When Good Economic Policy Isn’t Enough

August 2023 – Puzzled by the lack of positive response to economic policies that have assisted low- and middle-income families, such as the extension of the Child Tax Credit during the COVID-19 pandemic (which reduced child poverty by 46 percent), Deepak Bhargava, Shahrzad Shams, and Harry Hanbury explore the underlying dynamics that are fostering a sense of malaise among so many in the U.S. and creating an environment open to the rise of authoritarianism.

“Delivering for people on economic issues is an important goal in itself, but it is not an antivenom for the snakebite of authoritarianism.”

From “The Death of ‘Deliverism’”

They note that progressive economic policymaking must:

• take identity, emotion, and story seriously. Policies that deliver economic benefits but do not speak to a social identity are likely to have little political impact.
• offer ideas about issues they have tended to neglect such as violence, addiction, mental health problems, social isolation, loneliness, and a sense of social disintegration.
• articulate not just a string of worthy policies, but a vision of a good life grounded in ideas about how we should live, who we should care about, and what makes for a meaningful life.
• reinvigorate organizing and recruitment of new people into worker and community organizations. People are often mobilized on issues but are rarely invited to be part of a democratic community built on relationships that forge collective power.

Deepak Bhargava is a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute and a Distinguished Lecturer at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. Shahrzad Shams is the program manager for the Race and Democracy program at the Roosevelt Institute. Harry Hanbury is a documentary filmmaker and journalist.

Article Archive

July 2023

States Move to Weaken Protections for Child Workers

June 2023

Corporate Lobbyists at Climate Talks

May 2023

Electric Vehicle Transition Challenges

April 2023

Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery

March 2023

Misrepresenting War

February 2023

The Rise of Christian Nationalism

January 2023

How the News is Reported Affects What We Know

December 2022

How Corporations Took Over the Government

November 2022

The Independent State Legislature Theory Explained

October 2022

The Next Phase in the Voting Wars

The Mercy Justice Team needs you, a Mercy student, to create a short, social media style PSA (public service announcement) video – think Reels or TikTok – that reflects the Sisters of Mercy’s Critical Concerns. Put those creative ideas and video skills to work and you could win $500!

What form of injustice makes your nostrils flare every time it’s mentioned in the news?

Who do you know who’s been impacted by gun violence?

What story is yours to tell about the need for Mercy?

How do we challenge injustices in our society?

To receive information, updates and reminders about this year’s contest, complete this form and we’ll be in touch. Click here to learn rules for entry and how to upload your video.

Gun Violence

• Videos should reflect the Mercy Critical Concerns, especially the Critical Concern for Nonviolence, but do not need to identify the Critical Concerns specifically.
• Videos should inspire action to address gun violence.

Advocating for Justice

• Videos should reflect the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy efforts to advocate on behalf of social justice issues.
• Videos should inspire further advocacy.
• Videos should seek to make the idea of advocating for justice more accessible to people of all ages by explaining why is it important or showing what it looks like.

NEW! Watch our 20 minute webinar

to learn more about this year’s contest.

Emma Lemieux, Maggie Misbach, Abigail Gomes, Katherine Grelotti and Georgia Baldini
“Are you with us?”
Mercy High School, Middletown, Connecticut

Amer Hasan Macarambon, Allyza Jane Dangga, Rianna Ysabella Dollete, Krizyl Baguhin, Susan Gayle Andales, Sittie Nihaya Umba, Fatima Rose Rivera, Atheel Villaganas, Abby Kim Suan
“Racism”
Holy Cross High School, Mindanao, Philippines

Rineyri Cáceres, Isaac Blanco, Liam Schultz
“Bandera del amor”
Instituto María Regina, La Ceiba,
Honduras

Ava Kolp, Katelyn McGuire, Jamie O’Donnell
“Together We Can End Gun Violence”
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School, Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania

Grace de Klerk
“What is Justice?”
Mercy High School Farmington Hills

Shannon Talley, Maggie Baker, Alivia Chieffo
“Stop the Violence“
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School, Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania

Gracie Gavin, Maxine Schaffner
“Welcome to the Gun Zone”
Mercy High School Burlingame
California

Ana Sophia Butkus
“Life Is Not A Game”
Mercy High School, Middletown, Connecticut