Director of Economic Policy John Hassey's specific focus with the non-partisan organization Rise is to achieve market efficiency in sectors that are not functioning normally, which include health care, tech disruptions and low-skill labor outsourcing to foreign markets. Rise is different than a think tank or political action committee because the organization's policy initiatives are just that—initiatives.
"Rather than doing research to push legislation, or push politicians to do something—we're actually just planning on doing what we can," he said. "We're conducting research and initiating pilot projects to start doing what we can to start solving some of the problems Americans are facing that really are not being solved through our political system."
Hassey said, "Rise as an umbrella organization does aim to be politically involved. However, the organization's policy platform, our whole vision of policy, is really, 'What can we do?' instead of advising Congress to do something they may or may not bicker about doing."
His message to Americans is clear: "If you are sick of how politics is dysfunctioning, then Rise is the organization for you to get involved in."
At this time, Rise's central focus is job displacement/job loss due to "upcoming tech disruption and continued foreign outsourcing," he said. "We're in the research and testing phase to see what we can do to aid with job transitions for people who are losing them."
Hassey asked advocates to be aware of Rise as the first step in community engagement.
"Our biggest initiative right now, the one that we've made the most progress on, is a jobs initiative involving transitioning those workers who are displaced by tech disruptions or foreign outsourcing into [what I term right now] low-wage health worker jobs," he said. "That is a really broad category of jobs. We're talking about a whole swath of health care industry workers who don't need an advanced degree. Right now that job market isn't functioning normally. The reason why it's not functioning normally is because the majority of workers in that field are somehow reimbursed indirectly via government through Medicare and Medicaid. Because the government is saying, 'We're only willing to pay so much for these sorts of workers,' the natural demand that is occurring in this field isn't being met by an increased wage."
Hassey explained further, "If accountants were in short supply, the people who pay for accountants—their customers, people who need their taxes done, people who can afford to have their taxes done—would literally have to pay higher prices. They would have to pay higher wages to those accountants to do their work. Those higher wages would then draw more people to the field of accounting. The market for accountants would reach some sort of equilibrium. That's not occurring in much of health care right now."
Striking a balance in his own life is a feat Hassey has worked on for many years. The out gay man living in Wisconsin served as Senior Minister at Iglesia y Escuela Luterana El Buen Pastor from July 2002-August 2006. During this time, he supported the church, parochial school and families through crises, while also engaging with the community through ESL programs and food pantry support. Hassey then moved on to the McDermott Center where he took a management lead with staff and interns from November 2006-May 2012.
Mediating to discover what is working and what isn't functioning as it should is a gift Hassey possesses with grace and stamina. During his nearly five years as a divorce and family mediator at his own company John Hassey Resolution on Clark Street in Andersonville, he helped couples on the journey through divorce and dissolution.
"All I've ever wanted to do was help people," he said. "I have spent 14 years in my professional life working in non-profits and that trajectory has been always toward more specific and, typically, more financial and economic help. That's really what inspires me. How can we aim toward a common good? How can we help vulnerable people in a way that is economically sound, sustainable and reproducible…that works within a fair and fairly regulated capital system? How can we be good to each other? That's what motivates me."
Hassey relocated to the Washington, D.C. metro area at the end of 2013 to support the communications and reporting of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands Affairs; East Asia Pacific Bureau. This included reporting economic data and U.S. government aid to the Pacific Region, writing/editing testimony for ambassador-nominees for Senate confirmation hearings, writing/editing messages for the President and Secretary of State, and arranging details for diplomatic meetings.
When asked how Rise would potentially prepare for a Donald J. Trump presidency, Hassey was introspective.
"The way we're trying to prepare is to become better listeners and communicators," he said. "We're attempting to listen to those common needs and common values that most Americans share. Most Americans want vulnerable people—like the disabled and the elderly, or disabled vets—to be taken care of, and well for that matter. That's not a partisan issue, although many of the details get wrapped up in partisan debate. What Rise is attempting to do is to be an ear to the American public to help the American public to find exactly what those shared core values are and then actually just start doing things to accomplish them."
Initiating action is Rise's method to "stave off potential disaster, deadlock or immobility on issues that are wrapped up in partisan debate."
The consonant communicator, Hassey said he wants Americans to pay attention.
"When the upcoming administration is making a lot of promises, here's a group of people actually doing something—and they're not doing it by legislation."
Accomplishing the organization's goals through direct action cuts out the gridlock so often present in Washington, D.C.
"The beauty of it is that people often conceive of economic policy having to come via legislation or politics, and the way we're going about approaching this particular jobs issue is absolutely independent of legislation and government," he shared. "Our hopes is to really start making these accomplishments above the fray—outside of political discourse. To really be a megaphone and a vehicle for people to unite under the common good."
Learn more about John Hassey and his work with Rise at RiseParty.org .
