Affordability is a Diversion
Income and wealth inequality are the root of the affordability crisis. Now we have politicians in both the Republican and Democratic parties waving affordability flags. […]
Articles by Mark Orton
What If US Wealth Was Distributed Equally?
a thought exercise in Rawls’ Theory of Justice US household wealth rose to $181.6 trillion at the end of 2025. If that wealth were spread […]
ALICE creates a view of life in America
a recent find…… I recently stumbled on ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed at United for ALICE. Of the 132,530,794 households in the U.S. […]
Trump’s Proposed $1.5 Trillion War Budget
a truly staggering number This chart shows the 2022 distribution of US war spending relative to the world. Trump’s proposed 50% increase in the war […]
Justice in America – the big fraud
part of a series on American values The Promise Sixth Amendment In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and […]
Expanding on Robert Reich’s Pledges for Democrats – there’s a lot to like, but we can improve on it
Reich published What Democrats Must Pledge to America – Ten ways to make America more affordable on 12.5.2025. Here are the bold titles for the […]
The Billionairification of America – democracy is dead in the US
The Billionairification of America The Forbes billionaires list in 2019 numbered 607 in the US. By April 2024, the number had grown by 34% to […]
The Extraction Economy – Private Equity in Action
Elizabeth Warren on private equity predators Private equity(PE) firms are the pinnacle of the great shift in the American economy over the past 50 years […]
My Children Will Be Better Off Than Me – a series on American values
A cherished part of our national culture has long been the belief that parents can improve their children’s future through better education, hard work, and […]
The Health Insurance Disaster – beyond the end of ACA tax credits
There has been much talk about the 4.8 million people (1.4 million in Florida and 750,000 in New York state) who will lose their Obamacare […]