Summer 2014, No. 33

Thomas Piketty has commandeered our intellectual conversation in a way no other book has in recent years. You’re probably thinking everyone has weighed in on it. Wrong. In this issue, Larry Summers, former Treasury Secretary and one of our most distinguished economists, takes a close look at the book of the season. He believes that Piketty’s research on inequality is Nobel-worthy—but he questions the French economist’s ideas about the causes of and solutions for inequality.

Also in the issue: We proudly present a symposium on national service featuring General Stanley McChrystal, former Pennsylvania Senator Harris Wofford, Clive Belfield, and Shirley Sagawa. Their ideas to make national service part and parcel of citizenship are bracing and thought-provoking.

There’s more: E.J. Dionne examines the emergent reform conservatives, but asks: Is there really anything new here, or just old ideas in new packaging? Michael Cohen argues for a smaller, reality-based Army. Cristina Rodriguez looks at how state and local governments are increasingly taking the lead on immigration policy and contends that that’s a good thing. In the books section, Paul Starr looks back on the New Democrats. And Todd Gitlin reviews the new book by Matt Taibbi, one of our most impassioned critics of corporate America.

Back Issues Archive

Symposium

A Nation in Service

For a country that prides itself on its ability to make a difference, we do surprisingly little to encourage domestic aid through national service.

By The Editors

3 MIN READ

Securing the American Character

By Gen. Stanley McChrystal

13 MIN READ

Can National Service Become Integral to Our Culture?

By Harris Wofford

14 MIN READ

The Economics: Why National Service Is Worth It

By Clive Belfield

11 MIN READ

From Idea to Reality: A National-Service Platform

By Shirley Sagawa

10 MIN READ

Features

The Reformicons

We all wonder if the reform conservatives can change their movement. But first, we ought to wonder if they really want to.

By E.J. Dionne Jr.

38 MIN READ

Law and Borders

Leaving immigration policy to the states may sound scary. But not every state is Arizona, and immigration federalism can work.

28 MIN READ

A Reality-Based Army

Iraq and Afghanistan notwithstanding, our modern (and happy) reality is that war is on the decline. We need an army sized to that reality.

By Michael Cohen

27 MIN READ

Book Reviews

The Inequality Puzzle

Thomas Piketty's tour de force analysis doesn't get everything right, but its certainly gotten us pondering the right questions.

By Lawrence H. Summers

18 MIN READ

From the Frame-Maker

Al From helped create the symbolic politics and policies of Bill Clinton’s presidency. Are they still relevant?

By Paul Starr

17 MIN READ

The Indignado

Matt Taibbi is one of our most scathing critics of corporate power. His new book pulls no punches—but sometimes swings and misses.

By Todd Gitlin

15 MIN READ

Responses

Empathy and the Water’s Edge

Progressives can't check their values at the door just because the President is a Democrat. A response to Brian Katulis.

By Rachel Kleinfeld

12 MIN READ

Course Correction

Community colleges should be matching students to jobs, not funneling everyone into a four-year degree. A response to Richard D. Kahlenberg.

By Diana G. Carew