"We changed the conversation." And to do that and build and staff a hospital in every county, for instance, you will need to change the conversation around the national debt. As a currency issuer, we can afford anything we want. The question is, do we have the resources? The concrete, steel, energy, and the people: nurses, doctors, and capable administrators. You are, of course, right to talk about building and building public capacity specifically. But big ideas die on the vine of "how will you pay for it?" How was the Green New Deal attacked? How did we let them cut the incredibly popular Social Security? Why was the extended child care tax credit allowed to expire after it raised 50% of impoverished children out of poverty? We must change the discussion around the Federal Government's "debt". It is PUBLIC MONEY. And needs be used in the public interest, finally, and not just as cash giveaways to the wealthy so that they will create jobs for the rest of us. We tried that to the tune of some $24 trillion in increased bond sales from 2001-2019. What we got was asset price inflation, speculative bubbles, superyachts, and the Epstein Class. And, of course, a populist revolt at the death of the American Dream. I want my, public, money back and want it used in creating real competition, real opportunity, real change.
At some level, we're already paying for "it", ie. health care, via health insurance paid for by employers. Health care capital expenditures are ultimately implicit underneath all that, if somewhat removed. So the problem can be thought of as a shell game, switching funding from private health insurance to public health care... The most naively direct means for that is to straight up switch those payments from health insurance payments to (eg) payroll taxes. Bonus points: spending on construction for health care facilities at scale is a direct economic boost, as well.
I like your ideas a lot Corbin. Affordability seems to start with getting money out of politics. We need ordinary people running and winning. Thank you for your work!
I love the initiative Corbin - fantastic job. My brother, who’s a very tough audience writes; “I’ve been reading Corbin all year. He’s one of the few analysts who’s thinking meets the moment we’re in.”
I like the plan Corbin. I can only come up with $1000 so I can't be one of your anchors. So how to get your proposal out in front of a pool of those who can afford the $50 - $100k support? Keep after it young man! Signed, one of your big fans.
I have a real problem with your government competition thinking/economic model. My take is government (by, of, and for the people) should produce, supply, distribute, and control all ESSENTIAL human needs. Bluntly that means electricity, water, health care, roads air, basic transportation, armed forces to name a few, owned/built/maintained/controlled by the government for the common well-being. No individual or group of individuals should control an essential human need in the interest of selfish gain. Some will certainly scream COMMUNISM or socialism, but they would be wrong, because shared and collaborative ownership is the foundation of collective, collaborative living; civilization or tribalism if you require a label. This is how humans have survived and evolved even before we climbed down out of the trees. I totally reject the idea that competition is the engine of progress…it is needs and desires that fuels innovation.
First, you talk down on how big money is part of the problem, yet you now say you need big money to get started? Those anchor donors will of course expect greater influence or even obeisance for their contribution, and here we go again with the tried and true method of political power by the dollar…in the least it will appear so. I think you can do better. There is an old sales saying that goes like this: it is easier to get $1 from a million people than $1 million from a single person. Please rethink this decision. If what you are trying to do is truly worthy, a million people will contribute $5 and the big money donations can just be gravy. I support what you are attempting to do even as we may differ on some tactics and beliefs.
“For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us to temporarily beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change…” ~ Audre Lorde
Thanks, and I agree. Big donors will expect big favors in return. Bernie showed us that with an exciting message, and something they believe in, people will give their small amount, hard-earned dollars, again and again. Bernie raised millions, and mobilized an energized movement that was ready to exercise their power.
Unfortunately, Bernie led us all down the garden path, twice! He took the money and left his movement ("Our Revolution") demoralized and with nothing to show for all their giving and hard work, and he ended up endorsing the same old neoliberal and neocon Democrats that he claimed to oppose. I wish Corbin well but he needs to trust the little guys who will make this or break this movement.
Sounds like a good plan, but I keep looking at the bottom line: As long as the primary or only bottom line is profit, and as long as we do not have a unified, nonreligious core value like integrity, most efforts are going to be ineffective in the long run.
And I must include my personal favorite: As long as any business is allowed to pay less than a living wage for full time work, ... ibid.
Corbin, I really appreciate your insights and think you have so much to offer. PLEASE consider scaling this through small donor donations because anything else will create the same model that now has the Dems losing all credibility to serve their masters. As a huge Bernie fan in 2016, I still believe that without instituting a strong oversight of community investments (democratic socialist) it is always going to make people squirm at how untrustworthy the govt is with our money. Democratic Socialism and financial watch dogs enforcing federal penalties is the only way to get a lot more people excited about govt run programs. White collar criminals need jail time for govt funded fraud. As an independent I will support anyone who is committed to overturning Citizen's United and term limits for all who institute laws, including the supreme court. Thank you again for your passion and insights, I hope we all get to support this as individuals. There are so many people who want to invest in what we believe that I think you are overlooking our power as a group to invest. Cheers!
I’m totally open to willing to and planning to open us up to small dollar donors. I just don’t want to take any small contributions until I’ve got enough runway to make sure that it can get off the ground.
That's the way to fly. Get off the ground with moneyed people, and once it's in play everyone can breathe a sigh of relief at what they would want to be part of it, with small donations that could add up to a lot more money coming into the unifying force this would be. I’ve been scratching my head to not see progressive multi-millionaires and billionaires taking much initiative, and maybe this will lure them out.
I have little money left over at the end of the month - especially THIS month! - but I've built into my monthly budget $100 exclusively for lefty Dem primary challengers, and a handful of nonprofits whose work I support. Going forward, every month I will happily give ALL OF IT to the PAC. From what I understand, regular monthly donations are particularly helpful because budgeting and cashflow are made more predictable. I think you should lean into small-dollar recurring donations. $10/month, every month, would not be a big ask for many people... at least not yet!
Unity. A concept that's been eroded due to the Republican "lone cowboy" TV shows of the 50s.
But when you look at "Blazing Saddles" (between belly laughs), it was the people of the town who saved themselves because they were united in their purpose. They succeeded, too!
I wish I knew someone with that kind of money to spare. But I'm the richest person I know, and I guess I would say I'm in "comfortable" retirement. I love your idea and would financially support it, but it sounds like it would be difficult to scale up in time for 2026 or even 2028. Just wondering if you could pitch it to the established groups you mentioned in this article. Bring your small donors to them to fund this research under their aegis?
I will forward your announcement to three individuals who might have the money and will to donate (at the lower levels). I have never done anything like that before. I hope others will stretch their wings and try something new. Good luck!
Good program as far as it goes, but nothing so far to raise wages/incomes for most people.
This requires policies such as higher min. wage, stronger unions, job guarantee, public investment in health, climate, and the like financed by major fund shifts from aggressive military action/spending.
Corbin, congratulations on building your argument brick by brick, essay by essay. I'm convinced, and reposted. But I sure hope you soon find a more visionary illustration for your roll-out message, instead of just the doom and gloom. Now is the time to describe what success looks like, not just repeat the failures we're enduring. Show us why the fight is worth having.
"worth fighting for" is a better name I think! tease the positive vision not just the fight. 'years of work' is a brilliant succinct super digestible metric message. Thanks for your work!
"We changed the conversation." And to do that and build and staff a hospital in every county, for instance, you will need to change the conversation around the national debt. As a currency issuer, we can afford anything we want. The question is, do we have the resources? The concrete, steel, energy, and the people: nurses, doctors, and capable administrators. You are, of course, right to talk about building and building public capacity specifically. But big ideas die on the vine of "how will you pay for it?" How was the Green New Deal attacked? How did we let them cut the incredibly popular Social Security? Why was the extended child care tax credit allowed to expire after it raised 50% of impoverished children out of poverty? We must change the discussion around the Federal Government's "debt". It is PUBLIC MONEY. And needs be used in the public interest, finally, and not just as cash giveaways to the wealthy so that they will create jobs for the rest of us. We tried that to the tune of some $24 trillion in increased bond sales from 2001-2019. What we got was asset price inflation, speculative bubbles, superyachts, and the Epstein Class. And, of course, a populist revolt at the death of the American Dream. I want my, public, money back and want it used in creating real competition, real opportunity, real change.
At some level, we're already paying for "it", ie. health care, via health insurance paid for by employers. Health care capital expenditures are ultimately implicit underneath all that, if somewhat removed. So the problem can be thought of as a shell game, switching funding from private health insurance to public health care... The most naively direct means for that is to straight up switch those payments from health insurance payments to (eg) payroll taxes. Bonus points: spending on construction for health care facilities at scale is a direct economic boost, as well.
Always good to see you here, Trip!
I like your ideas a lot Corbin. Affordability seems to start with getting money out of politics. We need ordinary people running and winning. Thank you for your work!
I love the initiative Corbin - fantastic job. My brother, who’s a very tough audience writes; “I’ve been reading Corbin all year. He’s one of the few analysts who’s thinking meets the moment we’re in.”
I like the plan Corbin. I can only come up with $1000 so I can't be one of your anchors. So how to get your proposal out in front of a pool of those who can afford the $50 - $100k support? Keep after it young man! Signed, one of your big fans.
I have a real problem with your government competition thinking/economic model. My take is government (by, of, and for the people) should produce, supply, distribute, and control all ESSENTIAL human needs. Bluntly that means electricity, water, health care, roads air, basic transportation, armed forces to name a few, owned/built/maintained/controlled by the government for the common well-being. No individual or group of individuals should control an essential human need in the interest of selfish gain. Some will certainly scream COMMUNISM or socialism, but they would be wrong, because shared and collaborative ownership is the foundation of collective, collaborative living; civilization or tribalism if you require a label. This is how humans have survived and evolved even before we climbed down out of the trees. I totally reject the idea that competition is the engine of progress…it is needs and desires that fuels innovation.
First, you talk down on how big money is part of the problem, yet you now say you need big money to get started? Those anchor donors will of course expect greater influence or even obeisance for their contribution, and here we go again with the tried and true method of political power by the dollar…in the least it will appear so. I think you can do better. There is an old sales saying that goes like this: it is easier to get $1 from a million people than $1 million from a single person. Please rethink this decision. If what you are trying to do is truly worthy, a million people will contribute $5 and the big money donations can just be gravy. I support what you are attempting to do even as we may differ on some tactics and beliefs.
“For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us to temporarily beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change…” ~ Audre Lorde
Thanks, and I agree. Big donors will expect big favors in return. Bernie showed us that with an exciting message, and something they believe in, people will give their small amount, hard-earned dollars, again and again. Bernie raised millions, and mobilized an energized movement that was ready to exercise their power.
Unfortunately, Bernie led us all down the garden path, twice! He took the money and left his movement ("Our Revolution") demoralized and with nothing to show for all their giving and hard work, and he ended up endorsing the same old neoliberal and neocon Democrats that he claimed to oppose. I wish Corbin well but he needs to trust the little guys who will make this or break this movement.
Don't be sold on the power mongers who say, "Big donors will expect big favors in return." Not the ones that Corbin would attract.
Sounds like a good plan, but I keep looking at the bottom line: As long as the primary or only bottom line is profit, and as long as we do not have a unified, nonreligious core value like integrity, most efforts are going to be ineffective in the long run.
And I must include my personal favorite: As long as any business is allowed to pay less than a living wage for full time work, ... ibid.
YES, it should exist! This is the trajectory I've wanted for your work! Yes, yes, yes!
Unfortunately, I don't know likeminded people who are rich on that level, but count me in for later, lower tiers of financial support.
Corbin, I really appreciate your insights and think you have so much to offer. PLEASE consider scaling this through small donor donations because anything else will create the same model that now has the Dems losing all credibility to serve their masters. As a huge Bernie fan in 2016, I still believe that without instituting a strong oversight of community investments (democratic socialist) it is always going to make people squirm at how untrustworthy the govt is with our money. Democratic Socialism and financial watch dogs enforcing federal penalties is the only way to get a lot more people excited about govt run programs. White collar criminals need jail time for govt funded fraud. As an independent I will support anyone who is committed to overturning Citizen's United and term limits for all who institute laws, including the supreme court. Thank you again for your passion and insights, I hope we all get to support this as individuals. There are so many people who want to invest in what we believe that I think you are overlooking our power as a group to invest. Cheers!
I’m totally open to willing to and planning to open us up to small dollar donors. I just don’t want to take any small contributions until I’ve got enough runway to make sure that it can get off the ground.
That's the way to fly. Get off the ground with moneyed people, and once it's in play everyone can breathe a sigh of relief at what they would want to be part of it, with small donations that could add up to a lot more money coming into the unifying force this would be. I’ve been scratching my head to not see progressive multi-millionaires and billionaires taking much initiative, and maybe this will lure them out.
I have little money left over at the end of the month - especially THIS month! - but I've built into my monthly budget $100 exclusively for lefty Dem primary challengers, and a handful of nonprofits whose work I support. Going forward, every month I will happily give ALL OF IT to the PAC. From what I understand, regular monthly donations are particularly helpful because budgeting and cashflow are made more predictable. I think you should lean into small-dollar recurring donations. $10/month, every month, would not be a big ask for many people... at least not yet!
Unity. A concept that's been eroded due to the Republican "lone cowboy" TV shows of the 50s.
But when you look at "Blazing Saddles" (between belly laughs), it was the people of the town who saved themselves because they were united in their purpose. They succeeded, too!
I wish I knew someone with that kind of money to spare. But I'm the richest person I know, and I guess I would say I'm in "comfortable" retirement. I love your idea and would financially support it, but it sounds like it would be difficult to scale up in time for 2026 or even 2028. Just wondering if you could pitch it to the established groups you mentioned in this article. Bring your small donors to them to fund this research under their aegis?
i.e. your ideas/work using their established infrastructure.
I will forward your announcement to three individuals who might have the money and will to donate (at the lower levels). I have never done anything like that before. I hope others will stretch their wings and try something new. Good luck!
Good program as far as it goes, but nothing so far to raise wages/incomes for most people.
This requires policies such as higher min. wage, stronger unions, job guarantee, public investment in health, climate, and the like financed by major fund shifts from aggressive military action/spending.
Corbin, congratulations on building your argument brick by brick, essay by essay. I'm convinced, and reposted. But I sure hope you soon find a more visionary illustration for your roll-out message, instead of just the doom and gloom. Now is the time to describe what success looks like, not just repeat the failures we're enduring. Show us why the fight is worth having.
"worth fighting for" is a better name I think! tease the positive vision not just the fight. 'years of work' is a brilliant succinct super digestible metric message. Thanks for your work!
I plucked out a title: But they’re diagnosing a symptom, not the disease. We need a race toward well-being.
What I couldn't find was the urgency of overshoot. How to correlate that?
If we last, you can lead my parade. But we need to know each other. Here's yesterday, where you can earn yourself a fast $100:
My money for your life
A WHAT TO DO Movement
https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/my-money-for-your-life
Will reply to you for getting a not-so-fast larger amount.