why we have such a sluggish recovery now understand the problem is on the demand side. it s not the supply side. it s not because of corporations don t have tax cuts and it s not because the wealthy don t have the tax cuts. it s because the middle class doesn t have the income they need to provide adequate demand for all the goods and services that the private sector is capable of producing. and understanding that makes the connection between growth and fairness. i think the president has done a good job. he could do even more, making that connection. you know, wall street and the top reaches of the can democratic party, the big contributors, very often, they don t understand that. they would do better with a rapidly growing economy. a smaller share of a rapidly growing economy than they are doing right now with a big share of an economy that is slowly growing. you know, the old line, gene, you re my age, so i remember this, if you want to live like a republican, vote like a democrat
and he s questioned it and continues to question it. that would be with a great thing to talk to him about tomorrow night. good idea. let me get back to robert reich and this question of populism. i know you re a populist, i know you believe in it, and i just wonder why we re seeing this fight. it looked to me like a couple things happened last sunday. cory booker obviously wanted to differentiate himself from the president. he did so effectively. but he did so by undermining the president s main campaign argument. i want to ask you if you think it s a smart argument on the democratic side, that fairness cuts with voters? i think it does. again, chris, if it is linked up with growth, as it must be. because the only reason and the only way we can get growth back in this country is if we have a fair distribution of income and wealth in this country. and most people looking at the why we have such a sluggish recovery now understand the problem is on the demand side. it s not the suppl
shannon: charles do you get who joe biden th is? i have no idea what the hell he is talking about. speaking as a laymen he needs adjust in the the medication. this makes no sense whatsoever. he says what rich person, what any person said the middle class doesn t have any dreams or not have any dreams? and denies it? i have no idea what this is about. except for a rant against the rich. irony, at the beginning of the rabbit he starts by saying, he is out there to refute the charge. that he and the other democrats are resentful and class warriors. he says i resent the rich. as a way of refuting that. i m not sure he knows what he is saying. shannon: a.b. does he resent the rich or the accusation of class warfare? i am not going to get inside joe biden s head. i say this [ laughter ] i think it depends on the day. if we re asking question whether he is effective
just it doesn t help. it makes it worse often but they always want more laws. laura: all right, john. great to see you. merry christmas, happy new year, all that jazz. happy shortest dave the year. laura: happy winter soltis. i should have known. days get longer. laura: maybe warmer. instant classic volunteer for job. how does clinton react? we will show you when the factor returns. atisfied with 50% more cash, send it back! i ll be right here, waiting for it. who wouldn t want more cash? [ insects chirping ] i ll take it. i ll make it rain up in here. [ male announcer ] the new capital one cash rewards card. the card for people who want 50% more cash. what s in your wallet? sorry i ll clean this up. shouldn t have made it rain.
the laws against it often make it worse. one study in four states where it s banned and there was no difference in one of them but in three of the states they found more accidents. and the theory is that because people instead of just texting while they are driving now they are hiding from the cops and they are holding it lower in the car and that increases accidents. so these laws have unintended consequences. laura: john, doesn t it also make you wonder at some point soon you will just be able to say text john stossel great job on the show this week, liked the segment on government intrusion, laura. you will be able to voice it all. so pretty short order this whole conversation will be moot. but, nevertheless, i used to work at d.o.t., the department of transportation back in the reagan years. i m so sorry. laura: fun, i was a speech writer for the secretary. a lot of regulators with a lot of time on their hands and they have to do stuff so they come out with these proposals.