Contents from the Beginning

Contents to Economic Reform 2008

I have not updated this Contents in a year. Click "Economic Reform" at the top to go to current essays.

How Inequality is Strangling the Nation
8/18/10 by Ben Leet

An Essay in Six Sections
7/7/10 by Ben Leet

Short essay about federal jobs
4/13/10 by Ben Leet

Public Service Employment
4/13/10 by Ben Leet

How to Double Incomes for Millions of Workers
3/18/10 by Ben Leet

We Should Learn from the New Deal
1 comment 2/10/10 by Ben Leet

We Must Transfer Wealth, Again ...
3 comments 12/22/09 by Ben Leet

Bernanke should not be reappointed --- No to Bernanke
12/22/09 by Ben Leet

Comprehensive Plan for a Jobs Program, Nationalize the banks
11/17/09 by Ben Leet


The Forbes 400 Equals the American 150 Million
8/11/09 by Ben Leet

Wages Must Rise
8/8/09 by Ben Leet

Comments and Suggestions to Your Call Radio
2 comments 7/22/09 by Ben Leet


3rd Letter to Congressman Stark June 2009, to Stark
6/24/09 by Ben Leet


U.S. Ranks 75th in Inequality U.S. 75th
6/24/09 by Ben Leet

Cause of Recession Is Low Wages
3 comments 4/21/09 by Ben Leet

Blog Contents
4/5/09 by Ben Leet

Why Obama should nationalize the banks
4/4/09 by Ben Leet

Blog Contents, December, 2008 2009, Brussee comment, March 22
3/22/09 by Ben Leet

A Man A Plan Jack Rasmus' Recovery Plan
3/18/09 by Ben Leet

Tax Wealth, Create Public Jobs --- U.S. Ranks 75th
1 comment 3/5/09 by Ben Leet

Blog Contents Blog Contents
1 comment 12/29/08 by Ben Leet

Why Full Employment
12/29/08 by Ben Leet

Case for a Full Employment Policy
12/5/08 by Ben Leet

Full Employment Leads to World w/o Poverty
10/10/08 by Ben Leet

Suggestions for the Meltdown/Bailout
10/10/08 by Ben Leet

Nationalize or Bailout? not Public Private Banks
9/28/08 by Ben Leet

Understanding the Crisis --- Once I built a tower ...
1 comment 9/20/08 by Ben Leet

Justice Revolution in Economics
1 comment 8/21/08 by Ben Leet

Bottom Half of U.S. Owns 2.5% of Wealth, Earn 15% Yearly
8/17/08 by Ben Leet

$100,000 per Year per Worker --- Celebrate!
8/13/08 by Ben Leet

Infectious Greed Overwhelms the U.S. Economy July 2008, Letter to Liam
7/31/08 by Ben Leet

Contents of this Blog Blog Contents
7/21/08 by Ben Leet

Are Economic Rights Human Rights?
7/21/08 by Ben Leet

Three Short Articles
1 comment 6/17/08 by Ben Leet

What Government Can Do --- A Ten Point Plan to Raise Incomes
1 comment 5/1/08 by Ben Leet

Another Letter to Congressman Pete Stark 2nd letter, Cong. Pete Stark
5/1/08 by Ben Leet

There Are Solutions
1 comment 4/6/08 by Ben Leet

A Wealth Tax to Eliminate Poverty
2 comments 4/6/08 by Ben Leet

Poem -- White Birds
4/6/08 by Ben Leet

The Twilight Zone takes over my mind
3/14/08 by Ben Leet

Letter to Congressman Pete Stark, February 5, 2008...
3/14/08 by Ben Leet

Economic Justice and Democracy by Robin Hahnel
3 comments 3/14/08 by Ben Leet

Odd, Very Odd
3/5/08 by Ben Leet

Is There a Middle Class?
2/21/08 by Ben Leet

Eleven Economic Failures, Seven Solutions
1/24/08 by Ben Leet

Blog Contents

Dear Reader,

Contents of this web site:
___________________*******************************______________________
I write essays on economics.
The most recent essays are at the top, oldest at the bottom.
If you read only one essay, choose
August, 2008, Half Own 2.5%, Half Earn 15%.
That will get you going.
~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!*****************^^^^^^^^^^*************!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~~~~~~
Click the ? in the Contents area to open the month and see the essays for any month.

27. A lengthy letter to Obama advising that he nationalize the failed banks.
I quote James Galbraith at length.
__________________________________________________________________
26. A Reply to Warren Brussee about the causes of the recession.

25. Jack Rasmus’ Alternative to the Obama Recovery. I summarize this plan by economist and writer for Z Magazine.

24. U.S. Ranks 75th out of 126 Nations -- inequality of income

23. Why We Need Full Employment
This is my shortest, a one page effort full of facts well documented.
December 29, 2008

22. The Case for Full Employment
Both a historical overview of previous government actions, and a review
two scholars’ approach to solving paucity of jobs in our economy.
I think this is sound policy and a good, brief look at the employment problem.

21. Full Employment
Basic logic on full employment.

20. Meltdown/Bailout Suggestions
Two suggestions about nationalizing banks and reworking underwater
home mortgages.

19. Nationalize the Banks or Bail Them Out
I quote a professor, Peter Dorman, and a financial consultant, John Hussman। Both offer plans radically different than Treasury Secretary
Paulson’s. I review radio program This American Life, to explain the
subprime mess. I wrote it for my sister.

18. Understanding the Financial Crisis
William Springer, head of the economics department at Howard University
made the same comments on the radio the week after I wrote this.
I claim that the financial part of the crisis is phase one. Much more bad news will unfold.

17. Justice Revolution
A little more documentation, but basically the same essay as the last.
It is better in some ways.

16. Half Own 2.5%, Half Earn 15%
Read this one if you read no other.

15. Celebrate $100,000 a year as the average U.S. income
Hard to believe, but that’s correct. Read it to believe it.

14. Infectious Greed Overwhelms the U.S. Economy
I quote Marriner Eccles about the Great Depression. I tried to simply
the previous essay for a friend who has no background.

13. Economic Rights for the Two Out of Seven Who Are Not Making It
July 22, 2008
Inequality, weak purchasing power, Roosevelt’s State of the Union, ‘44,
and much more. Not too pessimistic. About 3,000 words.
Really interesting says the author.

12. What the Government Can Do
May 1, 2008
A two page reduction of the essay There Are Solutions. A quick read on
ways to increase employment and incomes without stalling the economy.
Maybe my ‘Best.’ Short, to the point.

11. Three Short Pieces
June 15, 2008. To the KPFA Morning Show, The Next Wave of Political Reform, and another review of Robin Hahnel’s book Economic Justice and Democracy.

10. My Second Letter to Pete Stark, Congressman
A little note about shrinking aggregate demand, how to grow an economy,
and why worldwide depression is possible. I had just read Jeff Madrick’s
Why Economies Grow.

9. There Are Solutions
This 4,000 word essay details and reviews three plans for revitalizing the American economy.
First, I take a look at Frank Stricker’s book Why America Lost the War on Poverty --- and How to Win It, and his 17 point plan called What Needs to Be Done.
Second I look at the Center for American Progress’ plan “From Poverty to
Prosperity.”
Finally, I review “Decent Work and Public Investment,” a plan authored by members of the National Jobs for All Coalition, Helen Lachs Ginsburg and Gertrude Shaffner Goldberg.


8. White Birds --- a poem not about economics. About love.


7. A Wealth Tax to Eliminate Poverty
This may be my best effort. It is a reduction of my original essay A Modest Proposal to Tax Wealth Annually in the U.S.A.


6. The Art of Living Together
A short vagrancy, a fissure, an errant meander, a lunacy. Something burst.


5. A Letter to My Congressman, Pete Stark. February 5, 2008
I break down wealth and income distribution, and suggest sources for
the Congressman to pursue.


4. A book review of Robin Hahnel’s Economic Justice and Democracy
This essay was published in the Alameda County Green Party News in
October, 2007.

3. Odd, Very Odd. March, 2008. A recapitulation of old ideas. Nothing special.


2. Is There a Middle Class?
The 40 to 1 ratio between two halves of the U.S. population impressed me. I was listening to Michael Krasny on KQED FM radio talk about the middle class. He did not take my e-mail, so I wrote this essay and sent it to him.


1. Progressive Economic Reform, 2008
January, 2008
This essay presents an array of eleven different sources that argue that our economy does not serve the American people.
The people at Econo-atrocity, the commentary site at Center for
Popular Economics, posted it. It’s my third favorite after What Government Can Do, and
A Wealth Tax to Eliminate Poverty, second best.

Blog Contents

Dear Reader,

Contents of this web site:

I write essays on economics.
The most recent essays are at the top, oldest at the bottom.

If you read only one essay, choose
August, 2008, Half Own 2.5%, Half Earn 15%.
That will get you going.

December, 2008, has me writing The Case for Full Employment.

Click the ? in the Contents area to open the month and see the essays for any month.

23. Why We Need Full Employment
This is my shortest, a one page effort full of facts well documented.
December 29, 2008

22. The Case for Full Employment
Both a historical overview of previous government actions, and a review
two scholars’ approach to solving paucity of jobs in our economy.
I think this is sound policy and a good, brief look at the employment problem.

21. Full Employment
Basic logic on full employment.

20. Meltdown/Bailout Suggestions
Two suggestions about nationalizing banks and reworking underwater
home mortgages.

19. Nationalize the Banks or Bail Them Out
I quote a professor, Peter Dorman, and a financial consultant, John Hussman. Both offer plans radically different than Treasury Secretary Paulson’s. I review radio program This American Life, to explain the subprime mess. I wrote it for my sister.

18. Understanding the Financial Crisis
William Springer, head of the economics department at Howard University
made the same comments on the radio the week after I wrote this.
I claim that the financial part of the crisis is phase one. Much more bad news will unfold.

17. Justice Revolution
A longer essay with a little more documentation, but basically the same essay as the last.
It is better in some ways. I trace international methods to create global economic justice.

16. Half Own 2.5%, Half Earn 15%
Read this one if you read no other.

15. Celebrate $100,000 a year as the average U.S. income
Hard to believe, but that’s correct. Read it to believe it.

14. Infectious Greed Overwhelms the U.S. Economy
I quote Marriner Eccles about the Great Depression. I tried to simplify
the previous essay for a friend who has no background.

13. Economic Rights for the Two Out of Seven Who Are Not Making It
July 22, 2008
Inequality, weak purchasing power, Roosevelt’s State of the Union, ‘44,
and much more. Not too pessimistic. About 3,000 words.
Really interesting says the author.

12. What the Government Can Do
May 1, 2008
A two page reduction of the essay There Are Solutions. A quick read on
ways to increase employment and incomes without stalling the economy.
Maybe my ‘Best.’ Short, to the point.

11. Three Short Pieces
June 15, 2008. To the KPFA Morning Show, The Next Wave of Political Reform, and another review of Robin Hahnel’s book Economic Justice and Democracy.

10. My Second Letter to Pete Stark, Congressman
A little note about shrinking aggregate demand, how to grow an economy,
and why worldwide depression is possible. I had just read Jeff Madrick’s
Why Economies Grow.

9. There Are Solutions
This 4,000 word essay details and reviews three plans for revitalizing the American economy.
First, I take a look at Frank Stricker’s book Why America Lost the War on Poverty --- and How to Win It, and his 17 point plan called What Needs to Be Done.
Second I look at the Center for American Progress’ plan “From Poverty to
Prosperity.”
Finally, I review “Decent Work and Public Investment,” a plan authored by members of the National Jobs for All Coalition, Helen Lachs Ginsburg and Gertrude Shaffner Goldberg.


8. White Birds --- a poem not about economics. About love.


7. A Wealth Tax to Eliminate Poverty
This may be my best effort. It is a reduction of my original essay A Modest Proposal to Tax Wealth Annually in the U.S.A.


6. The Art of Living Together
A short vagrancy, a fissure, an errant meander, a lunacy. Something burst.


5. A Letter to My Congressman, Pete Stark. February 5, 2008
I break down wealth and income distribution, and suggest sources for
the Congressman to pursue.


4. A book review of Robin Hahnel’s Economic Justice and Democracy
This essay was published in the Alameda County Green Party News in
October, 2007.

3. Odd, Very Odd. March, 2008. A recapitulation of old ideas. Nothing special.


2. Is There a Middle Class?
The 40 to 1 ratio between two halves of the U.S. population impressed me. I was listening to Michael Krasny on KQED FM radio talk about the middle class. He did not take my e-mail, so I wrote this essay and sent it to him.


1. Progressive Economic Reform, 2008
January, 2008
This essay presents an array of eleven different sources that argue that our economy does not serve the American people.
The people at Econo-atrocity, the commentary site at Center for
Popular Economics, posted it. It’s my third favorite after What Government Can Do, and
A Wealth Tax to Eliminate Poverty, second best.

Contents of this Blog

Dear Reader,

Contents of this web site:

I write essays on economics. This listing of the Contents is in reverse numbered order, the most recent at the top.

All these essays are mind-wrenching. I recently saw Mohammed Ali shout, "I am the greatest," and the prettiest. It's great to be great, and mind-wrenching. I hope someday to communicate as well as he. Enjoy.

The Dalai Lama says that he is a Marxist Buddhist. He takes an ethical position. There is more fairness in a social and humanitarian perspective of economics. “From each according his ability, to each according to his needs,” is a higher ethical standard than the capitalist ethos of Adam Smith’s invisible hand of the market, each economic actor pursuing his own self-interest and all benefitting thereby. Also, the spiritual teacher Meher Baba commented about the two ethical standards, stating that the Marxist ideal was a higher ethos. A higher ethos is driving world history and personal destiny.

19. To Buy or to Bail, that is the Question
Should the public buy bad assets from moribund banks or buy bad banks? Do you allow the nuts who brought you the crisis to continue, or do you show them the door? This analysis is supported by many economists, Nouriel Roubini who first predicted the meltdown, and by Paul Krugman of the N.Y. Times. September, 2008

18. Understanding the Crisis
How distribution of income and wealth have shaped the basics of the financial meltdown that engulfs AIG, Merrell Lynch, Countrywide, Fannie Mae, and so on.
The head of economics at Howard University, William Spriggs, had the same basic understanding. September, 2008

17. The Justice Revolution
This deals with the fairness of distribution of profits. I am happy with it. Both domestic and international solutions are presented. It is a complex stew of numbers, but the broad outlines are accessible and I hope prescient। I present the systemic solution to the systemic problems of badly distributed profits। August 31, 2008

16. The Bottom Half Own 2.5%, Earn 15% Annually, Wealth and Income Distribution in the U.S.A.
Stark inequality. August, 2008

15. Infectious Greed Overwhelms the U.S. Economy August, 2008
A simpler essay, full Marriner Eccles quotation।

14. Celebrate $100,000 Average Annual Income Nationwide.
August, 2008
Yet the median income still is below $33,000 a year. Top Heavy?

13. Economic Rights for the Two Out of Seven Who Are Not Making It

Inequality, weak purchasing power, Roosevelt’s State of the Union, ‘44,
and much more. Not too pessimistic. About 3,000 words.
Really interesting says the author. July 22, 2008

12. What the Government Can Do
May 1, 2008
A two page reduction of the essay There Are Solutions. A quick read on
ways to increase employment and incomes without stalling the economy.
Maybe my ‘Best.’ Short, to the point.

11. Three Short Pieces June, 2008
June 15, 2008. To the KPFA Morning Show, The Next Wave of Political Reform, and another review of Robin Hahnel’s book Economic Justice and Democracy.

10. My Second Letter to Pete Stark, Congressman
A little note about shrinking aggregate demand, how to grow an economy,
and why worldwide depression is possible। May, 2008

9. There Are Solutions April, 2008
This 4,000 word essay details and reviews three plans for revitalizing the American economy.
First, I take a look at Frank Stricker’s book Why America Lost the War on Poverty --- and How to Win It, and his 17 point plan called What Needs to Be Done.
Second I look at the Center for American Progress’ plan “From Poverty to
Prosperity.”
Finally, I review “Decent Work and Public Investment,” a plan authored by members of the National Jobs for All Coalition, Helen Lachs Ginsburg and Gertrude Shaffner Goldberg.
The economist Doug Dowd gave me a compliment on this essay. Doug lives in Bologna, Italy, now enjoying his 89th year and still writing. He will call his next book Rampant Inequality.

8. White Birds --- a poem not about economics। About love। April, 2008

7. A Wealth Tax to Eliminate Poverty
This may be my best effort। It is a reduction of my original essay A Modest Proposal to Tax Wealth Annually in the U.S.A. April, 2008

6. The Art of Living Together
A short vagrancy, a fissure, an errant meander, a lunacy। Something burst।
March, '08

5. A Letter to My Congressman, Pete Stark. February 5, 2008
He should read it। But I doubt he or any one will। March, 2008

4. A book review of Robin Hahnel’s Economic Justice and Democracy
This essay was published in the Alameda County Green Party News in
October, 2007. March, 2008

3. Odd, Very Odd. March, 2008. A recapitulation of old ideas. Nothing special.
March, 2008
2. Is There a Middle Class?
The 40 to 1 ratio between two halves of the U।S। population impressed me। I was listening to Michael Krasny on KQED FM radio talk about the middle class। He did not take my e-mail, so I wrote this essay and sent it to him। February, 2008

1. Progressive Economic Reform, 2008
January, 2008
This essay was posted at Econo-atrocity, the commentary site at Center for
Popular Economics. No one left a comment. I think that means no one read
through to the end. It is good. It contains evidence marshalled and supported for the argument that the economy serves only a minority.
It’s my third favorite after What Government Can Do, and
A Wealth Tax to Eliminate Poverty, second best.