October 9, 2008
Government-Created Jobs Will Put America Back to Work (Armstrong Williams)
When politicians tell voters that the government will create jobs through infrastructure programs, they do not realize that these programs may crowd out jobs in the private sector. The money for these infrastructure projects has to come from somewhere to pay for those government jobs.
When the government raises taxes to pay for “new” government-sponsored jobs, it takes that money from private businesses or consumers, thus reducing jobs in the private sector. Thus, usually, government spending does not result in a net increase in total jobs in the economy. Maintaining and upgrading our decaying infrastructure is important as an investment in our economy. It should not be a jobs-creation program but an investment program.
As most of us know, the government is not noted for its efficient use of taxpayer money. Compare the U.S. Post Office to Federal Express and UPS. Look at the $500 toilet seats purchased by the Pentagon and the infamous Alaskan Bridge to nNowhere. Construction projects usually cost more than in the private sector because of pork barrel requirements such as living wage requirements, union requirements, complex bidding procedures and the latest lobbyists’ pet requirement.
Under the best of circumstances, the government does not spend money as efficiently as the private sector or consumers. Consequently, it is generally more efficient to let consumers and private businesses spend their hard-earned money where they see fit rather than have the government spend it for them.
Visit www.armstrongwilliams.com
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A time honored concept that is being universally ignored.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — October 9, 2008 @ 5:14 pm
Please don't give us the BS about how private companies without rules and regulation are so wonderful. They do a worse job than the government [which is bad enough]. Just take a look at our prison system and other areas where we 'outsourced' our governement responsibilities. It's disgusting.
Comment by Joyce — October 9, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
Gee Joyce, look at Fannie Mae. The mortgage industry has never been more heavily regulated and look at that government oversighted agency. Now, that's disgusting!
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — October 9, 2008 @ 7:36 pm
Sadly, it takes a complete nationalization of the economy for the people to learn what happens when the government is REALLY in charge. The only good news if Obama is elected, they will learn it sooner. That bad news, his goons will not let them do anything about it. ACORNs Aweigh!
Comment by Igor R. — October 9, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
Armstrong is on the money when he says that the U.S. government does not spend money efficiently. That is exactly how we end up with the bridges to nowhere and the $500 toliet seats and at the same time we have major bridges falling apart and massive traffic congestion in our major cities. If we don't get our priorities straight, things are really going to go downhill quick and in a hurry.
Comment by Dave J. — October 9, 2008 @ 9:02 pm
Capitalism has not worked for everybody. Wealthier people have left the USA and some are considering moving because of taxes and no get-backs for them. Mexicans have gone back to Mexico because of the USA economy. Who knows what will happen next? This has become a diffrent country.
Comment by Nellie — October 9, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
Armstrong's rail against government jobs would be a little easier to stomach if it wasn't for his history a government-paid propagandist for Bush and friends.
In other words, the government shouldn't provide jobs unless those jobs are disguised as private jobs?
This is a pretty ignorant article. Most of the jobs that will be provided by rebuilding our infrastructure will be with the private contractors who will be hired to perform the work. Those jobs will be required to provide a good wage, not the minimum wages of Walmart and Jack-in-the-Box.
Maybe that will tide us over until the tax policy that paid companies to export our jobs is corrected to reward those who create jobs in America.
Of course this is all a moot point unless America elects a President who has promised this future, not the bipolar plane crasher who masquerades as a maverick.
Comment by smilinjack — October 11, 2008 @ 3:56 am