Roosevelt Institute | Cornell University

The Great Democratic Divide

By Dylan Scott Published April 5, 2014

Conflict is brewing within the Democratic Party and the source of the party's internal conflict is predictably its oddest bedfellow"”the mega donors that fill campaign coffers and command party leaders' attention. Amidst the populist surge that has slowly overtaken the Democratic Party, it is easy to forget about the close ties between Democrats and the super rich.


Do government programs for the poor actually alleviate poverty?

By Dylan Scott Published September 29, 2013

During the State of the Union Address on January 8, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson outlined what would become known as the War on Poverty, proclaiming, "This administration today here and now declares unconditional war on poverty in America. I urge this Congress and all Americans to join me in that effort...." Johnson undertook a noble mission in that address, one that inspired a generation of lifelong activists committed to eliminating poverty through direct assistance programs for the poor. However, fifty years later, there is little evidence to show that this approach has lowered poverty rates at all.


If You Can't Beat Them, Regulate Them

By Dylan Scott Published May 1, 2013

In order to learn more about the impact of entry regulations on small businesses, I watched a presentation by experts on food industry regulation at the American Enterprise Institute. The discussion introduced ideas about the nature of anti-competitive regulation that appear applicable to many industries.