James Adler
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Mr. Adler clerked for the U.S. Supreme Court (Justice Whittaker and Chief Justice Warren) and worked at the Department of Labor and the Department of Commerce during the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. He was one of the drafters of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (the "Poverty Program") and has been involved with the welfare program in Los Angeles for over twenty years as a member of the County's Public Social Services Commission. He is currently an arbitrator/mediator in Los Angeles, California. The ideas expressed are his own.

Blog Entries by James Adler

A Jobs Program or a No Jobs Program; Is Not the Choice Obvious?

Posted October 17, 2011 | 17:54:09 (EST)

In my last post, I discussed reallocating funds to a portion of the American Jobs Act which could create four million entry level jobs for persons on welfare or extended unemployment benefits at a cost of less than $40 billion dollars, less than 10 percent of the $447...

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The Jobs Act: Changing the Focus to Create More Jobs More Quickly, Cheaply and Certainly

Posted October 14, 2011 | 14:08:50 (EST)

Now that the Senate has refused to consider the president's Americans Job Act in one piece, it is time to look at each piece. Reallocating less than 10% of the $447 billion dollars originally proposed could result in the creation of an additional 4 million jobs. As the White House...

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The Public Option: Revisited and Renamed

Posted February 21, 2010 | 00:40:54 (EST)

The Health Care summit is rapidly approaching and we are being told by some Democrats, at least, that the public option is not dead. That's good news for all Americans because the most robust public option of all--Medicare--has been an outstanding success and receives very high marks in poll after...

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Jobs 1.0: Creating Jobs Without Busting The Budget

Posted December 3, 2009 | 12:56:03 (EST)

It is now clear that left alone the current economic recovery will not create substantial additional jobs any time soon. The scheduling of a December White House Conference on Jobs would appear to signal recognition by the administration that economic stimulus alone is not sufficient. We must find mechanisms that...

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JOBS 1.03: Why Welfare; Why Not Jobs!

Posted December 2, 2009 | 21:12:03 (EST)


Tomorrow the White House holds a conference on Jobs. In 2010, the federal welfare program--Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF--is due to be reauthorized. These two events should not be regarded as isolated. TANF reauthorization should provide the Country with the opportunity to actually "change welfare as...

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JOBS 1.02 CHANGING BIDDING PROCEDURES TO MAXIMIZE JOBS WHILE REDUCING TOTAL COST

Posted December 1, 2009 | 17:55:50 (EST)


On Thursday of this week, President Obama will highlight the Administration's desire for more jobs. But can the federal government actually cause more jobs to be created without adding to the deficit? On large infrastructure projects the answer is almost certainly "Yes." This third of four posts...

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JOBS 1.01: Creating Jobs Quickly and Cheaply

Posted December 1, 2009 | 00:13:38 (EST)

The TARP and Stimulus programs have stabilized the economy, but not the American family. Job loss continues, albeit at a slower pace. Now the Administration should focus its attention on actual job creation, for with a job can come not only income, but also dignity and the chance at a...

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Healthcare for All: Harry and Louise Revisited

Posted July 3, 2009 | 15:55:44 (EST)

Fifteen years ago, the Clinton health plan was rejected, in part because of the success of ads sponsored by the health insurance industry. These ads featured a couple--Harry and Louise--talking at their breakfast table and sowing fear about any change in the delivery of healthcare. One can only imagine...

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The Stimulus Package: Why Not More Low Income Jobs?

Posted February 12, 2009 | 21:08:00 (EST)

It is clear our Nation needs the stimulus package. But will it create sufficient jobs for persons on the lowest rungs of the job ladder? In midsummer, Larry Summers recommended that a stimulus package be targeted to low and middle income persons. Estimates for the cost of a job run...

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