Building a 21st Century Economy
Shortly after President Obama took office, he remarked, "We need new rules of the road for the 21st century economy, together with the means and willingness to enforce them." But in today's world, economic solutions must include more than just bailouts and regulations.
As our leaders push to solve our country's financial crisis, how can we maintain confidence in the economy while protecting the interests of the middle class? What are some of the pivotal policy decisions that are being made now, and what will a "21st century economy" look like? And how can we as progressives help for progressive change in areas such as health care and workers' rights?
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, Change to Win Chair Anna Burger and economist Dean Baker will join us in Pittsburgh for a discussion about the economy and how it affects working Americans. The panel will be moderated by Kevin Drum of Mother Jones.
Kevin Drum is a political blogger for Mother Jones magazine. Prior to that he was a contributing writer for the Washington Monthly and authored their blog, Political Animal. During the 90s he was vice president of marketing for a software company in Irvine, California. He lives with his wife and two cats in Irvine.
Governor Jon Corzine is the 54th Governor of New Jersey, having taken office in 2006. From 2001-2006 he represented New Jersey in the United States Senate.
Called "the most powerful woman in the labor movement" by Fortune Magazine, Burger is Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU and Chair of Change to Win which represents six million workers and develops organizing campaigns aimed at ensuring that workers benefit from today's global economy. Burger also oversees SEIU's political operations and grassroots election work, which helped elect President Obama and candidates nationwide. An outspoken voice on the role unions can play to restore economic fairness, Burger serves on the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Burger began her career in 1972 as a Pennsylvania state caseworker before she became SEIU Local 668's first female president.
Dean Baker is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and author of the recent book Plunder and Blunder: The Rise and Fall of the Bubble Economy. He is frequently cited in economics reporting in major media outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, CNBC, and National Public Radio. He writes a weekly column for the Guardian Unlimited (UK), and his blog, Beat the Press, features commentary on economic reporting. His analyses have appeared in many major publications, including the Atlantic Monthly, the Washington Post, and the London Financial Times.
