#344 - Economic Guarantees: A Dialogue with Natalie Foster
May 23, 2024
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Natalie Foster discusses economic guarantees for Americans, emphasizing government involvement and community organizing. Topics include FDR's policies, neoliberalism, bank bailouts, populism, ACA impact, and the future of economic stability.
Communities are actively pursuing guarantee frameworks, like childcare rights in New Mexico and income programs, to address basic needs.
Legislative resilience is pivotal in securing guarantees such as student debt forgiveness and healthcare improvements despite challenges and opposition.
Initiatives like the Affordable Care Act and guaranteed income pilots signify significant progress towards economic security and essential needs for individuals.
Deep dives
Building the Guarantee Framework Locally and at the State Level
Communities and states across the country are actively working to build the guarantee framework. Initiatives such as guaranteeing the right to childcare in states like New Mexico and implementing guaranteed income programs in various cities showcase the momentum towards ensuring basic needs. The success of programs like the expanded child tax credit in states reflects a tangible movement towards enhancing economic security at the local and state levels, regardless of federal actions.
Legislative Progress and Resilience in Achieving Guarantees
Despite numerous challenges and opposition, legislative resilience has been pivotal in achieving guarantees like student debt forgiveness and improvements in healthcare through initiatives such as the Affordable Care Act. The consistent efforts to push forward with these guarantees despite multiple attempts to repeal or hinder them demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of Americans and addressing critical economic needs effectively.
Pivotal Moments and Legislative Advances in Economic Security
Key moments such as the passage of the Affordable Care Act and the implementation of programs like guaranteed income pilots illustrate significant strides in economic security. These initiatives, coupled with continued efforts at the state and local levels, indicate a promising future in enhancing economic stability and ensuring essential needs for individuals and families.
Resilience and Progress in Overcoming Legislative Hurdles
The recurring challenges faced in advancing guarantees like the expanded child tax credit and Medicaid expansion highlight the resilience of lawmakers and advocates in overcoming legislative hurdles. The persistence in passing critical initiatives despite obstacles underscores a commitment to enhancing economic security and addressing key societal needs for the betterment of communities.
Future Prospects and Collaborative Efforts for Economic Guarantees
The future of economic guarantees appears promising with collaborative efforts at various levels of government and community engagement. Initiatives like expanding child tax credits and implementing guaranteed income programs reflect a growing movement towards ensuring economic stability and addressing fundamental needs. By fostering resilience, progress, and legislative cooperation, the journey towards economic guarantees continues to evolve and positively impact individuals and families across the country.
In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Natalie Foster about the guarantee framework for economic stability for all Americans. They discuss what is the guarantee and why government involvement is essential, FDR and basic rights, the rise of neoliberal and neoconservative policies, and the features of the guarantee over the past 15 years. They discuss the importance of community organizing, the great recession and bank bailouts, the rise of right-wing and left-wing populism, debt and inflation, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the future of the guarantee framework.
Natalie Foster is the President and co-founder of the Economic Security Project and a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative. Previously, she was the CEO and co-founder of Rebuild the Dream, a platform for people–driven economic change, with Van Jones. She served as digital director for President Obama’s Organizing for America (OFA) and the Democratic National Committee. She built the first digital department at the Sierra Club and served as the deputy organizing director for MoveOn.org. She’s been awarded fellowships at the Institute for the Future, Rockwood Leadership Institute and New America California, and is a board member of the California Budget and Policy Center, the Change.org global foundation and Liberation in a Generation, a project to close the racial wealth gap. She is the author of the latest book, The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy.