Michael Gerson Complains that the Washington Post Won't Print Serious Pieces on Economic Policy

That is the nature of the complaint in his column, that no one is talking about poverty, even if he probably doesn't realize it. Of course there are people talking about the factors behind poverty, the most important of which is the weak economy. When we had low unemployment and strong growth at the end of the 90s, even those at the bottom of the income ladder were seeing greater opportunities.

To get from here to there would require more stimulus, more aggressive action from the Fed, and a lower valued more competitive dollar which would bring millions of manufacturing jobs back to the United States. However, the Washington Post (along with most other major news outlets) almost never presents the views of those making such arguments.

While Gerson thinks the problem is that people are not talking about the factors that cause people to remain mired in poverty, the real problem is major news outlets are not anxious to promote this discussion.

The Food Stamp President
written by izzatzo, January 20, 2012 6:07 AM

...the real problem is major news outlets are not anxious to promote this discussion.

Get a grip Whose Your Nanny. This Gingrich slogan is plastered all over the news and bumped out of first place only due cannibilizing himself with an unauthorized copy of a polyamorous marriage based on the scope economies of a threesome. At least he understands efficiency.

Stupid liberals.

-2

Poverty Rates by Age: 1959 to 2010
written by AndrewDover, January 20, 2012 7:48 AM

Pretty amazing that poverty rates for under 18 (22%) are double the poverty rates for over 65(9%), and far exceed the age group of 18-64 (13.7%)

In 1970, the poverty rates were:
15%, under 18
9%, 18-64
25%, over 65,

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2010/figure5.pdf

...
written by Union Member, January 20, 2012 7:50 AM

Since Gerson - like so many of the Washington Consensus (i.e. Everyone)- relies entirely on its own self-selected sources for news and information, he is a victim of his own self-censorship.
Does he even know if he is an original voice or just the echo?

...
written by liberal, January 20, 2012 9:15 AM

Henry George identified the main cause of poverty over 100 years ago.

...
written by ellis, January 20, 2012 9:40 AM

You say we should go back to the economic growth rates of the late '90s in order to lower poverty. Yes, that Bill Clinton really knew how to grow jobs, didn't he? All we need is another internet bubble. And cut effective corporate tax rates. And end welfare as we know it. Ah yes, the good old days, when the Democrats were "labor friendly."

fool or fraud
written by Peter K., January 20, 2012 9:49 AM

Gerson:

"But many Americans are being overlooked in this bipartisan conspiracy of economic abstraction."

Bipartisan? Obama proposed a jobs bill with payroll tax cuts and the Rethuglicans block it, like how they block anything that might help the economy which might help the poor.

The Washington Post should be shut down.

Peace Dividends?
written by Bart, January 20, 2012 11:57 AM

One of my pet peeves is the absolute lack of any discussion of the savings that could be, or are coming from a partial draw down of Endless War.

When the Cold War ended there was lots of talk about a Peace Dividend. Now, with our ginned-up GWOT-never-to-end, there is none.

Nor do we see any analysis of savings that could be gained by closing down various percentages of our 800-900 overseas bases.

...
written by bmz, January 20, 2012 4:57 PM

AndrewDover: Why do you consider those changes to be "amazing"? Aren't they pretty well accounted for by Medicare, and demographic changes(more lower-class families, and relatively fewer children in middle/upper class families)?

Michael Gerson Complains that the Washington Post Won't Print Serious Pieces on Economic Policy

About Beat the Press