Last night, as millions of Americans tuned in and logged on to follow the president's State of the Union address, I was honored to have a front row seat. Sitting there in the "people's chamber," surrounded by current and former colleagues -- as well as a few new faces -- I listened to the president talk about the new realities and the new opportunities of a truly global economy.
Two years after the worst recession in our lifetimes the stock market is roaring back, corporate profits are at an all time high, the economy is growing again, and in each month last year the private sector added jobs. That's progress. But we don't measure the progress of our nation simply by looking at the bottom line. Our progress, our prosperity, must also be linked to the opportunities available to us. In that regard there remains much work to be done.
Our nation and especially our workers face big challenges and strong competition. But isn't rising to the challenge what has defined our nation throughout history? Isn't that spirit what continues to make this country a beacon of opportunity?
That promise of opportunity is certainly what drew my parents to each seek a better life in Los Angeles. It's also what led them to instill in me a belief that when faced with big challenges, you don't shrink away from the fight, you think boldly, and you do big things.
That's what I heard from the president last night -- bold ideas and a plan to do the big things that will keep the American workforce leading the world not only in our lifetimes, but for generations to come.
Creating the jobs and industries of the future will require America doing what it does best -- investing in the creativity, imagination, and ingenuity of our people. No nation has workers more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies, inventors, and entrepreneurs. So when the president says that 80 percent of America's electricity will come from clean sources by 2035, I know we will meet that goal.
I believe it because I've seen the promise of clean energy technology, and I've seen the impact of green jobs. Take Kwanasia Smith, a young woman in Oakland, CA. Thanks to the Recovery Act, she attended a summer jobs program studying solar paneling, mounting, and wiring. Her dedication and desire impressed her employer, and she was able to launch a career as a result.
These new industries and new jobs require new training and a strong educational foundation. To compete for these jobs we must win the race to educate our current and future workforce. Adding 100,000 science and math teachers to provide our students with the skills they need for the jobs of the future is the very type of big thing that will allow us to continue our competitive edge.
We're also working to revitalize the community college system and permanently extend the American Opportunity Tax Credit, making a college education more accessible and affordable than ever.
I was first attracted to public service because I saw a need to speak up for the most vulnerable in my own community. That belief provided the foundation of my career in the House of Representatives, and it drives my work as your Labor Secretary.
Sitting in that front row, at the very epicenter of our representative democracy, I was reminded of that humble start to my career. That's why I was extremely pleased to hear the president acknowledge the contributions of immigrants, and pledge to reform immigration laws in a comprehensive manner. It's time to stop expelling talented, responsible graduates and provide them access to the promise of opportunity that will continue to set America apart.
I believe, as the president said last night, that "this is a country where anything is possible," and "where you can make it if you try." We will not succeed as a nation because of Democratic ideas or Republican ideas -- we will succeed thanks to bold ideas and a belief that the American people are the ones to get big things done.
This post also appears on the Department of Labor Blog at http://social.dol.gov/blog.
Follow Sec. Hilda Solis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HildaSolisDOL
So, Sec. Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor, I believe you are completely wrong and with such sweeping statements it is no wonder that America is in the morass it is and the average person does not enjoy a quality of life like those in the Government or the Corporate America bigwigs. Now unfortunately retired the past five years due to an injury in the Bahamas (as an ex mega-yacht captain previously for ten years) but disabled five years ago. I hope this country and its nice hard working people does not see an uprising as the one going on in Egypt.
While I agree education is necessary, it will not solve our jobs problems. What we need is 'new' products.
I have been trying to get people to understand, we have an old plant which could grow our economy, while generating environmentally friendly products. Hemp has been a casualty of the war on drugs. Hemp can be used to make biodegradable products, which would help clean up our environment. Hemp can be used to make plastic, wood, cement and so much more.
Our farmers could have a plant to grow, which could be used for limitless products. Our ingenuity could be put to use, utilizing a plant, which has been banned for years. Hemp facts were removed from educational material in America. Leaving 'madness' in it's place. It's time to end the madness and utilize a plant, which tracks back to 'victory' in American history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne9UF-pFhJY "Hemp for Victory" part of America's hidden history.
It's time to change course in America. We need to move away from madness and move along to Victory!
Hint, to suppress wages.
http://blog.noslaves.com/alan-greenspan-recommends-wiping-out-the-middle-class/
Every developing nation in the world that is experiencing double digit economic growth has found a way to employ that segment of the workforce in large numbers. Those people now produce for the economy rather than being a drain on the fiscal health of the nation.
America has forgotten how important it is to employ as many people as you can in any capacity and at all rungs of the economic ladder to insure the fiscal health and national security of the nation.
We have moved away from patriotism and national interest and moved toward profits and self interest. This is not in the best interest of the nation as it only serves a very small number of corporations that seek global expansion as the means to increased profits.
This economic model has devastating effects on developed nations because of the drain upon those nations resources and the ever increasing burden of providing a social safety net for dispalced workers.
But you can make them cheaper in China. (Free trader)
OK they must have better technology. Let them open a plant here an make some more, just like they ask American companies to do. (AvgJoeBlow).
Yeah, and Obama is doing his best to ruin those companies and discourage the inventors and entrepreneurs.
Corporations are part of the government and they are not about innovation. Obama has shown he is in bed with big business ie wall st, banks, car companies, and insurance companies.
5. Bloated government spending? Is there waste in government? Sure there is, but why do I think it is fairly small compared to the above-listed issues?
Of course we need to concern ourselves with the debt, but we've got to look at the real problem areas, and not just areas that the rightwing/baggers have decided are problems.
There was full employment and high marginal tax rates in the 90's.. and virtually no wars.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/budget-2010/
The response to increased corporate taxation is that these taxes are either expenses that get passed along to consumer (middle class) in terms of price increases ( and makes US corporations less competitive in terms of pricing) or increased taxation reduces the income to the "middle class grandma" (dividends are after corporate taxes) is cut when she cashes in her stock. Not saying that the effective tax rated on corporations should not be changed but in many cases this is just a shifting of monies in the economy. BTW: it does not address that we already have the worlds highest corporate tax rates (search to verify).
5. Item 5 on your list is denial of the over-consumption by Americans. we are consuming more than we are willing to pay, both in terms of personnel finance and government finance.
2. Has nothing to do with national debt. It doesn't matter is 100 people make a $1 a day or 50 make $2 a day, or 10 make $10.
2. (3). It is too high. Factor in massive regulations and it is really high. In any case debt is a spending problem not a revenue problem. That is like saying "I don't earn enough money to pay down my maxed out credit card."
4. The rich all ready pay a disproportional amount of taxes. Payroll or earned income is guaranteed income thus it is taxed at a higher rate- you can't loose money. Capital gains is taxed lower because it is volatile and you can actually lose money. No one should pay any capital gains taxes- since that money is taxed all ready as earned income somewhere. Taxing the hedge fund manager is taxing grandma since he just passes the cost to her to manage her retirement fund. You may think you are sticking it to business but they just pass the costs to employees or customers.
5. Waste is a bs issue. Yes there is waste and we should get rid of it. The problem is spending.
When I took an economics class in college my instructor outlined how a country can pay off debt. The standard approach is to reduce spending below revenues. But he taught that when the debt is too great this does not work. The only outcome of great debt has always been devaluation of the currency. For example, suppose two dollars replace each dollar in circulation. This effectively cuts the debt in half.
Using this knowledge we can estimate how much the US dollar must be devalued to make repayment of the debt possible. $14 trillion of debt is equal to $45,000 for every US citizen. Divide 300 million into 14 trillion. Every net taxpaying household of four owns $330,000 of federal debt. Net taxpaying households are households who pay equal or more taxes that they consume in federal benefits.
If the dollar is devalued by one-half, then every net taxpaying household owns about $160,000 of federal debt – still a daunting number. Each family can estimate how much federal debt it can realistically pay off, and then calculate how much the dollar must be devalued.
The US can't drill and gasoline is too expensive to drive our cars.
The government sued Microsoft.
Edison's greatest invention is soon to be banned.
Flying is torment thanks to the TSA.
The government is attempting to regulate the internet.
Now tell me. Where does the underlying problem come from?
The Colorado school the President cited as a success story. Three years ago, they de-certified the teachers' union, fired 34 of 40 teachers and replaced them. They set their own curriculum independent of guidance from the local school district.
http://dailycaller.com/2011/01/25/school-obama-cited-as-success-benefited-from-ditching-teachers-union-rules/#ixzz1C7GcIDbJ
Things getting any clearer, Hilda?
Consider the oil business. Will educating more geologists and engineers produce more oil and gas? NO!. But if we were to lift the offshore drilling ban and begin to explore and produce oil and gas again we would provide opportunity and demand for newly educated workers.
Will educating more accountants produce higher profits for US corporations? NO! The demand for accountants is driven by the profit margin and growth of businesses.
The same can be said for every business. The hiring of educated workers is driven by the income statement and profit potential. Not the other way around.
The administration has focused on issues such as "regulation" and "health care" that actively destroy a company's income statement. (They add costs to business.) The only way to offset those hits on the income statement is to dramatically lower taxes on business. And even that only effects those companies that remain profitable BEFORE TAXES.
If Democrats are serious about creating a positive future for our country they will reduce regulation and cut taxes in order to drive profit margins and profit potential much higher. That is how jobs are created and that is how demand for educated workers is formed.