ABC's of an Effective Jobs Initiative

categories: Cities, Government, Jobs & Unemployment, Policy, Social Programs, The Economy

Published October 30, 2009 @ 05:04AM PT

Driving the Learning Curve Express around backroads of the lower 48, my observation is America's human infrastructure is on life support. The latest unemployment indicators aren't real encouraging. CNN reports...

...the slide may signal that more filers are dropping off those rolls into extended benefits....The figures do not include those who have moved to state or federal extensions, or people whose benefits have expired.

In an op-ed column in The Baltimore Sun, Julianne Malveaux validates my ideas.

To commemorate this anniversary of the Great Depression, the Obama administration ought to engage in Depression-era tactics to jump-start the economy. We have spent $700 billion bailing out banks and $787 billion in economic stimulus. But we have not focused on directly creating employment, on lifting people at the bottom.

Come on! Let's kick something in gear that works.

So, Obama administration, why not help good Americans who have lost their jobs, and are rapidly losing faith in anyone's ability to restore America's greatness? Let's get ordinary people back to work. Here are the ABCs of my ideas, with plenty room for additions:

Auto repair--all those shuttered car dealerships have repair shops. Enlist unemployed skilled repair techs and get them busy repairing cars of people who cannot afford repairs. Tire, battery, and parts sales will generate jobs all the way to manufacturing and raw materials.

Beautification/clean-up--most of America can use a sprucing up, from parks to pavilions. Picking up litter, painting, or washing windows, lots of people can be kept busy, and local governments could use an infusion of cash to oversee this massive effort.

Child care--help child care providers improve their facilities or to expand their capacity to those who can't afford/qualify for child care subsidies.

Do-It-Yourself-ers Home Improvement--connect skilled but idled tradespeople with income qualified households who need work done on their homes.

Education--Using out of work educators, set up education enrichment projects for people who need/want to develop their knowledge.

Flags- U.S. flags are faded, worn, ragged. Let's replace them for free or nominal cost. Raw materials, manufacturing, delivery, distribution of flags will generate lots of jobs.

Guide, Guide America. Replace or add to road signs so people can find their way without having to drive unnecessarily.

Obviously more can be added to this list. This massive war on unemployment, Restore America, should include people not fitting into ordinary work places, those hard to employ, people tired of sitting around farming their Facebook crops, etc.

Your administration has pretty smart people. This effort can be managed at the local level. City, township, and county governments would welcome an infusion of funding for projects benefiting their citizenry.

Seems to me that we make some projects harder than they need to be and then complain that everything is bad. Let's start at the very beginning, the ABC's....

Learning Curve Express logo created for HEAR US by Design Resource Center

photo by the author

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Comments (12)

I like your term "Human Infrastructure" I am going to steal it for my next presentation. It will be in Chicago if I raise enough cash to get there. One week two presentation and fund raising is there a spot for actual fund raising at Change.org?

Where is Hear Us Located?

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 10/30/2009 @ 06:26PM PT
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Imitation is flattery! Thanks!!

HEAR Us is based in Naperville, about 30 miles west of Chicago, but I'm highly mobile, living/working/traveling out of my RV, so I'm not rooted.

When are you coming out? If it's before next Sunday we might be able to meet. I don't know of a way to fundraise via Change.org. Seems to be an uphill climb!

Posted by Diane Nilan on 10/30/2009 @ 06:46PM PT
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As I was formulating the above post, a DC-based think tank, the Economic Policy Institute, was formulating their recommendation on jobs. http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/pm152/

Theirs may have more bureau-speak, but we're singing the same tune. Amazing!

Posted by Diane Nilan on 11/02/2009 @ 07:07AM PT
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The up hill in getting to Chicago has just been moved to 90 degrees up hill. I lost my drivers license. Due to not paying the accident cost for two month. I had paid faithfully for two years. And with interest only got around $400 removed from the $3,000 I owe.

Without a VALID license I cannot fly, train nor bus to Chicago.

I lost without a trial. When they say America provides protection of property under the law, they mean for those whose job or income pays more the the average or median income of $50,303 a year. Not peons like us.

I thought about driving across America to Chicago My car is an 03 so it may be new enough to not get stopped.

In 1970's I drove out to Denver CO. It took seven days ,think I can make Chicago in three. But then if I get stopped and I am alone, I am stuck wherever stopped.

Ironic, part of my presentation is on economic human rights.

I am going to have to see if I can set up a chain of rides, and pay for the gas. Nearly 60 years a citizen and I feel like I am an illegal or forth 4th class citizen being smuggled into Chicago IL. Yeap that incline, or hill is now completely vertical.

That is what the poor face every day

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 11/04/2009 @ 08:07AM PT
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Ouch! That stinks. And it is a perfect example of how people get caught in a vortex of poverty, with every challenge making life even more difficult.

The all important government-issued ID card, drivers' license, state ID, etc., is so vital, and makes people so vulnerable when they lose it, for whatever reason.

Not sure what to suggest...but would be happy to see you if you can make it.

Posted by Diane Nilan on 11/04/2009 @ 08:31AM PT
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I just throw in the towel asking Natalie to place on the door former speaker unable to make it due to poverty. That does not explain how my government made it more difficult for me. and poor folks like me to travel.

I will NOT ACCEPT I was placed on earth only to pay bills it costs to survive. Natalie will copy my work and have it out but I have the background information to that powerpoint.

I am not uniqic in having doors closed, for me to partipate in life. This happens to Every poor person who dares to dream.

Next email goes to Obama I almost say that with as much distain as I had for Bush, Reality is setting in his nothing more than a politician. Mr Obama said he was going to fight for the poor, and what does he do call them *middle class* and looks else where.

Poverty took this battle. But I will stop crying and win the war.

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 11/04/2009 @ 12:40PM PT
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Just to let you know am a bit better today, will be using the power point presentation I designed, in grade schools, I can reach by car. I have a workshop lined up her in Maine, which would have accounted for my last minute departure.

If I had an excess of money. I could have made it by purchasing an illegal drivers license would had to go to a bar and find out where to go, but think Maine might have one or two counterfeiters. Its something when Americans are not allowed freedom of travel. When terrorist have all the right documents.

Its bad that the new travel laws has otherwise law biding citizens think of buying fake documents.

I am sad I will not meet you this weekend. But Perhaps in the future we will say hi in person.

I did my best but fell short. I held on to Hope longer then a middle-class person would of done.

As you might know, Maine's gay marriage got slaughtered in Tuesday, vote. I have filed a constitutional Challenge today. If I was still going to Chicago the earliest I could file would have been Monday.

Thanks for pointing out that many underpaid people citizens of the USA, are harmed by lack of documentation.

I hope some one will read this and see I have not given up. And they not relinquish their power to the bad system.

I am glad we have people like you on our side.

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 11/05/2009 @ 08:25AM PT
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Just to let you know am a bit better today, will be using the power point presentation I designed, in grade schools, I can reach by car. I have a workshop lined up her in Maine, which would have accounted for my last minute departure.

If I had an excess of money. I could have made it by purchasing an illegal drivers license would had to go to a bar and find out where to go, but think Maine might have one or two counterfeiters. Its something when Americans are not allowed freedom of travel. When terrorist have all the right documents.

Its bad that the new travel laws has otherwise law biding citizens think of buying fake documents.

I am sad I will not meet you this weekend. But Perhaps in the future we will say hi in person.

I did my best but fell short. I held on to Hope longer then a middle-class person would of done.

As you might know, Maine's gay marriage got slaughtered in Tuesday, vote. I have filed a constitutional Challenge today. If I was still going to Chicago the earliest I could file would have been Monday.

Thanks for pointing out that many underpaid people citizens of the USA, are harmed by lack of documentation.

I hope some one will read this and see I have not given up. And they not relinquish their power to the bad system.

I am glad we have people like you on our side.

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 11/05/2009 @ 08:25AM PT
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Glad things got a little better for you. And I'm glad you didn't resort to desperate means to get to Chicago! It is insane....

I'd like to think one of my favorite sayings is true for you: "It is simple: We are where we should be, doing what we should be doing, otherwise we'd be somewhere else doing something else." anon.

For some reason you will be where you should be. We'll both do what we do best, "afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted." Keep in touch!

Posted by Diane Nilan on 11/05/2009 @ 05:22PM PT
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Thanks for your wise words.

Spent yesterday in a workshop on Letter writing. I might of reneged on that job, if I finally got an ID. Which I got in the mail today.

Paperwork back ground check since 911, means they take 5 days rather then the same day service.

I was not up to speed emotionally at the Friday day workshp, had two of us doing it. Wonder how I would have been if I flown. Guess if I didn't have the Turmoil of not being able to fly I might have been in a better state. Its Over, and I let go.

You are correct there is a reason for everything. But I am tied having my human rights violated 2-20 times each year.

I hope I can post a link to human rights here like: http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/introduction/udhr_full.html

Then give an example of the rights most likely to be violated towards law biding citizens.

ARTICLE 13... (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state

ARTICLE 1... All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

ARTICLE 8... Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

ARTICLE 12... No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, .... Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

ARTICLE 13... (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

ARTICLE 23... (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

ARTICLE 24... Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

ARTICLE 25... (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

ARTICLE 26... (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

I hope those reading this will look up the link for the rest of the 30 articles.

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 11/07/2009 @ 09:38AM PT
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Sure would like to wake up and find these rights in place!!

Hope things will improve for you. You are a tremendous advocate--and the world needs more people like you!

Carry on!!

Posted by Diane Nilan on 11/07/2009 @ 11:46AM PT
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I do not think it will be overnight-but nearly that fast as compared to the womens vote taking 70 years.

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 11/08/2009 @ 01:10PM PT
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Author

Diane Nilan, founder and president of HEAR US Inc., has over 23 years experience working impoverished and homeless families. Since 2005, Nilan’s cross-country journey to non-urban communities has focused on poverty and homelessness, particularly as it affects invisible families and teens. She filmed the award-winning series of documentaries, My Own Four Walls, children and youth sharing how homelessness affects their lives and their education. Her reader-friendly book, “Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness,” gives unique insights into homelessness. Her latest production, “REACH” empowers incarcerated parents to advocate for their homeless children’s educational rights.