Since Sliced Bread is an online contest sponsored by SEIU. People are asked to submit their best new economic idea to help working families. Of the thousands of ideas that are submitted, 21 will be chosen as finalists. Of these 21, a winner will be selected to receive a grand prize of $100,000 and SEIU's commitment to work to make the idea a reality. The two runners-up will win $50,000. All 21 finalist ideas will be featured in a book to be published in 2006.

The 21 ideas selected for public voting were generally creative and progressive but had often been stated before (e.g., increasing taxes to fund Social Security

Social Security (United States)

In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...

or providing health care to the uninsured).