Posted by
m0t0r1zed on Friday, November 07, 2008 5:06:13 PM
Let's create jobs. Okay, so which ones? I mean, you could pay people to move piles of sand around, but that would not be money well spent.
I think Obama's idea of creating "green collar" jobs and some of his energy ideas are interesting.
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/factsheet_energy_speech_080308.pdf
Creating jobs for energy independence makes sense since you are putting money into areas that will produce future benefits and create new sectors of growth, while also improving the strategic security of the US. However, I think the majority of the efforts should be focused on nuclear power and oil drilling - which are better developed and known industries. Wind farms, solar, etc. should be pursued, but you may not get as much job creation or returns for the same amount of money invested. Getting the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline built is also good, but I think that's tied up due to legal issues ....
Anyhoo, given the massive debts being accrued by the gov't, you have to be pragmatic and focus on where you'll get the most bang for your buck. Although I don't trust big gov't, a large scale program to finally get us off of foreign oil would be something I'd have no problem with, and I think it would be an issue that most of the country could rally around.
Propping up the auto industries has the potential for future problems if they do not recover in the near future, and you'll end up pumping more money into them to keep them afloat. Letting them fail doesn't seem to be an option, so giving out loans to retool for energy efficient vehicles seems reasonable. Maybe the gov't should take the Big Three and create a technology sharing program to push out next generation hybrid-electric vehicles, like the Chevy Volt, more quickly. Essentially, the goal would be to create a technology leap to make US automakers more competitive. So, Chrysler, Ford, and GM would all make and sell Volts or variants based on shared technology. Of course, there would be tax credits for electric vehicle purchases, cheap financing, or even short-term subsidies to lower the price of hybrid vehicle purchases, etc. etc. etc.
Again, the goal is not to sink money into dead ends. It's necessary to spend money strategically into areas that can expand in the future.
Another idea I like is increasing broadband access to further grow the Internet economy. I think it's wise to put money into jobs that could help create more jobs.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/
I also like the idea of revitalizing the urban sectors, although I disagree with some of the specifics of the plan. I mean, constantly hiking up minimum wages again??? Jeez.
http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/urban_policy/#stimulate-economic-prosperity
This isn't job related, but I do like how they're thinking of addressing oil speculation and tapping the strategic reserves to keep oil prices sane.
So, although I'm not the biggest fan of Obama, I think he's got some interesting ideas that I wouldn't mind seeing implemented. (just don't go full commie on us, k tnx. -_-)