It may seem axiomatic that so-called "right to work" laws (union leaders like to call them "right to work for less" laws) would be bad for both workers and for the party that chiefly champions workers' concerns—Democrats. After all, the driving force behind these laws is the disempowerment of non-management labor. Now we have proof, in a study conducted by Boston and Columbia universities and the Brookings Institute, that when states pass "right to work" (for less) laws, Democratic voting share diminishes, as do the number of elected officials hailing from working-class backgrounds. Unions are a foundation of any working social democracy: those of us who want a fairer, saner, and more compassionate society must stand unequivocably for the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively.

In this thoughtful op-ed piece in the Chicago Tribune, former education secretary Arne Duncan (2009-2015) argues that the challenges of all Americans who are economically, socially and politically marginalized, whether they live in inner-city neighborhoods or in the nation's rural hinterland, share a common interest in a strong social democratic program built on educational opportunity, decent jobs at living wages, affordable housing and universal healthcare.

A new study by Standford biologists concludes that the sixth mass extinction of life on planet earh—and the first caused entirely by the activities of homo sapiens—is now upon us. Unless drastic measures are soon taken, the scientists warn, the next century will witness the loss of thousands of species.

Just how lopsided is the American economy? This L.A. Times column helps answer the question with one simple factoid. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investment manager Warren Buffet own more wealth, between the three of them, than the least well-off 160 million Americans combined. (The wealth of Jeff Bezos increased $10 billion in the month of October alone.) The Social Democrat can conceive of no justification, whether pragmatic or in justice, for any individual to monopolize such astonishing proportions of our nation's economic production—or anything close to it. New structures of wages, taxes and ownership rights must be established to make the nation's economy work for all citizens.

Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin takes to the editorial pages of the New York Times to make a case for a federal jobs program—a cause close the heart of The Social Democrat (see here) and a key plank of any serious social democratic platform. With everything from globalization to technological change to shifting demographics creating continual churn in the employment picture, American workers need mechanisms such as those promoted by Rubin to insure inclusion in the nation's economic life.

This inspiring Quartz piece by Rebecca Schuman, whose memoir Schadenfreude, A Love Story made a big splash early this year, looks at how social democracy has created a culture of enjoying life, rather than striving to out-earn the proverbial Joneses, in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Economists all agree that at some point, borrowing by the federal government will create inflation and impede productivity and growth. Recent research finds, however, that the level at which government borrowing becomes problematic is certainly greater than what was once thought. With U.S. debt at near-record levels, and the tax plan being pushed by the Trump administration and its congressional allies likely to add more red ink to America's balance sheet, the question is more than academic. This New York Times piece looks at current thinking on the topic. (October 2018)

Portugal, the land of Fado music, cork orchards and Port wine, brings another gift to civilization: a way out of the insane drug war which has wracked our civilization, wasting untold billions on a quixotic quest to prevent people from using intoxicants, funding murderous drug gangs and incarcerating millions of especially minority Americans. Portugal, which removed criminal penalties for all drugs in 2001, including cocaine and heroine, has lower rates of addiction and 1/50 the number of drug-related deaths as the United States. Portugal's addiction-intervention efforts cost the state less than $10 per person, while the U.S. drug war costs our nation $10,000 per household. New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff visted the sunny nation on the edge of Europe to see how they're doing it.

From the New York Times, a highly useful look at how other nations provide universal healthcare to their citizens at significantly less cost than America's jury-rigged system. This article compares the sytems of several healthcare leaders, and a panel of expert judges offers its preferences. If we are to progress, the U.S. must get over the idea that it always knows best and begin to look at best practices from other nations.

Median incomes are up for two consecutive years and unemployment down as the Obama recovery brings more jobs, higher wages and better health insurance coverage. But economic trends going back 50 years still thwart the efforts of many to achieve secure middle-class livelihoods. This New York Times piece by Patricia Cohen examines the issues.

This excellent article by American University econ professor Jon Wisman lays out both the moral and practical case for guaranteed employment and government-sponsored training, or “re-skilling."

August 29, 2017—Putting certain categories of American workers "first" can result in sharply higher prices for consumers, as this Denver Post report illustrates. The dearth of Hispanic construction workers in Trump's immigrant-unfriendly America is already adding thousands to the cost of new home construction, with tariffs on Canadian lumber further increasing the final sales price of a new home. Finding the sweet spot between the competing interests of different sectors of the economy, including consumers—where the greatest good of the greatest number is our goal—is the hallmark activity of a mature social democracy. Robust programs to aid those subject to the crosswinds of economic disruption are key to the process.

August 25, 2017—Joan Williams, author of White Working Class: Overcoming Class Cluenessless in America, argues in this Guardian opinion piece that the path to Democrat success lies through a compromise between the party's urban elites and white working-class voters who are struggling in the new economy.

Eduardo Porter, in this New York Times "Economic Scene" piece, offers critical insights into how Democrats can take back the nation. He argues for a focus on policies, like apprenticeships for high schools grads, living wages tied to regional cost-of-living indexes, and aid to small business formation, that will open doors of opportunity and rebuild a thriving middle class.

Writing in the Washington Post, columnist Catherine Rampell argues that a blanket $15 national minimum wage may well decrease employment prospects in lower-income areas of the country. Consider, $15 is higher than the median hourly wage in several states: these states enjoy much lower costs-of-living than coastal urban areas. The Social Democrat supports living wages pegged to regional housing costs.