As millions of Americans start the new year facing joblessness, the prospect of losing their homes and uncertainty in every area of their lives, I wanted to take a stab at refocusing administration and corporate leaders on the real issues from the working and  no-longer-working families perspective.

It galls American families to listen to experts and the treasury secretary warn of the dangers of cutting executive pay. What danger? Pay for millions of families has been cut and in many cases eradicated completely. It is said we won't attract 'qualified' people at reduced wages. Really? I'll bet there are a bunch of qualified and experienced folks, recently unemployed, who'd love a shot. The administration promotes the saving of jobs, and the corporations negotiate early retirement to replace senior workers with new hires who'll work for half as much. Does that mean the cost of living will cost half as much? And all the while executives and representatives collect six and seven figure paychecks. Bottom line, executives and representatives are still rich while more working Americans are poorer and homeless. There, that pretty much sums up the beef.

Many Americans are tired of party labels. More Americans want solutions to serious problems, and they no longer care which party comes up with the solution. They are tired of Republican 'trickle down' policies that have failed. Tired of hearing republicans propose policies targeted to 'working families' when more and more of them are not working. Tired of hearing republicans propose policies targeted to 'business development' when it's their communities that need development. Tired of democratic calls to 'change', followed by wimpy compromise at their expense.

So hey you executives, administration officials and representatives, here's a little help. Below is a list of priorities you can follow that will ensure more families survive, a happier workforce, more peaceful communities, and strong prospects for sustainable economic growth.

1. When you retire jobs and rehire at half cost, do that to executive pay as well. Also limit the gap between executive pay and worker pay so there is a more balanced environment. And tie bonuses to long-term results.
2. When a business fails, allow smaller businesses with records of success to buy-in and takeover their operations. And if you have trouble identifying candidates place want ads and take the time to sift through the submissions. We won't mind using our tax dollars to give these guys a shot, promise. It beats the heck out of bailing out a bunch of losers.
3. Instead of funding tax cuts, fund jobless benefits so people can pay their mortgages or their rent. Yes, rent! A lot of folks rent, especially after recently losing a home (duh).
4. Stop focusing on 'working families' and ignoring the poor. The issues are the millions of new non-working families, the growing number of poor families, and the rising cost of living. Be sure poor and non-working families get their tax cuts too - unlike the phase out compromise republicans required in the stimulus bill. And in case you haven't heard, crime is rising as folks resort to 'any means necessary' to stay afloat. Helping people pay for shelter, food and healthcare is what most of us want as the priority for our tax dollars. Did you miss the recent election?