Report

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

How to Talk About the Economy

Eric Lotke — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:25:01 -0500

Almost everyone agrees that our economy is in big trouble. The challenge for progressive political candidates is shaping a message that will rally voters around a solid agenda for change — policies that will empower workers, curb financial speculation, hold corporate executives accountable and enable all Americans to prosper in a global economy.

This page offers ammunition for the fight. It links to the latest information and most persuasive arguments that will help candidates and their supporters make that case for change.

This guide to the economy, produced by the Campaign for America’s Future and the AFL-CIO, features information on what has gone wrong in the economy, what Americans think about it and how to talk about it. There are briefs on the central issues, economic facts, and key votes by state and resources political campaigns can draw upon.

Because the state of our economy is in constant flux, we will be regularly updating and augmenting the content here. Check back regularly to find rapid responses to changing events and new, creative ways to make the case.

The AFL-CIO will also carry the guide and continue to provide timely resources at www.aflcio.org/winning.

Presentations to Help You Make the Case

Use these slide shows with the chapters at the right to sharpen your economic arguments.

What's Wrong
With the Economy

What Voters Think
About the Economy

How to
Make Your Case

The Power of Pocketbook Issues

This six-minute video includes examples of congressional campaigns that succeeded by using the right economic messages.

Introduction
What’s Wrong With the Economy
What Voters Think About the Economy
How to Make the Argument
The Stump Speech
The Issues
- Quality Education
- New Energy for America
- Health Care for All
- Repairing the Housing Crisis
- Immigration
- Investing in America
- Shared Prosperity
- Fair Trade
- Why Unions
The Economic Picture
Revealing Votes
Download the Full Report

Toxic Trade

Terrance Heath — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:17:54 -0500

As American consumers buy a sharply increased share of their goods from overseas, the American government has been cutting back its ability to regulate and inspect imports. Americans consumers are thus exposed to increasing numbers of products that were neither produced in America nor subject to American safety standards. The results put people at risk.

Our report, "Toxic Trade: Globalization and the Safety of the American Consumer," documents these two trends. Government statistics show that imports have increased by 338 percent since 1974, the year the Consumer Product Safety Commission was created. Yet the budget for that agency today is less than half what is was in that year. In effect, we have been disarming our ability to protect ourselves, even as the need to do so has been soaring. Our report concludes that it is past time for a change.

2006: The Fair-Trade Election

Scott Laczay — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:56:29 -0500

2006: Candidates Win by Fighting for Fair Trade

Scott Laczay — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:54:47 -0500

2008: Trade Birddog Campaign

Scott Laczay — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:52:45 -0500

2008: Presidential Candidates on Trade

Scott Laczay — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:50:52 -0500

Offshoring: The Next Industrial Revolution

Scott Laczay — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:48:54 -0500

Globalization and American Wages

Scott Laczay — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:47:17 -0500

CAFTA and U.S. Job Loss

Scott Laczay — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:46:02 -0500