Why does Obama think hiring construction workers to rebuild roads....

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by EL PRESIDENTE, Sep 5, 2011.

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  1. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    is the best way to fight off the unemployment problem? Do you really think a significant number of the unemployed in this country are cement mixers?

    Sure, its good to have some infrastructure...but it seems a big part of his job creation ideas involves building more roads. I would think investing in high technology, manufacturing and other similar avenues would be better.
     
    EL PRESIDENTE, Sep 5, 2011
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  2. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I imagine it is not so much building new roads as repairing the ones we've got.

    I'm sure there are people out there who could be trained to mix cement - but I'm also sure there are plenty of people with construction experience who are currently unemployed.

    What I'd like to see is a revival of the WPA.

    barfo
     
    barfo, Sep 5, 2011
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  3. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    I'm sure there are. But it seems a disproportionate amount of stimulus job creation is kind of transient in nature. I guess the goal being the more roads and transportation, the more commerce can occur...I think the whole idea is being oversold while not addressing the real problems in this country.
     
    EL PRESIDENTE, Sep 5, 2011
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  4. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    and repairing the roads we have should be a given. Our taxes should go to this, not additional "stimulus spending". Such a scam, main roads in Mexico are in better shape than in California.
     
    EL PRESIDENTE, Sep 5, 2011
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  5. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    What was FDR thinking hiring people to build stuff, when they had no knowledge of how to build...

    (and no, I'm not comparing the two).

    Like barfo said, you can be trained. And it's not just pouring concrete that they can do. Directing traffic, driving, clean up, whatever. Some people just find reasons to bitch I guess.
     
    julius, Sep 5, 2011
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  6. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I'm not sure where to start with this one. If they do try to create jobs by doing this, um..that is where our taxes are going to.

    thats like saying the schools shouldn't get any extra money since they already get our taxes.
     
    julius, Sep 5, 2011
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  7. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    "I've got a good idea to stimulate the economy....its to borrow extra money to spend on what we should have been spending on in the first place the first time around instead of handouts!"
     
    EL PRESIDENTE, Sep 5, 2011
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  8. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    what are some other options? raise the taxes on the poor and lower taxes on the rich?
     
    julius, Sep 5, 2011
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  9. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Grow the economy so there's more revenues for government to spend.
     
    Denny Crane, Sep 5, 2011
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  10. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    That's not going to happen. According to Obama, the "Millionaires and the Billionaires" are evil.
     
    EL PRESIDENTE, Sep 5, 2011
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  11. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    how? just saying 'grow the economy' is like saying saying "I know how you can fix your broken car. Just fix it"
     
    julius, Sep 5, 2011
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  12. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    First, there needs to be a determination as to what the actual "future" is economically in this country.

    If we are using Obama's vision, its a lot of low skilled labor, investing in less efficient "clean" energy, and building roads.

    Basically blue collar work. We need to focus on white collar work. Technology, healthcare, scientific research, etc.
     
    EL PRESIDENTE, Sep 5, 2011
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  13. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    like I posted in the other thread, 52% of companies are looking to hire "high-priority" jobs--especially in engineering, high-tech manufacturing and the skilled trades.

    Can't an unemployed cement mixer go to ITT Tech or a community college to learn how to do clean room assembly or robotics? Why are we keeping people down by having them dig up roads and re-surface them?

    Edit: in the referenced piece a community college prof said that he had companies offering jobs for 500 graduates of his mechanical trades program (welding, etc). He had 27 this year. And this is some CC in Michigan.
     
    BrianFromWA, Sep 5, 2011
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  14. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    yeah, those are neat talking points, but HOW?

    everytime someone bitches about Obama (or Bush) doing something, they always say "he should do this" and then give statements that have no depth to them.

    "It's easy! Just focus on white collar work!"

    Ok, by doing what?
     
    julius, Sep 5, 2011
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  15. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    they'll have to pay for them somehow.

    If I wanted to go back to school to change my occupation, I don't have the money too. I'd have to borrow it from someone. and if I'm an unemployed person, chances are I would have far less money then I do now. What if I was an unemployed person with a family? or debt? I can't just simply pick up and go to a trade school easily.
     
    julius, Sep 5, 2011
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  16. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    Grants to fund research in high technology. Strengthening the broadband bandwidth backbone in this country. Investing in high speed cellular satellite networks and speeding up data transmission. Incentives (or "tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires" if you so prefer) for companies to build high technology campuses and facilities.

    The problem is, as you can see with that Solynda, it can get corrupt, but with road construction you get the same thing.

    The problem is people DON'T think (talking about the government) before throwing cash around. This is likely what Obama is going to do on Thursday and what he did with his first stimulus. A bunch of talking points with no direction. He's throwing darts here.
     
    EL PRESIDENTE, Sep 5, 2011
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  17. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    If jobs can be created, I'm all for it.
     
    BLAZER PROPHET, Sep 5, 2011
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  18. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    It's like saying your current job doesn't pay enough, go find a better paying one.

    GDP almost always grows, year over year. Just not so much during this administration.

    The Hoover Dam was built by a private company (consortium of companies) and was completed 2 years ahead of schedule. It took 5 years. When it was done, the employees were out of work.

    These types of jobs are expensive to the tax payer and any benefits are only temporary.
     
    Denny Crane, Sep 5, 2011
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  19. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Yeah, that Hoover Dam, only lasted a year or two before it fell down. Too bad they didn't build something with lasting benefits.

    barfo
     
    barfo, Sep 5, 2011
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  20. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    sounds like code words for "spend money we don't have".

    btw, "incentives" worked so great with reagonomics. It has to work this time. /sarcasm
     
    julius, Sep 5, 2011
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