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This article was originally published for The Retiree Advocate at psara.org on June 5, 2012.

The 50 years from the 1880s to the early 1930s saw extraordinary changes in American life. Rapid urbanization, massive immigration and the decades-long “Great Migration” of millions of African-Americans from the South to northern cities created teeming cities. Rapid industrialization coupled with the world’s largest railroad network made us the leading industrial power in the world. Technological innovations such as the telephone, motion pictures, electrification of factories, cities and homes, automobiles, and the radio revolutionized how many people lived and their views of the future. Continue reading “Shared Prosperity Denied – 1880s to the early 1930s”

This article was originally published for The Retiree Advocate at psara.org on July 6, 2012.

At the outset of the 1930s, working people were enduring records levels of unemployment, widespread homelessness, hunger and loss of farms and homes. Millions lost their life savings in the collapse of the banking system. In the midst of an unparalleled economic crisis, working people had neither an economic or social safety net, nor the right to organize unions. Continue reading “Mid-1930s to late 1970s: Moving toward shared prosperity”

This article was originally published for The Retiree Advocate at psara.org on August 2, 2012.

By the early 1970’s, Corporate America was on the defensive as strong movements for racial justice, a cleaner environment, safer consumer products, women’s rights, and worker protections successfully pressured Congress to pass major legislation. Corporate power was being limited in areas of racial, gender and age employment discrimination, polluting the environment, selling unsafe and unhealthy consumer products, and keeping workplaces needlessly unsafe and unhealthy. This was the second major wave of reform in less than 40 years that further limited the power of corporations and expanded greater economic and social justice. Continue reading “Corporate America’s Counterattack against the People – 1970’s Forward”

This article was originally published for The Retiree Advocate at psara.org on August 31, 2012.

The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 set the stage for Corporate America’s all-out offensive to reassert their domination of our country and economy. Armed with a comprehensive political and economic strategy, a well-oiled propaganda machine, vast financial resources, a clearly articulated vision and values for America, and a resurgent right wing, the offensive began in earnest. Continue reading “Corporate America Stole Our Broadly Shared Prosperity 1980 to Today”