The following is a suggested agenda and main discussion points for the POTUS Fireside Chat, including ones you have suggested in your comments on the main blog page. These will be constantly updated as you suggest new ones and any other ideas you have regarding what America needs to hear during the POTUS Fireside Chat on Unemployment. Thank you for your feedback and input. EdC
DRAFT BULLETS For POTUS Fireside Chat (30 min.) 1/27/11 EdC
'''Greetings and Introduction'''
POTUS explains purpose of his POTUS Fireside Chat (PFC)
1 To join with all Americans who are dealing with difficulties related to recent recession, financial melt down, unemployment, housing situation, etc. (a demonstration of his empathy and a platform from which to then move into the remaining PFC points). He can mention that there is a "confidence deficit" and an "empathy deficit" that he wants to directly address in his fireside chat with all Americans.
(In a speech Barak Obama gave at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Dr.King's Church, he spoke eloquently of how "unity is the great need of the hour", and referenced an "empathy deficit" that needed to change.)
2) To call on ALL stakeholders (businesses, financial institutions, educational institutions, private sector, state and local agencies, Congress, educators K-12 and higher education, associations such as the National Career Development Association, the American Counseling Association, etc., and individual citizens) to become actively involved in lowering unemployment by contributing specifically in several areas he will outline further into his PFC. (he indicates up front that this is a problem that affects all of us directly and indirectly and requires participation from all stakeholders to create solutions)
THE PROBLEM
POTUS provides a brief and clear definition of the problem with a few simple colorful charts/video graphics to illustrate (many people learn better when visuals accompany a verbal presentation)
1) What the recession/financial meltdown/deficit did to affect unemployment, the housing market etc. (he outlines some basic cause/effect economics here, and briefly and clearly explains that banks and many companies DO have lots of money. He also explains their hesitancy, at this time, to free this money to hire people and help people get mortgages for home ownership. He explains their own uncertainties about regulations, wall street etc., but emphasizes they do have lots of money (CEO's/businesses sitting on two trillion dollars) that hopefully will soon be freed to be pumped into the American economy. He further explains many CEO's/businesses believe that getting people back to work is one effective way to start shrinking the deficit, along with other measures.
He may also want to note businesses are hesitant, because they also have a confidence problem! The President can remind us that there is a "confidence deficit" that also affects how people believe, how they choose to spend or not to spend their money at the present, and how they think about and plan for their futures. Here he can make the point that one of his reasons for his POTUS fireside chat is to address this confidence deficit and urge all of us to our greatness at this critical national moment, where how we think and what we do, will make an important difference for our future and generations to follow.
POTUS also emphasizes here the realities of our global economy. He reminds us about the special qualities of innovation and creativity many American have, (because of our culture, education system, and the history of our democracy) that has resulted in amazing inventions and solutions for people throughout the world. POTUS really needs to remind us here about our "collective national greatness", and the roots of our work ethic and innovative ways to accomplish so much in spite of difficult situations/challenges.
THE SOLUTION
POTUS indicates his belief that this fireside chat, and perhaps several others every three months or so, will be an important and effective way to harness the spirit and will of ALL Americans to battle this high unemployment situation (America's homeland "war"), and that ALL institutions, businesses, communities, and each individual, can do something useful to join this national campaign to move America towards full employment.
He outlines four specific levels of effort he believes will all converge to bring about movement towards full employment-action plans that need to be accomplished. He acknowledges some of the efforts already being done and cites a few examples related to the four areas below, and urges all to strive for even higher performance. He also indicates he will initiate a White House hot-line/website to list and then follow the progress of actions plans from each of the following four levels:
1) White House and Congress -- POTUS lists specific actions plan they need to do and will do to create conditions for significantly lowering unemployment (policy and legislation dealing with the deficit, regulations, urging businesses to hire and banks to assist people with home ownership and dealing with foreclosures, etc.)
2) Businesses/Banks -- POTUS lists some specific suggestions here but challenges them directly to work together and move quickly to create a list of action plans that will significantly and positively affect all Americans dealing with unemployment and home mortgage problems. He also references highlights creative projects businesses are doing to assist with unemployment.
3) Institutions/Agencies/Community Organizations -- POTUS list some suggested specific action plans but challenges educational institutions K-12 and higher education (other training institutions that promopte school-to-work and school-to-school efforts), community agencies, national and local associations such as the National Career Development Association (NCDA.org), One-Stop Career Centers, private sector organizations such as JA Worldwide - Junior Achievement (JA.org), US Chamber of Commerce and its local affiliates, churches, synagogues, mosques and other community and agency support groups serving many thousands of unemployed throughout America, etc., to start discussions/think tanks that repot ideas, successful programs etc., to White House website.
4) Individuals -- POTUS challenges each individual to do whatever is possible to become employed and take full responsibility for doing the best possible job as they seek employment -- that seeking a job IS a full time job and requires a full time effort.
This might include encouraging job seekers to network effectively because that's how to penetrate the hidden job market, write resumes that clearly specify hard and soft skill sets employers are seeking, obtain new skills necessary to compete in our global economy, seek assistance with job seeking activities to ensure success, etc., including encouraging some viewers to consider entrepreneurship as a possibility (offering to provide Internet links for interested persons on the White House website).
POTUS should ask ALL individuals to commit 1-2 hours a month to volunteer their time and for those who can, to provide pro bono services to others in need.
He should also mention the needs of the poor and homeless here and ask those with talent/time/treasure to reach out to other Americans with even greater needs. He can challenge the stakeholders in other three levels as well to come up with innovative solutions to reduce poverty and the plight of the homeless in America. Surely many of our nation's poor and homeless have talents, education, skill sets, and at the very least, a desire to have a better life.
CLOSING COMMENTS
POTUS can provide a brief vision of an America that has moved toward full employment and site several specific examples of how this will touch ALL Americans. He can provide his special inspiration here to touch the heats and minds of viewers, and remind people of their own uniqueness, gifts and talents, hopes, dreams, and ambitions, and remind us that everyone does matter and count and has the opportunity to make important differences in the lives of others around them.
He should indicate his willingness to join with all Americans in humility and a hopeful heart that God truly bless America, and each individual person in this great national effort to move our nation towards full employment.
** Throughout the entire 30 minute POTUS fireside chat, the WhiteHouse hot-line/website should be keyed in so people take notice and write it
