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Obama vs. Poverty (NYT)

Paul Tough takes an in-depth look at how Barack Obama evolved from a candidate who spoke seriously about the need to fight urban poverty to a president who joined the consensus that the first rule of poverty is you don't talk about poverty.

Yes, Virginia, There is a Gender Wage Gap (The Nation)

NND Editor Bryce Covert argues that it would be great if women really were only being paid less than men because of the career choices they make, but no one's checking a box that says "Yes, please subtract 10 percent of my pay per ovary."

How Ryanization threatens the GOP (WaPo)

E.J. Dionne writes that while right-wing ideologues are overjoyed to have one of their own on the presidential ticket, other GOP candidates worry voters will be reluctant to send them to Washington if they find out what it is they plan to do there.

Romney + Ryan = More Budget Math Confusion Than Ever (TPM)

Benjy Sarlin notes that the defense of Romney's budget plan is lapsing into self-satire, with Romney promising to cut the deficit by spending an extra $700 billion and Ryan promising greater transparency through refusal to disclose details.

Romney Takes His Political Inspiration from Europe's Worst Mistakes (HuffPo)

Bill Black writes that when it comes to austerity, wage cuts, deregulation, and the end of the dual mandate, Romney has adopted an "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again" mentality. And if you keep on failing, just do it anyway.

Paul Ryan's imaginary expertise (NY Daily News)

Mark Thoma notes that Paul Ryan has already achieved an impressive victory by establishing his reputation as a serious and principled policy wonk without actually putting forward any plans or analyses that resemble how reality works.

Atlas Spurned (NYT)

There's always a risk of disappointment when meeting one's idols, but Jennifer Burns argues it would be especially high for Paul Ryan, since Ayn Rand wouldn't approve of his social conservatism or belief in an afterlife for her to complain in.

The student loan crisis that can't be gotten rid of (Reuters)

Maureen Tkacik looks back at how the student loan crisis began, like so many things, with opinion- and poilcymakers deciding they felt like punching some hippies, and how the sheer size of the industry leaves borrowers unable to punch back.

26 Corporations That Paid Their CEOs More Than Uncle Sam (MoJo)

Josh Harkinson breaks down the executive pay loopholes that cost us $14 billion a year and how companies are putting them to good (or in this case, bad) use by compensating their CEOs like every minute on the job is an act of heroism.

Occupy Wall Street: Year One (The Nation)

Peter Rothberg notes that organizers are planning a massive three-day assembly in New York's financial district beginning September 15 to celebrate Occupy's first birthday. Let's all chip in to get it something nice, like a functioning democracy.