Revised Introduction
Reply
The introduction to the book has been substantially revised to make it clear that the book is examining the changes in American life over the past fifty years. Read the new Introduction here.
Category Archives: Updates
Wealth Concentration in the US – more of the same
October 2024 The US Congressional Budget Office has updated it findings on wealth inequality. Since 1989 the top 10%’s share of wealth has increased from 56.5% to 60.1% in 2022. As usual the top 1% did even better with its … Continue reading
Record Breaking Lobbying Spending
The rich and corporations are on a path to set a new record for the amount of money spent in Washington on lobbying. The total spending for 2024 is poredicted to reach $4.2 billion. No surprise, the number of lobbyists … Continue reading
Update: Steward Healthcare System in bankruptcy
Uncovering Capitalism – the actual Workings (forthcoming) includes a brief case study of the impacts of private equity strategies on this hospital chain, “A Brief Private Equity Case Study from Healthcare” in Chapter 6. Using information from Matt Sedlar’s, “Private … Continue reading
Elon Musk, $50 billion, and Financialization – from production to extraction
Much is being made of a Delaware court blocking Musk’s $50 billion compensation contract. See the reporting in the NYTimes: Elon Musk’s Tesla Pay Package Is Voided by Judge. The court found that the compensation was set by a Board … Continue reading
Three charts that define the last 45 years in the US
Its the time of year for summations, usually for just the previous year. My selection of charts explains much of the past 45 years for the rich, middle-class, and poor in America. The Great Divide The dark blue line describes … Continue reading
Being a manager and the Trump boys
This week’s fraud trial appearances by the Trump boys, Don, Jr. and Eric, Executive VP and Executive VP of Development and Acquisitions respectively in the Trump Organization, caused me to reflect on the duties of a manager. “As he [Eric] … Continue reading
Google celebrates its 25th birthday. Should we light a candle too?
Google turns 25 today. It has a surprisingly benign public image. Google describes its mission as: “Our mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”[note]from Google About page.[/note] Forgotten or ignored is that Google … Continue reading
Video Post – the $47 Trillion Rip Off
A video version of the earlier post, “$47 Trillion – the ripoff by the rich and corporations – in two charts – maybe a few more…..” is available on YouTube:
$47 Trillion – the ripoff by the rich and corporations – in two charts – maybe a few more…..
I was already 31 years old when the rip-off of America began in 1979. I was busy, and the changes in American life were only occasionally to be noticed. By the mid-1980s my management life started to feature the early … Continue reading
The Glory of Our Food – on the back of farm workers – more from John Oliver
Only the oldest amongst my readers will remember Edward R. Murrow’s 1960 CBS TV report Harvest of Shame (opens CBS channel on YouTube) that reported on migrant farm workers, including scenes from upstate NY and Long Island. Unfortunately, not a lot … Continue reading
Wealth & Poverty course from Robert Reich – UC Berkeley
Reich is offering an online course, “Wealth & Poverty”, that started today. I watched the first lecture, “What Happened to Income and Wealth?” Looks like this will be worth some ongoing effort. I suggest being ready at the fast forward … Continue reading
Private Equity, Housing, and the Extraction Economy
In the last couple of years articles have begun to appear with titles like: When Private Equity Becomes Your Landlord Where Have All the Houses Gone: Private Equity, Single-Family Rentals, and America’s Neighborhoods Meet the Latest Housing-Crisis Scapegoat Wall Street … Continue reading
A Revisit – book review from 2001 – When Work Disappears- WJ Wilson
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Here is a book review I posted on markorton.com 3.24.2001 When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor – book review When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban … Continue reading
Sources of Poverty in the US – Matthew Desmond article – Updated
Original posting – 3.6.2023 Matthew Desmond, author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City[note]Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (Penguin Books, 2016)[/note], has a new book Poverty, by America set to be released shortly. … Continue reading