Table of Contents
what democracy jobs are
What is democracy? What does it mean to be democratic? In a democracy, the power of decision making is shared among all citizens. This means that everyone has a say in how their community, economy, and country are run. Democracy also means that all people have the same rights, including economic rights. In a democracy, everyone has a job. Without jobs to do as citizens, no one would want to be part of a democratic community or country. So, we look at what jobs are in a democracy, and how democracy keeps everyone’s jobs.
Senators, congressmen, and other elected officials work to make laws that benefit all people in their community. This includes making sure that everyone has the right to a job to do. The President of the United States works with elected officials each day to make sure that everyone has enough food and health care, since these are two of our greatest rights as citizens.
Every day, working people are also looking for jobs in a democracy. This includes every person who wants to own their own business. And since at least half of the world’s population is unemployed or underemployed, we also have to look at why this happens.
Democracy means that everyone has an equal say in how their community, state, and country are run. So, jobs are a right of citizenship. If anyone wants to work and cannot find a job, they have the right to be considered for any job or work opportunity that becomes available in their community. The government and businesses also need to provide jobs for everyone who needs one, in all of our cities, counties, and states.
why they are important
Jobs are a basic human right. Jobs provide income, social status, and a sense of belonging. During the Great Depression, only the government provided jobs for many Americans. They were able to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads because of the federal government job programs.
The job market is important. When people have jobs, they are better able to provide for their families and children can get an education. A job also gives them extra time to participate in the community and volunteer for worthy causes.
But the American economy needs more jobs. Many people out of work have been unemployed for years, and some are still unemployed. Additionally, millions of jobs require very specific skills and training which can be impossible to find in a recession.
The economy needs more jobs. But it is not the government’s job to create jobs for people. The government’s job is to create economic opportunities for all people regardless of their race, gender, or ethnicity.
Americans believe that more jobs are possible. Americans believe our economy can do better than it has been doing and that we need to give our economy a kick in the pants.
Follow the steps [1] to [3] of “protect democracy jobs” policies which I have mentioned on my website www.protectdemocracyjobs.com.
American jobs will be protected. Millions of jobs will be created in the next few years and we need to make sure that new jobs will go to Americans and not illegal aliens or welfare recipients.
how to protect them
Democracy jobs should be created at the state and local level, not the federal government. At the state and local level, democracy jobs are provided by elected state legislators or city council members. In a democracy, even small towns would have a city hall, police force, schools, and many other services. A democratic country or community would also have to provide jobs for students and those who cannot find work. Government job programs such as Emergency Unemployment Compensation (unemployment insurance) are not democratic jobs. Unemployment compensation is not a job. Employers have to pay unemployment insurance tax for each employee, but unemployed people do not have to work for unemployment compensation.
If only normal citizens can have jobs, why not allow special forces, government officials and other professionals to have jobs as well? They too need decent-paying jobs.
Special Forces such as the Army and other government agencies are not paid for protecting us by regular citizens – they are paid by the U.S. taxpayers through taxes, of course. The military personnel can protect their own families, but ordinary people do not receive benefits from the American military. Special forces can not protect ordinary citizens.
According to a report by the U.S. Military, only two percent of special forces personnel are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan – and they receive only a small fraction of the money given to regular military personnel in those countries. About 97 percent of special forces are in the U.S., protecting this country with their government jobs from terrorist attacks such as 9/11 and other disasters that kill American citizens.
The same report by the U.S. Military says special forces personnel need democracy jobs to do their job as well. The report says that the “long, extended deployment of special operators (special forces) across two or more combat theaters for many years at a time is resulting in operational fatigue and operational stress.”
examples of people fighting for democracy jobs
The term “democracy jobs” was coined by the Boston Jobs with Peace Campaign. This group is fighting to create democracy jobs in Massachusetts, where unemployment benefits are running out for many people. Democracy jobs are also being created by the civil disobedience action of Occupy Wall Street, which demands that all people have a job. Democracy jobs are important for the future of America, because laid off workers will have a job to do as citizens. If there are democratic jobs, then no one will have to be unemployed.
The following people are examples of people fighting to create democracy jobs. These people have held occupations in Occupy Wall Street, and they are using their occupied buildings to create democracy jobs. They are working to hold onto their democratic occupations, but they will all be evicted by the police. This is why they need to be supported by everyone, so that they can continue to fight in their occupied buildings. Each of these people is fighting to create democracy jobs, so that everyone in America will have a job.
ways to get involved
Read the Boston Jobs with Peace Campaign manifesto and organize a local group. If you are a laid off worker, join the Occupy Wall Street movement. You can also support Occupy by contacting your state or city legislator, or other elected official to ask for democracy jobs. Utilize the internet to put pressure on your elected officials. If you are a student, contact your state and local politicians, asking them to support democracy jobs.
Support the Employee Free Choice Act. Support higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations. If you are a stock holder, contact your elected officials to ask that they support tax increases on the wealthy and corporations.
