DRAFT

What Must be Done to Put America and the World to Work Endnote , Jumpstart the Economy, End the Recession and Avoid a Massive World Wide Depression

 (http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/put_america_to_work.pdf)

(Updated May 25, 2010)


This document outlines proposed actions to:

 

•    Provide employment opportunities for all in meaningful work at living wages and help to do the same worldwide

•    Provide additional sources of funds for jobs, recovery and reinvestment efforts.

•    Accelerate, improve the effectiveness and reduce the cost of recovery efforts


This document should be expanded into independent state and local plans and overall plans for each discipline/area including health care, education, transportation, housing, energy, clean water and affordable, nutritious food.


This document should be accomplished in parallel with the What Must be Done to Reform and Regulate Financial Systems and Resolve the Foreclosures, Mortgages, Derivatives, and Banking Crises. Endnote


INTRODUCTION


The current “Great Recession” is now by far the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930's. Six million jobs had been lost as of May, 2009, the 17th Month of the current recession. Over 4.2 million of these jobs were lost in the seven months leading up to May.


About 2.8 million jobs were lost during the 16 month long, 1981-1982 recession, which has now become the second worse depression since the Great Depression.

Unless drastic and immediate actions are taken, the current “Great Recession” is likely to become much worse than the “Great Depression” of the 1930's.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. Outline of Employment Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

B. Actions to Accelerate, Improve the Effectiveness of and Reduce the Cost of Reinvestment and Recovery Efforts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

C. Actions to Provide Additional Sources of Funds for Jobs and Recovery Efforts. . . . . .5

D. U.S. Efforts to Help Put the World to Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6



A. Outline of Employment Opportunities

Provide employment opportunities for all (with at least 20 million jobs created no later than September 30, 2010) in meaningful work at living wages in particular from the below open-ended list of vital work, programs and projects. There are detailed plans in the public and private sectors for most of this work. These employment opportunities should be made available immediately for veterans, low-income and homeless individuals, out-of-school youth, and others facing multiple barriers to employment. If workers do not receive living wages there will not be enough customers to make enough purchases. These jobs should help provide the following: 



1. Vital Public Services. Rehire personnel who have been cut and additional personnel needed to restore and maintain vital services including: electricity, natural gas, police, fire safety, pubic transportation, highways/roads, public health, education, etc. For example funds must be provided and personnel rehire/hired public transit systems nationwide. Do not make cuts or raise fares. Most of the individuals who depend on public transit are working class and poor.


2. Nationwide Medicare for All.

     a. Provide nationwide comprehensive, universal medicare, physical, dental, mental health care, pharmaceutical and long term care (LTC) for all to be delivered by public and private resources under a streamlined medicare/medicaid system. According to the report, Single Payer /Medicare Healthcare for All this would:

           i. Create 2,613,495 million new permanent, good-paying jobs

           ii. Boost the economy with $317 billion in increased business and public revenues                 iii. Add $100 billion in employee compensation

           iv. Infuse public budgets with $44 billion in new tax revenues

           v. Make hospitals like Walter Reed (which is scheduled to be closed) and other city, county, state and federal hospitals/clinics and community health centers into government owned, not for profit contractor operated (GOCO) Medicare/Medicaid, hospitals/clinics that educate, train and qualify doctors, nurses, dentists, nurses aids and other health care personnel.

     b. Build 1000 new modern hospitals and clinics equipped with the latest technology

     c. Pay family, friend and professional care-givers who are taking care of disabled, mentally retarded or elderly needing long term care.


3. Affordable housing for all

     a. Build, rehabilitate or otherwise obtain about 2.8 million well insulated homes to provide affordable housing for low income and homeless people in particular in inner cities and in suburbs near passenger rail and metro lines. Learn more about this from the National Housing Trust Fund website.


4. Affordable, clean, sustainable, alternative fuel and energy sources including: solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, ocean thermal conversion (OTC) and VIVACE (vortex induced vibration aquatic clean energy) a new technology that generates clean and renewable energy from currents in waterways and oceans.


5. Affordable transportation/transit for all. Build a low carbon emission, integrated, comprehensive public transportation/transit systems that includes:

     a. Light rail mass transit systems in all large and medium sized cities in particular along existing right of ways and beltways where possible

     b. Clean, energy-efficient buses for rural areas and suburban areas.

     c. Highspeed regular, intercity monorail and magnetic levitation rail

     d. Bike/walking paths and overpasses.

     e. Bus lanes.

 

Note: We can build light rail at 1/5th the cost of deadly tollroads. A highway vehicle would need to get over 300 miles to the gallon to use energy as efficiently a train.


6. Education

     a. Free, quality universal pre-kindergarten and K-12 education.on site childcare.

     b. Free, comprehensive vocational training in particular in the work areas outlined here.

     c. Affordable, if not free, higher education and lifetime learning.

     d. Hire massive numbers of teachers, teacher aids, childcare workers and counselors.

     e. Pay students in vocational training in high schools to maintain their schools, for coop jobs in garages, electronics shops and recycling centers, in stores and on farms.

     f. Provide affordable, if not free, higher education and lifetime learning

     g. Enact Sen. Harkin’s "Keep our Educators Working Act of 2010" that calls for $23 billion to go to states to save existing jobs from the massive cuts looming in June, 2010.


7. Clean, safe environments, air and water.

     a. Enhanced, clean up and environmental protection of our air, wetlands, watersheds, rivers, creeks, lakes, dams, levees, aquifers, water works, wastewater and hazardous waste systems..

     b. Additional needed social services.

     c. Extensive restorative justice services, counseling, mentoring, educating, training, group therapy and providing employment opportunities.

     d. Decriminalize nonviolent drug offenses and empty our prisons of nonviolent drug offenders. Ramp up the public health system to address drug addiction as a serious national health problem rather than a moral and criminal one. We can reduce both federal and state government costs by ending the drug war. (Please note, this is not the same as "legalizing" illegal drugs. But it does represent a major shift in how we approach the problem.)


8. Retrofit, modernize, weatherize, fireproof and improve energy efficiency of schools, public buildings, hospitals, businesses and homes with:

     a. Energy conservation and technologies and methodologies: improve insulation, replace inefficient heating and cooling systems, water heaters and lighting, remove/contain lead paint and asbestos.

     b. Improve passive and active fire protection technologies and methodologies


9. The Rebuilding of New Orleans.


10. Protection against wild fires:

     a. Convert existing surplus aircraft to firefighting aircraft and build new firefighting aircraft. This work should employ modern technologies such as stir welding of aluminum. These firefighting aircraft could be equipped with the latest technology such as night vision, GPS, all weather capability, sophisticated digital sensors and communications and the precision containerized aerial delivery (PCAD) firefighting system (PCAD)


11. Construct more libraries in particular in rural communities and use to expand broadband access.


12. Comprehensive recycling and composting of everything and the elimination of garbage dumps


13. Complete of the backlogs of work projects in national, state, and local parks and U.S. Forests


14. Expanded, affordable recreational, sports, cultural, music, theater, and art programs.


15. Additional programs/projects to both reduce climate change and mitigate ill effects of climate change.


16. Retooling of factories to build rail, rail cars, electric cars and buses, renewable energy sources, health care technologies and other items needed for all the above.


B. Actions to Accelerate, Improve the Effectiveness of and Reduce the Cost of Reinvestment and Recovery Efforts


1. Establish an improved Work Projects Administration (WPA) and “Civilian Corps” in conservation, construction, engineering, medical, environmental and IT with strong leaders to coordinate planning and administer the work.


2. Work with AmeriCorps, adapt their processes and perhaps hire some of their alumni. Develop prioritized lists of work to be done and plans in the public and private sector at the national, state and local levels by location.


3. Convert from a war and conflict economy to a peace and green economy:

     a. Bring all troops home from occupations, base and facilities overseas and drastically reduce the size of the standing U.S. military and have the military in civilian clothes provide much of the leadership, training, logistics, financial and technical personnel for the new WPA and “Civilian Corps.” Do not involuntarily discharge any of them; and, as appropriate assign or allow them to remain in the States National Guards (under the control of the governors). To those that wish can go into regular jobs, to college, the Peace Corps or UN Peacekeeping.

     b. Use excess Department of Defense land, bases, facilities, buildings, equipments and even ships, vehicles and aircraft for peaceful, productive purposes including:

           i. Bases, facilities, buildings could be for the WPA and Civilian Corps to plan, train and manage work from.

           ii. Barracks could be used as dormitories and emergency housing

           iii. Land could be used to build affordable housing and communities

           iv. Walter Reed and other military hospitals and clinics which are being closed could be turned into not for profit Medicare/Medicaid hospitals and clinics that provides free, single payer comprehensive physical, dental, and mental health care for everyone, civilians, military and veterans, and also educate and trains, doctors, nurses, dentists, nurses aids and other health care personnel.

           v. Firefighting training facilities on bases could be used to train civilian firefighters.

           vi. National Guard helicopters, C-130, C-17 and other military aircraft equipped with precision containerized aerial delivery (PCAD) systems could be used for fighting wild fires and combating hazardous material incidents. Testing of prototype PCAD firefighting systems are ongoing.


4. Government purchase insolvent companies such as Chrysler and General Motors and operate them as government owned contractor operated (GOCO) entities. Keep their workforce. Convert these factories to produce both:

     a. Environmental friendly, energy efficient, safe versions of the products that they normally produce e.g. automobiles and new modes of transportation for Chrysler and GM.

     b. New items needed for the work outlined in Section A of this plan.


5. Assign the management of specific DoD contracts to the new Work Projects Administration (WPA) and convert these contracts from producing weapon systems to producing products for peaceful, productive purposes in particular for the work, programs and projects listed in Section B above. For example, instead of producing untested F35 fighter/bombers, build firefighting aircraft to combat the ever increasing wildfire threat which is being exacerbated by global warming. This work should employ modern technologies such as stir welding of aluminum. Also, these firefighting aircraft should be equipped with modern technology including as night vision, GPS, all weather capability, sophisticated digital sensors and communications and the precision containerized aerial delivery (PCAD) firefighting system (PCAD).


There are many other weapons system contracts that should be converted to peaceful productive uses including the anti-ballistic systems, the new aerial tankers and nuclear submarines.


6. Conduct the contracting, work, bookkeeping and disbursement of funds locally using

     a. An industrial funds system approach

     b. Management type contracts with companies not paid a profit or percentage of the value of the contract and/or temporary or permanent government hires with managers and workers paid hourly wages at the Davis Bacon local prevailing rates.

This will speed up contracting and reduce costs


7. Encourage and work with state governments to develop and execute integrated plans.


C. Actions to Provide Additional Sources of Funds for Jobs and Recovery Efforts


1. End the illegal Iraq and Afghanistan wars/occupations now. If necessary replace our troops with a United Nations international peace-keeping mission from neutral nations with at least 50 percent of the mission to be from nations with large Muslim populations. (See the WeThePeopleNow.org for additional information about ending the war and withdrawing)


2. Reallocate funds from items in the Stimulus Act that do not contribute to rapidly creating jobs and providing assistance for unemployed workers and struggling families and individuals. A few examples of such items are provided in Section C below.


3. Establish a “federally-owned lending facility ” that provides very low or no interest loans to states and local governments, manufacturers and non profits with solid business plans for vital programs/projects and associated employment opportunities Endnote .


4. Repeal the Wall Street and bank bailout legislation, (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, Pub. Law 110-3 43, Div. A)


5. Nationalize the Federal Reserve System and operate it as a government owned, contractor operated entity


6. Recoup as much as possible of the $23,7trillion Endnote of taxpayers money that the Federal Reserve, FDIC and U. S. Treasury have provided or committed to financial institutions over the past 18 months or so. Prohibit the Federal Reserve, FDIC or the Treasury from providing additional funds, buying any securities or making any additional guarantees without the express permission of Congress. In the future, Congress make all decisions about “coining,” appropriations, money supply, interest rates and loan guarantees by public laws, passed by the House and the Senate and signed by the President as required by the Constitution.


7. Recoup funds from the repeal of parts of the Wall Street bailout legislation that were used to buy stock, loaned out or was otherwise disbursed by the Department of the Treasury


8. End the so called “War on Terror.” Treat acts of terror as crimes, repeal the FISA Supplement of 2008, the Military Commission Act of 2006, stop spending taxpayer money on wire tapping, illegal searches, arrests and detentions of Americans and others. Promote safety and security with constitutional laws that protect civil rights and ensure people are treated humanely and provided restorative justice opportunities as appropriate.


9. Close all overseas bases and facilities and greatly curtail deployment of military vessels and aircraft.


10. Cease U.S. threats, attacks or covert operations, including those by the CIA, and propaganda, against all countries without a formal declaration of war by Congress.


11. Phase-out/eliminate nuclear modernization programs, the anti ballistic missile system program, the F-22, F-35 and other military aircraft programs, nuclear submarines and similar programs.


12. Eliminate military aid and assistance to Israel


13. Eliminate wasteful government spending, earmarks and corporate subsidies


14. Eliminate "shadow contractors" and black ops and downsize the national intelligence apparatus.


15. Cease torturing or treating any detainee inhumanely; arresting or detaining anyone without probable cause; secretly arresting or detaining anyone and performing secret renditions.


16. Cease wiretapping without warrants


17. Cancel all contracts for private security contractors and war profiteers.


18. Revise the 2010 budget to reflect the actions in this plan and the What Must be Done to Resolve the Foreclosure, Mortgage, Derivative, and Banking Crises, and Reform and Regulate Financial Systems.


19. Reform and reorganize Congress. Eliminate duplicative authorization committees and organize by function. For example, the Agriculture Committee in parallel with the Department of Agriculture would in spirit become the Food Committee and Department of Food and be responsible for insuring that there is affordable, healthy food on the shelves of markets. Similarly there would be health, clean water, clean air, affordable housing, etc. committees and department/agencies.


20. Enact progressive business revenue and personal income taxes and “net asset” property taxes that lessen poverty, lower taxes on the middle class and encourage public service.

     a. Enact very progressive tax rates on all offshore and onshore personal income, including inheritances, capitol gains, and stock dividends offshore and on all business revenues including from offshore businesses and accounts with very reasonable zero tax thresholds. This is necessary because individuals can hide income and property taxes in businesses and vice versa.

     b. Enact very progressive tax rates on business and personal “net worth” (all assets including stocks, land, investments and mineral rights minus all liabilities including debts, mortgages, etc.). This is necessary to control the growing wealth divide.

     c. Phase out/eliminate the inheritance tax, sales taxes, the many minuscule taxes that show up on phone and cable bills and other digressive taxes.

     d. Provide very generous tax deductions up to almost tax credits for very worthwhile contributions to non-profit causes. Encourage well-heeled individuals to take on important large massive projects. For example T. Boone Pickens could help manage the development of windpower for one dollar a year, others could take on water, solar power, prison reform, clean air, power distribution, adopt cities, entire countries, etc.. These projects should roughly mirror the committees and departments/agencies in the newly organized congress and executive department organized.  

     e. Eliminate unjust tax loopholes


21. Impose a Tobin tax or Securities Transfer Tax (STT) of one percent (1%) to be paid by the broker on all financial transactions.


22. Impose a general debt moratorium, payment holiday(s) or payment freeze on all bonded debt of the state


D. U.S. Efforts to Help Put the World to Work

Certain U.S. stockbrokers, bankers, corporation executives and government officials caused much of the worldwide economic crisis. Helping the rest of the world to recovery from the crisis is the right thing to do. Unless the rest of the world does recover quickly, there could be mass starvation, pollution, immigration and increases in terrorist acts. The U.S. is not in competition with the other countries of the world. There should come a time when each large country/area of the globe does most of its own manufacturing and provides most of its own services to its own people.

 

1. Require all agencies of the government to cooperate with other countries, to create at least one billion jobs within the next twelve months in meaningful work at living wages. Fund this work in about the same ways outlined above for the U. S. including in particular:

     a. Nationalizing Central money banks and Government lend money directly

     b. Progressive income/revenues and property taxes on individuals, companies and multi-national corporations.

 

2. Fund diplomacy, not armaments, conflicts, war and spying.


3. Strengthen and expand the U.S. Peace Corps and U.S. Agency for International Development (AID).


4. Support and help strengthen and expand the roles and assistance provided by the United Nations, its agencies and peacekeeping teams.


5. Replace foreign military aid and CIA spying and covert operations with increased economic aid and development funding. This funding should be managed by the State Department, Peace Corps and AID and, as much as possible, benefit the people of the country not to the government.


6. On a country by country basis, turn over bases, land, facilities, buildings, equipments and even ships, vehicles and aircraft for peaceful, productive purposes as appropriate to the host country and if appropriate items and portions to UN Peacekeeping Forces and/or the State Department, Peace Corps and AID for used to distribute and help with economic aid and development

 

7. Develop a general approach to decrease need for massive world wide trade whereby each country generally produces goods for their own markets and nearby countries and pay their employees enough to be customers of their own goods.


8. Prevent additional Free Trade Agreements being passed and repeal free trade laws including NAFTA and CAFTA and replace them with fair trade laws.


9. Reform the World Bank and IMF so that they serve the people, not just the rich.




Endnotes: