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CAN GOVERNMENT CREATE JOBS?
Due to the high unemployment rates, there is a big debate about how to make jobs. Some claim the way to make jobs is to relax the restrictions on private businesses, and lower their taxes. Others claim government can jump start job growth. Here are just some of the facts. The idea of lower taxes, and less regulation sounds great in theory. We learned under President Regan, and again under President G.W. Bush, this does not work in reality. Large companies are not hurting for cash. In fact, most are simply sitting on it. It is the small businesses who are hurting for cash. No matter which party you back, facts are facts. If trickle down economics worked, why did unemployment raise under the past president?
Government can create jobs. How? For starters everyone knows our infrastructure system is falling apart. Roads, bridges, dams, and more are in need of repairs and replacements. These are things the government is responsible for. We should spend more money doing these very things. By doing this, it will create many jobs in the private sector as well. First it will put people to work right now. When we repair, or replace roads, bridges, dams, and other infrastructure, it requires materials, and supplies. These are made and or done by private businesses. As the demands for these things raise, those companies must hire people to take on the added work loads. As more people are working for both private and government, they spend more. This means more business for service based businesses. This jump starts the economy. America has moved away from being an industrial based economy. We are mostly a serviced based one, and because of this, we depend on people spending money.
For those who claim the bale out of the auto industry was a waste of money, tell that to those who are still working for GM, or Chrysler. Are they collecting an unemployment check, or a pay check? The truth is this. The government is going to spend money. We must ask ourselves. Do we want our money to be spent in the form of unemployment, and welfare, or giving people a pay check. For those who say jobs involving our infrastructure won't last forever, they are right. However many of those hired would still be needed to maintain the roads, bridges, dams, and other areas of infrastructure. Many others will gain work experience to get jobs in the private sector. This is not the be all to end all solution, but it will jump start our economy, and get it moving again. Plus we get better roads and bridges to drive on. We have a better infrastructure system, and that can only be good for all Americans.
Clearly many of the politicians believe this even when they make public statements to the opposite. Our own Sen. McConnell, as well as many other GOP senators, and congressmen have requested money from the stimulus bill for building infrastructure in their districts. In those letters they have said the money will create jobs in the private sector. So the next time you hear one talk about how the stimulus was a waste of money, they are talking out of both sides of their mouths. Government can create jobs in the private sector, and every politician knows this to be true.
Donald York
Editor
READER'S RESPONSE
Friday, October 14, 2011
Our Dear Editor,
Your editorial today left me teetering even further into the void of certain uncertainty. Yes, I agree the government can create jobs but can we all work for the government? I say this without consideration for any political view or bias. After reading your piece, I am troubled even further by the thoughts of total government employment.
Yes, our money should be directed towards public works: roads, dams and bridge repair/replacement, and yes, it should create jobs in the public sector, but with the ingrained current Washington D.C. mindset; three fourths of the appropriations they set aside for these projects was gobbled up by special congressional and political interests. The shame is; three fourths of us citizens now accept this without question.
We accept it even with clear remembrances of the recent failed “stimulus” programs which left the pockets of all signers of these bills (meaning political, private and government pirates), bulging and with an increased hunger for more in their bellies. We, on the other hand, are left with a long-term repayment agreement that we did not even sign! These practices by our elected officials have finally gone beyond greed; they have now gone to a foundering from the excessive feeding.
For you to say “…tell that to those who are still working for GM or Chrysler,” why would you pit us against them? You also suggest “do we want our money to be spent in the form of unemployment and welfare, or giving people a pay check?” Why would you ask that when we are paying both, not only with a large portion of our earnings but with added debt? Instead, why not throw it out there as to what can be done otherwise by the citizenry to aid the poor, clean up your street, give according to your conscience and above all; hold your representative accountable for your immediate local and state issues. Start at their door, ring their phones; get your local area the help they voted for! Just because California is doing it, it may not be what Kentuckians want.
Never- the- less, you are providing a great service to the community with your publication and I would like to thank you for it.
Del Taylor
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENT DEL - YOUR POINTS ARE WELL TAKEN
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