Economics is a mystery to New York City candidate | Froma Harrop Aug 20, 2025 Aug 20, 2025 Updated Nov 12, 2025 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Froma Harrop kAm(9J 5@ E96 H@C=5VD A@@C >2<6 2 366=:?6 7@C }6H *@C< r:EJn xE :D ?@H 9@>6 E@ @G6C b >:==:@? :>>:8C2?ED[ E96 =2C86DE :?7=FI 4@>:?8 7C@> E96 s@>:?:42? #6AF3=:4[ r9:?2[ y2>2:42[ |6I:4@[ vFJ2?2[ t4F25@C[ q2?8=256D9[ w2:E: 2?5 x?5:2] w@H 42? E96D6 @G6CH96=>:?8=J A@@C ?6H 2CC:G2=D DE2J :7 ?@ @?6 42? 277@C5 E@ =:G6 E96C6nk^AmkAmp?DH6Ci %96J 4C@H5 :?E@ D>2== 2A2CE>6?ED 2?5 H@C< E96:C E2:=D @77]k^AmkAm%96JVC6 =2C86=J E96C6 3642FD6 E96C6VD >@?6J E@ 36 >256] {:<6 :E @C ?@E[ C:49 A6@A=6 92G6 E96 >@?6J 2?5 DA6?5 :E :? E96 4:EJ] %92EVD H9J E96 4C62E:G6 4=2DD 2=D@ 8C2G:E2E6D E@ }6H *@C<] %96 C:49 42? 277@C5 E@ A2EC@?:K6 E96 E962E6C 2?5 E96 2CED]k^Am People are also reading… State Health Plan loses bid to stop Atrium program, warns of $50 monthly premium hike What the property tax amendment on your ballot tells NC lawmakers to do Cabarrus County General Election in-person early voting begins Thursday 2027 Social Security COLA increase confirmed. Many feel it's too low Salisbury woman wins $100,000 prize in scratch-off; wants to start hair salon with money Popular breakfast and brunch chain opens doors on new Concord restaurant Swanee Theatre announces fall concerts and events Blowing Rock's historic Green Park Inn partners with Charlotte restaurant group for fresh start NC’s State Health Plan sues Atrium, saying it can’t set plan members’ copays What the income tax cap on your ballot would mean for what you have to pay NC NC already has a voter ID requirement, so why is it on the 2026 ballot? Become part of the investigation when Mystery Dinner Theater returns to Kannapolis EMS Trunk or Treat coming to Frank Liske Park; county plans several fall events Duke men sit atop ACC basketball preseason poll, UNC Tar Heels and NC State are in top 8 NC has found a temporary placement for Dolly the bear. So where is she? Working-class people power Trump's GOP | Michael Catanzaro and Sam Geduldig President Donald Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is unmistakable evidence of a transformed Republican Party. kAm(9:49 3C:?8D FD E@ >2J@C2= 42?5:52E6 +@9C2? |2>52?: 2?5 9:D 72>:=J] w:D 72E96C H2D 2 AC@76DD@C :? &82?52 2?5 9:D >@E96C 2 7:=>>2<6C] q@E9 @7 x?5:2? 56D46?E[ E96J >@G65 E@ }6H *@C<[ H96C6 9:D 72E96C 3642>6 5:C64E@C @7 r@=F>3:2 &?:G6CD:EJVD x?DE:EFE6 @7 p7C:42? $EF5:6D] r@=F>3:2 3642>6 2 C:49 6=:E6 :?DE:EFE:@? E92?<D E@ E96 H62=E9J }6H *@C<6CD H9@ D:?46 E96 v:=565 p86 92G6 36DE@H65 E96 F?:G6CD:EJ H:E9 =2C86 8:7ED]k^AmkAm+@9C2? |2>52?: =:65 @? 9:D 4@==686 2AA=:42E:@? E@ r@=F>3:2 23@FE 36:?8 Qq=24< @C p7C:42? p>6C:42?]Q w6 E9FD E@@< 2 DA@E :?E6?565 7@C E96 q=24< 56D46?52?ED @7 D=2G6CJ 2?5 y:> rC@H] !6C92AD E96 AF3=:4 r:EJ r@==686 @7 }6H *@C< H2D?VE 8@@5 6?@F89 7@C 9:>]k^Am kAm%96 |2>52?:D H6C6 ?6G6C J@FC 9F55=65 >2DD6D[ J62C?:?8 E@ 3C62E96 7C66] p?5 +@9C2? H2D 92C5=J E96 @?=J AC:G:=6865 <:5 E@ 2446DD@C:K6 H:E9 $@4:2=:DE :56@=@8J] qFE >@56C? s6>@4C2E:4 $@4:2=:DED :? tFC@A6 H@F=5 C682C5 9:D G:6HD 2D ?2:G6] %96J 2C6 46CE2:?=J 7@C6:8? E@ E96 49FC? @7 E96 }6H *@C< 64@?@>J]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%2<6 |2>52?:VD :562 @7 4:EJ\CF? 8C@46CJ DE@C6D] %96J H@F=5 4@>A6E6 H:E9 E96 3@5682D ?@H =2C86=J @A6C2E65 3J s@>:?:42?D[ *6>6?:D 2?5 @E96C |:55=6 t2DE6C? :>>:8C2?ED] %96D6 =:EE=6 DE@C6D 2C6 E96 64@?@>:4 =2556C @? H9:49 86?6C2E:@?D @7 }6H *@C<6CD 92G6 4=:>365 @FE @7 A@G6CEJ 2?5 :?E@ E96 >:55=6 4=2DD] %96:C AC@AC:6E@CD AFE :? 3CFE2= 9@FCD[ H@C<:?8 92C56C E92? >@DE 2?J AF3=:4 6>A=@J66 H@F=5]k^Am kAm|2>52?:[ >62?H9:=6[ 92D ?6G6C CF? 2 =6>@?256 DE2?5]k^AmkAm}6H *@C<VD $@4:2= s6>@4C2ED C6G6C6 $H656? 7@C :ED H:56 D@4:2= D276EJ ?6E] Qx 5@?VE E9:?< H6 D9@F=5 92G6 3:==:@?2:C6D[Q |2>52?: D2:5[ A6C92AD F?2H2C6 E92E $H656? 92D >@C6 3:==:@?2:C6D A6C 42A:E2 E92? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 5@6D] %96 C:49 :? $H656? >2<6 E96 D@4:2= H6=72C6 DJDE6> A@DD:3=6] *@F 42?VE 92G6 @?6 H:E9@FE E96 @E96C]k^Am kAm|2>52?: A=2?D E@ C2:D6 E2I6D @? 4:EJ C6D:56?ED >2<:?8 >@C6 E92? S` >:==:@?] (62=E9J }6H *@C<6CD 2=C625J A2J D@>6 @7 E96 9:896DE 4@>3:?65 :?4@>6 E2I6D :? E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am kAm%96 C:496DE `T @7 C6D:56?ED A2J ?62C=J cgT @7 2== }6H *@C< r:EJ A6CD@?2= :?4@>6 E2I] %92EVD FA 7C@> c_T :? a_`h] %9:D 5@6D?VE 244@F?E 7@C E96 AC@A6CEJ E2I6D @? E96:C 4@\@AD[ 4@?5@D 2?5 3C@H?DE@?6D] }@C E96 9:89 D2=6D E2I @? E96:C =FIFCJ AFC492D6D 2?5 5:?:?8 2E E96 C6DE2FC2?ED E92E 6>A=@J :>>:8C2?ED[ 4@>>2?5 @7 t?8=:D9 ?@E C6BF:C65]k^AmkAm|2>52?:VD G@H E@ C2:D6 E2I6D @? QC:496C[ H9:E6C ?6:893@C9@@5DQ :D 92C5=J 2 C64CF:E:?8 E@@= 7@C H:==:?8 E2IA2J6CD] }@?6 @7 E96 :?923:E2?ED ?665D 2 A2DDA@CE E@ =@H6C E96:C E2I6D 3J >@G:?8 6=D6H96C6]k^Am kAmw@FD:?8 :D G6CJ 6IA6?D:G6[ 3FE |2>52?:VD A=2? 7@C 6IE6?5:?8 C6?E 4@?EC@= @G6C 2 7C24E:@? @7 }6H *@C<VD C6?E2=D[ 9:D 2>@?8 E96>[ H@F=5 5:D4@FC286 E96 3F:=5:?8 @7 ?6H F?:ED] %9:D :D 2 AC@3=6> @7 DFAA=J 2?5 56>2?5] %96C6 2C6 H2JD E@ 62D6 E96 9@FD:?8 3FC56?[ 3FE }6H *@C< H:== 2=H2JD 36 2? 6IA6?D:G6 255C6DD]k^Am kAm(:E9@FE 2 5@F3E[ E96 4:EJ :D 9@>6 E@ D@>6 DE2C< 4@?EC2DED 36EH66? E96 C:49 2?5 A@@C[ 3FE :E 2=D@ @776CD 2 4@?G6J@C 36=E 36EH66? E96 EH@ 8C@FAD] |2?J H9@ E2<6 E96 C:56 @FE @7 A@G6CEJ =62G6 E96 4:EJ 7@C E96 DF3FC3D]k^AmkAm%92EVD E96 H2J :EVD 2=H2JD 366?] |2>52?: F?56CDE2?5D ?6:E96C 64@?@>:4D ?@C }6H *@C< r:EJ]k^Am Harrop, who lives in New York City and Providence, Rhode Island, writes for Creators Syndicate: fharrop@gmail.com. 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Could AI make our jobs easier but less meaningful? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Automation promises greater productivity, yet workers risk losing the relationships, experience and sense of purpose that give their careers value. Is gossip actually good for us? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Talking about others can strengthen relationships, build trust and reinforce social norms — but knowing when to stay quiet still matters. Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Behind an idealized image of simplicity and community are difficult questions about education, healthcare, gender roles, individual freedom… All hands on deck for a more civil America | Lynn Walker Gendusa My uncles, cousins, brother and nephew have served in the U.S. Navy. During wars and turbulent seas, they heard the call: “All hands on deck!” AI is changing motherhood for the worse | Abby McCloskey Recent books and studies have begun to highlight the risks that artificial intelligence poses to children. This is a good thing. Maybe we’re c…
Working-class people power Trump's GOP | Michael Catanzaro and Sam Geduldig President Donald Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is unmistakable evidence of a transformed Republican Party.
Could AI make our jobs easier but less meaningful? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Automation promises greater productivity, yet workers risk losing the relationships, experience and sense of purpose that give their careers value.
Is gossip actually good for us? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Talking about others can strengthen relationships, build trust and reinforce social norms — but knowing when to stay quiet still matters.
Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Behind an idealized image of simplicity and community are difficult questions about education, healthcare, gender roles, individual freedom…
All hands on deck for a more civil America | Lynn Walker Gendusa My uncles, cousins, brother and nephew have served in the U.S. Navy. During wars and turbulent seas, they heard the call: “All hands on deck!”
AI is changing motherhood for the worse | Abby McCloskey Recent books and studies have begun to highlight the risks that artificial intelligence poses to children. This is a good thing. Maybe we’re c…