Democrats Suddenly Thinking About Jobs Programs

Washington Post:

Democrats on Capitol Hill began a nervous debate Wednesday about the course President Obama has set for their party, with some questioning whether they should emphasize job creation over some of the more ambitious items on the president's agenda.

The conversations came as White House officials insisted that the party's gubernatorial defeats in Virginia and New Jersey had few implications for Obama's standing or for Democratic prospects in the 2010 midterm elections.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[VikingQuest]

The Democrats already passed their massive stimulus package and all it did was create more Government jobs . . . remember Pelsoi . . . this is a JOBS BILL.

Having more teachers is great but guess what . . . their jobs rely on tax money coming in from the private sector . . . once the money runs out, their jobs are gone.

If the Dems put an emphasis on creating private sector jobs, they'd be in much better shape now and moving forward . . . but of course most career politicians don't have a clue about business and only know Government.

[Hallucinocynic]

The sad thing is that for an administration looking to get things done, this group is dawdling when it comes to job creation.

The US is in perfect position to reestablish its manufacturing sector - there is a crying need for the development of new energy capture systems; there is a large engineering community that is rich with proprietary ideas that would not only create those new jobs and systems, but would address both environmental and economic concerns.

The administration should be greasing those tracks, not greasing the palms of a sector that does not make anything, but rather generates profit simply by moving ephemeral piles of paper.

Wall Street players, and Reagan/Bush/Clinton, disassembled our national manufacturing sector. It's time to place tariffs on imported products that we could BETTER produce. Employing people who get paid to make things has an positive, exponential effect on our country.

[VikingQuest]

"The US is in perfect position to reestablish its manufacturing sector - there is a crying need for the development of new energy capture systems"

Actually the only way Green jobs work is if there is an ROI for comapnies (which there isn't) or the Government pays for or subsidizes the industry.

In other words, green jobs are only as good as the taxpayer money we put into them . . . it isn't a self sustaining industry.

[Hallucinocynic]

No ROI for companies (or VC)?

Are you kidding? There is a multi-MULTI-billion dollar green pie that is currently being sliced up by the Chinese, Australians and French!

As far as government subsidization, THAT has always been part of the manufacturing landscape in the US.

[Hallucinocynic]

Addendum:

The loudest argument AGAINST building a green collar economy is steeped in the very disingenuous argument labeled "scale of economy."

There is no doubt that there has to be an acceleration of development and implementation before hosting organizations realize the kind of profits that the Exxon/Mobil's and the David Koch's can exploit. But in order for that acceleration to take place these players will see their current holdings damaged AND THEY WON'T ALLOW THAT!

That's why the baseless meme "there is no ROI" is spewed.

You want to save America? Pull the rug out from under EM and Koch. These useless POS' could care less about you. They ONLY care about their ROI (and as a business owner I am appalled at their inability to recognize that they've poisoned the well.).

[BillyPilgram57]

Stopping the loss of jobs should have been a top priority.....

Throwing a "Train full of Money" at the banks has helped no
one but the bankers.

[VikingQuest]

How about throwing a bunch of money at irrseponsible state Governments?

The stimpackage was a bailout packages.

Guess what happens when the states run out of money again because they have grown and the people they collect money from have not.

[hopeca]

Wake up Washington. Creating jobs is the hardest thing to do in a country where outsourcing and consolidating are corporate preferences, white collar professional jobs are vanishing not to come back and small businesses have low survival rates. To even qualify for most SBA loans, a company needs to be in business for several years. Understandable in "normal times" but in this "new normal era" that doesn't work. With unemployment benefits being extended 14 more weeks (20 in California and other hardest hit states) what is being done to prepare our workforce and to shift some of the money gifted to Wall Street to support truly new businesses? Yes, many will fail (but unlike our banks seed money could go a lot farther) but there's got to be money for small business development. Multinational corporate barons who benefit from living in our society but continue to shelter money, avoid taxes and kill American jobs need to be exposed and held accountable, too.

[Collielady]

When will this Administration get out in front of these issues and events? One wonders if it isn't almost too late now.

The righties I know get more geeked as time wears on and Democrats stall. Every tea party event energizes them and is all the proof they need that Obama and the Democratic controlled Congress is week and easily defeated. I can't be the only lefty receiving "told ya' so!" emails and my rightie relatives can't be the only ones feeling their momentum.

Please, Democrats, get tough! We are behind you all the way. Don't turn this opportunity into voter fatigue and complacency. We need to keep building on our energy before it drains away. We hold the moral high ground. Never in my lifetime will there be another such opportunity to preserve all we value, and I don't want to miss it.

[sc300nc]

Too bad you elected somebody that has no leadership abilities.

[Hallucinocynic]

In a country bought and paid for by corporatists who hold NO loyalty for the country.

[ReedYoung]

He is your President too. Support him and his policies and s t f u.

[D-V-H]

Thank you.

This isn't a 20 yard dash. We must look long term and not give up.

[Collielady]

You are right, of course. This is a marathon.

I'll never give up on President Obama and the Democrats. I knew this president would spend the first year just mopping up after GWB. I just want to give them a big shove in the right direction!

[crease]

How 10 months into an administration be too late?Let`s see what it`s like in 2012 when Obama`s term is up.jobs just don`t appear out of thin air, we need tp repeal some free trade agreements,reinstall the Glass Steagall act raise the taxes for the wealthy back up to 74 percent before ray gun nomics and trickle down economics killed this country.

[Collielady]

You are correct about the needed reforms. Yes, President Obama's agenda will take time, lots of time. That I have patience for. It is never too late to get things done.

I just wish he and the Democrats would be more verbal and forceful about what it is they want and expect and not let the Rethuglicans get out in front of the issues. They have not set a forceful tone and that's what I'm afraid will be difficult to turn around.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

[freshnotbitter]

The economy is in the process of churning through the massive debt and fallout from the bubble bursting in real estate. It needs time to slog through and the jobs picture will get better. The administration should focus less on jump starting more bubbles and focus more on investment in education (pay jobless to go to school) and alternative energy (where a lot of worthwhile investments go underinvested because the pay off period is too long for private investors and the energy market is uncertain given that the OPEC countries can turn the faucet on and off. IOW, there are good political considerations for investing in alternative energy that supercede economic considerations. Naturally, there is a well funded coal and oil lobby in DC that would give you another viewpoint.)

Progressives need to push Obama towards "job creation" (dumb term) that is meaningful in the longer term.

If Obama pushes ahead with such programs he will get back the "some college" sector of the electorate that put him in the white house. Those Clinton tramps didn't do much for you in Jersey and Virginia, did they Barack? And look at the loss in northern Virginia. That's not "minority" voter non turnout we're talking about.

[Uchenna Oguekwe]

Here's a good article about the state of jobs: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aN0r7hTU6VAE&pos=5

The president said that this recession was going to be hard on every average American and boy was he not kidding. I'm going to go out on a limb and make a prediction here. Heck if economist who did see how bad this recession would e can make prediction I think I can too. I think we see job growth either end of December/January. It looks like companies are reaching that point where they have cut enough cost to the point where they are profitable again or satisfied with where they are that they can start hiring again. What do you think, spot on or wishful thinking?

[johndtuttle]

You know why your average numbskull loved Reagan? Because as bad as things got during that recession at the end of the first term people had jobs.

All politics is local jobs jobs jobs.

ps. as much as I support other areas of National Progressive legislation it will all come down to jobs jobs jobs in 2010.

[D-V-H]

In 1980 the unemployment rate was 7.2%, 1984 - 7.5%.

I don't see the rationale. Reagan smiled his_goofy smile and folks believed that things were all OK, despite evidence to the contrary.

[socialmistfit]

Are you really that confused?

What is the unemployment rate now?

[tlk221]

What's your point? When Reagan left office it was 5.3???

[Coinyer101]

At the very first online townhall, I recall the majority of folks voted for a discussion on reforming cannabis prohibition, as a way to help create a new economy based on green energy. Though it was the most popular issue on most of the 'topics', it was ridiculed by the President, and mostly forgotten.

The facts remain:

hempseed fuel burns clean and would reduce the need for corn-based ethanol that cuts into food supply

it grows anywhere, so, jobs could be created anywhere, and actual manufacturing jobs could be created in many larger cities, processing , milling and manufacturing the gazillion different products that can be made with it.

It's one of the fastest growing 'woody' plants, in the world, and would do wonders in off-setting the destruction of rainforests, elsewhere, as well as ending the need for logging old-growth forests, [no, that will not lose them logging jobs.[ they can just become 'farmers'...,]

I could go on and on, but, I'm just inviting more 'ridicule' from our 'leaders'........,

[D-V-H]

We need to get more Progressives elected, plain & simple.

[Coinyer101]

I know. But, until the centrists and conservatives are called out on their bs, this cycle will just continue. I just gonna keep yellin'.......,

[Cailleach9]

You are so right! Hemp doesn't even get you high, but OH DEAR, OH PANIC AND FEAR! you could hide sativa in amongst the hemp--NOT--it would cross-pollinate and ruin the high of the sativa! Of course marijuana is good for many illnesses and can even be life-saving. AND it's non-addictive for most people, those who don't have addictive personalities, and they will just choose something else.

[D-V-H]

I am astounded at some of the cynicism from many here.

Have we forgotten the magnitude of the problems that we were facing ONE year ago? I know it hasn't happened as fast as we would like, but geez, have some patience folks.

We could have had McCain my friends and Squinty McQuitter running the show. I shudder to think how bad it would have been with them at the helm. Also, don't forget the intransigent opposition of the GOP to EVERY idea Democrats have to rectify the ills we face.

Remember, we were falling off a cliff when Obama took office. The grappling hook is embedded and we are starting to pull ourselves back up.

[Appleblossom]

Agreed-Rome was not built in a day, and it took eight years to get to where we were...give it more than a year to get back.

[slowhand0728]

Just out of curiosity? How long and what would you consider success?

[Coinyer101]

It's understandable for people to be cynical, and wary of all of our leaders. I think it may be good , in the end, because they need to be pushed to start really fighting for the people, instead of the 'corpos' alla time....,


we should keep them on their toes......., heh...., ; )

[D-V-H]

I just see broad brush strokes being painted on Dems.
Yes they need to know we aren't happy. But we also need to remember about things like Conservadems and get THEM out, not folks that are working within the system to rectify the problems we face.

[D-V-H]

Strategy Alert for 2010:
When you look at Tue's elections you find compelling evidence about the mood of Democratic voters. If the Dem candidate ran towards the right, he lost. If he ran to the left, he won or did much better than expected.

[freshmind]

We don't need massive gov't health care reform, how about private health care reform instead of big momma taking care of us.

[D-V-H]

Will you still think that when your costs DOUBLE in the next 6-8 years?

[freshmind]

We don't need gov't intervention to lower costs that's a blockbuster myth.

[sc300nc]

New taxes, new regulations, new fees, new penalties. That's the Dem version of healthcare reform.

[madcat007]

They need competition and to lose their anti-trust priviledge for starters.

[ThAnswr]

What a fresh idea: Democrats are thinking about why they were elected.

I think one fact has to be acknowledged: This Congress and this president wasted the good will and mandate they had received in 2008. Wasted, completely wasted on Wall Street, the Chamber of Commerce, Olympia Snowe, and mythical "bipartisanship" none of which put Obama or this Congress in office.

The moment is over. The momentum has been squandered. For this voter, so has the trust. I do not trust Barack Obama nor do I trust those around him. It should be abundantly clear, it's business as usual and I voted for "change I can believe in" not Rahm Emanual, the DLC, and certainly not for crumbs from Olympia Snowe.

Until the Democratic party gets a candidate and a Congress that represents the Democratic wing of the Democratic party, my vote and my money stay home.

[rinpochet]

You voiced my sentiments EXACTLY! This family that worked hard for Obama's election and gave money we could not afford to give, will be doing neither next time around. We had a great candidate who morphed into just another corporate politician. Grayson, Kucinich, and the other progressives could give Obama a lesson in fighting for the people.

[KIVPossum]

Color me surprised. They figured out people vote their pocketbooks.

[dizmo4]

The cost of health care significantly hurts American businesses, costing jobs. If you want to have businesses hire people, you have to reform the health care system. And look, thats what the PResident and Congress are trying to do ( albeit slowly).

Creating a Green Economy. What do you think the climate change bill is about? Laying the foundations to transition to a renewable energy based economy, creating millions of jobs.

Unfortunately, people are too stupid to make the connection. So yes, Democrats need to do some hand holding and connect the dots for everyone.

[rinpochet]

Of course that was part of it but also giving up about 40% of the stimulus money to Republican tax cuts in the name of "bipartisanship" was a huge mistake. So many could have been put to work with the influx of this money. We all know that the banks did very, VERY well with the assistance of their representative in this administration, Tim Geithner but the people lost out, as they always do.