Thursday, February 14, 2008
Recession, What Recession?
Economy gets worse, but they don't want to say Recession because then we might act like we're in one.
I was thinking of the challenge that Edwards left about ending poverty. Then there is Kucinich, but I'll look at his platform in the near future. He is still in an election. If I had the power or influence I would do the following.
Starting now, begin to determine the real living wage for each county using a tool like the Bare Bones Budget. In June raise the minimum wage at least $1.
With the Bare Bones Budget begin to develop an idea of what a real living wage is. Assuming the target is $16 dollars. Raise the minimum wage $1 every six months until the $16 dollars is met - but it may be $17 or $18 by then. (The minimum wage may need to be different by State, but finding a legitimate wage that leaves no one in the country working full time and living in poverty is the goal here.) You also hire and train enough public health workers to do this evaluation for each municipality. This creates jobs and gives an independent review of this data. It is not from the business sector, or the business development sector of government and it is not in an anti-business activist sector. Income disparities have a terrible impact on health so this should be a good perspective - doing what is healthy for the population as a whole (I know, "what a concept!")
Once the minimum wage is met. You continue to do the living wage analysis in each municipality. And you adjust based on inflation.
The inflation adjustment keeps working wages from decreasing in reality despite the numbers. And this allows for cities, counties or states to increase the minimum wage if necessary. By creating that flexibility we start to get a better sense of the economy.
The cost of analyzing each municipality may be less than what is spent on Homeland security and will give us about as much safety. Countries with high income inequalities have higher rates of violence.
Meanwhile you shift any tax incentives to small businesses and back toward our schools, fire departments and our environment. Food incentives get shifted to small regional farms instead of global, genetic modification corporate food production.
Giving unions back their teeth and regulating union busting would be another key tactic. Then of course a non-profit universal health care program. Education - Creating more and smaller schools would help as a long-term investment.
Subsidize quality, green housing in every neighborhood to encourage affordable mixed income neighborhoods. Support public transportation, open space, and universal child care.
That would be a good start. We'd probably need to stop for a bar-b-que after that... Maybe for May Day!
KEEP LEFTING!!!
I was thinking of the challenge that Edwards left about ending poverty. Then there is Kucinich, but I'll look at his platform in the near future. He is still in an election. If I had the power or influence I would do the following.
Starting now, begin to determine the real living wage for each county using a tool like the Bare Bones Budget. In June raise the minimum wage at least $1.
With the Bare Bones Budget begin to develop an idea of what a real living wage is. Assuming the target is $16 dollars. Raise the minimum wage $1 every six months until the $16 dollars is met - but it may be $17 or $18 by then. (The minimum wage may need to be different by State, but finding a legitimate wage that leaves no one in the country working full time and living in poverty is the goal here.) You also hire and train enough public health workers to do this evaluation for each municipality. This creates jobs and gives an independent review of this data. It is not from the business sector, or the business development sector of government and it is not in an anti-business activist sector. Income disparities have a terrible impact on health so this should be a good perspective - doing what is healthy for the population as a whole (I know, "what a concept!")
Once the minimum wage is met. You continue to do the living wage analysis in each municipality. And you adjust based on inflation.
The inflation adjustment keeps working wages from decreasing in reality despite the numbers. And this allows for cities, counties or states to increase the minimum wage if necessary. By creating that flexibility we start to get a better sense of the economy.
The cost of analyzing each municipality may be less than what is spent on Homeland security and will give us about as much safety. Countries with high income inequalities have higher rates of violence.
Meanwhile you shift any tax incentives to small businesses and back toward our schools, fire departments and our environment. Food incentives get shifted to small regional farms instead of global, genetic modification corporate food production.
Giving unions back their teeth and regulating union busting would be another key tactic. Then of course a non-profit universal health care program. Education - Creating more and smaller schools would help as a long-term investment.
Subsidize quality, green housing in every neighborhood to encourage affordable mixed income neighborhoods. Support public transportation, open space, and universal child care.
That would be a good start. We'd probably need to stop for a bar-b-que after that... Maybe for May Day!
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Chicana and Chicano Votes, Chicano Chingon, Hell In Handbasket
