Books, Articles, Talks, Videos, Songs, and Stageplays on
Politics and Economics in America

AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY  

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Part 1 of An Alternative Program for Economic Recovery explains the seven specific reasons why the economic recovery under Obama since 2009 has failed for all but the wealthiest few and largest corporations. Central among the seven reasons, it is argued, are Obama's basic failure to develop programs to provide jobs for 25 million unemployed, to save 11.4 million homeowners from foreclosure, and to solve the problem of the continuing deterioration of state-local government finances.

In Part II the pamphlet offers programs in eight specific areas as an Alternative Economic Recovery Program: in the short term, programs to create 17 million jobs, proposals to prevent further foreclosures and stabilize falling home prices, and to restore state-local government finances; in the intermediate term proposals are described which would fundamentally restructure the tax system, the banking system, and the retirement system necessary to enable the jobs-housing-local government programs; and in the longer term proposals are offered to prevent a repeat of the current economic crisis focusing on eliminating today's massive debtload weighing on households and government and on raising real incomes for working and middle class households. The above eight specific program areas (jobs, housing, local government, bank-tax-retirement restructuring, and debt-income recovery) are all necessary, it is argued, for any sustained economic recovery from the continuing recession, and to prevent an eventual further economic collapse within the next 5 years.

EPIC RECESSION: Prelude to Global Depression

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Epic Recession: Prelude to Global Depression is a 336 page book, published May 2010, by Palgrave-Macmillan (U.S.) and Plutopress (global), that reveals the deep origins of the current economic crisis, explains why current Obama policies have failed, and offers an alternative, comprehensive 28 point program for economic recovery. Jack Rasmus explains how the current crisis is similar to prior Epic Recessions in the U.S., in 1907-1914 and 1929-1931, and quite unlike 'normal' recessions since 1945. Rasmus describes how the current crisis is neither a full blow depression or a short lived contraction followed by a swift return to growth, but a crisis followed by a period of extended stagnation that may yet slip into a classic depression. Developing a new theory of its causes and evolution that departs from mainstream economic analysis, Jack argues that preventing a possible descent into depression will require a basic restructuring the U.S. economy through a massive job creation program, a nationalizing of residential housing and consumer credit markets, a fundamental restructuring of the tax system, a new type of Federal Reserve and banking structure, and measures that restore a long term redistribution of income.

The WAR AT HOME: Economic Class War in America  

The War At Home: The Corporate Offensive From Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush, is a 534 page, extensively researched, nonfiction book that describes the evolution of corporate-government policies from 1980 to 2005 that have shifted more than a $1 trillion dollars a year, every year, from 90 million American middle and working class households to the wealthiest 10% and corporations. With more than 500 references and 45 tables and graphs, the book examines in detail topics such as the Great American Tax Shift, the 30 Year Pay Freeze, Free Trade and the loss of 10 million jobs, the creation of more than 40 million part time and temporary jobs, the destruction of unions, dismanting of the postwar pension and healthcare systems, and the theft by Congress and Presidents of more than $2 trillion from the Social Security Trust Fund. Solutions and proposals are offered to reverse the current corporate offensive at the end of each chapter, as well as a new proposal for reorganizing the trade union movement in the concluding chapter. According to labor historian, Harvey Schwartz, if you liked Howard Zinn's book, A People's History of the United States, then "you are going to love the new book by Jack Rasmus...an excellent complement and companion to Zinn's popular work."

Click to read the book's Contents and the Preface.

Articles on Economics and Politics  

Recent articles by Jack Rasmus from 'Z' magazine, 'In These Times', and other publications on the current economic and political crisis in the U.S. Topics include the current global financial and economic crisis, the collapse of health care financing and retirement systems in the U.S., shifting tax burden, shelters and corporate fraud, deregulation and social security privatization, the 30-year pay freeze, radical restructuring of job markets, the corporate free trade offensive, explosion in CEO pay and capital incomes, growing global income inequality, decline of American unions, and increasing class-biased policies of political parties. Articles may be downloaded for free by individuals. Reproduction in multiple quantities requires written permission of the author.
Cartoons by Jim Swanson.

  Audio CDs

Audio CDs of Jack's public talks and radio show interviews--on topics from the current financial crisis, recession, economic policies of the Bush administration, growing income inequality in America, etc.--are available at for download and listening. Click on the image to the left or on the heading of this section to open the Audio CDs page.

Interviews and talks range from 20 minutes to 2 hours and include presentations and extended audience Q & A with Jack. Audio CDs may be ordered for a nominal cost of $9, plus $3 shipping and handling. (Talks and interviews may not be duplicated for distribution without the written permission of the author).

  Songs & Music

Selections of original songs and soundtracks of stageplays by Jack Rasmus may be accessed for listening and download. Songs address themes of political protest in the Brechtian-Epic Theater tradition and contemporary cabraet in various musical styles. Click on the songsheet image, 'Song of Solidarity', to the right to listen to a sample song selection. Also available for listening are selected scenes from the 2003 stageplay, 'Fire on Pier 32', about the history of the west coast longshore workers from the 1934 San Francisco General Strike to the present. A full soundtrack of the 2.5 hour stageplay is also available for purchase. Click the heading of this section to open the Songs and Music page where you can play select songs and scenes, and order a soundtrack. (Songs and soundtrack may not be duplicated for distribution without the written permission of the authors).
Music composed by Joyce McBride

  VIDEOS: Public Talks, Interviews, and Stage Plays

Videos of Jack's public talks, in terviews and presentations on the economic crisis, environment and politics are available on DVD for a nominal cost. Kyklos Productions is also proud to present on DVD the full length, 2.5 hour stage play, "Fire on Pier 32", which was performed to sold out audiences in San Francisco in 2003. "Fire" is story in 3 acts, performed by an ensemble cast of 12, with original songs, staged in the 'Epic' Theater tradition, about the west coat longshore workers and their union from the events of the 1934 San Francisco General Strike through the historic lockout in late 2002. Click on the photo for more details about videos of Jack's speeches, presentations and the play and how to order.

Collected Stage Plays by Jack Rasmus  

THE COLLECTED PLAYS features five full-length stage plays on American History, Labor, and political themes. Included in the volume are "1934: THE MUSICAL," a two hour production in the Epic Theater tradition about the San Francisco waterfront in 1934 with 10 original songs, chorus, choreography, and visuals. The two-part four hour play, "OUR TIME", a multimedia production about the transformation of America in the 20th century based on scenes of American Presidents from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush. "LOCKOUT", a play about contemporary labor conflicts in the grocery, hotel and west coast ports since 2002. The acclaimed 2.5 hour multimedia production, "FIRE ON PIER 32", about the history of the west coast longshore workers and their union, the ILWU, from the 1930s to 2002. And "HOLD THE LIGHT", about a six month labor strike of young workers. Click the photo for more information about each play.