People's Policy Project

{{short description|United States think tank advocating socialist and social-democratic economic ideas}}

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| logo = People's Policy Project.png

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| abbreviation = 3P

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| formation = {{start date and age|2017}}

| founder = Matt Bruenig

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| type = Think tank

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| headquarters = Washington, D.C., United States

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| owner = Matt Bruenig

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| leader_title = President

| leader_name = Matt Bruenig

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| revenue = Approximately $10,000/mo.{{cite web|url=https://logicmag.io/scale/matt-bruenig-on-using-the-internet-to-build-a-think-tank/|title=Do It Yourself: Matt Bruenig on Using the Internet to Build a Think Tank|website=logicmag.io}}

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People's Policy Project (abbreviated 3P) is an American think tank focused on social, economic, and political equity issues.{{cite web|url=http://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/about|title=About People's Policy Project | access-date = 20 August 2019 | website=www.peoplespolicyproject.org}} It has been described as "left-leaning",{{cite web | url = https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/27/politics/democratic-debate-fact-check-night-2/index.html | title = Fact check: Democratic debate night 2 – CNNPolitics | publisher = CNN | date = 27 June 2019 | quote = "Matt Bruenig, the founder of the left-leaning People's Policy Project, earlier this month also released an analysis based on Federal Reserve data, which tallies Americans' wealth." | access-date = 15 August 2019 | website=cnn.com}} "left-wing",{{cite web | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2019/07/11/thank-god-its-thursday-four-day-work-week-some-want-bring-us/ | title = The four-day workweek some want to bring to America | author = Jeff Stein | date = 11 July 2019 | quote = Americans work more hours annually than any of their Western peers, according to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development data compiled for a forthcoming paper by the People’s Policy Project, a left-wing think tank, about strategies to reduce working hours. | access-date = 15 August 2019 | website=washingtonpost.com}} "democratic socialist–leaning",{{cite web | url = https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2019/12/18/bujyx9dzdqq0n20jnykkl002nomz4e | title = How the Battle Against Billionaires Could Reshape American Giving| author = Matt Erik D'Amato | date = 18 December 2019 | quote = 'Going into the nonprofit world is a straight march to the center,' says Matt Bruenig, founder of the People's Policy Project, a crowdfunded democratic socialist-leaning think tank, describing a common feeling on the left about what he calls the 'nonprofit-industrial complex.' | access-date = 15 August 2019| website = insidephilanthropy.com}} and "socialist".{{cite web | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/12/03/why-do-democrats-love-trapezoids/ | title = Why do Democrats love trapezoids? – The Washington Post | author = Jeff Stein | date = 3 December 2018 | quote = Matt Bruenig, a poverty expert at the socialist think tank People’s Policy Project, said socialists and liberals should agree the poor not be left out of big federal programs designed to ameliorate inequality. | access-date = 15 August 2019 | website=washingtonpost.com}}{{cite web | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/11/15/almost-all-sen-harriss-trillion-tax-plan-would-help-middle-working-class-study-finds/ | title = Almost all of Sen. Harris's $2.8 trillion tax plan would help middle and working class, study finds | author = Jeff Stein | date = 15 November 2018 | quote = The People's Policy Project, a socialist think tank, argued that Harris's plan should “at the very least include the poorest among us. | access-date = 15 August 2019 | website=washingtonpost.com}}{{cite web | url = https://theintercept.com/2019/12/19/middle-class-tax-increase-democratic-candidates/ | title = A Purity Test for Raising Middle-Class Taxes Would Eliminate Every Democratic Frontrunner | author = Aída Chávez | date = 9 December 2019 | quote = According to the People's Policy Project, a socialist think tank, the carbon tax would have to be 'approximately $230 per ton of CO2 in 2020 to prevent temperatures from rising more than 2.5 degrees C.' | access-date = 30 December 2019 | website=theintercept.com}}{{cite web | title=We Have to Finance a Global Green New Deal | author=Rachel M. Cohen | website=The Intercept | date=24 June 2019 | url=https://theintercept.com/2019/06/24/global-green-new-deal-climate-finance/ | access-date=30 December 2019 | quote = A new report from the People’s Policy Project, a socialist think tank, argues that industrialized countries should contribute $2 trillion annually to help developing nations stave off the effects of climate change. }} The organization has been noted for its unique funding structure: Unlike conventional think tanks, 3P relies on crowdfunding small donations, as opposed to financial support from corporations.

The founder and president of 3P is Matt Bruenig, a former lawyer at the National Labor Relations Board and former contributor to the US think tank Demos. 3P's work has been covered by Vox,{{Cite web|last=Birenbaum|first=Gabby|date=29 July 2021|title=How to make the child tax credit more accessible|url=https://www.vox.com/22588701/child-tax-credit-accessibility-irs-portal|access-date=26 August 2021|website=Vox|language=en}} Jacobin, and Huffington Post.

History and funding

People's Policy Project (3P) primarily relies on small-dollar donations for funding.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/peoples-policy-project-wants-to-upend-the-center-left-establishment-think-tank-world|title=People's Policy Project Wants to Change the Think Tank World, $5 at a Time | author = Andrew Breiner | date = 9 August 2017 | quote = The People’s Policy Project is the only think tank funded by tiny monthly donations. | access-date = 20 August 2019 | website=www.rollcall.com}} All funding is done through small donors on crowdfunding websites such as Patreon and a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program.{{Cite web|title = Tracking PPP: Search Every Company Approved for Federal Loans|url = https://projects.propublica.org/coronavirus/bailouts/loans/bruenig-llc-8159217802|access-date=28 December 2021|website = Propublica| date=7 July 2020 |language = en}} This contrasts with standard funding models, which include large donations from institutions or private individuals, or paid consulting work.Weidenbaum, M. (2009). The Competition of Ideas: the world of the washington think tanks. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.

In a 2017 Roll Call article, Bruenig elaborated on his vision for the think tank going forward. He argued that, despite left-wing policies proving popular among a wide chunk of the general electorate, financial constraints prevented progressive policy proposals such as single-payer healthcare from receiving significant attention from think tanks.{{Cite web|date=9 August 2017|title=People's Policy Project Wants to Change the Think Tank World, $5 at a Time|url=https://www.rollcall.com/2017/08/09/peoples-policy-project-wants-to-change-the-think-tank-world-5-at-a-time/|access-date=26 August 2021|website=Roll Call|language=en}} Since its foundation, 3P has collaborated with a number of other organizations, including the Gravel Institute.{{Cite web|last=Pollard|first=Amelia|date=11 May 2021|title=The Gravel Institute Punches Up|url=https://prospect.org/api/pv/7Zf3LqRraGZp6rCUc5rloIGqHsjOcjMPAACr8wbop4APGz4r13OOj80h7z2ywYIm/++/api/content/4894f772-b1e7-11eb-9c6d-1244d5f7c7c6/|access-date=19 February 2022|website=The American Prospect|language=en-us}}

Research areas

= Social wealth fund =

3P's Social Wealth Fund for America proposal advocates for public ownership of capital through gradual accumulation of all capital into a publicly-owned social wealth fund,{{cite web|url=https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/projects/social-wealth-fund/ | title=Social Wealth Fund for America | access-date = 20 August 2019 | website=www.peoplespolicyproject.org}}{{Cite journal|last=Robinson|first=Nathan J.|title=Today In "Are You Freaking Kidding Me?"|url=https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2018/08/today-in-are-you-freaking-kidding-me|access-date=19 February 2022|journal=Current Affairs|date=31 August 2018 }} which would be called the American Solidarity Fund. Per this proposal, each citizen of the US holds a non-transferable dividend-paying share; effectively providing a universal basic dividend.{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2018/09/20/a-radical-idea-for-reducing-inequality-deserves-more-attention |title=A radical idea for reducing inequality deserves more attention|access-date=14 August 2019|newspaper=The Economist}}{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Noah|date=5 December 2017|title=Robot Takeover Matters Less If We're All Shareholders|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2017-12-05/robot-takeover-matters-less-if-we-re-all-shareholders|access-date=17 October 2020|website=Bloomberg.com}}{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/opinion/inequality-social-wealth-fund.html | title = Opinion: A Simple Fix for Our Massive Inequality Problem | author = Matt Bruenig| author-link = Matt Bruenig | date = 30 November 2017 | access-date = 15 August 2019| website = The New York Times}}

= Universal Basic Income (UBI) =

3P has endorsed the proposed Sending Unconditional Payments to People Overcoming Resistances to Triumph (SUPPORT) Act, which would establish a system of universal basic income for all Americans.{{Cite web|last=eastcountytoday|date=3 August 2021|title=Rep. Omar Introduces Guaranteed Income Bill and GDP Alternative Legislation|url=https://eastcountytoday.net/rep-omar-introduces-guaranteed-income-bill-and-gdp-alternative-legislation/|access-date=28 August 2021|website=East County Today|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=30 July 2021|title=Rep. Omar Introduces Guaranteed Income Bill and GDP Alternative Legislation|url=https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-introduces-guaranteed-income-bill-and-gdp-alternative-legislation|access-date=18 February 2022|website=Representative Ilhan Omar|language=en}}

= Child welfare =

3P's Family Fun Pack{{cite web|url=https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/projects/family-fun-pack/|title=Family Fun Pack | access-date = 20 August 2019 |website=www.peoplespolicyproject.org}} proposal advocates for a substantial suite of Nordic-style child welfare policies: a baby box, parental leave, free child care, free pre-kindergarten, free school lunch, free health care, and a child benefit. This project is targeted at eliminating child poverty, and removing economic concerns from family planning.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/democrats-have-big-plans-every-age-group-republicans-call-socialism-n977891 |title=Democrats have big plans for every age group. Republicans call that socialism. | author = Benjy Sarlin | date = 3 March 2019 | quote = Matt Bruenig, founder of the socialist think tank People's Policy Project, said he tried to take these demographics into account while crafting a package of family-oriented policies last month, including universal child care, family leave and other benefits for parents. By focusing on parents of small children, a Democratic candidate who adopted his plan could target voters who are disproportionately young, female and nonwhite, allowing them to excite several base constituencies at once. "It's a neat package, I think, in terms of hitting all these groups that the Democratic Party is made up of," Bruenig said. |access-date=20 August 2019 |website=nbcnews.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/2/22/18234606/warren-child-care-universal-2020 | title=Elizabeth Warren's universal child care plan, explained | author = Sarah Kliff | date = 22 February 2019 | quote = It’s interesting to contrast Warren’s plan with another new child care proposal: the Family Fun Pack from the People’s Policy Project, a newly formed liberal think tank. This new plan would give all Americans access to free child care, regardless of their income. It essentially envisions public day care and preschool as an extension of the public school system: freely available to all citizens regardless of their income. |access-date= 15 August 2019 |website=vox.com}}{{cite journal | url = https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2019/02/a-serious-plan-to-solve-child-poverty | title = A Serious Plan To Solve Child Poverty | author = Matt Bruenig | author-link = Matt Bruenig | date = February 2019 | quote = Instead of these tired approaches, Democratic contenders would be wise to put forward an ambitious welfare agenda that is easy to understand and provides universal benefits to a broad swath of the U.S. population. The People’s Policy Project released a detailed platform last week called the Family Fun Pack that does just that. | access-date = 15 August 2019 | journal = Current Affairs}}

In 2021, Vox cited the 3P's estimation that around seven million American children that live in poverty are from families that did not file taxes.

= Climate and environmental policy =

3P's "Fighting Climate Change with a Green TVA "proposal{{cite web|url=https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2019/01/23/fighting-climate-change-with-a-green-tva/|title=Fighting Climate Change with a Green TVA | access-date = 30 December 2019 |website=www.peoplespolicyproject.org|date=23 January 2019 }} advocates for including a massive de-carbonization and expansion of the Tennessee Valley Authority as part of the Green New Deal, in order to shrink greenhouse gas emissions and create public jobs.{{cite web |title=New Proposal Aims To Make Legacy FDR Works Project The Flagship Of A Green New Deal |author=Alexander C. Kaufman |website=HuffPost |date=23 January 2019 |access-date=30 December 2019 |url= https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tva-green-new-deal_n_5c47a004e4b025aa26be00c9 |quote=In a 10-page report published Wednesday, the People’s Policy Project, a left-leaning think tank, detailed how tweaks to the law governing the Tennessee Valley Authority could transform the federally owned utility into “a renewable energy juggernaut that pushes at every margin to install as much clean energy capacity as possible across the country.”}}{{cite web |title=How FDR'S New Deal Could Fuel AOC's Green New Deal by 2027 |author=Alexander C. Kaufman |website=Newsweek |date=23 January 2019 |access-date=30 December 2019 |url= https://www.newsweek.com/green-new-deal-details-climate-change-report-ocasio-cortez-policy-support-1302358 |quote=While the New Green Deal has so far been short on details—more a conceptual rallying point around stimulus investments in clean-energy and infrastructure than specific legislation—the new paper authored by People's Policy Project president Matt Bruenig offers a detailed roadmap to beginning the process of decarbonizing the United States economy. }}{{cite web |title=What comes after coal for the Tennessee Valley Authority? |author=Keith Schneider |website=Energy News Network |date=19 February 2019 |access-date=30 December 2019 |url= https://energynews.us/2019/02/19/southeast/what-comes-after-coal-for-the-tennessee-valley-authority/ |quote=In January, in a report anticipating the Feb. 7 introduction of the Green New Deal, the People’s Policy Project published a provocative research paper intended to push the TVA to the front of the discussion. }} In 2021, 3P published a white paper advocating for full public funding of water utilities.{{Cite web|title=It's Time to Eliminate Water Bills|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2022/01/its-time-to-eliminate-water-bills|access-date=2 February 2022|website=jacobinmag.com|language=en-US}}

= Crisis of overworking =

Much of 3P's research work focuses on the negative ramifications of overworking, which takes a physical and mental toll on those that experience it. A report by 3P in collaboration with the Gravel Institute found that American workers, by average, work longer than workers in any other developed country.{{Cite web|date=4 August 2021|title=Overwork Is Literally Making Us Sick|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/overwork-physical-mental-toll|access-date=26 August 2021|website=Teen Vogue|language=en-US}} One of 3P's policy recommendations is to give all Americans one month paid vacation per year.{{Cite web|title=Give Everybody the Month of August Off|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2021/07/vacation-europe-leisure-time-united-states|access-date=26 August 2021|website=jacobinmag.com|language=en-US}}

= Judicial reform =

3P has criticized Democratic politicians for appointing or pushing for the appointment of individuals with backgrounds in corporate law or former prosecutors to federal judgeships. Instead, 3P has advocated for the appointment of former union lawyers, civil rights lawyers, and public defenders to these roles.{{Cite web|title=Democrats Need to Nominate Better Judges|url=https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/project/democrats-need-to-nominate-better-judges/|access-date=26 August 2021|website=People's Policy Project|date=23 July 2020 |language=en-US}}

Leadership

Matt Bruenig is the current president.{{cite web | url = https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6036727456001/?playlist_id=3601801609001 | title = People's Policy Project president makes the case for socialism | date = 14 May 2019 | quote = Here now to defend the cause of socialism: People's Policy Project President Matt Bruenig. | website=Fox Business | access-date = 15 August 2019}}

References

Category:Political and economic think tanks in the United States

Category:Progressive organizations in the United States

Category:Socialist think tanks

Category:Think tanks based in the United States