Who Stole the American Dream?
Channel: New America
Date: 14/09/2012

Who Stole the American Dream?

The promise of a prosperous middle-class life with decent work, rising living standards, and the potential for a better future has long been the foundation of the American dream. But as America continues to struggle to recover from the Great Recession, it has become clear that the middle class is in jeopardy -- and many of the policies of the last 40 years are to blame.

Examining the political, legislative, and corporate choices that have pushed the middle class to the brink, Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, and bestselling author Hedrick Smith details the story of this demise. In his new book, Who Stole the American Dream?, Mr. Smith analyzes how "pro-business" policies dismantled the previous American social contract and tells the stories of the people who have been left behind. To reclaim the promise of a thriving middle class, Mr. Smith proposes a "domestic Marshall Plan" based on infrastructure investment, a program to spur the revival of manufacturing, corporate tax reform, and renewed support of our key social insurance programs.

Mr. Smith will be joined in this discussion by Sherle R. Schwenninger, director of the Economic Growth and American Strategy programs at New America.

Participants

Featured Speakers
Hedrick Smith
Author, Who Stole the American Dream?
Producer and Correspondent, PBS
Former Washington Bureau Chief, New York Times

Sherle R. Schwenninger
Director, Economic Growth Program and American Strategy Program, New America Foundation

http://newamerica.net/events/2012/who_stole_the_american_dream