This Meltdown page explains the causes behind the current economic crisis and the growth of
inequality in the U.S. along with examples of how to speak up about solutions.

3 videos to help you understand the MELTDOWN of the U.S. Economy

Robber Barons, Great Depression, Demand-Side
U.S. ECONOMY (Part I)

Reaganomics,Supply-Side,Global Pool of Money U.S. ECONOMY (Part II)

What Caused the U.S. Mortgage Crisis?
MELTDOWN

Hear how Dr. Pop experts talk back to Uncle Joe, Councilwoman Jablonsky, and Businessman Jones.
Then try it yourself! 


UNCLE JOE

“I don’t want to bail out irresponsibility.”


COUNCILWOMAN JABLONSKY

“Don’t mortgage our children’s future!”


BUSINESSMAN JONES

“Leave business to the business people.”


Steve Williams – Eileen Raphael – Allan Fisher – Kimberly Tso – Marisa Franco

TALK BACK

    Talking Back to Uncle Joe

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      Talking Back to Councilwoman Jablonsky

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        Talking Back to Businessman Jones

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          The Just Economics team of Gilda Haas, Eileen Raphael, Ellen Teninty, Kimberly Tso and Claudia Vizcarra created the Meltdown training that appears on this website.  Just Economics was a renowned women’s collective that produced and presented popular-education workshops on a wide variety of economic topics for over a decade — and then the team reconvened in late 2008 to create Meltdown.

          Here is a video of Just Economics’ Eileen Raphael guiding participants through a live version (a “live illustration”) of the Meltdown workshop. This particular session was held in Gilda’s Community Economic Development class at UCLA in 2009.

          Although I have read dozens of articles on the economic crisis, my brain just didn't absorb the information as it did when I participated in Just Economics’ popular education workshop. The analysis, the role play, the props--Black Box Inc.--all of it was so carefully crafted to bring along everyone with differing levels of knowledge. We need more of this, and fast!

          Christine Ahn, writer and activist, Korea Policy Institute

          The Just Economics session on the economic meltdown was the highlight of NWFCO's summer conference. It provided a step-by-step analysis of the current economic crisis as well as an opportunity to debate and discuss how specific policies affected low-income communities.

          Bev DeLeondardis, Chairperson, Northwest Federation of Community Organizations

          Just Economics has once again put together an accessible, insightful, creative and empowering workshop that uncovers and explains the roots of the economic crisis in the corporate-controlled deregulated financial system. It helps to demystify what's happening, cuts through the confusing jargon and gives working people tools to understand how the system has victimized them, which is the starting point for doing something about it. Unions should offer this workshop to their leaders, staff and members.

          Michael Eisenscher, Labor Studies Instructor, Laney College, Oakland, California

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