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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJohn Henry: A Federally-Funded Jobs Program? Lessons from the WPA
John Henry: A Federally-Funded Jobs Program? Lessons from the WPA
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/01/a-federally-funded-jobs-program-lessons-from-the-wpa.html
In the current debates surrounding various job guarantee programs (in association with the Chartalist or Modern Money perspectives), it might prove helpful to review some aspects of the Works Progress Administration (renamed in 1939 as Work Projects Administration). While the WPA was not a job guarantee program, it nevertheless points to a number of issues that are under current discussion, including those of the nature of the projects undertaken, impact on the larger economy, concerns surrounding bureaucratic impediments, etc. Lets begin with an introductory statement pertaining to the political and economic orientation of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (and his Administration).
Roosevelt was not a progressive. He ran on a balanced budget platform, and initially attempted to fulfill his campaign promise of reducing the federal budget by slashing military spending from $752 million in 1932 to $531 million in 1934, including a 40% reduction in spending for veterans benefits which eliminated the pensions of half-a-million veterans and widows and reduced the benefits for those remaining on the rolls. As well, federal spending on research and education was slashed and salaries of federal employees were reduced. Such programs were reversed after 1935. And one might recall that Roosevelt attempted to return to a balanced budget program in 1937, just as the economy appeared to be slowly recovering. The result was a renewed depression that began in the fall of that year and ran through 1938.
Thus, the Roosevelt Administration was forced into progressive activism because of massiveand organizedpopular discontent based mainly in working class and small farmer organizations. The union movement was rejuvenated through the formation of the CIO, farmers organized to prevent the forced sales of their properties (and this often included the threat of armed action), rent strikes were rampant, etc. Chicago, New York, other cities saw massive demonstrations. Riots shook the Kentucky coal fields. One must remember that the communist party was large (as these parties go), active, and popular. The specter of revolution was in the air and some politicians responded. Hamilton Fish Jr. instructed his fellow Congressmen, (i)f we dont give (security) under the existing system, the people will change the system. Make no mistake about that.
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jody
(26,624 posts)could be transferred from agriculture and other areas to primitive, rapidly evolving industry.
Some, perhaps many, of today's unemployed have few skills needed by advanced manufacturing and can't work an eight hour day in agriculture.
Zalatix
(8,994 posts)jody
(26,624 posts)abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)and could work on infrastructure jobs. Working in agriculture would probably take some training but not impossible to do. Read recently that if businesses would switch to a thirty hour full time work week employing more for less time that would also help the economy.
jody
(26,624 posts)would be 25% less than a 40 hr week.
Is that acceptable to you?
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)the same hours then yes that would have been a better alternative now wouldn't it? But me personally? Sure.
Anyway, this has been suggested recently in several articles by economists as one way to help improve the employment situation and make sure more people have some form of health care coverage since we still don't have single payer and it's cost prohibitive for the unemployed.
jody
(26,624 posts)abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)there have been articles recently proposing we change the full time work week to be 30 hours a week so that businesses would hire more people at full time with benefits in order to tackle the unemployment crisis.
jody
(26,624 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)were nothing like we would want today. If I am not mistaken a worker in the CCC was paid room and board (very good food) with maybe $30 a week cash with some of that going to send home to his family. These jobs were seen more as a teaching program than a living wage job. For many of them this was an alternative to starving.
jody
(26,624 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)the pictures that we had of the camps in our area. Their stories were fanscinating and beautiful. I was priviledged to set and listen to them.
jody
(26,624 posts)Of course my parents and grandparents were living history that I remember so well.