The Skunk: A newsletter from Civic Skunk Works

"Because conventional wisdom stinks"

This Stinks:

The stock market is NOT the economyWe need to stop judging the economy based on how well it's working for rich people. So what metrics should we use? A group of economists and researchers developed a new metric, the Job Quality Index, and it may just provide the answer. Click here to watch the livestream: [link removed]

[link removed]

Our democracy is in the balanceIn 2020, FOUR billionaires have run or are running for president. That's not a coincidence. These super-rich candidates know that progressives are rightfully fed up with the rampant inequality and trickle-down policies in our country, and they're scared. They're trying to spend their way to the White House and protect their own wealth. Click here to read Civic Ventures' David Goldstein in Business Insider about why this is a risk to democracy.

[link removed]

'Tis the season to combat bad-faith minimum wage storiesOn Jan. 1, many states that passed minimum wage increases will see an incremental hike in their minimum wages. This is typically the time when national and local news outlets decide to spread doom-and-gloom arguments that minimum wage increases spell disaster for small businesses. But these arguments are as wrong as they are predictable. Click here to read more from Paul Constant about what's really happening.

[link removed]

How to make the rich pay their taxesTax rates on the wealthy have steadily eroded over the last 40 years, leaving us with an upside-down tax code that benefits the rich. And it's surprisingly easy for the rich and powerful to evade what little taxes they do owe, leading to less money to pay for important public programs. Gabriel Zucman, the authority on wealth taxes, joins us this week to explain how the rich dodge taxes and how we can fix the tax system. Click here to listen!

[link removed]

Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer

Skunk Survey: Which Democratic presidential nominee has the best economic message? Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Other. Vote before midnight!

[link removed]



--------

This email was sent to [email protected].

To unsubscribe from this email list, please click here: [link removed]

Paid for by Civic Action