A Federal Job Guarantee, according to a recent Harris/Hill Poll
Every Democratic Candidate should be endorsing and trumpeting this as an integral part of the Democratic Platform.
Rationales for a Job Guarantee:
Features of a Job Guarantee
- Unconditional offer of public sector job to anyone who wants to work.
- Uniform Minimum Wage, e.g., $15.00, plus medical benefits.
- Federally funded, but jobs developed and administered locally.
- An excellent “automatic stabilizer” for the economy — Cushions the economy when the private sector is laying off workers.
- When the private sector is hiring, enables transition from job guarantee jobs to private jobs.
- Takes the place of a minimum wage because private employers will be compelled to meet job guarantee wages and benefits.
Politics of a Job Guarantee
The job guarantee polls are positive for good reasons:
- Defeats the glib right wing “free stuff” meme.
- Undercuts destructive and bogus “work requirements” for Medicaid, etc.
- Fills unmet societal needs.
- Is not means tested.
- Provides another source of financial security in uncertain times.
Pavlina Tcherneva has written extensively on the Job Guarantee., Including this Excellent FAQ
Below is a brief talk about the Job Guarantee by Pavlina:
The Job Guarantee is part of the Green New Deal, and in different versions, part of Sanders and Bookers’ platform.
How can any candidate not support something with that level of support?