The Politics of Inequality

Inequality has been a long-standard feature of American society, but financial catastrophe and a sluggish recovery raised its profile. Occupy Wall Street protesters and others have argued that public policies contributed to rising inequality of income and wealth. Given the claims and evidence that inequality brought on the Great Recession, continues to undermine a more fair and equitable economy, and threatens our democracy, the debate over the extent of inequality and what to do about it is likely to assume a central role in the unfolding presidential campaign.

Veteran reporters Timothy Noah and David Corn have recently published books that grapple with the policy and politics of this moment. Noah examines the rise of inequality in The Great Divergence: America’s Growing Inequality Crisis and What We Can Do About It. Corn’s Showdown: The Inside Story of How Obama Fought Back Against Boehner, Cantor and the Tea Party examines how the White House navigated the politics of inequality in negotiating with Congressional Republicans.
 
Please join us and the authors for a discussion of the politics and policies of inequality.

Participants

Featured Speakers
Timothy Noah
Senior Editor, The New Republic
Author, The Great Divergence: America’s Growing Inequality Crisis and What We Can Do about It
 
David Corn
Washington Bureau Chief, Mother Jones
Author, Showdown: The Inside Story of How Obama Fought Back Against Boehner, Cantor, and the Tea Party

Moderator
Reid Cramer
Director, Asset Building Program
New America Foundation