Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Unemployment is 9.2%. Underemployment is probably at least 9% and unreported unemployment (retirement, giving up, etc.) is at least another 5%. We have a problem. It needs to be fixed.

Every pundit in print and on the Internet agrees. What we don’t agree on are two things:

Who or what is to blame for this problem? And, how do we fix it?

I suggest there is another question to be asked, and that is: How do we fix the problem in the short-term, and how do we develop ground work for fixing it for the long-term? I think we can do this if we don’t get hung up on the ‘who’s to blame’ game.

In addition to pundits we have politicians. We hear their voices in the media a lot. Unfortunately, we don’t get clear answers from them. They have other agendas: power, votes, and egos. Those don’t solve problems; they frustrate them! So let’s ignore them for now.

Yes folks, if anything is going to get done these days it’s up to us. Unfortunately we have some obstacles in the way: government processes, Congressmen, Senators, political parties, to name just a few.

President Obama proposed a middle of the road solution in his Jobs Bill. The Republican controlled House of Representatives declared it a non-starter. The Senate took it up and attempted to pass it but the arcane world of Senate rules requires a two-thirds majority so Senate Republicans have the power to block any vote on any issue. If they think it will embarrass Democrats or the President, they vote to block. And they have; often.

Thus, no solution to unemployment is enacted. State and municipal governments throughout the country are firing workers, teachers, and fire and police personnel. This not only threatens human safety, but retards key functions which reduce our society’s ability to prepare for the future. Infrastructure that needs renewal, major repair or replacement, let alone expansion, is left to crumble. In the short term the economy and its people suffer; in the long run our ability to innovate and compete within the global community is damaged.

Another component of this complicated issue is needed capital that sits unused: corporations are sitting on an estimated $2 trillion waiting to be invested; banks are sitting on another estimated $1 trillion of idle funds waiting to be invested. Apparently the money is not the problem; it is the willingness to invest that is the problem.

The stakes are high. Too high to leave them to politicians who are self serving and narrow minded. We have four possible steps we can employ:

            First and easiest, support the Occupy Wall Street protesters; they are more right than not; let your support be known to neighbors and the news media; and

Second, notify your congressman and senators that you are displeased with them for failing to fulfill their responsibilities; regardless of party, the same problems exist and are getting worse because they cannot work well with each other; and

Third, find new representatives who will actually do the will of the people; this will take time and effort, but it will work if we are ready for the next election cycle; don't focus on ideology but describe what you feel the country would look like if we were free from our current problems; and

Fourth, write, call or email large corporations and banks that we know they are sitting on trillions of dollars that are sitting idle; urge them to invest in new energy and technology that will get the economy back to work; if we all are unemployed or underemployed there will be no marketplace in which we can afford to buy their products and services.

Right now these steps will send a signal to the politicians that we the people are ready for a new beginning and are willing to begin solving problems in the most expeditious manner possible. We’ll smooth out the details later, thank you!

This is not a liberal/conservative/centrist issue. This is basic governance. The economy is not in the control of an individual or group. The economy operates in a relatively ‘free market’ environment but the mechanism is supported by government banking and currency policy at the national level. Moving the control levers of the policy and banking mechanism alters economic outcomes. Employment is created in this fashion. Jobs are destroyed by poor management of the policy mechanisms.

Congress has oversight and veto power over the mechanism. Doing nothing at a time of crisis makes the crisis worse. Politicians generally do not understand the finer points of economics. (They think they do; but they don’t) Even economists argue over policy; but for the most part, economists can operate the system much better than politicians who have ideological axes to grind. That’s where the real blame resides.

We don’t have the time to referee a political debate or empty, ignorant arguments by politicians obligated to industries, wealthy or special interest groups. We must take action now before more people lose their lives and livelihoods to stupidity and greed. Those are ugly character flaws of our American psyche. Please let us not let them destroy our nation’s future.

We really need leaders who will use our resources wisely and solve problems. Along the way we need to side-step non producers who have blocked our forward progress. But this situation will not change if we don’t ask for change and demand it. We elected the right person for President. He is working to solve problems at many levels. He is leading but followers are not following. And who is to blame for that? Not the leader; it rests with us, the followers.

Are we ready to lead by following? Are you?

October 23, 2011