IdeaLog
D.C. School Test Results Reflect Utter Failure of “Reform” Policies
Posted on August 2, 2014
If this isn’t failure, what is? The latest results of the DC-CAS, the District of Columbia’s high-stakes standardized test, show that the percentage of public school students judged “proficient” or better in reading has...
Why Progressive Values Work
Posted on July 18, 2014
Liberals, lefties, environmentalists, unionists, consumer advocates—all progressive types—suffer from negative stereotypes. Some of these stereotypes were invented by the right-wing messaging machine, and others are self-inflicted. By using values, we address and reverse some...
Freedom Is Free
Posted on July 9, 2014
The Fourth of July is a time for both well-meaning and evil-intending people to misuse the word “freedom.” As a political concept, the only workable definition of “freedom” is that it’s the absence of...
Minimum wage wins, even in a conservative-controlled jurisdiction
Posted on June 24, 2014
Can progressives win a minimum wage hike even in conservative-controlled state? Yes, by playing smart, aggressive politics. A few weeks ago, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation to raise that state’s minimum wage from...
A Populist Platform for 2014
Posted on June 10, 2014
Want a policy platform for your candidacy or organization? Here is a one-page statement that reflects American values and includes economic policies that are all wildly popular: A Populist Platform for 2014 For the...
Economic populism is crucial this year
Posted on May 27, 2014
2014 is not a year for subtlety. Pollsters expect older, whiter, more conservative Americans to show up at the polls in November while younger voters and people of color, who are more likely to...
Nine Tips for Fundraising
Posted on May 2, 2014
Nine Tips for Political Fundraising We all do fundraising. But do we do our best? Here are Nine Tips: 1. Begin with the right attitude. When you approach someone for a donation, you’re giving...
Non-verbal communication can negate what you’re trying to say
Posted on April 22, 2014
How do you spend most of your time when preparing to give a speech? If you are like most advocates and policymakers we’ve worked with, your answer is content or the words. You might...
The rich are richer than you think
Posted on April 9, 2014
The right wing has done a lot of whining about the over-taxed rich and the under-taxed middle class. Mitt Romney famously complained that “47 percent of Americans pay no income tax.” But that meme...
Is there a progressive economics?
Posted on March 12, 2014
By highlighting income inequality, President Obama has opened the door to a serious conversation with voters. The problem is that persuadable voters support an idealized concept of conservative economics based on low taxes and...