Youtube video of the week...

I'm creating a new segment for the blog. I'm adding a space for a Youtube video of the week. Now be prepared! This could be anything folks... I'll write up a post on the item and why I chose to pick it among the many great, fun, funny,irreverent and sometimes (for-shame!!!) informative things one can find on youtube.

This weeks is the first segment of a talk given by the economist Dean Baker on his book The Conservative Nanny State.

You can read and even download this book for free at the site because it is publish under creative commons in attempt to harness the better aspects of the market without undermining the people whose sweat goes into creating the work.

In the books introduction Mr. Baker spoke about what inspired the theme of the book:

The key flaw in the stance that most progressives have taken on economic issues is that they have accepted a framing whereby conservatives are assumed to support market outcomes, while progressives want to rely on the government. This framing leads progressives to futilely lash out against markets, rather than examining the factors that lead to undesirable market outcomes. The market is just a tool, and in fact a very useful one. It makes no more sense to lash out against markets than to lash out against the wheel.

The reality is that conservatives have been quite actively using the power of the government to shape market outcomes in ways that redistribute income upward. However, conservatives have been clever enough to not own up to their role in this process, pretending all along that everything is just the natural working of the market. And, progressives have been foolish enough to go along with this view.

The frustration with this futile debate, where conservatives like markets and progressives like government, is the driving force behind this book, along with the hope that new thinking is possible.

Take a moment and enjoy our youtube video of the week from Dr. Baker...





Now think about learning more. Go download the book, or go check out the think tank Mr. Baker co-founded:

Center for Economic and Policy Research The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives. In order for citizens to effectively exercise their voices in a democracy, they should be informed about the problems and choices that they face. CEPR is committed to presenting issues in an accurate and understandable manner, so that the public is better prepared to choose among the various policy options.

They do great work in many different areas, and I consistently find myself using their stuff to help my own work locally. From the housing bubble (which they were way ahead of the curve on...) to health care for poor kids (schip anybody?) CEPR does a lot of really important work.

Also Mr. Baker has a blog called Beat the Press over at the magazine The American Prospect. His focus is to keep a sharp eye on economic reporting to see if it promotes an accurate and balanced representation of Ivory tower Economic Policy. This is vital since unfortunately the newspapers are often full of bad framing, inconsistent context, and pure right-wing think tank talking points with no picture from the "other side" of the spectrum.

For those of us who care about "the other side"--the middle class,the working class, poor and minorities; not to mention worker rights, and holding a goal of an economy that gives everyone a fair shot--the kind of work Mr. Baker does is greatly needed and hugely appreciated.