A Marshall Plan in Europe. The Start-Up HOPE Plan for America.

Seventy-seven (67) years ago this week (June 5th to be exact), General George Marshall gave a historic speech at Harvard University where he outlined his vision for The Marshall Plan, or the rebuilding of Europe after World War II.

While the Marshall Plan encompassed much of the European continent and Japan, it was most notable for its far-reaching vision. It literally called for the rebuilding of the nations that had bombed us. That meant our two biggest enemies: Germany and Japan, too.

People questioned the logic (and sanity) back then of leaders who would put hard-earned taxpayer money, into the rebuilding of nations which had actively engaged in war against us. But thankfully we had leaders with a long view, and a practical mind too.

They knew that if Germany and Japan did not recover economically, their people would (once again) become desperate, and this would only cause even more social, political and economic instability.

They knew that a nation which could not feed and care for itself was a nation or nations that would lack the very basics of dignity, and they would look for another scapegoat.

They knew that a nation which could not produce for itself, would require others to produce for it.

They were smart enough to understand that it was in large part the shame, and the economic devastation of Germany following its defeat in World War I, that allowed a nutcase like Adolf Hitler to rise and to take on the honored title of 'leader' in the 1930's. In 1925, Hitler was actually jailed in Germany as something of a 'crack pot.' What changed between 1925 and 1935? It's simple, the German economy slid into very deep trouble.

In short, it was Germany's economic problems, it's economic and jobs insecurity -- which began to inform and pervert it's social and political views. Ultimately, it was Germany's fears that drove it headlong into war.

Germany and Japan are today two of the most prosperous and respected nations in the world. Two of the most dignified and fair. And democratic. Two of the most visionary and wealthy. Two of the most innovative and job producing. Two of the most generous, and fairness loving. But this didn't just happen.

It was a product of an investment in them by others (at that time, America), and role modeling.

It was treating the people of these nations with dignity, even though its leaders were demonic.

It resulted in a significant boost in the self-esteem and confidence of these nations, and its people.

It was the positive, healthy environment that this investment, self-confidence and role modeling both engendered --- and was in turn nurtured by.

It was the positive aspiration (the hope), and this combination of positive attributes, that seemed to grow up around future generations, seeking prosperity and a better (and more peaceful) life for themselves and their children.

And finally, it was the very real sense of 'opportunity' that all of this produced for both nations for decades to come. An opportunity zone which has now lasted more than half a century, and has positioned Germany and Japan as both two of the most stable democracies in the world, but two of the largest economies as well.

And let’s not leave this out -- two of America's greatest friends, political allies and trading partners.

But this was not all about Europe’s success, and Europe’s hope. It was about ours too.

You see, America only became a global superpower, with credibility and access around the world, after World War II. But it was not how we won the war, but how we pursued the peace thereafter. It was not the hard power of our military presence, but the soft power of our aspirational investment that in the end, mattered most.

In many ways, America is a $17 Trillion economy today, because we made sure Germany, Japan and the rest of the sane world had every possible opportunity to be prosperous too. It was doing well and doing good. Better still, doing well by doing good.

Seventy-seven years later, we have another devastated "country" to deal with, a country right inside our own borders, not thousands of miles away, on distant continents. It's our inner cities, it's our rural towns, our aging suburbs, in formerly middle class neighborhoods. In many ways, very similar to the disheartened European climate in the wake of murderous madness and massive destruction. As in post-war Europe, the hollowed out middle class has become desperate and depressed, in need of a lifeline, a line of credit, as it were, in recognition of its importance to our country's economy and future.

In my new bestselling book, How The Poor Can Save Capitalism: Rebuilding the Path to the Middle Class (Berrett-Koehler), I outline a HOPE Plan for revitalizing America, America’s working poor, her working class, her teetering middle class, or all those who make $50,000 or less (basically, half of the country).

I suggest, strongly, that we need much more than some begrudging, government sponsored increase of the minimum wage, but a robust, enthusiastic free market-inspired increase of a living wage.

The middle of America actually spends a good portion of what they make, which puts even more economic energy and responsible consumer spending back into a churning economy, which in turn creates more small business and other jobs.

We want working class and middle class people to make enough to purchase a refrigerator or other appliances when their old ones wear out. That helps GE and a bunch of other companies who want and need us to buy their goods and services.

We want working class and middle class people to make enough to trade in their clunker for a newly leased or purchased automobile every 5-7 years. That helps GM and all the other American automobile manufacturers that want and need us to buy their products, too.

We need to invest in the economic revitalization of inner-city, urban, rural and underserved communities — so we can convert these previously poor and lifeless neighborhoods into future emerging market communities. Communities and community residents, that work, start small businesses and become new entrepreneurs, and as a result, pay their fair share of taxes and vote (people don’t often vote without being a stakeholder first. One could argue, what’s the point).

To answer the central question of my book, that is how the 'poor' can save capitalism.

As we celebrate the 77th anniversary of the Marshall Plan in Europe, we need to consider adopting a bold and visionary HOPE Plan for the revitalization of America.

This we can do. Starting right now. Our future is at stake, no less than the future of Europe and the Western world was at stake 77 years ago, when Marshall saved Europe. Let's save America today, together, for all of our sakes.

Let's go.

John Hope Bryant is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Companies, Inc. Magazine/CEO READ bestselling business author of LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass), and is the only 2010-2012 bestselling business author in America who is also African-American. His newest book is HOW THE POOR CAN SAVE CAPITALISM (Berrett Koehler Publishing). Bryant is a Member of the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans,and co-chair for Project 5117, which is a plan for the rebirth of underserved America.

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Photo Credit: JD on Flickr Commons