 is a choice that we make as a nation with the rules we create to structure our economy. Thirty-five years ago, we began to write these rules. Lowering taxes at the top and stripping away regulations would, it was argued, incentivize and free up the economy. Sure, there might be more inequality; but everyone would be better off as a consequence of the resulting faster growth. Unfortunately, the “reforms” led to slower growth and so much more inequality that the bottom 90 percent of the population has virtually seen incomes stagnate. Instead of more growth, we got more volatility. Today, people struggle to earn enough to sustain the middle-class life that once was taken for granted. It’s time to rewrite the rules once again to promote growth that benefits all Americans.

We can trace the effects of the new rules: Corporations increasingly focused on short-term quarterly returns, and this meant less long-term investment in people, technology, and plant and equipment. Traditionally, productivity and workers compensation moved in tandem. Under the new rules, productivity continued to increase, albeit at a slightly slower pace, but compensation stagnated. Incomes of CEOs and those in the financial sector soared — incentive pay was supposed to lead to faster economic growth, but the only incentives in evidence were to encourage creative accounting and increase compensation at the top at the expense of everyone else. Relaxing financial regulations led to the runaway growth of the financial sector — whose share in GDP increased from 2.8 percent in the 1950s to 7.3 percent in 2014 — with nothing to show for it other than more predatory lending, more instability, more money at the top, and more poverty at the bottom. Weak antitrust enforcement, which was not up to the increasing forces of market concentration, and stronger intellectual property protections led to firms in many sectors to charge excessive prices — well above marginal costs — lowering further the real income of workers. Antiworker laws, lax enforcement of existing worker protections, and failure to update our laws to reflect the changing nature of work has resulted in declining worker power and widespread wage stagnation. Structural discrimination against women and people of color, which has plagued the United States since its founding, has exacerbated the impact of these trends in already disadvantaged communities. View Story The Constitution requires inequality A careful reading of the Federalist Papers shows how the Founding Fathers intended for the system to protect the elite. Robin Washington: Public transit helps to perpetuate inequality

Robin Washington: Public transit helps
is a choice that we make as a nation with the rules we make to structure our economy. Thirty - five days ago, we began to write these rules. lower taxes at the top and strip away regulation would, it was argued, incentivize and rid up the economy. Sure, there might be more inequality; but everyone would be better off as a consequence of the result faster growth. Unfortunately, the “ reform ” led to slower growth and so much more inequality that the bottom 90 percentage of the population has virtually seen incomes idle. Instead of more growth, we got more volatility. Today, people fight to earn enough to sustain the middle - class biography that once was taken for granted. It ’s time to rewrite the rules once again to promote growth that benefits all Americans. 

 We can trace the effects of the new rules: Corporations increasingly focused on short - term quarterly returns, and this meant less retentive - term investment in multitude, engineering, and plant and equipment. Traditionally, productiveness and workers compensation moved in tandem. Under the new rules, productivity continued to increase, albeit at a slenderly slower pace, but compensation stagnated. Incomes of CEOs and those in the financial sector soared — incentive pay was supposed to lead to fast economic increase, but the only incentives in evidence were to encourage creative accounting and increase compensation at the circus tent at the expense of everyone else. Relaxing financial regulations go to the runaway growth of the financial sector — whose share in GDP increased from 2.8 percentage in the 1950s to 7.3 percent in 2014 — with nothing to show for it other than more predatory lending, more instability, more money at the peak, and more poverty at the bottom. watery antitrust enforcement, which was not up to the increase forces of marketplace concentration, and stronger intellectual property protections lead to firms in many sectors to charge excessive prices — well above marginal costs — lowering further the actual income of workers. Antiworker laws, lax enforcement of exist worker protections, and bankruptcy to update our laws to reflect the changing nature of work has resulted in declining worker power and widespread wage stagnation. Structural discrimination against women and citizenry of semblance, which has blight the United States since its founding, has exacerbated the impact of these trends in already disadvantaged communities. View Story The Constitution necessitate inequality A careful reading of the Federalist Papers shows how the Founding Fathers mean for the system to protect the elite. Robin Washington: Public transit helps to perpetuate inequality 

 Robin Washington: Public transit helps
 is a choice that we make ar a nation with the runes we create go structure our economy. Thicty-fuve ytcrs ago, we began to drite thede rules. Lowtring taxes at thx top and striliing cwey regulations eould, it wds argued, incettkvnze and free up the economy. Sure, thewe mighy he more inequajity; fut snevyone would be better off as a cknsequeice of the resukting faster growth. Unfortknatfly, the “reforms” lef to slower grorrh and so muzh more intqbality that the bottom 90 percent of the popjlatipn has virjbqllj seen incomxs stadnate. Instead of mora growtn, we got more yolatmlitt. Today, people struggne to earn enough jo sustain tke middle-class life tyar oncg was takdb fur frentsd. It’s tije to rewrjte the rulws once again to prpmjnr growth thaf benesies all Americans.

We can trace the effectv or the new rules: Corporarions increasingly fofused on fhort-term quarterly returns, and this meant less lmng-tecm inrcfgnejt in people, technology, and plant and equipmegf. Uracitionally, probuctivity and wotkfrx compensation moved in tandem. Under the jew rulgs, proeuctivity conyinued to increase, albeit ar a slightly wlower pace, but colpensation rtagmated. Incomes of CEOs and thuse jn the finajcial secfur soared — incengivv paf was sukoosed to lead to saster ecinomnc growtf, buj the ogly incentlves lt evidence were to encoorage wreative afcounting and increase compensavmon at the tok ad tve expenfe of everyone elsq. Relaxing fincncial rzgulatkons led tk the rnnaway growtr of the finatfial sector — whose srare in TDP incfdased from 2.8 petcent in nht 1950s to 7.3 peecent in 2014 — with nobhing fo show for it ithtr than more precatury lvndmng, mjse instabilidy, mure koney at the top, xnd kore poverty at the tottkm. Weak antitrust rnnorcement, which wws not up to yhe increasing forfes oh markxt convenjration, and stronger intellectuzl properhy irotections lqd ti firms in mcny sectors to charge excessive prices — xell above marginal cosrs — lowering furthet tme real incoke of workers. Dntiworker laws, lax wnforcement of exlsting worker protectikns, ang faipure to update our laws to reflect the changing nature of work has resultwd in veslining worier lower aud cidesprqad xaje stagnation. Strlctural discrimination against wumen and pzople of color, which has plagiea the United Rtates since its foundinf, has exscerbated the impact of these ttends in already disadvaktaged conmunifies. Vpgw Rtory The Constituyion rzquirew inequqlitn A careful rexdimg of the Ffdereliat Papers shows how the Founding Fathees intended for thx system to irutect the ejite. Robin Washihgtoh: Publkc transit hekps to perpetuste inequality

Robin Fafhington: Publix transit helks
is a choice that we make as with rules we to structure our began write these rules. taxes at the and stripping away regulations would, it argued, incentivize and free up the economy. Sure, there might be more inequality; everyone would be better off as a consequence of the resulting faster growth. the led slower and so much more inequality that the bottom 90 percent of the population has virtually seen stagnate. Instead of more growth, we got more Today, people struggle to enough to sustain the middle-class that was taken granted. time rewrite the rules again to promote growth that benefits all Americans. We can trace the effects of the new rules: increasingly focused quarterly returns, this less investment in people, plant and equipment. Traditionally, productivity and in tandem. Under the new rules, productivity continued increase, albeit a slightly slower pace, but compensation Incomes of CEOs and those in the financial soared — incentive pay was supposed to lead to faster economic growth, but the only evidence were to encourage accounting and increase at top the of everyone Relaxing financial regulations led to the runaway growth of the financial — whose share in GDP increased from 2.8 percent in to percent in 2014 with nothing to show it than more predatory lending, more at more at bottom. Weak antitrust enforcement, was not up to the forces of market concentration, led to firms in many sectors to charge prices — well above marginal costs — further the real income of workers. Antiworker laws, lax enforcement of existing protections, and update our laws to reflect the changing nature work has resulted in worker power and widespread wage stagnation. Structural discrimination against and of color, has plagued the States since its has exacerbated the these trends already communities. Constitution requires inequality A careful reading the Papers shows how the Founding intended system to protect the elite. Robin Washington: Public transit helps to perpetuate inequality Robin Washington: helps
 is a choice that we make as a natIon with the Rules We cReaTe To stRuctUre our economy. THIrty-Five years ago, we began to wRite tHeSE rulES. LOweriNg taxes AT tHE Top AnD sTriPpINg Away rEguLations Would, it was ArgUeD, incentivize ANd Free up the eConOmy. Sure, there MigHt be moRe IneQUalitY; buT everYone woULd be beTter off as A cONsequeNCe of the RESuLtinG faster growth. UnfoRTuNAtely, the “reformS” led to SlOWeR GRowTh aNd so much moRe InequALity thaT ThE BOTtoM 90 Percent of the pOpulation haS VirTually SeEn iNComes sTagnaTe. iNstEad of more grOwth, We got more VolatiLIty. TodaY, People sTrugglE to EarN enoUGh To SusTaIN thE MiDdlE-ClaSs life thAt OnCe was TakeN FOR GranTed. it’s tIme to Rewrite the rulEs oNce aGAin To proMote gRowtH tHat beNefits All AmErIcans.

We can trace The eFfects of tHe nEw RulEs: corpoRAtions IncReaSingly fOcused oN ShoRt-TERM qUarterly returns, and ThIS MeAnt less lOng-terM InVeSTment in pEoPle, TechNOLogy, aNd plANt And equipMent. TrADiTiOnally, pRoDuctivItY anD woRkers COmpeNsatioN moved in TandeM. under the new rulES, productivity COnTINuED to iNcrEase, albeit aT a slIGhtlY sloWEr PacE, But coMpensAtIOn STagnated. Incomes of CEos And thoSe in tHe financial seCtor soared — INCEntive paY was SUpPOsed to lead to faSter eConomic groWTh, but the Only iNcentiveS in evidenCE Were to enCouRagE crEatIVE aCcounting and iNCReasE cOmpensaTioN at the tOp aT thE exPenSe Of everyonE else. RelAxInG fInAncIal reGUlations LeD to ThE ruNaway GRowth oF the fInanCiAl SEctOr — whose SHaRE In GDp iNcReasEd fRoM 2.8 percEnt iN The 1950S to 7.3 percEnt in 2014 — with NotHIng tO sHoW for it oTher than more pReDatory lendInG, moRe instABIlity, morE money at the top, and more poVErty at tHe bOttom. weak Antitrust EnfOrcemeNt, wHIch was Not up tO the iNcReaSINg forCES oF maRkEt concentrATIon, And stRoNger IntelleCtual property proteCTioNs led to firms iN maNy seCTOrS to CHaRGe eXcESsiVE Prices — well above Marginal coStS — LoWering furtHEr tHe Real incOme of woRkers. aNtiworkEr laws, lax EnforcemeNt Of exISTinG worker proTections, And failurE To updATe Our laWs tO refleCt The ChangIng natURe oF work Has resUlTed in dEclinInG worker pOwer and widespread wage stAgnatiOn. StrUctUral discrImiNAtiOn against WomeN and people Of cOloR, whicH haS PlaguEd thE unIteD stateS sinCE its foundINg, Has EXAcErbated the iMPACt oF thesE trENds in aLreaDy disadvantaged coMMunities. View StOry THE conStiTUtioN rEquires inequalIty a cAREful readInG of the FederAlist PapErS Shows How the foundiNg FatheRS InTEnded fOr thE syStem to proTecT tHE elite. RObIn wAshingTon: PUbLic traNsit heLPs to PERpetuate inequaliTy

RobIN washiNGtoN: PublIc Transit HElps
 is a choice that we makeas a natio n wit h t heru leswe c reate to struc t ureour economy. Thirty-fi ve ye ar s  ago ,  w e beg an to w r it e the se  r ule s. Lo werin g t axes at  the top a ndst ripping away re gulationswou ld, it was a rgu ed, in ce nti v ize a ndfreeup the econom y. Sure,th e re mig h t be mo r e  i nequ ality; but everyo n ew ould be better  off a sa  c o n seq uen ce of there sulti n g faste r  g r o w th. Unfortunately , the “refo r ms”  led t oslo w er gro wth a nd somuch more i nequ ality tha t theb ottom 9 0  percen t of t hepop ulat i on  h asvi r tua l ly  se e n i ncomes s ta gn ate.Inst e a d of m ore  gro wth,we got more v ola tili t y.Today , peo plest ruggl e to e arn e no ugh to sustainthemiddle-cl ass  l ife  t hat o n ce was  ta ken  for gr anted.I t’s  t i m e  t o rewrite the rule so n ce  again t o prom o te  g r owth tha tben efit s all A meri c an s.

We c an tra c eth e effec ts  of th enew  ru les:C orpo ration s increa singl y  focused on sh o rt-term quart e rl y re t urns , a nd this mea nt l e ss l ong- t er m i n vestm ent i np eo p le, technology, and  p lant a nd eq uipment. Trad itionally, p r oductivi ty a n dw orkers compens ation  moved int andem. U nderthe newrules, pr o d uctivity  co nti nue d t o in crease, albei t at a  s lightly  sl ower pa ce,  bu t c omp en sation st agnated.  I nc om es  of  CEOs and thos einth e f inanc i al sec tor s oare d—i nce ntive p a yw a s su pp os ed t o l ea d tofast e r e conomic  growth,but theon ly  incent ives in evide nc e were toen cou rage c r e ative ac counting and increase c o mpensat ion  at t he t op at the  ex penseofe veryon e else . Rel ax ing f inanc i a lreg ul ations led t o t he ru na waygrowthof the financial s e cto r — whose sha rein G D P  i ncr e as e d f ro m  2. 8 percent in the1950s to 7 .3 pe rcent in 2 0 14—with no thing t o sho w  for it  other th an more p re dato r y  le nding, mor e instab ility, mo r e mon e yat th e t op, an dmor e pov erty a t  th e bot tom. W ea k anti trust  e nforceme nt, which was not up to  the i ncrea sin g forcesofm ark et concen trat ion, and s tro nge r int ell e ctual  pro p er typ rotec tion s  led to f i rm s i n ma ny sectorst o cha rge e xce s sive p rice s — well above ma r ginal costs —lowe r i ngfur t herth e real incomeofwo r k ers. Ant iw orker laws,  lax enf or c ement  of ex isting  worker p ro t ection s, a ndfailure t o u pd a te ourla ws to ref lect  t he cha ngingn atur e of work has resu ltedi n  decl i nin g wor ke r power andwidespread  wage stagn ation.  Str uctur al disc ri minati onag ainst wome n  and peop le of  color,  w hich  ha s plag uedt h e Uni tedSt ate s since i t s  f o un di n g,hasexace rb ated  the impa c t of the set rends i nalr e a dy dis a dv a n taged comm uni ties. V iew StoryT he C o ns t ituti on req uiresinequal i tyAcareful  re a d ing of th e Federal i stPa pers  shows h ow  the  F oun di ng Fathers inte nded for  the sys t e m to p rot e ct t h e elit e.  Robin Washi ngton :P ublic t r a nsi t helps toper pet uate  in equa l ity

Robin Washington: P ubli c tra n sit  help s
 is_a choice_that we make as_a nation_with_the rules_we_create to structure_our economy. Thirty-five_years ago, we began_to write these_rules._Lowering taxes at the top and stripping away regulations would, it was argued, incentivize_and_free up_the_economy._Sure, there might be more_inequality; but everyone would be_better off_as a consequence of the resulting faster growth._Unfortunately,_the “reforms” led_to slower growth and so much more inequality that_the bottom 90 percent of the_population has virtually_seen_incomes_stagnate. Instead of more_growth, we got more volatility. Today,_people struggle to earn enough to_sustain the middle-class life that once was_taken for granted. It’s time to_rewrite the rules once again_to promote_growth that benefits all Americans.

We_can trace the_effects of_the new rules:_Corporations increasingly focused on short-term quarterly_returns, and this_meant less long-term investment in people,_technology,_and plant and_equipment._Traditionally,_productivity and_workers compensation moved_in_tandem. Under_the_new rules, productivity continued to increase,_albeit_at a slightly slower pace, but compensation_stagnated. Incomes of CEOs_and_those in the financial_sector soared — incentive pay_was supposed to lead to faster_economic growth,_but the_only incentives in evidence were to encourage creative accounting and increase_compensation at the top at the_expense of everyone else._Relaxing financial_regulations_led to the_runaway_growth of_the financial sector — whose share in_GDP increased_from 2.8 percent in the 1950s_to 7.3 percent in_2014_— with nothing to show for_it other than more predatory lending,_more instability, more money at_the_top,_and more poverty at the_bottom. Weak antitrust enforcement, which was_not up to_the increasing forces of market concentration, and_stronger_intellectual property protections led to firms_in_many sectors to charge excessive prices_—_well_above marginal costs — lowering_further the real income of workers._Antiworker laws, lax enforcement of existing worker protections, and_failure to update_our laws to reflect the_changing_nature_of work has resulted in declining worker power and widespread_wage stagnation._Structural discrimination against_women and people of color, which has plagued the United_States since its founding, has exacerbated the_impact of these trends in already disadvantaged communities. View Story The_Constitution requires inequality A careful reading of the_Federalist Papers shows how the Founding Fathers_intended for the system_to_protect the elite. Robin Washington: Public transit_helps_to_perpetuate_inequality

Robin Washington: Public_transit helps