Robert Reich: Income inequality the defining issue for U.S.

Lawson Bader, president of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, doesn't disagree that the U.S. economy is performing at a subpar level. But he said Reich's answers reflect a mechanistic view that government can turn knobs and dials and fix things.

"It is a distraction from the real question of how do we have a viable and dynamic economy," he said, arguing that the answer involves removing uncertainty and excess regulation.