The forum took place amidst the deep political rift gripping the nation, driven by the ongoing deterioration of our economy. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell in the first quarter for the first time in three years. Manufacturing output, despite rosy utterings, was negative for the 27th month in the last 28 months. New job creation continued to slide, and nearly 700,000 frustrated workers left the workforce in the last thirty days! 

Uncertainty, like a dark cloud, hangs over the economy. Uncertainty over constantly changing tariffs, uncertainty over life-threatening cuts to health care, and uncertainty over the moribund housing market, just to name a few. 

Despite this grim outlook, support for the National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) has been constantly expanding. Many in the country are burning for a positive alternative to the depressing economic and political news. People are seeking something inspiring to halt the doom and gloom. The possibility of enacting a $5 trillion NIB is awakening the memory of the bold policies of Franklin Roosevelt and his allies, who built the nation into an economic powerhouse. 

Recently, the Labor Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party passed a resolution supporting the NIB. The National Federation of Democratic Women, the official women’s arm of the Democratic Party, also just endorsed the NIB. A support resolution will be debated at the upcoming conference of the National Association of Counties. Over the weekend, the Las Vegas Journal-Review, the largest circulation paper in Nevada, published an op-ed from the Coalition on how the NIB could solve the water crisis on the Colorado River.  

As we speak, the bill for Congress, like HR4052 last year, is being readied for introduction. 

Amidst the economic turbulence, rallies have sprung up all over the country to resist the ongoing diktats coming out of Washington, and the NIB Coalition is squarely putting the solution on the table.  

Without an optimistic, positive alternative, things will devolve first into chaos and then into tyranny. A positive solution, centered around a Franklin Roosevelt New Deal-type program, can save the day! 

At the center of this is a $5 trillion public bank to build our nation’s infrastructure and industry, hire millions of people into great-paying, productive jobs, and heal our tortured souls.

Please invite your friends to watch this video and spread the word. 

Speakers:

Senator Jamie Eldridge, Massachusetts State Senate, Acton, MA

Assemblywoman Joanne Simon, New York Assembly, Brooklyn, NY

Representative Carolyn Logan, North Carolina House, Charlotte, NC

Representative Dan Sena, Massachusetts House, Acton, MA

Representative Phillip Rubin, North Carolina House, Raleigh NC

Mary Alford, Alachua County Commissioner, Gainesville, FL

Virginia Ballou, President, Idaho Democratic Women’s Caucus, Hailey, ID

David Robinson, Director of External Affairs, Manufacturing Renaissance, Chicago, IL 

Carlotta Harrell, Chair, Henry County Board of Commissioners, GA

Ellen Brown, Esq., Founder Public Banking Institute, Los Angeles, CA

Alphecca Muttardy, former Senior Economist, International Monetary Fund, Fairfax, VA

Moderator: Randolph Voller, former Mayor; former Chair, North Carolina Democratic Party, Pittsboro NC