Report

A Green New Deal

OurFuture.org Staff — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:29:26 -0500

The Green New Deal Group, drawing inspiration from the tone of President Roosevelt’s comprehensive response to the Great Depression, propose a modernised version, a ‘Green New Deal’ designed to power a renewables revolution, create thousands of green-collar jobs and rein in the distorting power of the finance sector while making more low-cost capital available for pressing priorities.

New Energy for America: the Apollo Jobs Report

Bill Scher — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:46:57 -0400

The new Apollo Initiative calls for a large scale federal commitment, on the scale of $30 billion/year for 10 years, to achieve a new energy infrastructure that is diversified, environmentally safe, and more efficient. This initiative will turn challenge into opportunity. It will generate good jobs and help US companies capture the green markets of the future. It will reduce dependence on foreign oil. It will rebuild communities, and it will make America an environmental leader again, helping put the world on a path to a sustainable future.

The new Apollo Initiative will achieve these benefits by pursuing four broad strategies

Diversify our energy sources: making America less dependent on foreign oil, while making energy more secure, more affordable and reliable, and less polluting
Invest in the industries of the future: promoting new technology, improving manufacturing processes, and expanding markets for American durable goods.
Promote construction of high performance, energy efficient buildings: saving money and rebuilding more livable, more equitable, and healthier environments, and
Drive investment in cities and communities: renewing our commitment to building smart public infrastructure for transportation, energy, and other vital public services.

Taken together, these strategies combined with national commitment, public investment, meaningful standards, and political will, can bring about enormous benefits for both America and the world.

Detailed analysis of the potential economic benefits reveals the promise of Apollo. A $30 billion investment per year for 10 years would provide the following benefits:

Add more than 3.3 million jobs to the economy
Stimulate $1.4 trillion in new Gross Domestic Product
Stimulate the economy through adding $953 billion in Personal Income and $323.9 billion in Retail Sales
Produce $284 billion in net energy cost savings

The Stress Test

Terrance Heath — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:38:49 -0400

The headlines scream bad news about the economy: Prices are high and rising; wages are not keeping up. Homes foreclose at a record pace. Gas prices are at record highs. While economists and politicians debate whether or not we’re technically in a recession, most Americans feel we’ve been in a recession for years. People know in their guts that something is wrong.

To show how the economy affects working families, The Campaign for America’s Future has designed an economic stress test. Assessing the condition of jobs, housing, health care, and household costs on a state-by-state basis over time, the CAF stress test illustrates the troubles families face and shows the way to solutions.

"The Stress Test" shows trouble across the board. It shows flat wages and rising costs. It shows more people without health insurance and the neglect of such established public responsibilities as state support for college education. It demonstrates overall economic mismanagement and it quantifies the general level of stress in this historically optimistic country.

Read the full report (PDF) | State stress test statistics

What "The Stress Test" Measures

Jobs

Unemployment rates and changes in unemployment rates (March 2000-March 2008)
Changes in the number of goods-producing and service-providing jobs (March 2000-March 2008)
Changes in available construction jobs (March 2000-2008)
Changes in available manufacturing jobs (March 2000-2008)
Changes in average weekly wage (Q3 2001-Q3 2007)

Costs and quality of life

People without health insurance, per 1,000 residents; rate and change over time; overall and employer-based (2000-2006)
Population spending 25 percent of pre-tax income on health care; rate and change (2000-2008)
Public college tuition as a percentage of income; rate and change over time (2000-2001 – 2006-2007)
Bankruptcy, per capita; rate and change over time (2006-2007)
Foreclosures, per capita (2007)
Average price of gas, change over time(January 2000-February 2008)

The Solutions

To relieve this economic stress, this report shows, we need a new economic strategy. We need to stop using tax dollars to bail out Wall Street bankers and start using public money to benefit the struggling middle class. This means the creation of new, good jobs here at home and a strategy for retaining knowledge and technology in America. We need to expand public investment in infrastructure as well as human capital in order to ensure the safety and well-being of all Americans. This includes investment in roads, bridges, education and health care. These reforms are the foundation for a new economy in which all Americans benefit.

The elements of the new direction include:

New Energy for America
We should launch a concerted drive for energy independence, and put people to work building a green economy.

A National Strategy in the Global Economy
We need a clear strategy for our nation in the global economy. The first step out of the hole we are in is to stop digging. No more NAFTAs, no more trade accords written by and for multinational corporations and banks.

Invest in People and Basics that Work
We need to ensure our children have access to the best education in the world: universal pre-kindergarten, smaller classes in earlier grades, challenging after-school programs, and affordable college or advanced training. Invest in repairing roads and bridges, sewage systems and school buildings, ensuring that the jobs created are good jobs.

Health Care for All
We need to revive the American Dream and help working families with the basics. We should start with health care reform, providing for all a guaranteed choice of health care, just as members of Congress have. Provide every business and individual with the option of either keeping their current private plan, if they like it, or the ability to buy into a high-quality public plan.

Sharing Prosperity
We need to correct the imbalance between the top floor and the shop floor to ensure that profits and productivity are widely shared. Raise the floor – increase the minimum wage, guarantee workers paid sick days and family leave. Empower workers to organize, pass the Employee Free Choice Act, turn the National Labor Relations Board back into a watchdog for workers. Pass comprehensive immigration reform, gain control of our borders and enforce fair labor standards so employers can’t exploit undocumented workers.

Americans have a right to know how we can build a sustainable economy. Presidential candidates need to address the issues that are relevant to working Americans, refocusing national attention from the wants of Wall Street to the needs of Main Street. We can begin to relieve Americans’ economic stress by challenging candidates and elected officials to support and promote real solutions to real economic problems.

Stress Test State Reports

See the level of economic stress in your state.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky

Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota

Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Mitigation of Climate Change

Alec Dubro — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:26:19 -0500

New Energy for Cities

Scott Laczay — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:12:09 -0500

For decades, Americans have fled to the suburbs in search of clean air and open space. Ironically, some of the “greenest” places in America are its dense, vibrant cities. New York City, seen by many as an urban jungle, was recently called the “greenest city in the U.S.” because so many of its residents live in efficient multi-story buildings, and use public transit, bicycles, or their own feet to commute to work. City residents also consume about half as much electricity as those who live in more spread-out suburban areas. The Apollo Alliance report has the details, and the policy lessons for America.

Coal in a Changing Climate

Alec Dubro — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:33:47 -0400

The Stern Review

Chris Rasmussen — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 10:28:22 -0500

A United Kingdom governmental report assesses the environmental and economic impacts of global warming and recommends strong and prompt action to avert significant costs due to global warming. "The scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change presents very serious global risks, and it demands an urgent global response," the report concludes.

Called "The Stern Report," this independent review was commissioned by the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, reporting to both the Chancellor and to the Prime Minister, to help assess the evidence and build understanding of the economics of climate change.

Ethanol

Alec Dubro — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 18:37:06 -0500

New Energy for America

Alec Dubro — Sat, 10 Jan 2004 18:19:09 -0500

Wind Energy for Electric Power

Alec Dubro — Thu, 10 Jul 2003 19:40:51 -0400