There is dearly little that President Obama can do wrong so long as he has his sights on 'creating jobs' OR and better yet returning the infrastructure of LOST jobs to the American government and the American people.
The JOB LOSSES under Bush's Administration were PLANNED. They were even sought so that the ideology of the Republicans would come true and all would be so wonderful with the country that Democrats would no longer live or breath.
What Bush attempted to do was 'remake' the ' Republican Era under Reagan ' that actually masked the fact that there was no 'real' economy so much as an economy of exploitation of national resources. Reagan never had an economy that sustained either. He deregulated everything and people made lots of money. The deregulation of the Reagan Republican Era caused all kinds of economic 'Boomtown' upticks, including the Junk Bond King Michael Milken.
When Bush attempted a Reaganesque economy he forgot that American Resources 'left behind' by Reagan were down to the bare bones. Bush didn't care. He wanted 'some way' of buoying an economy. He figured when he finished there would be so many opportunities to spark entrepreneurs that all the losses would be disregarded for the wealth the nation now knew. Bush's economy, just like Reagans was illegitimate. It never 'had the qualities' of sustainability so much as 'flash in the pan' and that is what Obama has to avoid.
So. When Obama speaks of and promises change he has to insure that the monies in his stimulus package are going to deliver 'sustainable job infrastructure' and not just 'flash in the pan ideologies.' He has a unique way of looking at it as well. He doesn't support blanket 'shovel ready jobs' in the manner that one 'traditionally' thinks as 'CONSTRUCTION.' We don't need more building in this country, we need to reclaim the value of the homes and buildings that already exist. We do that through finding an economy of 'value' that 'deserves' Americans working within it.
What the Governors of the country have the luxury of doing is absorbing monies from a stimulus package and deliver 'some kind' of infrastructure to their states that provides decreases in unemployment. Obama has more responsibility than they do. He has to structure his stimulus to deliver a 'recovery' and not just a 'Boomtown.'
The 'type' of construction jobs that will result from Obama's stimulus package will come in the way of bridge repairs and alternative energy sources such as solar and wind. Accompanied by those 'temporary' construction jobs will be long term employment by workers that monitor 'the maintainence' of the construction. There will be a 'replacement' of temporary jobs with 'sustainable' jobs. The problem then arises as to how much of a 'tax base' remains after the spending for necessary infrastructure changes.
Follow?
See, the 'Boomtown' aspect to the infrastructure building in the way of alternative energy sources, that might also include ethanol plants and pumps along with the manufacture of new autos that can accommodate that change in fuel source; will provide some tax base strengthening, but, not a sustainable tax base. What can come out of 'that aspect' of the recovery and change in infrastructure is enough of a 'tax payment' to restore the ability to 'continue' to change the infrastructure of the USA by training medical technicians and maintenance mechanics, railway conductors, etc.
With changes in infrastructure there will be an automatic demand for skilled employees but DIFFERENT than what the nation 'got used to' under Bush. What occurred with lack of job creation under Bush was a focus on 'where the jobs were' and how to get there, only to realize an applicant was one of hundreds or thousands with the same idea.
In some ways, Barak's responsibility is a lot easier than first anticipated and in some ways not. Returning necessary government workers to their jobs to collect taxes and stop law breakers to make the 'Rule of Law' actually mean something is the 'easy' part. Increased budgets in environmentally sensitive departments (and not to be blind to a reality which oddly enough includes the military that oversees vast tracks of important wilderness and encourages protections of wilderness abroad) will start to take care of 'tax base creation' but it will also add to the budget of the country and a draw on the tax base. Creating jobs in the private sector that will be sustainable tax base contributors is the greater challenge of this administration, but, I do believe he is up to it.
So, how is it that Obama can succeed where every Republican has failed? By allowing the private sector to 'service' the growth of the stimulus. In other words, rather than seeking to increase government beyond the return of vital workers, he can 'outsource' to Americans the maintainence of the new infrastruture. Sustainable energy sources given over to sustainable job creation. From that will grow the remainder of our private sector in other areas as well including education and health care.
It will happen and it will be an America we can all be proud of. The problem of the Nay Sayers will be the complaining when they finally have to pay higher taxes as the wealthiest people in the country. Boy, will they 'belly-ache' then. Toooooooo BAD !
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Job Watch (click here)
The December level, up from 8.4% in November, is the highest in 15 years, highlighting the severity of the economic slowdown. The jobless rate in Los Angeles County was 9.5%.
By Marc Lifsher
9:42 AM PST, January 23, 2009
Reporting from Sacramento -- California's unemployment rate jumped to 9.3% in December, highlighting the severity of the economic slowdown as the state heads into a second year of recession. The December level was the highest in 15 years.Unemployment in Los Angeles County in December was 9.5%.
