Jobs for All?

An $80 billion job bill vote has been postponed in the US Senate. This bill is aimed at job creation and will expand a highway trust fund, provide a tax credit for employers hiring new workers, and a tax break for small business owners.

This is all excellent news to the unemployed lady at this side of the monitor but how much will this bill really do or accomplish? The proposed sum is an exorbitant amount of money and what sorts of jobs will result. Will manufacturing increase? Will the US actually increase production of something? Or will this money just get funneled into providing services? Services are necessary for both the domestic and international economies but without improving and expanding American infrastructure, the US will indefinitely suffer and will have a struggling job market. I find this will be the case because without growth in productive industries many people will begin to be left out of the job market. The car industry is a good example. Michigan struggles with unemployment and there are not many other places these people can work. How can a job bill provide something for these workers?

I am a skeptic over government expenses and I hope that efforts to expand the job market are successful because they are necessary especially for younger workers; I just don’t believe that throwing money at the problem will solve it. I think the American economy needs to be adjusted and shift away from services and towards the promotion of renewable and cleaner energy and transportation. Why focus on these industries? They are areas where the nation can improve infrastructure and can contribute on the international market. There is high demand for energy and efficient transportation. Americans have long forgotten the power of trains and have lost an interest for energy with their fingers in the Middle East. I urge the Senate to consider more explicit uses for the funds and hope that they attempt to target job growth in areas that will actually help the jobless and provide for a more successful future.

~PB