Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., recently proposed a federal program guaranteeing a job for anyone who wants one. It’s an idea that sounds a lot more radical than it is. Properly implemented, a job guarantee — or something like it — could be a good way of fighting recessions and getting more Americans into the workforce in the long term.
“Corey (sic) Booker’s proposal is clear that [government-provided jobs] should pay $15 an hour with benefits. Another recent proposal suggests [a yearly salary of] $24,600. … According to the Census, there are currently 50 million wage and salary workers with annual earnings below $25,000.