We already gave tax breaks for companies to move their production abroad. How did that work out?
I believe there are tax breaks for companies that bring in new employees, but that wont solve the problem unless they are understaffed.
I would prefer to get the infrastructure fixed. We should build new highspeed railways. We are so behind in that stuff.
I appreciate that you’re trying to excuse the action, but the point still stands: Conservatives think it’s better for the poor to continue to receive handouts (through unemployment and welfare) than to give them work to do (through public works and services). Now, you may have a valid reason for it- but my summation still stands.
Conservatives are against handouts except when it suits them politically.
LOL the Government IS a work project. 
Not suggesting it so it’s not really a point of discussion.
It’s an incentive for companies to expand.
There’s some of that in the pork fest that was labeled a stimulus package. Little of it was aimed in the short term which is what was needed a year ago to kick start the economy. I don’t disagree that we need it and it will be nice in the future when it happens but it’s not here now.
If the government were to place unemployed on the payroll for specific projects, who would decide who was qualified to do what (or would that even matter), would there be drug testing required, could someone be fired for poor performance, attendance, etc?
One thing the government could do in my area would be to accelerate the programs already committed to. We got hit really hard because of a number of large businesses leaving. These weren’t strictly due to the economy so it was a double wammy. There are some big programs coming online at the local military base. Not a national cure but it is the best use of pork-barreling I can see locally.
All states have road construction programs qued up. That means they are hopefully just waiting for funding. If it’s a function of environmental studies delaying new construction then bump up the number of people currently working on large projects. We’re in the middle of some huge reconstruction projects that are taking years to complete. While I enjoy driving through a narrow concrete tunnel when it’s snowing I’m willing to give up my toboggan head rush if it means more jobs.
Again, if the unemployed were brought on as government employees who decides which are qualified, who provides direction and who decides if someone is not cutting the mustard. Plus there is still the matter of pre-employment drug screening…
You’re not responding to someone advocating extra government jobs for the sake of creating jobs. I’m suggesting we connect money against programs already established and qued up. There are out of work construction workers who could be accelerating on-going projects as well as projects that are already planned. Do we need another bridge to fall to understand rust never sleeps? We know the work needs to be done and there are qualified people ready to work on them.
Seriously, think about it, there were over 500 politicians with a shit load of debt in one hand trying to spend it in an attempt to get the economy back on track. Where are the jobs? How hard is it to move stuff forward that is ALREADY PLANNED!!! It’s ready to go, push the button. The only stipulation is that you do it NOW.
We’re on the same page, Magiver. I don’t want to get off on too much of a hijack, but yes, that was what type of projects the stimulus money was supposed to be for. Typically, most of it seems to have gone for anything but.
The people without jobs in the 1930’s were not trained bridge builders either.
I would guess that most of the unemployed in the 1930’s had very few skills.
If unskilled people in the 1930’s could build parks, bridges, and highways, or whatever, then the unskilled people of today could do the same.
I say if you are going to give them money , then make them work for it.
Anything is better than unemployment benefits - Congress just extended unemployment benefits to 2 years, and they continue to do it again and again, year after year, maybe forever, …Q: Do you know what happens when you pay people to not work?..A: they dont work.
CCC - From wiki, but seems straight forward
I have a hard time picturing most of today’s population willing to do anything remotely similar.
I’ve been on-site at some of the camps that were based in NE Tennessee. Some of the structures were still in place in the 60s, including small jail cells…
I used to work with someone who once worked for city government of Washington DC. He told me that a while back, the city wanted to get people off welfare. Many of these people had multiple felony convictions and no education and were pretty much considered unemployable. So the city went and gave them civil service jobs…
My friend said that people would just come in, hang out, and leave, doing no work.
Many of the unemployed are the older people - who may not be physically capable of hard continuous physical labor - not because they are lazy - they just cannot do it.
Heck I have tons of education and have applied for jobs using that education - it seems like in my area - and probably others I would quess - it is who you know - who you are related to.
I know lots of well educated hardworking people - who NEVER thought they would be unemployed - long term - looking for work at the age of 50 or 60 plus years of age.
I think alot of people want to think that it is pure laziness or stupidity on people’s fault for not being able to find a job.
They don’t want to even consider that at any moment - it could happen to them too.