Today I had the opportunity to speak before Congress about a major driver of inflation that's being ignored - price gouging corporations. Here's my testimony.
To paraphraser Upton Sinclair, It Is Difficult to Get Congress to Understand Something When Their Campaign Donations Depend Upon Them Not Understanding It.
Sad thing is, neither party will do anything about it. Sure, the democrats will talk about wanting to reduce corporate profits and increase wages, but in the end, both the democrats and republicans are owned by big corporations and will do nothing or as little as possible to avoid corporate backlash while encouraging the plebs to get out and vote for more of the same nothingness because nothing is better than the other guys. FDR (aside from his racist Japanese-American policies) would be ridiculed and probably even censured by Pelosi for his revolutionary thought of a 94% upper income tax bracket for those making over $half a million (as she Qualifies from her and her husbands insider trading, as well as plenty other republicans and democrats alike), nevermind FDR's corporate policies. This has happened to a more veiled extent to the British labour party too (not allowed to support the rail strike, for example, when the labour party pre-blair was the party of unions). We need a real labour revolution and a real labour party.
Instead of breaking up these big businesses that are raking in higher profits and jacking off prices, nationalise them and turn them into consumer co-ops. Every citizen with a subscription (free or democratically decided) will get to be shareholders/members and vote for the board and decide how they want the company to be run. ATT, Verizon, Amazon, etc.
Companies have no problem continually giving CEOs raises and giant bonuses and then turn around and start 😭 because of the very idea that their real workers may get an extra penny per hour.
And CEO’s have no responsibilities. When they GET fired( never called as this) they have a golden parachute 🪂 and another company behind to take them in… And often enough,new selling companies don’t have a chance because they have to compete with Amazon…no bank give credits for them.
CEO pay should be compulsorily indexed to the wages of employees - management excluded. The only way a CEO should ever get a pay rise is by increasing wages in line with corporate profits. The multiple of the index should be set according to the number of employees the company has.
Yeah, this is something that was already thought of by ancient philosophers like Plato. The highest pay in a society should not amount to more than 5x the lowest pay (or whatever the optimum multiplier should be).
Prior to Ronald Reagan being elected President the average CEO’s compensation was ONLY 40% above the average minimum wage earners! During Reagan and Ford’s presidencies compensation zoomed up to over 500% but has since leveled back down to a little more than 300%. 🤬
@@sandramarshall8127 I recently occurred to me that America was great (as in MAGA) the day before Reagan took office. The damage that one man did to this nation is astonishing. The Fairness in Reporting Act, Voodoo Economics, weakening of education, unions, and social safety nets, and so on. Nixon had nothing on Reagan when it comes to betraying the nation.
Keep up this communication and education to your political friend Robert!! You comments are exactly what the issue is; everyone just needs to spend 10 minutes going out and researching how much the oil company’s profits have been over the past year. They are at record highs.
@@JohnFreedman0 you are horribly confused, and not worth the time to educate. The fact you refuse to do it for yourself? That's the ultimate kicker, and why you aren't worth the carbon your body is using and oxygen you spend daily.
Thanks, Robert, for telling the truth and sticking up for us normal Americans! I recall a bill to stop price gouging, but the republicans refused to pass it.
Don't expect them to pass such a thing. They believe government programs should support big business and the rich or be shut down. Best plan is to turn out to vote against them.
@@luigivillani6411 - Conservatives are NOT for the working class. They are all about exploiting the working class to further enrich themselves and concentrate wealth and power among themselves and their corporate financiers. They have been doing this through fear, and a systematic gutting of public services, especially public education, for a very long time.
Robert touched on a big problem. Monopolistic companies in the USA have no competition. They collude and raise prices without losing any business. The huge huge conglomerates control everything, because if Congress tries to correct windfall profits, the conglomerates can lay off hundreds of thousands of workers, and that destroys the entire economy. So, conglomerates have the ultimate power, and people are the bargaining chip.
We agree on this point. But I bet you don’t agree with my next point: The reason we don’t have enough competition to hold these companies accountable in the market is because the corrupt federal government has created so many barriers to entry through over regulation; they have stifled small businesses from forming and growing to compete. If you want to fix this problem, the solution isn’t more corrupt federal government involvement, it’s less. Deregulate, eliminate barriers to entry, get the corrupt federal government out of the way.
@@hugsandcurses ...very true. Huge amount of tax dollars are not collected from big, dominating corporations, their top executives, CEOS, big corporations that lobby in Congress to get zillions in tax breaks. If the tax code was proper, then taxes on the hard, hard, working middle class would be reduced. A middle class with more money can then open businesses to compete against the big corporations. Also, a happy middle class with enough money can spend, stimulating the economy, and creating more jobs as business sales grow. The key is a proper tax code to reduce the huge monopolies / conglomerates. The government must act to bring back competition !!
@@tommyboym6563 The politicians are what is corrupt. Largely the conservatives who want to privatize everything which is what they mean by 'small government'. Corporations are the ones who get 'barrier to entry' laws passed. Go through regulations with a scalpel. Tackle the tax code. Vote Blue.
This man has always been a shining light when comes to the economy he was the man that did the real work on the surplus that president Clinton administration lift for Bush and we all should know what happened when he lift office!! A very awesome man that needs to listen to! Thanks so very much you awesome humanitarian!!
Universal plans on buying WB. One less movie company will mean fewer jobs and fewer movies. If they say they need to combine to compete with Disney, then they need to undo the Disney buyout of Fox.
It's also time for pressuring the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress to begin a public dismantling of our Neoclassical / Neoliberal trickle down supply side Reaganomics economics, based on creating endless private debt for Americans into endless profits for them owners of financial sector. And to replace it with a post-Keynesian higher wages and production over profits economics. Which pulled us out of the great depression and maximized post war prosperity from the 1940's until the 1970's when corporatists in both parties dismantled it. Undoing 25 years of wealth redistribution where the middle class shared at least half the wealth of the nation with the top 10%. When one wage earner could fund a household mostly by wages and savings, not reliance on credit card debt, to meet monthly and future expenses and to have wealth above and beyond that after meeting those expenses.
Robert Reich makes a very good point at the end. We are solely letting the Fed try to stop inflation. The Fed has one tool: changing interest rates. When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. That’s simply not enough to deal with complex macroeconomic problems. Congress has every tool at their disposal, and should be the ones trying to fix inflation, but refuses to act for fear of upsetting their donors.
That and the fear of their voters. Sometimes doing the right thing isn't super popular. Like our water crisis in the Southwest. If the politicians enacted strict household water restrictions, they'd lose the next election. So... life as normal until it's not. They'll have the ability to flee and leave us average folks with the mess.
@@AltruisticWarrior Residential water use is something like 10-15% of the water used in the SW, the rest is going to mostly agricultural, industrial, and golf courses etc.. Asking home owners and renters to stop flushing so much, and take fewer and shorter showers won't do much; yeah sure cut back on the lawn, it's the most visible of residential use. But in the grand scheme of things, it's industrial users like factories; chip makers agro business etc that take up the vast majority of water use. Why aren't we asking them to stop gowning corn and alfalfa and switch to cotton, and other less demanding water intensive crops in the SW? They pay way way less per acre foot of water than the going rate for gallons of water for residential use. They keep pumping water out of the ground so fast that the ground is starting to go down several feet in places, ruining foundations. I know of a friends mom who bought a small house out in the country. They had a well, it worked the first few years and stopped. The water table has fallen too far below their well. She works for Walmart, not like she can afford $25k to dig a well even father down, only to have that go dry in a few years. If she were to try and sell the property now, it's probably not even worth a quarter of what she payed for it. Who wants a house with no running water? All she has is the water delivered to her house and the gallons she keeps buying. Try and live like that for a while.. All because of some dairy farms down the road buying water intensive feed. That in turn has farmers nearby pumping water for feed crops like sorghum and corn. She can't ask them to stop pumping so much, she probably cant even take them to court for lowering the water table below her well. Agro has so much money and congressional support behind them they will ignore someone like her and just go round and round in the courts waiting for someone like her to run out of money. Her property is now mostly worthless and she can't do anything about it.
@@marcusdamberger Florida's having a similar problem, though nobody wants to talk about it. In about 10 years the entire state will have to enact water rationing, and in 15 years whatever water's left will be too toxic for residential use. Why? Well, 10 years ago Ron DeSantis cleared what used to be protected wetlands for agricultural use. The sugarcane plantations use 3x more water than all other commercial and residential uses of water in the state *combined* while the chemical runoff from the plantations contaminates the aquifer. FLs freshwater drops about 15% a year now, and it's already at half of what it used to be, even 20 years ago.
You also cant lose sight of making super-pacts and lobbying illegal. These companies in theory could be doing good but chose not to. As well as pay the government to ignore these facts that RR has presented. They have the best analysts in the world working for the fed and the pentagon.
Yes there would be a 1/365 impact to their finances...but I get your point. All I would say is that wouldn't likely change their behaviors or our own. Changes need to be made sustainably and marginally.
Boycott everything, even work, paying your bills, just stay home and totally shutdown the economy, remember the rich don't get rich off each other, they get rich off us, they don't circulate nothing, they need the whole of the population for the game to work in their favor!!!🤨🤔✌
@@Zach-ju5vi Typical Ambien Zach delusional MAGA republican, cultist logic, putting everyone in a coma with your sedative drivel. YAWN....ZZZZzzzz.....
@@Zach-ju5vi That's contradicted by the rise of the US dollar. If so many dollars were printed and spread around as you claim then the value of the dollars you hold would have fallen, not risen. Also look at global inflation for countries around the world how do you explain the global inflation rate and rise of the dollar against every major world currency?
@@Zach-ju5vi your statement is baseless. If there are specific things you don’t like or agree with then what are they. This left wing right wing is a lazy unintelligent non-argument.
This is so important to the American people. If we want a future in this country where rents aren't skyrocketing and wages can pay for basic needs, we need more people like Robert Reich.
@@Zach-ju5vi Time to seek help for your compulsion that is triggered by all the love for Professor Rich here with another of his well researched and fact filled videos that everyone here agrees with, that sets your illness off. Poor sad Ambien Zach...
A few years back, I had a boss that cut our raises, citing what I call “selective corporate poverty” saying profits were down - forgetting that we compiled the presentation touting our unprecedented success. His cost saving measure (which included cutting our raises) earned him a hefty bonus. He rolled up the next week in his brand new convertible without shame.
This was essentially the issue that caused me to quit a business masters program in uni. I got into a series of arguments with the professor and classmates over companies that would cut wages or lay off employees because of 'tough times and market conditions' then hand out massive bonuses to themselves. A specific case was nearly 10,000 people weeks before Christmas and year end bonuses. They praised the move for saving having to pay the bonuses. I argued that the bonus was for work done during the year they had already COMPLETED, and if the company could afford the extra millions for the executives, then they really should have paid it to the employees who had helped BUILD those profits. The counterargument was that those workers were all redundant, excess labor that was making the company wasteful and inefficient, so firing them was a move that merited the bonuses. Again, I pointed out that the company hadn't made any mergers or acquisitions recently, so that excess labor must have been poor planning by the executives. If cutting them earned a bonus, then which executives would LOSE their bonuses or have their salaries reduced for having CREATED the problem in the first place? I can't describe the looks on their faces. But a few comments made the meaning clear, "Da'fuq you talking about? Executives don't LOSE bonuses, only INCREASE their own payouts. We don't accept responsibility, we blame the workers so that WE keep the bonuses. That's the WHOLE DAMN POINT." Not grizzled business veterans who developed this attitude, but kids in college who already knew the greed was exactly the point and they were signing up for it, taking classes to join it. I guess I didn't get the memo. But I went to the office that day and transferred out. Never regretted it.
Inflation was about 8% last year. I just got a yearly increase of 3%. My boss proudly announced the raise we'd be getting ( he doesn't control it, he's "middle management ") and when I pointed out the 5% disparity meant we were actually LOSING, he shrugged and said "Well, it's better than getting no raise, right?"
Minimum wage should have been linked to inflation since the early 1970s. Of course, one political party doesn't believe in a minimum wage. Slave labor overseas whether $1/hour or $1/day is just fine.
Earlier this year, when I worked a wage job, a manager had the gall to say I was getting fatter paychecks due to having to work more hours due to under-staffing. Wages at that company hasn't gone up for well over a decade and I was actually seeing the pathetic pay be de facto reduced further.
@@johnr5252 "I don't think Lupe will be happy working on his day off." "If your employees are happy, you're doing something wrong." -Mr. Angelino from Three's Company rerun this past night.
Keep talking about this. I'm finally starting to see comments on articles regarding inflation that call out price gauging. This is new. So public awareness is growing. Mr. Reich thank you for your efforts on this. Keep it up!
The corporations through their well known dupes have always preached that ‘economy of scale’ makes it more efficient to serve the needs of the public. It’s tragic that the lessons of history are never learned let alone understood. Bob is like a stranger in a strange land, a lone voice that cries out in the darkness. Walk in the light my friends and VOTE against the strangle hold and guile of those who would send you to die in war but pretend they’re dying when it comes to equity.
We all need to get more involved with our politicians locally all the way to DC! I kept reading how so many Arizonans who voted for Sinema were surprised that she turned her back on Democratic party voters like them. If these same voters did even a "Google" of her voting record, they wouldn't have wasted their time & money on her! Civics is no longer taught in our public schools. Billionaires want Americans to be apathetic and ignorant of how important voting is, especially voting for the right candidate is. The greedy rich want dumbed-down, apathetic populace so they can screw all of us with ease. We all need to get involved with politics, the issues that are important to us & even run for office ourselves--if we can! Rethuglicons know that is how to get what THEY want.
Instead of sitting back and feeling so unsettled with the reality of life in US, what are YOU DOING to fight back???? Your comment doesn't make any sense. Robert is telling all of us who care to listen of the change we all need to make and that takes us getting motivated instead of sick of the facts of our lives.
I work for a large corporation and I’ve been in the business for almost 30 years. I received a 1.1% raise the last 2 years. I’ve been going backwards for 6 years because of rising healthcare costs.
Congress, listen to Robert Reich, he is speaking the truth. Dammit, get off your collective asses and stop the foolish dependency on the Fed's outmoded method of raising interest rates.
Mark your 100% ride on this I'm a retired Union man and shop Stewart San Francisco trade show industry and Robert is 100% right and you are 100% right thank you for the information
Zack in a way you're a little bit right but I don't believe that 100% the end of Trump's administration they gave all those tax breaks to the corporations two to three trillion dollars and they didn't do nothing with that money for the economy they they jacked up their prices during that during that covid era they were they were making 200% in the economy wasn't really working because where everyone was they shut down the economy because of covid but those guys jacked up the prices 200%. I just don't believe that that Robert's telling the truth yeah he's not he's not bullshitting I understand about taxes we didn't get no good tax break I remember when Trump was in office oh we ain't going to mess with the middle class taxes hell I usually break even on my taxes when he was in office I didn't owing the reason we he took it out on the middle class is cuz he gave those the corporations at two to three trillion dollar tax break which they didn't do nothing they put it back into the company the money bought stock so I don't believe that Zack I'm sorry brother
Robert Rice is telling the truth because no company is controlling him you have MMS MSNBC The squawk box they talk about stocks and the economy they can't tell the truth like Robert is because they're controlled by the big media corporation so Robert actually whatever they're saying they're not telling you the truth Robert doesn't have to worry about being fired or suspended for speaking out so I rather listen to Robert than anyone else because if you listen to squawk box I mean this morning what they were saying I was almost I almost fell off my couch when the guy was talking so that's why you know what Robert saying he's basically telling the truth you can't you can't screw up as his lies he's not lying and you can't call him a liar and he's he's just you know think about it you know the guy knows what he's doing he's a really good economist educated always remember no one controlling him no one is controlling his narrative
Without ever having heard Richard’s explanation, I came to the same conclusion 15 years ago. He has hit the nail precisely on the head! Monopolies and corporate pricing collusion kills capitalism, there is no real free market competition anymore, which is essential for capitalism to function.
Excellent testimony. I'm so glad that Congress has welcomed your counsel, albeit a very short time, on handling inflation. I've learned so much from you Dr. Reich.
Let's hope we get new leaders in office that gonna put stop to the scam that these Rep , Dem are allowing these corporate R , certain D get away with this con against the rest of us
@@Zach-ju5vi Still waiting for you to admit your compulsion has gotten out of control here. All the positive comments the great professor Reich has received with this well researched and fact filled video has no doubt triggered your psychosis. I think it's time you seek professional help for this serious medical condition..
@@Zach-ju5vi You continue to expose your compulsion to spew nonsense here proving you must seek medical attention as soon as possible, you poor sick little man..
BP gas station in my area (the only gas station in the town) is charging 50 cents more a gallon than the average of the price of a gallon at all other area gas stations. How are they getting away with this? I thought that the government was going after gas price gougers!?
We had planned to pay off our credit card by Dec 31st. Between gas and grocery prices and the constant interest rate hikes, that's put us into at least Oct of next year. We're on a fixed income with no way to to make more $$. I'm disabled and my husband took his social security early to be my care giver. The money we'd saved thru the years is going faster than we prepared for. I'm sure there are alot of people in a comparable situation. I see no end to this price gouging.
Well, just as there's a lag between supply of gasoline increasing and gas prices dropping (but no lag as they rise), it will be awhile after we get back to work and move imports off the dock before prices can drop. Do to American Right-Wing foolishness, we lost over 1 million Americans and many of them were workers.
And I've yet to see a single politician speak out about this literally anywhere. Maybe I just missed it but I sincerely doubt it. Not in America, or here in Canada or anywhere else. Like they're all in on it (wouldn't surprise me). So thank you Robert, for continuing to educate people on these matters because the only way things will change is if enough of us are informed and put pressure on our "representatives".
They just pretty much point their fingers at the other party and blame it on Biden. A ridiculously vast oversimplification of a hugely complex system and issue. It's frustrating to see how dumbed down the American public has come to and facts and legitimate discourse like this video seem to have no effect on their stupidity
My uncle became a millionaire working his BEHIND OFF 24/7 Selling used clothes yes believe it or not, USA is so wasteful that in 3 years my uncle started selling used clothes in a flea market, then eBay, now has 3 warehouses, I respect his commitment to his business and family. so, what is wrong about that? you are upset because you are a poor kid playing video games and watching tik tok all times? your comment is so bad, this is why republican hate us democrats for people LIKE YOU!
@@Lucas-hb1uq jajaja a Mexican American like me a Republican or Libertaria jajaja I don't even know what libertarian is! jajaja Im just a hard working c*bron like my uncle and also selling used stuff on eBay so you know that last year I made $220K selling stuff on eBay!! do you know that you can buy stuff at the Fleamarket or garage sales for 25 cents and resell on eBay for 5 bucks!! (Someone trash is some else treasure) get a life looser so you stop criticizing hard working people, I may have 200K of PROFIT this year so hasta a vista amigo Democrata
I wish there was a federal level corporation commissioner and that you, Robert were given that lifelong position to protect and guard against oligarchal control of America's economy and politics.
Finally, someone voicing the fact that it's not those suffering the most from inflation, but those that profit the most from inflation who are the drivers. As I have always said, It's the price "setter's", It's individuals, small groups of individuals, and a failure of a highly fallible "free" market system that are to blame for our sufferance. I wish more would listen, I just had a short conversation with a friend that voiced his view that Government spending was the sole driver of higher prices. What annoys me, is when I voice the way I see it, he thinks for a while, then days later he reverts back to his old stance. Sometimes folks need to hear it several times before they come to understand. Keep up the good work Mr. Reich, I hope your not only speaking to the choir.
Is it possible to fix the existing economy? I'm a 50+ year old dbA and my current salary doesn't come close to matching the purchasing power my father had with a minimum wage of $1.25 in the 1960's. The same purchasing power would require today's minimum wage to be at least $35 an hour, which is well more than I make! If there's a way to correct current wage levels to what they should be, I'd sure love to hear it.
Thank you for trying to educate this professional dum dumbs! I’m glad you made it very clear and simple…and just call it profiteering. They will continue to ignore these facts when the decade long slumber party between big businesses is alive and going strong through lobbying and super-pacts.
@Bob You should do a video on home loans in the 70s, 80s, and 90s vs now. Sure at some points in time the interest rate was higher, but a 12% APR on a 50k house over thirty years adds up to 'only' $185,000. While a 6% APR on that same house that's now worth over $350,000 is $755,000 total. Not only that, but you can often end up paying more to the bank than you spent on the home itself. For that 6% loan $350k goes to the house (with the buyer and seller agents both getting a cut based off the sale price, couldn't possibly lead to corruption...) and the other $400k goes to lining the banks pockets. Houses should not be commodities. Ban owning more than 4 residential properties. Or at least make it prohibitively expensive to own them. 20% down? LMAO, most people cannot afford $500. $66,000 for 20% of the average American home price is simply unachievable.
I agree with you Melissa he is very truthful it's about time we found someone like him he is awesome he knows what he's talking about as well educated about it he's not lying he's telling the truth I agree 100%, I'm an ex Union man shops do it from San Francisco in the trade show industry I always respected Roberts rice views
@@Zach-ju5vi No just allergic to your mind numbing, sleep inducing, blather you are compelled to spew every time anyone compliments the great Professor Reich. It's an illness that has a solid grip on you Ambien Zach. You need to read your comments to put yourself to sleep. The rest is much needed.
Thank you professor for educating the citizens On what is going on now Trumpi and fox are teaming up The new trumpi Justice reality show Tune in its on every channel
I love you and your commentary. You make more sense than any of these talking heads. Alas, here lately, no one that can make a difference is listening to and following your recommendations. Even so, your views give comfort because you tell us the truth. Thank you!!!
Robert is very smart.............We need people like him in Washington! Washington lawmakers probably won't listen to his advice because our politicians have corporate greed in their pockets!
Thank you, Justice Thomas, for the mentally and physically exhausting tasks you perform each day. Hopefully your vacations were mentally and physically refreshing. May God Bless you and I pray you seek His guidance in your work and life.
3:15 "direct action..." Set a timetable, in (x) months this country will go back to the precious metals/gold standard to back the US Dollar. This will not happen IF and ONLY IF the wage differential in US corporations between highest wage earner and lowest employee wage earner falls to (y).
Capitalism ONLY works if there is meaningful competition, and creative destruction. If market don’t break up companies, then the Government HAS to. This analysis is right on the money
I know Professor Robert Reich is CORRECT, because, he's no longer in my daily RUclips feeds. There's no way this information is going to go VIRAL. Thanks for trying to enlighten the Public. Your presence on the internet is invaluable. We The People, need more intellectual warriors like yourself.
This is very important globally, this issue is global and for exactly these reasons. Corporate greed and government allowing this lack of competition. This isn’t even capitalism.
@@Zach-ju5vi More of the same sedative drivel from our boy Ambien Zach, the Mr. Sandman of this channel who's Reich derangement compulsion is out of control as always. All the support here for Professor Reich has been too much for you to handle as your delusional out of control compulsion has shown. Seek help soon my poor boy..
How often do we get to hear someone address Congress who has real compassion for working people and does everything he can to speak up for and support them? Thank you, Mr. Reich. 💕
What he is doing: Failing to even mention the the #1 cause for inflation: the fact that we permitted the government to create $14T out of thin air. (Classic deflection) He is instead talking The secondary reasons in wages and corporate profits without mentioning the economic blast waves that were caused by handing out money for non-work. These wrecked both the labor market and created 'zombie businesses'. He's very careful about how he says things. Corporate profits maybe at record levels (making his statement technically true if denominated in dollars), but he's not factoring very same the inflation rate that he's talking about. It would be like saying that workers are making more than they've ever made before without mentioning the fact that the money they're making is worth significantly less. This is a purposeful misrepresentation of the facts. He stated that corporate profits have gone up disproportionately to the rise of material costs. Although this may be true, what he's purposefully failing to mention is that the number one expense for practically any American Business is not the cost of their materials. It is the cost of Labor and this has gone up over 50% within the past few years. People are doing less work for a lot more money and the present and entitlement culture, the quiet quitting, the WFH nonsense, the great resignation, all adds up to a horrendous increase in the cost of doing business. He's failing to mention these facts because this is how Communists make their arguments. They eloquently talk about their euphoric lala land ideals, while completely ignoring the presence of material facts. Which to a person unfamiliar with the subject matter, sounds very convincing. I will absolutely agree with him on one point and that and antitrust laws and antitrust regulation, must be stepped up. There are few narrow instances where a controlled Monopoly May prove to be beneficial, at least in the short term. But the pendulum has absolutely swung way too far and practically every industry. As usual with communist propaganda, they insert a grain of truth in there to give themselves legitimacy, when in fact the end goal is to monopolize every industry under one thumb of "the people", which only a tiny select few will absolutely control. Hypocrisy at its best.
Like always, blame the poor, the elderly, the immigrant and minorities but NEVER, the corporations. Also make note on the competition aspect. I used to think monopolies were against the law.
To paraphraser Upton Sinclair, It Is Difficult to Get Congress to Understand Something When Their Campaign Donations Depend Upon Them Not Understanding It.
Exactly.
I was just thinking that but it didn't fit as a reply to another comment.
Sad thing is, neither party will do anything about it. Sure, the democrats will talk about wanting to reduce corporate profits and increase wages, but in the end, both the democrats and republicans are owned by big corporations and will do nothing or as little as possible to avoid corporate backlash while encouraging the plebs to get out and vote for more of the same nothingness because nothing is better than the other guys.
FDR (aside from his racist Japanese-American policies) would be ridiculed and probably even censured by Pelosi for his revolutionary thought of a 94% upper income tax bracket for those making over $half a million (as she Qualifies from her and her husbands insider trading, as well as plenty other republicans and democrats alike), nevermind FDR's corporate policies.
This has happened to a more veiled extent to the British labour party too (not allowed to support the rail strike, for example, when the labour party pre-blair was the party of unions).
We need a real labour revolution and a real labour party.
Instead of breaking up these big businesses that are raking in higher profits and jacking off prices, nationalise them and turn them into consumer co-ops. Every citizen with a subscription (free or democratically decided) will get to be shareholders/members and vote for the board and decide how they want the company to be run. ATT, Verizon, Amazon, etc.
Thats why you have to vote not just blue but progressive blue. Progressives do not take corporate donor-owner money.
Companies have no problem continually giving CEOs raises and giant bonuses and then turn around and start 😭 because of the very idea that their real workers may get an extra penny per hour.
And CEO’s have no responsibilities.
When they GET fired( never called as this) they have a golden parachute 🪂 and another company behind to take them in…
And often enough,new selling companies don’t have a chance because they have to compete with Amazon…no bank give credits for them.
yes, and many used the covid money to do it! 😡
The companies that can’t outsource jobs will 😭 to the government for more immigrants. Corporate welfare that liberals don’t want to talk about
We need salary caps in publicly-traded companies.
Curious how that relates to now and years past?
ABSOLUTELY IT'S COMPANIES JACKING UP PRICE'S BECAUSE OF NO COMPETITION AND THERE GREED .
* PRICES * THEIR. But, yeah.
They don't see it as greed, they see it as an accomplishment that the stockholders will appreciate and reward them for.
*THEIR GREED. "their" not "there"
CEO pay should be compulsorily indexed to the wages of employees - management excluded.
The only way a CEO should ever get a pay rise is by increasing wages in line with corporate profits.
The multiple of the index should be set according to the number of employees the company has.
Yeah, this is something that was already thought of by ancient philosophers like Plato. The highest pay in a society should not amount to more than 5x the lowest pay (or whatever the optimum multiplier should be).
CEOs have the best union in the country: the union of executives.
Prior to Ronald Reagan being elected President the average CEO’s compensation was ONLY 40% above the average minimum wage earners! During Reagan and Ford’s presidencies compensation zoomed up to over 500% but has since leveled back down to a little more than 300%. 🤬
@@sandramarshall8127 I recently occurred to me that America was great (as in MAGA) the day before Reagan took office. The damage that one man did to this nation is astonishing. The Fairness in Reporting Act, Voodoo Economics, weakening of education, unions, and social safety nets, and so on. Nixon had nothing on Reagan when it comes to betraying the nation.
@@sandramarshall8127 yep, Reagan f*cked everything up!!
Keep up this communication and education to your political friend Robert!! You comments are exactly what the issue is; everyone just needs to spend 10 minutes going out and researching how much the oil company’s profits have been over the past year. They are at record highs.
Is this what happens when the wealthiest americans moved to the dnc to join the unions?
@@JohnFreedman0 more like Fascist Republican Billionaires. Wake up!
It's not just the oil industry. They're all doing it. Maximize shareholder value. The hell with everyone else.
@@JohnFreedman0 you are horribly confused, and not worth the time to educate. The fact you refuse to do it for yourself? That's the ultimate kicker, and why you aren't worth the carbon your body is using and oxygen you spend daily.
@@JohnFreedman0 Read a book, or better yet, learn how to read and write.
Thanks, Robert, for telling the truth and sticking up for us normal Americans! I recall a bill to stop price gouging, but the republicans refused to pass it.
Don't expect them to pass such a thing. They believe government programs should support big business and the rich or be shut down. Best plan is to turn out to vote against them.
But they are for the working class?
@@luigivillani6411 The Republicans? Not a chance. They've been lying to Americans since the 1920s.
@@luigivillani6411 - Conservatives are NOT for the working class. They are all about exploiting the working class to further enrich themselves and concentrate wealth and power among themselves and their corporate financiers. They have been doing this through fear, and a systematic gutting of public services, especially public education, for a very long time.
@@luigivillani6411 Only an id/ot would think that either party is for the working class.
Robert touched on a big problem. Monopolistic companies in the USA have no competition. They collude and raise prices without losing any business. The huge huge conglomerates control everything, because if Congress tries to correct windfall profits, the conglomerates can lay off hundreds of thousands of workers, and that destroys the entire economy. So, conglomerates have the ultimate power, and people are the bargaining chip.
The main problem is that they use parts of those enormous profits to fund campaigns.
We agree on this point. But I bet you don’t agree with my next point:
The reason we don’t have enough competition to hold these companies accountable in the market is because the corrupt federal government has created so many barriers to entry through over regulation; they have stifled small businesses from forming and growing to compete. If you want to fix this problem, the solution isn’t more corrupt federal government involvement, it’s less. Deregulate, eliminate barriers to entry, get the corrupt federal government out of the way.
this really affects most of the western world that relies on unrestricted capitalism and does not take appropriate actions to plug tax loopholes.
@@hugsandcurses ...very true. Huge amount of tax dollars are not collected from big, dominating corporations, their top executives, CEOS, big corporations that lobby in Congress to get zillions in tax breaks. If the tax code was proper, then taxes on the hard, hard, working middle class would be reduced. A middle class with more money can then open businesses to compete against the big corporations. Also, a happy middle class with enough money can spend, stimulating the economy, and creating more jobs as business sales grow. The key is a proper tax code to reduce the huge monopolies / conglomerates.
The government must act to bring back competition !!
@@tommyboym6563 The politicians are what is corrupt. Largely the conservatives who want to privatize everything which is what they mean by 'small government'. Corporations are the ones who get 'barrier to entry' laws passed. Go through regulations with a scalpel. Tackle the tax code. Vote Blue.
This man has always been a shining light when comes to the economy he was the man that did the real work on the surplus that president Clinton administration lift for Bush and we all should know what happened when he lift office!! A very awesome man that needs to listen to! Thanks so very much you awesome humanitarian!!
And when Clinton was in, that's the only time when our govt was in the BLACK!!!!! (No pun intended)
It is time to enforce the antitrust laws. These corporations need to go the way of Ma Bell
Exactly..
Any corporation raising prices faster than the inflation rate should face an anti-trust review of it's practices and holdings.
Universal plans on buying WB. One less movie company will mean fewer jobs and fewer movies. If they say they need to combine to compete with Disney, then they need to undo the Disney buyout of Fox.
It's the government and fed that creates inflation
It's also time for pressuring the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress to begin a public dismantling of our Neoclassical / Neoliberal trickle down supply side Reaganomics economics, based on creating endless private debt for Americans into endless profits for them owners of financial sector.
And to replace it with a post-Keynesian higher wages and production over profits economics. Which pulled us out of the great depression and maximized post war prosperity from the 1940's until the 1970's when corporatists in both parties dismantled it. Undoing 25 years of wealth redistribution where the middle class shared at least half the wealth of the nation with the top 10%. When one wage earner could fund a household mostly by wages and savings, not reliance on credit card debt, to meet monthly and future expenses and to have wealth above and beyond that after meeting those expenses.
Robert Reich makes a very good point at the end. We are solely letting the Fed try to stop inflation. The Fed has one tool: changing interest rates. When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. That’s simply not enough to deal with complex macroeconomic problems. Congress has every tool at their disposal, and should be the ones trying to fix inflation, but refuses to act for fear of upsetting their donors.
This has to be a troll above...disregard!
That and the fear of their voters. Sometimes doing the right thing isn't super popular. Like our water crisis in the Southwest. If the politicians enacted strict household water restrictions, they'd lose the next election. So... life as normal until it's not. They'll have the ability to flee and leave us average folks with the mess.
@@AltruisticWarrior Residential water use is something like 10-15% of the water used in the SW, the rest is going to mostly agricultural, industrial, and golf courses etc.. Asking home owners and renters to stop flushing so much, and take fewer and shorter showers won't do much; yeah sure cut back on the lawn, it's the most visible of residential use. But in the grand scheme of things, it's industrial users like factories; chip makers agro business etc that take up the vast majority of water use. Why aren't we asking them to stop gowning corn and alfalfa and switch to cotton, and other less demanding water intensive crops in the SW?
They pay way way less per acre foot of water than the going rate for gallons of water for residential use. They keep pumping water out of the ground so fast that the ground is starting to go down several feet in places, ruining foundations. I know of a friends mom who bought a small house out in the country. They had a well, it worked the first few years and stopped. The water table has fallen too far below their well. She works for Walmart, not like she can afford $25k to dig a well even father down, only to have that go dry in a few years. If she were to try and sell the property now, it's probably not even worth a quarter of what she payed for it. Who wants a house with no running water? All she has is the water delivered to her house and the gallons she keeps buying. Try and live like that for a while..
All because of some dairy farms down the road buying water intensive feed. That in turn has farmers nearby pumping water for feed crops like sorghum and corn. She can't ask them to stop pumping so much, she probably cant even take them to court for lowering the water table below her well. Agro has so much money and congressional support behind them they will ignore someone like her and just go round and round in the courts waiting for someone like her to run out of money. Her property is now mostly worthless and she can't do anything about it.
@@marcusdamberger Florida's having a similar problem, though nobody wants to talk about it. In about 10 years the entire state will have to enact water rationing, and in 15 years whatever water's left will be too toxic for residential use. Why? Well, 10 years ago Ron DeSantis cleared what used to be protected wetlands for agricultural use. The sugarcane plantations use 3x more water than all other commercial and residential uses of water in the state *combined* while the chemical runoff from the plantations contaminates the aquifer. FLs freshwater drops about 15% a year now, and it's already at half of what it used to be, even 20 years ago.
You tell them Robert! Great information. Break up the monopolies
You also cant lose sight of making super-pacts and lobbying illegal. These companies in theory could be doing good but chose not to. As well as pay the government to ignore these facts that RR has presented. They have the best analysts in the world working for the fed and the pentagon.
GOP = cut regulations on coorporations for greed.
If everyone would boycott these price gouging Companies for just 24 hours it would have absolutely amazing results.
Yes there would be a 1/365 impact to their finances...but I get your point. All I would say is that wouldn't likely change their behaviors or our own. Changes need to be made sustainably and marginally.
Annual national “Don’t Buy Day.”
I'm with you!
Boycott everything, even work, paying your bills, just stay home and totally shutdown the economy, remember the rich don't get rich off each other, they get rich off us, they don't circulate nothing, they need the whole of the population for the game to work in their favor!!!🤨🤔✌
24 hours wouldn't be enough. 24 weeks would.
❤ he has THE PEOPLE in his arguments!! Love this man!!
I love him & I am not even American!!
@@Zach-ju5vi Typical Ambien Zach delusional MAGA republican, cultist logic, putting everyone in a coma with your sedative drivel. YAWN....ZZZZzzzz.....
@@gdionwoodAll clear thinking Americans love him.
@@Zach-ju5vi That's contradicted by the rise of the US dollar. If so many dollars were printed and spread around as you claim then the value of the dollars you hold would have fallen, not risen. Also look at global inflation for countries around the world how do you explain the global inflation rate and rise of the dollar against every major world currency?
@@Zach-ju5vi your statement is baseless. If there are specific things you don’t like or agree with then what are they. This left wing right wing is a lazy unintelligent non-argument.
This is so important to the American people. If we want a future in this country where rents aren't skyrocketing and wages can pay for basic needs, we need more people like Robert Reich.
I agree Robert Rice is telling the truth for all Americans for all he is 100% right he's got it right and he ain't lying
@@henrybarrera6156 He always tells it the way it is. That triggers the trolls here like Ambien Zach.
YES! That's exactly right!
Indeed!
@@Zach-ju5vi Time to seek help for your compulsion that is triggered by all the love for Professor Rich here with another of his well researched and fact filled videos that everyone here agrees with, that sets your illness off. Poor sad Ambien Zach...
A few years back, I had a boss that cut our raises, citing what I call “selective corporate poverty” saying profits were down - forgetting that we compiled the presentation touting our unprecedented success. His cost saving measure (which included cutting our raises) earned him a hefty bonus. He rolled up the next week in his brand new convertible without shame.
I trust the thing gets keyed every day?
This was essentially the issue that caused me to quit a business masters program in uni. I got into a series of arguments with the professor and classmates over companies that would cut wages or lay off employees because of 'tough times and market conditions' then hand out massive bonuses to themselves. A specific case was nearly 10,000 people weeks before Christmas and year end bonuses. They praised the move for saving having to pay the bonuses. I argued that the bonus was for work done during the year they had already COMPLETED, and if the company could afford the extra millions for the executives, then they really should have paid it to the employees who had helped BUILD those profits. The counterargument was that those workers were all redundant, excess labor that was making the company wasteful and inefficient, so firing them was a move that merited the bonuses. Again, I pointed out that the company hadn't made any mergers or acquisitions recently, so that excess labor must have been poor planning by the executives. If cutting them earned a bonus, then which executives would LOSE their bonuses or have their salaries reduced for having CREATED the problem in the first place?
I can't describe the looks on their faces. But a few comments made the meaning clear, "Da'fuq you talking about? Executives don't LOSE bonuses, only INCREASE their own payouts. We don't accept responsibility, we blame the workers so that WE keep the bonuses. That's the WHOLE DAMN POINT." Not grizzled business veterans who developed this attitude, but kids in college who already knew the greed was exactly the point and they were signing up for it, taking classes to join it. I guess I didn't get the memo. But I went to the office that day and transferred out. Never regretted it.
Inflation was about 8% last year. I just got a yearly increase of 3%. My boss proudly announced the raise we'd be getting ( he doesn't control it, he's "middle management ") and when I pointed out the 5% disparity meant we were actually LOSING, he shrugged and said "Well, it's better than getting no raise, right?"
Minimum wage should have been linked to inflation since the early 1970s. Of course, one political party doesn't believe in a minimum wage. Slave labor overseas whether $1/hour or $1/day is just fine.
Earlier this year, when I worked a wage job, a manager had the gall to say I was getting fatter paychecks due to having to work more hours due to under-staffing. Wages at that company hasn't gone up for well over a decade and I was actually seeing the pathetic pay be de facto reduced further.
Surprised he didn’t say that you should be thankful you have a job: now get back to work!
@@johnr5252 Well, it was because I had given my two weeks notice. Kind of hard to pull the "lucky to have a job" with someone who is leaving.
@@johnr5252 "I don't think Lupe will be happy working on his day off."
"If your employees are happy, you're doing something wrong." -Mr. Angelino from Three's Company rerun this past night.
Opportunistic price gouging!
The current economic system is unsustainable!
Thank YOU Robert Reich
Keep talking about this. I'm finally starting to see comments on articles regarding inflation that call out price gauging. This is new. So public awareness is growing. Mr. Reich thank you for your efforts on this. Keep it up!
The corporations through their well known dupes have always preached that ‘economy of scale’ makes it more efficient to serve the needs of the public. It’s tragic that the lessons of history are never learned let alone understood. Bob is like a stranger in a strange land, a lone voice that cries out in the darkness. Walk in the light my friends and VOTE against the strangle hold and guile of those who would send you to die in war but pretend they’re dying when it comes to equity.
Brilliant!
I pray Congress listens to you Robert. You have much knowledge to share and if they we wise they would hear your words.
Keep praying, but Congress isn't about to acknowledge that inflation is caused by monopolies: the monopolies own the politicians.
We all need to get more involved with our politicians locally all the way to DC!
I kept reading how so many Arizonans who voted for Sinema were surprised that she turned her back on Democratic party voters like them. If these same voters did even a "Google" of her voting record, they wouldn't have wasted their time & money on her!
Civics is no longer taught in our public schools. Billionaires want Americans to be apathetic and ignorant of how important voting is, especially voting for the right candidate is.
The greedy rich want dumbed-down, apathetic populace so they can screw all of us with ease.
We all need to get involved with politics, the issues that are important to us & even run for office ourselves--if we can!
Rethuglicons know that is how to get what THEY want.
Seems unlikely - he’s threatening the ability of business, their donors, to continue to increase profits to higher and higher records.
@Vote Blue if 💕 Women n November they wont.
You need to do more than pray
Listening to this gave me chills--and not in a positive way. I feel for those who will suffer in the policies we are watching play out.
Instead of sitting back and feeling so unsettled with the reality of life in US, what are YOU DOING to fight back????
Your comment doesn't make any sense.
Robert is telling all of us who care to listen of the change we all need to make and that takes us getting motivated instead of sick of the facts of our lives.
Knock em’ out of the park Prof. Thank you for all you do.
No respect for RR. He's typically wrong as he is in this video.
@@williamerdman4888 you are either a bit, a wanna be billionaire or completely and totally brainwashed.
@@LG-dj9qr I don't know what a bit is? But you are right about one thing... I do want to be a billionaire. Robert R has always been a disaster.
@@williamerdman4888 bot.
@@LG-dj9qr Still don't know what that is?
Excellent testimony
Here here!
Yes so informative indeed..
Robert is THE MAN!!
I work for a large corporation and I’ve been in the business for almost 30 years. I received a 1.1% raise the last 2 years. I’ve been going backwards for 6 years because of rising healthcare costs.
I'm sure you are making more than the company passes on to the consumer.
Blame Reagan, his voodoo economic disaster has devastated everyday Americans.
The American People have gone backwards since the 1980s and Reagonomics.
Tax windfall profits and enable price controls!
@@Zach-ju5vi Spewing the corporate line like the bootlicker you are Ambien Zach. Big surprise.
Congress, listen to Robert Reich, he is speaking the truth. Dammit, get off your collective asses and stop the foolish dependency on the Fed's outmoded method of raising interest rates.
Mark your 100% ride on this I'm a retired Union man and shop Stewart San Francisco trade show industry and Robert is 100% right and you are 100% right thank you for the information
He's right about that temporary windfall tax Congress needs to wake up and do it now temporarily
Zack in a way you're a little bit right but I don't believe that 100% the end of Trump's administration they gave all those tax breaks to the corporations two to three trillion dollars and they didn't do nothing with that money for the economy they they jacked up their prices during that during that covid era they were they were making 200% in the economy wasn't really working because where everyone was they shut down the economy because of covid but those guys jacked up the prices 200%. I just don't believe that that Robert's telling the truth yeah he's not he's not bullshitting I understand about taxes we didn't get no good tax break I remember when Trump was in office oh we ain't going to mess with the middle class taxes hell I usually break even on my taxes when he was in office I didn't owing the reason we he took it out on the middle class is cuz he gave those the corporations at two to three trillion dollar tax break which they didn't do nothing they put it back into the company the money bought stock so I don't believe that Zack I'm sorry brother
Everyone has a civic duty, particularly the upper middle class, to avoid overpaying for goods.
Is anyone in Congress actually hearing you?
They hear him. They're just not listening; In into one ear, out of the other ear. 🙄🤷♂
Thank you Dr Reich for telling the truth.
Robert Rice is telling the truth because no company is controlling him you have MMS MSNBC The squawk box they talk about stocks and the economy they can't tell the truth like Robert is because they're controlled by the big media corporation so Robert actually whatever they're saying they're not telling you the truth Robert doesn't have to worry about being fired or suspended for speaking out so I rather listen to Robert than anyone else because if you listen to squawk box I mean this morning what they were saying I was almost I almost fell off my couch when the guy was talking so that's why you know what Robert saying he's basically telling the truth you can't you can't screw up as his lies he's not lying and you can't call him a liar and he's he's just you know think about it you know the guy knows what he's doing he's a really good economist educated always remember no one controlling him no one is controlling his narrative
Without ever having heard Richard’s explanation, I came to the same conclusion 15 years ago. He has hit the nail precisely on the head! Monopolies and corporate pricing collusion kills capitalism, there is no real free market competition anymore, which is essential for capitalism to function.
It's always about money and greed. You can't have a system built off that and expect there to be no problems
Thank you for everything your fighting for !!!
Yes, thanks for speaking on our behalf.
Brilliantly written and delivered, as always.
You did a good job. They will not listen they are the reason we are an oligarchy.
Excellent testimony.
I'm so glad that Congress has welcomed your counsel, albeit a very short time, on handling inflation. I've learned so much from you Dr. Reich.
Let's hope we get new leaders in office that gonna put stop to the scam that these Rep , Dem are allowing these corporate R , certain D get away with this con against the rest of us
We always learn a great deal from him.
Reich be spitting straight undeniable facts.
Robert is too articulate and eloquent to "spit" when he speaks.
Unchecked runaway corporate greed.
@@Zach-ju5vi it is true, but corporations aren't dumb enough to price themselves out of the market.
@@Zach-ju5vi More of the same tripe from our resident corporate bootlicking troll, Ambien Zach the cure for insomnia..
@@Zach-ju5vi Still waiting for you to admit your compulsion has gotten out of control here. All the positive comments the great professor Reich has received with this well researched and fact filled video has no doubt triggered your psychosis. I think it's time you seek professional help for this serious medical condition..
@@Zach-ju5vi You continue to expose your compulsion to spew nonsense here proving you must seek medical attention as soon as possible, you poor sick little man..
BP gas station in my area (the only gas station in the town) is charging 50 cents more a gallon than the average of the price of a gallon at all other area gas stations. How are they getting away with this? I thought that the government was going after gas price gougers!?
I really doubt they are paying their employees more than other neighborhood gas stations - guess there is some other excuse.
We had planned to pay off our credit card by Dec 31st. Between gas and grocery prices and the constant interest rate hikes, that's put us into at least Oct of next year. We're on a fixed income with no way to to make more $$. I'm disabled and my husband took his social security early to be my care giver. The money we'd saved thru the years is going faster than we prepared for. I'm sure there are alot of people in a comparable situation. I see no end to this price gouging.
Well, just as there's a lag between supply of gasoline increasing and gas prices dropping (but no lag as they rise), it will be awhile after we get back to work and move imports off the dock before prices can drop. Do to American Right-Wing foolishness, we lost over 1 million Americans and many of them were workers.
@@sandal_thong8631 foolishness? Try malignant, intentional neglect. Remember that drumpfh did nothing until covid started hitting red States.
@@sandal_thong8631 Not to mention the thousands disabled by long COVID.
@@chezmoi42 Glad you mentioned that. A lot of fools are saying, "I got it and I'm fine" who may have heart or lung damage.
Thanks Robert. I hope this gains steam.
And I've yet to see a single politician speak out about this literally anywhere. Maybe I just missed it but I sincerely doubt it.
Not in America, or here in Canada or anywhere else. Like they're all in on it (wouldn't surprise me). So thank you Robert, for continuing to educate people on these matters because the only way things will change is if enough of us are informed and put pressure on our "representatives".
Bernie , Elizabeth Warren ...... a few others
Bernie Sanders always talks about the greedy elite--widening inequality and where it comes from. Monopolies and breaking them up is big on his list.
They just pretty much point their fingers at the other party and blame it on Biden. A ridiculously vast oversimplification of a hugely complex system and issue. It's frustrating to see how dumbed down the American public has come to and facts and legitimate discourse like this video seem to have no effect on their stupidity
Someone was smart enough to call on Secretary Reich to testify: Now, LISTEN to him!
Go Robert! Thank you for speaking with truth, intelligence and a primary concern for the poor and the middle class!
Break up monopolies and prices will come down....as long as competition can be given an opportunity
Corporate Monopolies = Corporate Profiteering and Corporate Price Gouging . CORPORATE GREED = HIGH INFLATION !
America gained 2.5 million new millionaires last year. Fcking ridiculous
And this is bad because?
My uncle became a millionaire working his BEHIND OFF 24/7 Selling used clothes yes believe it or not, USA is so wasteful that in 3 years my uncle started selling used clothes in a flea market, then eBay, now has 3 warehouses, I respect his commitment to his business and family. so, what is wrong about that? you are upset because you are a poor kid playing video games and watching tik tok all times? your comment is so bad, this is why republican hate us democrats for people LIKE YOU!
@@TheMELTDOWN911 Quit LARPing as a democrat to make democrats look bad. You are obviously a libertarian republican.
I didn’t realize that hating on financially successful people was a democrat thing?
@@Lucas-hb1uq jajaja a Mexican American like me a Republican or Libertaria jajaja I don't even know what libertarian is! jajaja Im just a hard working c*bron like my uncle and also selling used stuff on eBay so you know that last year I made $220K selling stuff on eBay!! do you know that you can buy stuff at the Fleamarket or garage sales for 25 cents and resell on eBay for 5 bucks!! (Someone trash is some else treasure) get a life looser so you stop criticizing hard working people, I may have 200K of PROFIT this year so hasta a vista amigo Democrata
Very clearly explained with powerful details! Let's hope that some of the reality seeped through.
Robert is not a big man. He’s a giant. Keep fighting for us Sir. You are what it means to be an American. Fighting for truth, justice, and equality.
I wish there was a federal level corporation commissioner and that you, Robert were given that lifelong position to protect and guard against oligarchal control of America's economy and politics.
Finally, someone voicing the fact that it's not those suffering the most from inflation, but those that profit the most from inflation who are the drivers.
As I have always said, It's the price "setter's", It's individuals, small groups of individuals, and a failure of a highly fallible "free" market system that are to blame for our sufferance.
I wish more would listen, I just had a short conversation with a friend that voiced his view that Government spending was the sole driver of higher prices. What annoys me, is when I voice the way I see it, he thinks for a while, then days later he reverts back to his old stance. Sometimes folks need to hear it several times before they come to understand.
Keep up the good work Mr. Reich, I hope your not only speaking to the choir.
Got to answer to the shareholders not to the 99%. I really hope someone will listen to you Professor Reich
I love this man. He speaks the truth.
Sadly so many people are influenced by his opposite: liars.
We need people like you Robert!
We sure do.
Is it possible to fix the existing economy? I'm a 50+ year old dbA and my current salary doesn't come close to matching the purchasing power my father had with a minimum wage of $1.25 in the 1960's. The same purchasing power would require today's minimum wage to be at least $35 an hour, which is well more than I make! If there's a way to correct current wage levels to what they should be, I'd sure love to hear it.
Thank you for trying to educate this professional dum dumbs! I’m glad you made it very clear and simple…and just call it profiteering. They will continue to ignore these facts when the decade long slumber party between big businesses is alive and going strong through lobbying and super-pacts.
But, but, but... if companies can't earn record profits, how will they have enough money to make big contributions to politicians?
Isn't there only one company that's responsible for most of the toilet paper and paper towels? How did we let this happen?
Buy a bidet, you'll never go back, really!
Reich makes the case to support small, privately owned businesses; I agree
@Bob You should do a video on home loans in the 70s, 80s, and 90s vs now.
Sure at some points in time the interest rate was higher, but a 12% APR on a 50k house over thirty years adds up to 'only' $185,000. While a 6% APR on that same house that's now worth over $350,000 is $755,000 total.
Not only that, but you can often end up paying more to the bank than you spent on the home itself. For that 6% loan $350k goes to the house (with the buyer and seller agents both getting a cut based off the sale price, couldn't possibly lead to corruption...) and the other $400k goes to lining the banks pockets.
Houses should not be commodities. Ban owning more than 4 residential properties. Or at least make it prohibitively expensive to own them.
20% down? LMAO, most people cannot afford $500. $66,000 for 20% of the average American home price is simply unachievable.
So good to hear Robert spak truth about cause of inflation! 👏👏
TY MR REICH WELL STATED TO TRUTH!👍👌🤗💖
Thank you for all you do!!! Speak the truth!
I agree with you Melissa he is very truthful it's about time we found someone like him he is awesome he knows what he's talking about as well educated about it he's not lying he's telling the truth I agree 100%, I'm an ex Union man shops do it from San Francisco in the trade show industry I always respected Roberts rice views
@@Zach-ju5vi Poor Ambien Zach, your Reich derangement compulsion is at the point where you need professional help..
@@Zach-ju5vi No just allergic to your mind numbing, sleep inducing, blather you are compelled to spew every time anyone compliments the great Professor Reich. It's an illness that has a solid grip on you Ambien Zach. You need to read your comments to put yourself to sleep. The rest is much needed.
@@Zach-ju5vi haters hate with conviction and that's what you are and that is what you do. You're just a hateful troll
Thank you
Please keep fighting the good fight Mr. Reich. It means so much to have someone of your caliber standing up for everyday working people. Thank you. 🙏
Preach the truth these greedy cretin don’t think we NEED to be bothered with Robert. Love ya! Keep up the great work.
Thank you professor for educating the citizens
On what is going on now
Trumpi and fox are teaming up
The new trumpi Justice reality show
Tune in its on every channel
I wish I had the money to make commercials with clips from your videos and then schedule them to run before and after political candidate commercials.
I love you and your commentary. You make more sense than any of these talking heads. Alas, here lately, no one that can make a difference is listening to and following your recommendations. Even so, your views give comfort because you tell us the truth. Thank you!!!
Thank you, Robert.
If we don’t address the problem of monopolies we can’t reduce inflation except by a Fed induced recession hurting all
Exactly !!!!!!!!
I’m glad that as an hourly worker I am represented and belong to a relatively strong union. Negotiations begin next year for new contract.
Reminds me of Mussolini’s definition of FASCISM, government by corporation.
Well said.
I think raising wage will help. Also brake up some those ultra big companies to have more competed market.
Preach Robert Preach 👍👏👏👏🤨🤔✌
Yes God bless him..
Robert is very smart.............We need people like him in Washington! Washington lawmakers probably won't listen to his advice because our politicians have corporate greed in their pockets!
Now if only those in power would listen and take the proper actions.
Thank you, Justice Thomas, for the mentally and physically exhausting tasks you perform each day. Hopefully your vacations were mentally and physically refreshing. May God Bless you and I pray you seek His guidance in your work and life.
right on the money, quite literally
3:15 "direct action..." Set a timetable, in (x) months this country will go back to the precious metals/gold standard to back the US Dollar. This will not happen IF and ONLY IF the wage differential in US corporations between highest wage earner and lowest employee wage earner falls to (y).
Preach it. Although I'm sure it will falls on deaf ears when their pockets are lined by the windfall profits.
Capitalism ONLY works if there is meaningful competition, and creative destruction. If market don’t break up companies, then the Government HAS to.
This analysis is right on the money
Well spoken and thank you for posting the video!
I know Professor Robert Reich is CORRECT, because, he's no longer in my daily RUclips feeds. There's no way this information is going to go VIRAL. Thanks for trying to enlighten the Public. Your presence on the internet is invaluable. We The People, need more intellectual warriors like yourself.
Robert a true hero for the people 🙏
Fed Chair Jerome Powell is a former Wallstreet Republican. Tinfoil hat, anyone?
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Its surprising that Biden allowed him to continue.
Got to educate the worker bees, we've been dumbing down far too long
It’s not inflation
It’s price gouging
Thank You, Robert Reich.
Mr. Reich- again clear and concise. Completely understandable. Thank you sir. Now congress has to act. Good luck
Someday, hopefully, Robert will be recognized for his genius and patriotism.
He's a great man..
This is very important globally, this issue is global and for exactly these reasons. Corporate greed and government allowing this lack of competition. This isn’t even capitalism.
@@Zach-ju5vi More of the same sedative drivel from our boy Ambien Zach, the Mr. Sandman of this channel who's Reich derangement compulsion is out of control as always.
All the support here for Professor Reich has been too much for you to handle as your delusional out of control compulsion has shown. Seek help soon my poor boy..
How often do we get to hear someone address Congress who has real compassion for working people and does everything he can to speak up for and support them? Thank you, Mr. Reich. 💕
The TRUTH
by Dr. Reich
What he is doing:
Failing to even mention the the #1 cause for inflation: the fact that we permitted the government to create $14T out of thin air. (Classic deflection)
He is instead talking The secondary reasons in wages and corporate profits without mentioning the economic blast waves that were caused by handing out money for non-work. These wrecked both the labor market and created 'zombie businesses'.
He's very careful about how he says things. Corporate profits maybe at record levels (making his statement technically true if denominated in dollars), but he's not factoring very same the inflation rate that he's talking about. It would be like saying that workers are making more than they've ever made before without mentioning the fact that the money they're making is worth significantly less. This is a purposeful misrepresentation of the facts.
He stated that corporate profits have gone up disproportionately to the rise of material costs. Although this may be true, what he's purposefully failing to mention is that the number one expense for practically any American Business is not the cost of their materials. It is the cost of Labor and this has gone up over 50% within the past few years. People are doing less work for a lot more money and the present and entitlement culture, the quiet quitting, the WFH nonsense, the great resignation, all adds up to a horrendous increase in the cost of doing business.
He's failing to mention these facts because this is how Communists make their arguments. They eloquently talk about their euphoric lala land ideals, while completely ignoring the presence of material facts. Which to a person unfamiliar with the subject matter, sounds very convincing.
I will absolutely agree with him on one point and that and antitrust laws and antitrust regulation, must be stepped up. There are few narrow instances where a controlled Monopoly May prove to be beneficial, at least in the short term. But the pendulum has absolutely swung way too far and practically every industry. As usual with communist propaganda, they insert a grain of truth in there to give themselves legitimacy, when in fact the end goal is to monopolize every industry under one thumb of "the people", which only a tiny select few will absolutely control. Hypocrisy at its best.
Tell the TRUTH!!
Like always, blame the poor, the elderly, the immigrant and minorities but NEVER, the corporations. Also make note on the competition aspect. I used to think monopolies were against the law.