Right to a Job and Basic Needs
A currency issuing Government imposing tax obligations on its citizens in its own currency literally creates unemployment, and as the currency issuer, the US Government can eliminate unemployment if it chooses to, as well as homelessness, hunger and other preventable economic pitfalls. The Federal Job Guarantee is not only a major tenet of FDR’s 2nd Bill of Rights left unfinished, but, as Dr. Pavlina Tcherneva asserts, is a macroeconomic condition.
Enabling the Public Purpose
Much of the intention, arguably, of capitalists defunding and “privatizing” crucial public institutions (like schools, health care, prisons), is to assume control of our collective resources and divert public funding to their private sector businesses. We need to demand our Government use its “power of the public purse” to adequately fund public works programs, enriching communities, and reducing reliance on private bank lending.
Production vs Financialization
Our current incarnation of capitalism prioritizes profit over people, planet, peace, AND productivity. Aside from the Amazons and Walmarts of the world monopolizing our resource/supply chains, a major issue with our economy today is an abundance of jobs/work to be done (in home caretaking, food prep/distribution, etc), but not necessarily a way for the wealthy capitalists to invest and profit from. MMT shows us we can fund a plethora of programs and a Job Guarantee without concern of dollars needed for investment or turning a profit, creating limitless opportunities.
