In the Washington Post on January 28, E.J. Dionne wrote about the “the urgency of growth.” His point is that there is too much emphasis on deficit reduction. He pointed to the many economists who promote growth, looking for deficit reduction over time – not in the near-term. The economy will improve when people are working, paying taxes and not relying on government programs for survival.

Promoting education, job training and infrastructure-building will provide a greater long-term positive impact on the economy than will the erratic “cycle of phony fiscal deadlines driven by a misplaced belief that the only thing we have to fear is the budget deficit” (Dionne), which discourages investment, hiring and business planning.

There is a way to pay for the necessary investments. Join NETWORK and our partners in “Jobs Not Wars” in calling the president and Congress to:

• End the wars
• Create good jobs with living wages
• Train veterans, the unemployed and youth from historically disadvantaged communities
• Redirect resources from uncontrolled Pentagon spending to fund the needs of our people
• Require those who have benefitted the most from this nation to pay their fair share of taxes

Sign the petition at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/302/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=11931&tag=JNW_PDA