In its 2007 report, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), noted that “… the fatal falls in the workplace rose to 835 -- a series high and also a 39 percent increase since 1992, when the survey was first conducted. Workplace homicides rose 13 percent after seeing its lowest number of 540 in 2006; and the number of fatalities among protective service occupations increased 19 percent. Meanwhile, there were 5,488 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States. Additionally, transportation accidents were 2,234 cases in 2007 “.
While wages are stagnant in most sectors, the costs of basic necessities are increasing. And the personal savings rate is now the lowest it's been since the Great Depression. Moreover, innovations via our rapidly growing information and communications networks are rendering yesterday's technologies obsolete. The pace of change is so rapid that high-tech companies can lose competitive edge if they are not first-to-market with their idea or concept. The Government's response to this challenge can be counter-productive, taxes and government regulation slow down the growth of technological innovation, frivolous Government lawsuits against high-tech developers cost the taxpayer substantial amounts of money. With 77 million American baby boomers who have reached 60 years old (and 5 million baby boomers will reach 60 years old each year), many small businesses and the financial security of the masses are at stake, endangered. There is a need for Washington State to address this problem and call for a State and Federal Constitutional Conventional financial clean-up, (See homepage) albeit the present Governor Grégoire has contributed in creating 37,000 jobs making Washington State third in the Nation for having a fast growing economy. More self reliance and stronger economic dynamism, determined by reasoned free market forces and seasoned regulation would be helpful.
NEW OXYGEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF WASHINGTON’S ECONOMIC STRUCTURE
MEASURE 1 . A DYNAMIC AND SYNERGISTIC ECONOMY: First, the basics. So that all Washingtonians have an equal access to a decent living salary, a dynamic modern economy based on the synergy of an innovative free market, on the internet revolution, the best of what science has to offer, ethical business, corporate intelligence, fair trade, realistic wages, some regulation in a few sectors (health, education, politics, child welfare, law, weapons, drugs) and eco-development needs to be consolidated.
MEASURE 2 . TASK FORCE ON MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES: A task force to identify and invest in the most compelling advanced manufacturing strategies. The Fund should have a peer-review selection and award process based on the Michigan 21st Century Jobs Fund, a state-level initiative that has awarded over $125 million to Michigan businesses with the most innovative proposals to create new products and new jobs in the state.
MEASURE 3 . ACCESS TO BROADBAND INTERNET AND WIRELESS SPECTRUM AND TRAINING: Facilitating an easier access to broadband internet and wireless spectrum, training on how to use these tools for the benefit of all of the State's residents would also help to liberate Washingtonians' creative and entrepreneurial talents.
MEASURE 4 . COMPETITIVE MONETARY UNITS AND THE PROMOTION OF BARTER SCHEMES: Lastly, it may be interesting to put in place a task force to look into the possibilities to allow, side by side with the failing and falling dollar, competing currencies such as gold and silver (On the gold and silver issue, see Archibald Roberts, "The most secret science": Betsy Ross Press, (1988). And-or to generalize the practice of bartering and other forms of monetary systems that will nurture public confidence while being a means by which to exchange goods and services on the market for the satisfaction of our basic needs (especially in times of financial crises).
This initiative can guard us from federal monetary incompetence and negligence, from a federal monetary "crash" based on hyper-inflation, from the runaway of the federal debt, the devaluation of the dollar, from the real estate debacle and national recession and economic depression. With 12 trillion dollars of federal debts and the reducing of the interest rates via the printing of more and more paper money (which tends to be used to increase red tape, the war machine and "self-aggrandizement" of the very wealthy), the American dollar seriously risks losing the People's credit and God's "trust" (i.e., the "In God we trust" on the dollar bill). For more details on the "win-win" demonstration, CLICK HERE). There are many examples of local money systems restricted to villages in the world (See the Mission link). Washington State, not having at its disposal the uncontrolled money printing press as does the Federal Reserve bank, may need to encourage pilot projects via eco-villages and sustainable communities in this realm, if only to better prepare federal and international financial crises. "Rainy day" funds can only serve the short term and is not a solution to natural or social catastrophes, as the Katrina and China earthquake catastrophes showed. What we need is enlightened self-sovereignty via self reliance knowledge, techniques and solidarity.
ON PEOPLE PRODUCTIVITY
MEASURE 5 . HOME WORK AND THE MULTILEVEL MARKETING BUBBLE ON THE WELLNESS INDUSTRY AND OTHER PRODUCTS: Flexible Work and work at home Arrangements. A program to inform businesses about the benefits of flexible work schedules and work-at-the home site plans for productivity and increasing State incentives for telecommuting would be useful. In this field, multi level marketing should be encouraged as a way for workers to make residual income by staying at home, one of the most successful of which is the wellness m.l.m. business. Provided the work gets done in a timely and efficient manner, home work may be the future of a service and craft economy. As long as workers accomplish their part of the deal, they should be protected from abusive dismissals. This protection will give Washingtonians the security they need to work better, thereby increasing productivity, innovation, healing, family values and enlightened thinking.
MEASURE 6 . MEDITATION AND REVITALIZATION SPACES AND A SHORTER OR MORE FLEXIBLE WORK WEEK: Given the importance on how health and stress impacts productivity, meditation spaces are needs as are sun breaks (for natural vitamin d), indoor detox plants and harmonious soft music in the work place, to which a 4 days work week could be added (with either a 35 hours or a 40 hours legal week) and 4 weeks of paid vacation for all (for starts, to be worked out with the labor and fiscal departments and employer associations and processed via a task force made up of university experts and economists).
MEASURE 7 . PAID VACATIONS AND PRODUCTIVITY SPAS. In addition to paid vacations, (which will decrease stress and increase public health, thereby reducing State costs), workers should benefit from at least two weeks of publically financed sulfur hot spring spas and-or detox-vitality holistic health retreats a year, as preventive and curative medicine for all workers and their families who are diagnosed with a chronic disease, chronic stress or chronic fatigue or even acute depression (as is done in France). These measures will favor the de-stressing of workers and thus, the rejuvenation and the empowerment of Society. (Substantial health care savings will allow extra funds to finance this preventive medicine scheme).
ON NEW CROPS AND ECONOMIC BOOSTERS
MEASURE 8 . FOLLOWING 7 OTHER AMERICAN STATES IN INDUSTRIAL HEMP PRODUCTION PLAN: As has done recently Vermont's governor and North Dakota and California's governors before, and George Washington even before that ("Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, and sow it everywhere!” - George Washington wrote), a legislative package to allow the production of non medicinal industrial hemp (the one that is not psycho-active) with which paper, ropes, textiles, fuel, house-building material can be made. CLICK HERE FOR THE EVIDENCE. Many other communities like China and France are basing some of their significant growth on this cash crop. There is no "drug" danger in industrial hemp, which would create thousands new jobs and strengthen the economy and the State with billions of additional green dollars.
MEASURE 9 . KUDZU PLANT PRODUCTION FOR FUEL AND MEDICINE: Likewise with the kudzu plant. We need to remove it from the class A toxic weed category and use it to make cellulosic bio-fuel, goat food and health herbal adaptogen supplements (with the kudzu flowers). MOUSE CLICK FOR THE EVIDENCE.
MEASURE 10 . IMPORTATION AND THE MANUFACTURE OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR CAR. Among other products, the French-Indian air compressor car would be a good promotion as this vehicle satisfies two basic needs in terms of our freedom to move and duty to not pollute. Once these cars are ready for export (planned for 2009), the Government could import hundreds of these cars as government vehicles, (to give the private market the example and the catalyst), each of which would cost roughly 5000 dollars. (According to the MDI-TATA manufacturer, see evidence below. There is another manufacturer of an air car, a Spanish one in Barcelona, but because this one is a hybrid between air compression and electrical batteries, it would cost 15,000 dollars. While being virtually pollution-less, these cars are cost-efficient. With the carbon composite and heat-air technology, we now have an attractive 4 wheel car that can run over 65 mph up to 500 miles with one tank of heated air. And even more for the hybrid one. Later on, Washington State could build these cars in the State, thus generating revenue and jobs