Economy/Jobs

In the past few years, millions of well-paying jobs in the manufacturing and technology sectors have disappeared. We must continue building our hybrid economy and developing the new, exciting and high-paying jobs that will accompany it's growth. An Apollo Program for Alternative Energy will provide research, development and production jobs for a new generation of industries, powered by renewable resources and developed by Americans. What we must do is adapt to changing times by retraining our citizens, and encouraging productive jobs in new sectors. One of the most important tasks we have at hand is rebuilding our energy infrastructure -- and investing in emerging energy, health-care, transportation, communications and agricultural technologies. This essential task will provide millions of well-paying jobs that can never be outsourced. Also, corporations and their officers must be held accountable for following ethical and financial standards that create value for them in maintaining their operations on U.S. soil.

Let's Keep Jobs In America

Trade agreements should not subsidize the outsourcing of American jobs. An employee is more than just a factor of production -- he/she is a stakeholder in the company and community. Government/corporate retraining programs should be available for employees who have lost or are losing their jobs, to create opportunities for a new career.

Promote Fair Trade

We must remove barriers to fair trade by insisting on strong labor and environmental standards worldwide. If we hold other countries to the same standards as we hold ourselves, many incentives to send American jobs abroad will disappear. We must commit ourselves to penalizing countries that refuse to trade on an equal footing, both economically, socially, environmentally and in the arena of human rights. We cannot be the change we wish to see in others, unless we ourselves embody those changes earnestly and consistently. We must level the playing field by giving foreign nations incentive, to echo our concerns in their countries, and address those concerns accordingly. In a truly fair market, American ingenuity, technology and work ethic has never failed to become the envy of the world.

Creative Job Growth

Creative Job Growth means encouraging well-paying, sustainable jobs in growing sectors such as Biotechnology, Sustainable Energy, and Broadband Communications. We must create profitable agricultural opportunities with value-added food, fuel, feed, and fiber markets. Small businesses provide 90% of American jobs, so we must encourage their growth through reduction of taxes, handling their health insurance needs, and providing low-cost expansion opportunities.

Upgrade Infrastructure

The Government must lead by example to rebuild and modernize our business and energy infrastructures. Our energy systems, rails and highway, water systems, and other necessities have kept the same fundamental designs for over seven decades. It's time to rebuild for the changing needs of our high-tech society. This will provide millions of skilled jobs, and make our country more efficient and productive.

Livable Wage

Hard-working Americans have a right to earn a livable wage. Progressive government policies that reduce business overhead and unfair foreign competition will make it possible for employers to raise the wages of their employees.

Tax Reform

We must use tax shifting to encourage sustainable jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, and services. We must help these embattled economic sectors solve their problems and also encourage job growth in competitive, high-tech fields.

Reducing Business Overhead

American business must be allowed a fair chance in the global economy. Universal single-payer health care insurance will alleviate perhaps the single greatest financial burden on American business.

Consumer Protections

Businesses have a responsibility to ensure that their goods and services are not harmful to consumers. When they fail in this responsibility, the government must provide adequate legal redress to compensate the consumer and motivate safer business practices. Specifically the opportunity for a hearing before a judge and a jury of ones peers must be protected against current attacks.

Corporate Accountability

Corporate leaders have the moral obligation to engage in fair and open accounting procedures. In case of ethical misconduct, both the officers and the company are to be held accountable.

Leveling the Playing Field

Many companies operating in developing countries do not have to bear the cost of providing a safe working environment, pollution controls, or basic community infrastructure for their workers. In addition, the external (or indirect) costs of rapid, unsustainable development are ignored. These costs are real and must be fairly and properly accounted for, to give American workers the opportunity to compete in a fair global market for goods and services.