Under President Obama the private sector has now created jobs for 27 straight months. We've created more jobs in the last year than were created during the entire eight years of the Bush presidency, but the public sector has lagged, losing jobs in 16 of the last 18 months. These are jobs we could not afford to lose. Every job is important. Public-sector job losses can kill this fragile jobs recovery as surely as private-sector job losses.
Last week, Mitt Romney mocked President Obama's call to put more firefighters, police officers, and teachers on the job. Just today, one of his top surrogates, former New Hampshire governor John Sununu, doubled down on Romney's assertion and suggested that "people stop jumping at it as a gaffe and understand that there's wisdom in the comment." Unfortunately, Romney's moment of candor isn't his latest gaffe; it's his economic plan. In fact, it is his jobless economic plan.
While Romney and tea party Republicans are busy scoring cheap political points by demonizing workers, they've failed to support key pieces of the president's American Jobs Act, which would boost hiring in the public sector, a critical component of ensuring that our economic recovery continues.
In fact, Republicans continue to attack the recovery plan that President Obama passed shortly after taking office, failing to admit that a number of Republican governors were only able to balance their budgets because of federal aid provided to their states, funds that kept teachers in the classroom and police officers and first responders on the streets, helping drive down crime to the lowest national level in decades. These public-sector jobs help keep our nation secure and our students competitive.
As we search in this election for the good intentions of our neighbors, for common ground, and for the way forward, perhaps we should ask one another: How much less do we think would be good for our country? How many fewer teachers in our kids' classrooms, and how many fewer police officers on the street? How many fewer college degrees would be good for our global competitiveness? How much less research and development would be good for our country's new economy, or the challenges we face on this finite planet? How many hungry American kids can we no longer afford to feed?
Our recovery stands at a crossroads: We can return to the Bush policies that created the biggest economic disaster since the Great Depression, or we can continue to move forward with President Obama. I urge the Republican congress to make a serious effort and take up the president's American Jobs Act so that our economy has the benefit of a strong public sector -- which supports private-sector growth -- and our country can continue to create jobs and expand opportunity.
Follow Gov. Martin O'Malley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/governoromalley
Jason Stanford: Austerity Roulette
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
Seriously???
Private entities taking over public jobs wouldn't make things cheaper, we would have to pay for profits never before needed.
Strangely, the only data available is that unemployment among state and local public sector employees is at 4.2 percent, and even that is questionable.
Borrowing to add jobs in the public sector MAY support private-sector growth (although no one has explained exactly how) in the short term, but eventually the public sector will have to support those jobs as well as payback what's been borrowed.
It's my feeling that the real advantage is the stimulation of public sector unions.
People in jersey are taxed out of their homes (12k a year in property taxes) to pay for a failed public school system that many don't even use.
The teachers unions are single handedly impoverishing the middle class while insisting that the private sector pay the full cost of their health benefits..and pay thousands them for unused sick time.
And the money doesnt' go to "the children" it lines the pockets of numerous superintendents..in 590 DISTRICTS. As if we needed 590 districts. It's nothing but a scam to create as many unnecessary government jobs as possible.
We don't need the "Public sector" We need people to fill jobs..and the more jobs that are privatized the quality increases with competition and the costs come down. ..While A "free" public school school system should not cost a home owner 12K a year for the rest of their life.
That while he was CEO of Bain Capital he was responsible for 1000s loosing their jobs,bankrupting businesses and small towns while increasing his own wealth to well over $150,000,000.
When he was asked about his reputation as a 'job killer' he apparently said - 'I like being able to fire people who provide services for me"
Is this true?? In which case why on earth would the American people want to vote for him given the state of unemployment???
Can someone please clarify if this is true?
Thank you
And in what context were those things said?
Romney workedfor Bain when he was young. Declined to work for them after some years and went and partnered with some others and built Bain Capital. Allot of good companys were saved and some were too far gone. That's business.
If anyone doesn't like it they should be upset with the CEO and manager that made bad decisions that created te problem in the first place!
Could you perhaps point me to some more info on the subject and any links would be appreciated.
Who is the CEO you refer to and the decisions they made -thank you