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Universal Basic Income
Do you support Universal Basic Income for all Americans, with no strings attached, such that it would provide necessary support on a simple, equal and fair basis to every citizen, without stigma, to those (a) who are unable to work due to disability, health issues, or the unavailability of jobs; (b) who are forced by technological change to leave a declining sector of the economy; and (c) who wish to start new businesses and enterprises?
BACKGROUND
- Americans are now living in a time of great economic inequality;
- Minimum wage policy can support sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all, including equal pay for work of equal value, and while protecting labor rights;
- Fair wage/income policy helps ordinary Americans hurt by globalization, job losses due to automation, and technological shifts which are making decent work far too scarce.
REFERENCES
- “Study Shows Income Gap Between Rich and Poor Keeps Growing, With Deadly Effects” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/us/politics/gao-income-gap-rich-poor.html?module=inline
- “Inequality hurts economic growth, finds OECD research” https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/inequality-hurts-economic-growth.htm
- “Pros and Cons of Universal Basic Income” https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2018/universal-basic-income-pros-cons/
Rural Growth
Do you support federally directed investment in economically lagging regions of the US to counter rural vs urban inequality in the US? This support could be through federally-directed programs targeting education, infrastructure and health services; and/or by creating centers of economic dynamism in economically lagging regions, supported by strong educational services and new infrastructure.
BACKGROUND
- The rural-urban economic divide has diluted support for the Democratic Party over the last 20 years;
- Globalization, neoliberal policies and decline in public investment in education, infrastructure and health services has contributed to the rural-urban economic divide;
- Income and wealth aggregation along coastal and urban centers will not stop and reverse without federal government intervention;
- The fracturing of American identity along rural and urban lines is threatening our shared sense of community and purpose.
REFERENCES
- Michael McQuarrie. “Revolt of the Rust Belt: Place and Politics in the Age of Anger. July 25, 2018. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1468-4446.12328
- Arlie Russell Hochschild. “Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right.” September 2016. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strangers-Their-Own-Land-Mourning/dp/1620972255
- The Economist. “The Great Divergence.” March 12th, 2016. https://www.economist.com/united-states/2016/03/12/the-great-divergence
- Aaron Zitner and Dante Chinmi. “Democrats and Republicans Aren’t Just Divided. They Live in Different Worlds.” Wall Street Journal, Sept. 19, 2019 https://www.wsj.com/graphics/red-economy-blue-economy/?mod=article_inline