Jeff Spross
@jeffspross.bsky.social
Can someone explain to me what the fuck the Biden administration thinks it’s achieving by escalating in Ukraine like this? And how it’s worth the attendant risks?
November 22, 2024 at 12:45 AM
Can someone explain to me what the fuck the Biden administration thinks it’s achieving by escalating in Ukraine like this? And how it’s worth the attendant risks?
During the Obama years, I was constantly frustrated by conservatives who simply refused to credit the idea that better economic conditions (full employment, high wages, low poverty) could reverse the decline of marriage or repair decaying social fabrics. 1/2
I am always puzzled by this line of argument: “We need to stop thinking the causes of Trumpism lie in material conditions we could change through policy, and realize the problem instead lies in the souls of our fellow Americans.”
Okay, so… what’s the plan then?
Okay, so… what’s the plan then?
"All of us should refuse to pretend that ..these voters are just woefully misunderstood and that if only the Democrats addressed their economic anxiety, they might vote differently"
thank you thank you thank you @roxanegay.bsky.social
thank you thank you thank you @roxanegay.bsky.social
November 17, 2024 at 4:30 PM
During the Obama years, I was constantly frustrated by conservatives who simply refused to credit the idea that better economic conditions (full employment, high wages, low poverty) could reverse the decline of marriage or repair decaying social fabrics. 1/2
I am always puzzled by this line of argument: “We need to stop thinking the causes of Trumpism lie in material conditions we could change through policy, and realize the problem instead lies in the souls of our fellow Americans.”
Okay, so… what’s the plan then?
Okay, so… what’s the plan then?
"All of us should refuse to pretend that ..these voters are just woefully misunderstood and that if only the Democrats addressed their economic anxiety, they might vote differently"
thank you thank you thank you @roxanegay.bsky.social
thank you thank you thank you @roxanegay.bsky.social
November 17, 2024 at 4:17 PM
I am always puzzled by this line of argument: “We need to stop thinking the causes of Trumpism lie in material conditions we could change through policy, and realize the problem instead lies in the souls of our fellow Americans.”
Okay, so… what’s the plan then?
Okay, so… what’s the plan then?
Ultimately, there is no way to define “qualifications” or “merit” for a public post that is purely technocratic or ideologically neutral. Inevitably, your definition will smuggle in *some* partisan political vision for what sort of country and institutions we should have.
Democrats, and even some Republicans, worry that President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for top positions in government are inexperienced, conflicted and potentially reckless. His voters described them as mavericks recruited to shake up Washington.
Trump’s Cabinet Picks, Panned in Washington, Thrill Many of His Voters
Where Donald J. Trump’s critics see underqualified nominees with questionable judgment, his voters described them as mavericks recruited to shake up Washington.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Ultimately, there is no way to define “qualifications” or “merit” for a public post that is purely technocratic or ideologically neutral. Inevitably, your definition will smuggle in *some* partisan political vision for what sort of country and institutions we should have.
My second of three pieces on why the US national debt can never become “too big.” This time up: why the size of the debt will never generate a hyperinflation crisis, no matter how large it becomes. (And even if the debt is “fully monetized.”) open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
The National Debt Can Never Become Too Big: Hyperinflation
On flows versus stocks, government deficits versus government debt, and why "too much" federal borrowing will never lead to a hyperinflation crisis.
open.substack.com
October 11, 2024 at 2:58 PM
My second of three pieces on why the US national debt can never become “too big.” This time up: why the size of the debt will never generate a hyperinflation crisis, no matter how large it becomes. (And even if the debt is “fully monetized.”) open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
The first of three posts on why the US national debt will never become “too big.” This one deals with why private lenders will never stop buying US debt. The other two will be on why we needn’t worry about hyperinflation or “crowd out” of private investment. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
The National Debt Can Never Become Too Big: The Bond Vigilantes
A tour through the banking system, the U.S. Treasury Department, and the U.S. Federal Reserve, to explain why private investors will never stop buying U.S. government debt.
open.substack.com
September 30, 2024 at 5:22 PM
The first of three posts on why the US national debt will never become “too big.” This one deals with why private lenders will never stop buying US debt. The other two will be on why we needn’t worry about hyperinflation or “crowd out” of private investment. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
Figured I should get back on the newsletter-writing horse. Since Trump recently threatened to punish countries that drop the U.S. dollar as their reserve currency, here’s an explanation of 1) what a reserve currency is, & 2) is being one a good thing? open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
Is Providing the World's Reserve Currency a Blessing or a Curse?
Why the rest of the world likes to stockpile U.S. dollars. And how lots of folks misunderstand the upsides and the downsides of this situation.
open.substack.com
September 23, 2024 at 4:29 PM
Figured I should get back on the newsletter-writing horse. Since Trump recently threatened to punish countries that drop the U.S. dollar as their reserve currency, here’s an explanation of 1) what a reserve currency is, & 2) is being one a good thing? open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
This week's newsletter will be out in a day or two. For now, re-upping last week’s, which digs through inflation, real wage growth, and the political science of “policy feedback,” to understand why voters aren’t giving Biden higher marks on the economy. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
September 11, 2023 at 2:04 PM
This week's newsletter will be out in a day or two. For now, re-upping last week’s, which digs through inflation, real wage growth, and the political science of “policy feedback,” to understand why voters aren’t giving Biden higher marks on the economy. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
“Bono and Lawrence Summers” is, like, THE byline of late-stage capitalism.
Now that Jeffrey Sachs has become something of a real leftist, Bono needs a new collaborating economist?
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
September 8, 2023 at 8:18 PM
“Bono and Lawrence Summers” is, like, THE byline of late-stage capitalism.
The jobs recovery from the COVID recession really was a near-miracle of macroeconomic policy. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
September 5, 2023 at 7:09 PM
The jobs recovery from the COVID recession really was a near-miracle of macroeconomic policy. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
Real wages fell for roughly two years under Biden. Americans got poorer, and the bleeding only just stopped. So again, it shouldn’t surprise that Biden’s econ approval is low. But! Real wage growth is finally positive again, and likely to remain so. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
September 5, 2023 at 5:16 PM
Real wages fell for roughly two years under Biden. Americans got poorer, and the bleeding only just stopped. So again, it shouldn’t surprise that Biden’s econ approval is low. But! Real wage growth is finally positive again, and likely to remain so. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
Dems really should read the political science work on "policy feedback." It's not enough to provide voters w/ material benefits. The policies need to have specific characteristics if voters are to recognize the benefits and reward politicians accordingly. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
September 5, 2023 at 4:20 PM
Dems really should read the political science work on "policy feedback." It's not enough to provide voters w/ material benefits. The policies need to have specific characteristics if voters are to recognize the benefits and reward politicians accordingly. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
It may seem counterintuitive to say, but Bidenomics was not designed to illicit goodwill from voters. That said, it’s managed the macroeconomy well, and that fact will probably pay political dividends for Dems before Election Day 2024. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
Biden Got One Big Thing Wrong On the Economy, and One Big Thing Right
Democrats didn’t pass the sort of policies that voters remember and respond to. But, despite inflation, they’ve managed the macroeconomy well. And they’ll probably be rewarded for it.
open.substack.com
September 5, 2023 at 2:16 PM
It may seem counterintuitive to say, but Bidenomics was not designed to illicit goodwill from voters. That said, it’s managed the macroeconomy well, and that fact will probably pay political dividends for Dems before Election Day 2024. open.substack.com/pub/theworkb...
“Human beings need other human beings. All of us. You might be inclined to lament that fact, and you’re entitled to if you want. But you don’t get to choose to be self-sufficient, any more than you can choose to not require oxygen or water.” freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/no-one-is-...
No One is Kenough
yes I'm doing Barbie discourse three weeks too late
freddiedeboer.substack.com
August 28, 2023 at 1:21 PM
“Human beings need other human beings. All of us. You might be inclined to lament that fact, and you’re entitled to if you want. But you don’t get to choose to be self-sufficient, any more than you can choose to not require oxygen or water.” freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/no-one-is-...
A “big picture” look back at the SVB crisis: Banks make loans. But they also provide us with a money system. And those are two very different functions, for which our society has completely incompatible expectations. https://open.substack.com/pub/theworkbench/p/we-want-banks-to-do-two-mutually
We Want Banks to Do Two Mutually Contradictory Things
Banks make loans. And they provide us with a money system. But those are two very different economic functions, for which voters and regulators have completely incompatible expectations.
open.substack.com
August 16, 2023 at 12:36 PM
A “big picture” look back at the SVB crisis: Banks make loans. But they also provide us with a money system. And those are two very different functions, for which our society has completely incompatible expectations. https://open.substack.com/pub/theworkbench/p/we-want-banks-to-do-two-mutually
A useful mental exercise is to imagine technological innovations entering an economy w/ a much different political order: say, one w/ a genuine soc dem welfare state, & in which every company was a worker-owned democracy. https://open.substack.com/pub/theworkbench/p/every-technological-change-is-an
August 9, 2023 at 6:32 PM
A useful mental exercise is to imagine technological innovations entering an economy w/ a much different political order: say, one w/ a genuine soc dem welfare state, & in which every company was a worker-owned democracy. https://open.substack.com/pub/theworkbench/p/every-technological-change-is-an
This week's newsletter uses the Hollywood strikes as an example of how technology is not *inherently* a threat to workers, but is made into a threat by how we've structured the rules of markets and ownership. https://open.substack.com/pub/theworkbench/p/every-technological-change-is-an
Every Technological Change Is an Opportunity for the Owners to Rob You: Hollywood Edition
Streaming and artificial intelligence were not destined to be threats to actors and writers. The problem is that Hollywood's workers don't control how that technology is deployed.
open.substack.com
August 9, 2023 at 2:54 PM
This week's newsletter uses the Hollywood strikes as an example of how technology is not *inherently* a threat to workers, but is made into a threat by how we've structured the rules of markets and ownership. https://open.substack.com/pub/theworkbench/p/every-technological-change-is-an
There's a common lament that Trump voters are indifferent to any improvement Dems may make in their material well-being. I've always found it unpersuasive and nihilistic. But even assuming it's accurate, what should we DO? https://theworkbench.jeffspross.com/p/if-trump-voters-dont-care-about-their
If Trump Voters Don't Care About Their Own Material Circumstances, What Are We Even Doing Here?
An extremely common lament among progressives renders their own political stances incoherent, and leads to practical dead ends.
theworkbench.jeffspross.com
August 1, 2023 at 4:42 PM
There's a common lament that Trump voters are indifferent to any improvement Dems may make in their material well-being. I've always found it unpersuasive and nihilistic. But even assuming it's accurate, what should we DO? https://theworkbench.jeffspross.com/p/if-trump-voters-dont-care-about-their