Jobs for All will Restore Prosperity for All

When your neighbor loses their job, it’s a Recession. When you lose your job, it’s a Depression.       Harry Truman

We are now three years into the Great Recession and jobs in Washington State remain at 200,000 less than we had just three years ago. Current policies have failed to solve our economic crisis. For nearly 20 years, I taught courses in leadership and problem solving at Bellevue College. There are several key steps to effective problem solving which are briefly described below. These problem solving techniques can be used to develop solutions which are more likely to lead to real recovery than current ineffective policies.

 Applying Problem Solving Principles to our Economic Crisis

There are 8 important steps to problem solving each of which can assist us in solving our current economic problems. Below are the 8 steps with an explanation of how each step can be used to address our current economic problems.

These are the 8 Steps of Systematic Problem Solving

STEP 1 - RECOGNITION THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS

STEP 2 - CRISIS MANAGEMENT

STEP 3 - IDENTIFY THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS

STEP 4 - DEVELOP SEVERAL OPTIONS

STEP 5 - ANALYZE ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF EACH OPTION

STEP 6 - CHOOSE AN OPTION

STEP 7-  CARRY OUT THE OPTION

STEP 8 - EVALUATE THE ACTUAL OUTCOME

 STEP 1 - RECOGNITION THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS

There is a saying that Denial is not merely a river in Egypt. Humans unfortunately do not like to admit that severe economic structural problems may exist. There is a strong tendency to want to believe that recovery is just around the corner and that – if we do nothing at all and avoid the problem – it will take care of itself. This strategy works with “cyclical” recessions. But it will not work when there are underlying structural problems preventing economic recovery. Some problems are so severe that ACTION is needed to solve the problem.

It will take creating at least 200,000 jobs in order to restore the economy to the 3 million jobs we had in 2007. The mission of our elected leaders therefore should be to create at least 200,000 jobs as quickly as possible.

Sadly almost nothing is being done to create jobs. Instead, just the opposite is occurring. Due to severe budget cuts at the local, State and federal level, as well as the ending of federal stimulus funding in June 2011, as many as 100,000 additional public sector workers – including thousands of teachers -  will lose their jobs in 2011. 

This is why we need a Coalition to Create Jobs Now. We need to shed light on this problem and solutions that will help overcome it. One of the first steps in solving problems is “making injustice visible.” Another is creating a common shared vision – a pathway for moving forward.

STEP 2 - CRISIS MANAGEMENT

There is also a human tendency to allow fear to prevent action. Humans can be manipulated to pursue solutions which make no sense at all. For example, cutting jobs when what is really needed is to create jobs. Recently, our State has also cut housing programs and day care programs for the poor – tossing over 5,000 families and 10,000 children out on to the street. Government should help reduce homelessness – not create it.

STEP 3 - IDENTIFY THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS

There are at least five methods for identifying the underlying problems. The first is consulting with a broad group of individuals – especially consulting with those most affected by the problem, in this case, the unemployed. Sadly, our current government seems to consult mainly with those who caused the problem. Such wealth individuals are unlikely to admit that they are the cause.  One goal of the Coalition to Create Jobs Now is to expand the kinds of people who are consulted in terms of identifying the problem and proposing creative solutions.

Second, there may be (and usually is) more than one problem. It is important to break down complex, problems into simpler, more specific problems which can be more easily solved and then solve separately. Third, focus on the most important problems first.   High priorities should include protecting the homes of families, providing food and creating jobs as quickly as possible. Fourth, go beyond symptoms and look for deeper causes, clarify what the real problem is.  The real problem may not be the stated problem. Analyze the problem What are its underlying causes?

While providing jobs is a good first step, it is important to understand causation in order to prevent a repeat of the same problem in the future. For example, Glass Steagull protected us from stock market manipulation for 60 years. Yet it was repealed in the late 1990’s and within 9 years, our nation was subjected to a financial disaster. We need to better understand how regulation of financial corporations is essential to protecting working families from economic disaster.

Finally, it is important to consider what is the desired outcome? What should the goal be?  This includes putting the problems and the potential options for solving these problems in writing.

STEP 4 - DEVELOP SEVERAL OPTIONS

It is important to put as many options as possible on the Table before trying to choose which ones to act on. Sadly, there is a tendency to adopt the first solution that has even the slightest chance of working. But the first idea may not be the best idea and may even have unintended consequences which make the problems worse.

There is also a tendency to pull options out of the past. But the present economic situation may be much different than the past. What worked then may not work today. Finally, there is a tendency to only consider options favored by the majority or by the most powerful. Because it is our current leaders which got us into this mess, we should expand the pool of ideas and not limit solutions to those proposed by the rich and powerful.

One of the purposed of the Coalition to Create Jobs Now is to identify possible actions that might lead to desired outcomes. This includes social networking to encourage and expand the pool of ideas. What resources are available to solve the problem? How can sufficient revenue be generated to pay for work programs?  How can options be combined to create new options and create Win-Win possibilities.  Summarize all options in writing.

STEP 5 - ANALYZE ADVANTAGES/DRAWBACKS OF EACH OPTION

There is a natural human tendency to only look at the positive consequences of one’s favorite option. Advocates emphasis how the option will lead to wonderful things. For example, how tax breaks for the rich will eventually trickle down to the rest of us. However, it is also important to consider the negative aspects of each proposed solution. What are the drawbacks in giving tax breaks to the rich? It is also important to consider whether proposed solutions have any chance at all of solving the problem. For example, if there is a $2 billion shortfall in school funding, how will a $40 million revenue proposal solve this problem?

STEP 6 - CHOOSE AN OPTION

Qualities of a good decision should include whether it actually solves the immediate problem and at the same time addresses the underlying causes of the problem. Success is more likely if more than one path is chosen. .

STEP 7- CARRY OUT THE OPTION

Any action is better than no action. If an option fails, you can learn from mistakes and refine actions to continue moving forward to the eventual goal.

STEP 8 - EVALUATE THE ACTUAL OUTCOME

Is the option achieving the desired outcome? Set time and goal limits in the beginning to reevaluate . . . We X number of jobs actually created? If not, then should another option be tried to solve the problem? Do other problems still remain? Or did the problem simply change in nature ... i.e. did the action reveal that the first "problem" was simply a symptom of a deeper problem? Can anything be done to prevent the problem from re-occurring in the future?

STEP 9: JOIN OUR COALITION

Problem solving is a group activity. Together we develop effective solutions that no one person might be able to see. If you would like to attend one or more of our future meetings, email us.

Let’s put Washington back to work!

Regards, David Spring M. Ed.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it