So, I'll start by saying that I'm pretty blessed with a well-paying job and a partner that has an even better-paying job, so I recognize that I'm pretty privileged as far as things go. With that said:
I remember high school econ, where I learned about "dollar votes," i.e., in functioning capitalism, the economy's priorities can be influenced by everyone's "votes," or what they choose to spend money on. I'm happy and proud that I get to vote for you, and Defector, and Discourse Blog, and other independent journalism. Thanks for sticking on the labor beat, and congratulations on being almost-sustainable despite not limiting your articles.
"Labor does not get a lot of traffic. Almost all of the most popular things I write here are about non-labor topics."
FWIW, the labor posts are the ones I read most closely and forward most often to my wife, son, and a friend. They change my thinking, improve my arguments.
I started reading your essays because my two youngest sons recommended it. I had noticed a certain edge to how they framed their social and political arguments. So I had asked them from where were they getting some of their ideas. They pointed me to you.
So grateful. I’ve learned quite a bit. I certainly don’t agree with all your ideas, but you make me think deeper about what social justice should look like (and discussions with my sons are more interesting!).
I started reading this blog because I thought Hamilton Nolan was the guy from the Walkmen and now I’m a radical socialist.
(In all sincerity, this is a good blog. As my career continues in the management track, I’ve always valued the writing here for its moral clarity and as a reminder that the ultimate difference is between those who write the checks and those who draw them.
I'm already subscribed but I bought a gift subscription. And if you did some holiday thing where you got email addresses from folks who can't afford a subscription, I'd get them one too.
I really enjoy reading the comments section here as well, so I'm glad you spoke about that. I chuckle when I see someone say, "I really like your work and enjoy reading it, even though we don't agree on everything." While agreeing with EVERYTHING anyone writes seems like a pretty high bar, I will just add that I too don't agree with everything you write, Hamilton, but it's purely because I'm wrong about a lot of shit :-)
In June '23 your post "What will you do if the election is stolen?" was boosted in my Mastodon feed. That was the first item of yours I read, and I've been a paid subscriber from then on. I've forwarded your stuff to friends and relations and I know some of them have subscribed as well. In my little corner of the world, this is working. 👍🏻
Congrats! and BRAVO! You are well onto the road to success because of your personality, knowledge and analysis. your remit is wide ranging, always interesting and usually relevant. Personally I may disagree with some of your analysis/opinions but it is always a worthwhile discussion. Keep on truckin'. I am a subscriber.
I can’t afford many things, but this one is non-negotiable in my mind. I’m just one guy, but your work, effort, and approach are worth my limited funds.
I always appreciate this level of transparency. I tried to keep everything free, too, and I just couldn’t convert enough subscribers to be even remotely sustainable. I hope it works out for you! I’ve upgraded in support because I think the kind of journalism you do is something our industry needs. ✊🏼
I appreciate you opening the books on this. My wife and I are working on a neighborhood Substack that similarly tries to keep the content free while growing some revenue we can invest in more coverage. 8% paying is really encouraging!
Any possibility of connecting those who would like to subscribe but can't afford to with those of us who can afford to? I'd love to give a gift subscription to someone who is enjoying your work but can't pay for it right now. An anonymous connection is totally fine - just show me the button to hit that will subscribe a non-subscriber.
This is a good idea, let me think about it. I might be able to collect some emails for people who want subscriptions and then send them to people who would like to purchase a gift subscription.
+1 to this thread, came here to say the same as Michelle and, like my other comrade, mention Defector’s tip jar. (As someone who’s done a lot of fundraising, though, the one-to-one model is often more effective at mobilizing contributions! People like to help each other.)
Defector’s Tip Jar is a cool concept for this. That said, it’s probably a fair amount of extra logistics work to operate. I’m also in favor of the idea though, and if there’s a back end way to make it happen, my $$ are there too.
Happy to pay (and I bought your book!) to keep this site alive! Too bad you picked marathon Sunday to have an event on the upper west side though cause I’d love to hear you speak.
In the 1950's the CIA popularized the Gini Index (named after an Italian economist to describe the distribution of something among a population, where "0" means everyone has an equal amount and "1" indicates it it all concentrated in one person/unit's/country's hands) as a measure of a country's stability. They determined an index over 40 portended civic unrest. For years the USA hovered over 35 close to Mexico. and far above the Scandinavian countries (e.g. Sweden is at 30 in 2024). Obama with his tax on stock transactions and the ACA was the first President since the 1960's to lower our Gini. Since then especially with the minimization of estate taxes and the Trump tax cutout, the USA Gini Index is now 42. Three Americans have more wealth than the bottom 50% of the population.
For the last 10 years, and on an accelerating basis, we are watching, playing out in real time, cvic dysfunction and disorder whose engine is wealth inequality. OUCH! More than anything else this explains the panoramic dynamics of the MAGA movement.
Thanks for referencing the Gini index. Income/class inequality is at heart of the U.S.’s political discord. Adding even just a dose of ‘easy to consume’ analytic rigor to the conversation really helps.
So, I'll start by saying that I'm pretty blessed with a well-paying job and a partner that has an even better-paying job, so I recognize that I'm pretty privileged as far as things go. With that said:
I remember high school econ, where I learned about "dollar votes," i.e., in functioning capitalism, the economy's priorities can be influenced by everyone's "votes," or what they choose to spend money on. I'm happy and proud that I get to vote for you, and Defector, and Discourse Blog, and other independent journalism. Thanks for sticking on the labor beat, and congratulations on being almost-sustainable despite not limiting your articles.
Here's to another successful 18 months!
Thank you for supporting the independents.
"Labor does not get a lot of traffic. Almost all of the most popular things I write here are about non-labor topics."
FWIW, the labor posts are the ones I read most closely and forward most often to my wife, son, and a friend. They change my thinking, improve my arguments.
Came here to say this.
I started reading your essays because my two youngest sons recommended it. I had noticed a certain edge to how they framed their social and political arguments. So I had asked them from where were they getting some of their ideas. They pointed me to you.
So grateful. I’ve learned quite a bit. I certainly don’t agree with all your ideas, but you make me think deeper about what social justice should look like (and discussions with my sons are more interesting!).
Right on!
Thank you Tim I love that story. Shout out to your sons.
This is The Way.
I started reading this blog because I thought Hamilton Nolan was the guy from the Walkmen and now I’m a radical socialist.
(In all sincerity, this is a good blog. As my career continues in the management track, I’ve always valued the writing here for its moral clarity and as a reminder that the ultimate difference is between those who write the checks and those who draw them.
I'm already subscribed but I bought a gift subscription. And if you did some holiday thing where you got email addresses from folks who can't afford a subscription, I'd get them one too.
I really enjoy reading the comments section here as well, so I'm glad you spoke about that. I chuckle when I see someone say, "I really like your work and enjoy reading it, even though we don't agree on everything." While agreeing with EVERYTHING anyone writes seems like a pretty high bar, I will just add that I too don't agree with everything you write, Hamilton, but it's purely because I'm wrong about a lot of shit :-)
In June '23 your post "What will you do if the election is stolen?" was boosted in my Mastodon feed. That was the first item of yours I read, and I've been a paid subscriber from then on. I've forwarded your stuff to friends and relations and I know some of them have subscribed as well. In my little corner of the world, this is working. 👍🏻
As someone on a tight budget, thank you💕 You're point about quality information locked behind pay walls is so valid. Wishing you continued success 🤗
Congrats! and BRAVO! You are well onto the road to success because of your personality, knowledge and analysis. your remit is wide ranging, always interesting and usually relevant. Personally I may disagree with some of your analysis/opinions but it is always a worthwhile discussion. Keep on truckin'. I am a subscriber.
I can’t afford many things, but this one is non-negotiable in my mind. I’m just one guy, but your work, effort, and approach are worth my limited funds.
More labor. More music links, too. Thanks.
I always appreciate this level of transparency. I tried to keep everything free, too, and I just couldn’t convert enough subscribers to be even remotely sustainable. I hope it works out for you! I’ve upgraded in support because I think the kind of journalism you do is something our industry needs. ✊🏼
I appreciate you opening the books on this. My wife and I are working on a neighborhood Substack that similarly tries to keep the content free while growing some revenue we can invest in more coverage. 8% paying is really encouraging!
Any possibility of connecting those who would like to subscribe but can't afford to with those of us who can afford to? I'd love to give a gift subscription to someone who is enjoying your work but can't pay for it right now. An anonymous connection is totally fine - just show me the button to hit that will subscribe a non-subscriber.
This is a good idea, let me think about it. I might be able to collect some emails for people who want subscriptions and then send them to people who would like to purchase a gift subscription.
+1 to this thread, came here to say the same as Michelle and, like my other comrade, mention Defector’s tip jar. (As someone who’s done a lot of fundraising, though, the one-to-one model is often more effective at mobilizing contributions! People like to help each other.)
Defector’s Tip Jar is a cool concept for this. That said, it’s probably a fair amount of extra logistics work to operate. I’m also in favor of the idea though, and if there’s a back end way to make it happen, my $$ are there too.
Happy to pay (and I bought your book!) to keep this site alive! Too bad you picked marathon Sunday to have an event on the upper west side though cause I’d love to hear you speak.
In the 1950's the CIA popularized the Gini Index (named after an Italian economist to describe the distribution of something among a population, where "0" means everyone has an equal amount and "1" indicates it it all concentrated in one person/unit's/country's hands) as a measure of a country's stability. They determined an index over 40 portended civic unrest. For years the USA hovered over 35 close to Mexico. and far above the Scandinavian countries (e.g. Sweden is at 30 in 2024). Obama with his tax on stock transactions and the ACA was the first President since the 1960's to lower our Gini. Since then especially with the minimization of estate taxes and the Trump tax cutout, the USA Gini Index is now 42. Three Americans have more wealth than the bottom 50% of the population.
For the last 10 years, and on an accelerating basis, we are watching, playing out in real time, cvic dysfunction and disorder whose engine is wealth inequality. OUCH! More than anything else this explains the panoramic dynamics of the MAGA movement.
Thanks for referencing the Gini index. Income/class inequality is at heart of the U.S.’s political discord. Adding even just a dose of ‘easy to consume’ analytic rigor to the conversation really helps.
Happy 18 months!!!
I’m convinced!