What would a bold jobs agenda look like? The task is not simply to give the economy a stimulus, as if we were giving a charge to a dead car battery. We need to rebuild the engine and modernize the wiring, creating a new strategy for America in the global economy. Co-director Robert Borosage lays the framework for this strategy, and our writers and contributors lay out six of the "big ideas" that are essential components of the jobs-first agenda that should be at the forefront of the national debate.

The Jobs Question

Robert Borosage

President Obama is, in the lingo of the day, “pivoting to jobs.” His bus tour through the Midwest began the process, with the president recycling his current jobs-lite agenda: payroll tax cut extended, infrastructure bank, trade deals, tax cuts for companies that hire veterans, and patent reform—“things the Congress could do right now,” but nothing near the scope of the need. Gone is any notion that we need a new strategy to generate an economy that will work for working people. What would such a new strategy look like? Read more »

1) Rebuild Our Infrastructure

Dave Johnson

For decades now America has been putting off necessary investments in our public infrastructure—our roads, bridges, airports, ports and waterways, rail, levees, schools, water systems, energy systems, and other public facilities. This infrastructure meets the public’s safety and welfare needs, and supports the nation’s economic growth and competitiveness, but it is falling apart. At the same time we have a jobs crisis: 13.9 million Americans officially out of work; another 8.3 million working part-time who would want full-time jobs, millions more who have pretty much thrown up their hands in today's stagnant economy. The answer to both problems is obvious: Put millions of people to work repairing and rebuilding our public infrastructure—now. Read more »

2) Invest In Public Education

Jeff Bryant

I don't think anyone has ever even tried to make the argument that education and jobs are not in any way linked. But the economic argument for education is not well understood even by those -- politicians especially -- who are most apt to make the connection. So before we demand that political and civic leaders at all levels turn around our troubled economy by increasing investment in public education, we need to get the framing right. You can't blame the bad economy on education. But you can blame education cuts for a bad economy. Read more »

3) Make Work Pay

Anne Thompson

Companies hold back from expanding and rehiring in the face of weak demand for their goods and services.The few jobs that are being created are low-paying positions with declining wages. Given these obstacles, how can we jump-start demand and create the impetus for rehiring that businesses need? We need meaningful proposals that can help put a little more money in the pockets of millions of Americans who are working but are still financially struggling. Here are three: Raise the minimum wage. Eliminate wage theft. Protect the rights of workers to bargain collectively. Read more »

4) Revive American Manufacturing

Dave Johnson

At the end of 2010, manufacturing was just 11.7 percent of the economy. If we want to recharge the nation's job-creation machine, we must make manufacturing a larger segment of the economy. A bold jobs plan aims to boost American manufacturing by insisting that international trade be on a truly level playing field, America adopt a national manufacturing/industrial/economic policy, Congress write into law a "Buy American" policy for government procurement, and the administration execute a plan for capturing the lead in green energy. Read more »

5) Hire the Young to Build Their Own Future

Richard Eskow

Young Americans are a generation betrayed. Official unemployment is more than 25% for those aged 16-19. That means the real figure is much worse, especially in minority communities and depressed parts of the country. A WPA-like program for younger Americans would give them a brighter future by hiring them to rebuild our infrastructure, develop imaginative new business ideas, create alternative energy sources, and become tomorrow’s artists and writers. We can give them control over their own destiny, too. Read more »

6) Fix The Housing Crisis

Liz Ryan Murray

If banks took action to eliminate the overhang of underwater mortgages on the economy, that would create more 1 million new jobs, keep families in their homes and begin to stabilize the housing market and economy as a whole. Best of all, this solution doesn’t ask those struggling the most to pay again. This solution tells those who caused the mess in the first place to begin to pay for the cleanup. Writing down principals and interest rates will effectively function as the second stimulus our nation has been desperate for. Read more »