezuela.
No Go
Nancy Pelosi wants new anti-deficit rules in the House. Her goal: averting the threat of progressive legislation.
Capital for the People?
Why not just have the government own capital? So-called sovereign wealth funds are all the rage — but do they actually get us closer to socialism?
Paying For Socialism
Concern trolls often ask how we can “afford” socialist policies. Once we’re in power, we’ll have options. For now, just ignore them.
UBI, the Unknown Ideal
A new book on universal basic income argues for us to “give people money.” Sounds good. But a lot of old questions about how to do it are still left unanswered.
Send More People!
The whole immigration debate is built on a false premise. More people in the US means more resources for Americans — not less.
Bernie Gets Socialistic
A national job guarantee has opened radical horizons for the Left. We should fight for it — but the devil is in the details.