NDN: Economic Recovery Package Signals New Priorities, Development of a 21st Century Economy
NDN today released this statement applauding the draft economic recovery and reinvestment package:
NDN: ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROPOSAL SIGNALS CHANGED PRIORITIES, ACCELERATES DEVELOPMENT OF A 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY
"President-elect Obama has made clear that this proposal should not only create more jobs, but do so in ways that will help drive the development of a real, 21st century workforce and genuine 21st century economic infrastructure," said Dr. Robert Shapiro, the Chair of NDN’s Globalization Initiative. "Investments in this 21st century economic infrastructure, such as increased broadband access, computers in schools, health information technology and provisions to green the federal government, are critical to increasing demand for the important technologies and skills that will in turn expand the nation’s capacity for innovation and economic growth."
NDN President Simon Rosenberg praised both the recovery package and President-elect Obama’s commitment to use TARP funds to help keep people in their homes.
"For years, NDN has argued that the central economic issue of our time has been the stagnating wages and incomes of everyday Americans, which led directly to the overleveraging of Americans' largest assets: their homes," Rosenberg said. "By pledging to use TARP funds to keep people in their homes, using part of the recovery package to stabilize the housing market, which is the root cause of the financial crisis, and targeting investments to create long-term prosperity, President-elect Barack Obama and the Congress have made a crucial commitment to focus America’s economic strategy on the well-being of everyday people."
"The new prominence of critical investments in clean technology and clean infrastructure in this package rightly shows that clean energy is no longer a marginal topic and now sits at the heart of America’s economic strategy," said Michael Moynihan, the Director of NDN’s Green Project, who has long argued for clean infrastructure investment. "The inclusion of $32 billion in clean technology investments at the center of this package is not only vital to addressing our short term crisis but also has the potential to power the next great wave of prosperity."
For more of NDN's work on the economy, creating a stimulus for the long run, keeping people in their homes, and clean infrastructure, please see NDN's backgrounder on Economic Recovery:
- Politics and the Economic Crisis by Dr. Robert Shapiro, 1/9/2009 - Shapiro argues that, for an economic recovery plan to be effective, we must also address the underlying causes of the "Great Recession," including the housing crisis.
- Getting the Stimulus Right by Michael Moynihan, 1/6/2009 - Moynihan makes a number of suggestions for ensuring that the upcoming, record-size stimulus package is a success, including a board to oversee the vast expenditures.
- More Ideas for the Stimulus: Free Computer Training for All Americans by Simon Rosenberg, 12/14/2008 - Rosenberg argues that successfully transitioning America and its people to a technology-rich economy
is one of the incoming President's most daunting challenges, and one he
seems to understand.
- The Global Economic Crisis and Future Ambassadorial Appointments by Simon Rosenberg, 11/26/2008 - With the mammoth task of rebuilding international financial architecture and recovering from a global recession awaiting the new President, Rosenberg points out the the ambassadors to the G20 nations will be key members of the economic team.
- A Vision for a Modernized Electric Grid: Clean Infrastructure for a 21st Century Economy, 11/18/2008 - NDN's Green Project hosted this discussion with Congressmen Jay Inslee and Earl Blumenauer, FERC Comissioner Jon Wellinghoff, Kurt Yeager, and Reid Detchon on the benefits of modernizing the nation's electric grid as part of a clean infrastructure agenda.
- A Stimulus for the Long Run by Simon Rosenberg and Dr. Robert Shapiro, 11/14/2008 – This important essay lays out the now widely agreed-upon argument that the upcoming economic stimulus package must include investments in the basic elements of growth for the next decade, including elements that create a low-carbon, energy-efficient economy.
- Accelerating the Development of a 21st Century Economy: Investing in Clean Infrastructure by Michael Moynihan, 10/18/2008 – NDN Green Project Director Michael Moynihan outlines a strategy for investing in clean infrastructure that will help create long-term prosperity.
- Back to Basics: The Treasury Plan Won't Work by Dr. Robert Shapiro, 9/24/2008 - As the financial crisis unfolded and the Bush Administration offered its response, Shapiro argued that, while major action was needed, the Treasury's plan would be ineffective.
- Keep People in Their Homes by Simon Rosenberg and Dr. Robert Shapiro, 9/23/2008 – At the beginning of the financial collapse, NDN offered this narrative-shaping essay and campaign on the economic need to stabilize the housing market.
- The Green Economic Opportunity and Energy and the American Way of Life, 8/1/2008 - This two-part event featured an address from U.S. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin on the benefits of a low-carbon economy and Roger Efird, Greg Kats, Jack Hidary, and Shyam Kannan discussing green buildings and clean technology.
- Trading in the Trading Down Economy by Michael Moynihan, 7/11/2008 - As economic activity trended downward, Moynihan argued for an economic vision that both moved America beyond the recession and positioned the country for long term prosperity.
- Investing in Our Common Future: U.S. Infrastructure by Michael Moynihan, 11/13/2007 - This
far-reaching paper proposes a set of measures rebuild and advance our aging infrastructure. These proposals include a GREEN Act to require that federal infrastructure and buildings meet a higher set of environmental standards that not only address issues such as global warming but also establish American leadership in green technologies. - Tapping the Resources of America's Community Colleges: A Modest Proposal to Provide Universal Access to Computer Training by Dr. Robert Shapiro, 7/26/2007 – This innovative proposal details how every American can have access to computer training, thereby upgrading the skills of the nation’s workforce.
- A Laptop in Every Backpack by Simon Rosenberg and Alec Ross, 5/1/2007 – Rosenberg and the One Economy Corporation’s Ross offer a modest proposal for putting a laptop in the backpack of every American sixth grader, as connectivity to and facility with the global communications network are essential for success in the 21st century.
For more of NDN's 21st century economic strategy for America, please visit our Globalization Initiative page.
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