In what is probably our highest profile interview, I'm thrilled to present Occupied Media's interview with economist Jared Bernstein. Dr. Bernstein has fought the good fight for his entire career. For many years he worked with EPI's Larry Mishel on State of Working America, which documented the rise in inequality and decimation of the American middle class. He then joined the Obama Administration as Vice President Biden's Chief Economist. He is now with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and he maintains a blog, On the Economy, which I love both because he presents economic issues in such understandable terms and because you get a glimpse into his personality (tune in for his music selections on Friday, for example).
Dr. Bernstein is incredibly busy - he made time for this interview at 10:00 PM after a 12-hour plus day. He not only took time to meet with us, he also connected us with Larry Mishel of EPI, who has been an amazing resource and advocate. Our deepest thanks for Dr. Bernstein for this interview, for his assistance and, most importantly, for a career dedicated to scholarship and advocacy on behalf of the 99%.
He was remarkably forthcoming and, unlike many economists, was willing to talk outside of the box. His bottom line diagnosis (or maybe it's still just a concern): We are a system that can no longer self-correct; and a system that cannot self-correct, cannot survive.
Special thanks to video editor, Brandon Goff for getting this out so quickly.
*
Your doing good work gorgeous...
ReplyDeleteThe mass media is still claiming the Occupy movement has no concrete ideas about what we need to do in America. You're proof that is a lie. Keep up your good work and thank you.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Taryn--keep up the good work. I really like the idea of having Hacker and/or Pierson interviewed on your site. Their book Winner-Take-All Politics is really a great example of political science that connects with the kinds of key economic issues that you have been discussing with your guests. Also of interest would be to discuss The Spirit Level and its British authors (Wilkinson and Pickett) which looks at the issues of inequality in a different way, focusing not on its causes but on the damage high inequality does. And maybe some labor historians or activists? They would also be relevant to discussing possible diagoses and solutions here. Good luck.
ReplyDelete