Hedrick Speaks at the Pearl in Portsmouth, NH

February 17th, 2014

“Martin Luther King, Jr. and the American Dream Today”

Hedrick Smith covered Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement of the 1960s at racial hotpots lsuch as Birmingham and Albany, Ga., and at the March on Washington. In this lecture, he tells personal recollections of Dr. King and relates the lessons of the civil righrts movement and other grass roots movements of the 1960s and ’70s, to America’s current problems of gaping income inequalities and a polarized political system beholden to wealthy special interests.

[audio:http://hedricksmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/140120-000-WAV-Proj-Rate-Changed.mp3]

As given upon the occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 20, 2014

Hedrick Speaks at The Pearl in Portsmouth, NH

February 17th, 2014

“Martin Luther King, Jr. and the American Dream Today”

As given upon the occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 20, 2014

A Crash Course in Growth Economics

February 17th, 2014

First published by Reuters on February 6, 2014

By Hedrick Smith

Congressional Republicans like to talk about creating jobs and growing the economy. With the government shutdown and rigid spending cuts, however, Congress created a fiscal drag that cost the economy a full percentage point of economic growth in 2013.

Now, Congressional Republicans are again digging in their heels against measures that would ramp up the economy and generate jobs. It’s time for Congress to take a refresher course in growth economics — the economic forces and programs that power U.S. growth.

As President Barack Obama barnstorms the country, he should be making the argument that it is not only fair, but smart growth economics to raise the minimum wage, extend unemployment benefits and reduce income inequality. These steps will help accelerate economic recovery this year above its anemic 1.9 percent growth rate in 2013.

Read the rest here.