Harvard University
Professor of Public Policy at Harvard; author of Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community and Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis
PROFILE
Robert Putnam
Guest
FROM Robert Putnam
To the Point
American Inequality: A Children's Story The widening gap between America’s haves and have-nots is usually expressed with hard data on the declining wages and incomes of working adults. Sociologist Robert Putnam takes a different approach — using personal stories to show how poor children lose the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Family and community life that used to help poor kids prepare for the future are on the decline. Is the Internet making things better or worse? Is inequality becoming an issue in next year’s presidential campaign — for both political parties?
To the Point
September 11, Five Years Later The attack on Pearl Harbor unified an American generation that went on to win World War II. Their descendents still share the memories today. It would not be until September 11, 2001 that the United States would again be so dramatically attacked within its own borders. Just as they had 60 years before, Americans felt a deep sense of unity. This time, however, that feeling lasted for less than a year. Has President Bush failed to ask for the sacrifices demanded for the continuing war on terror, or have Americans been lulled into complacency because the administration has prevented another attack on US soil? Where the rest of the world is concerned, had the really important changes already happened?
Recommended
To the Point
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.
Left, Right & Center
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.