Social Activist Robert Muehlenkamp Shares Economic Ideology

February 13, 2009

Leading a spirited discussion of ideas and their affect on the economy, the Winter Park Institute was honored to host social justice activist and trade union organizer Robert Muehlenkamp on February 11. Described as a change master, Muehlenkamp has spent his life working on behalf of people. His lecture titled, “The Economy is Not Like the Weather: Economic and Political Reality,” focused on people, ideas and their relationships to the economy.

Sharing stories of economic strife, Rollins students discussed how the current economic situation has affected the people they know and the world they live in, painting a picture of what Muehlenkamp described as “some very serious consequences” as a result of some very serious ideas. Throughout his lecture, Muehlenkamp cited 35 years of data supporting his belief in the failure of current economic ideology to create an economy working for all.

“For the first time in 35 years, we can have a debate because the current system hasn’t been working. A task for our new president will be to explain economic ideology to the masses and to label it as such,” said Muehlenkamp.

Student Stephanie Fuchs (Class of 2012) came to the lecture because she wanted to learn about the economy. “Tonight I learned not only how the economy works, but also what we can do to turn it around,” Fuchs said.

- Megan Licata (MBA Class of 2010)