I do not care how many jobs are created.

[SmileyRose]

After the crash in the 80's (thanks again Neil Bush) we rebuilt our economy with crappy jobs that couldn't support a family and all but the top 4/5% lost ground - in a big way. We had jobs running out our ears for awhile there. Gobs and gobs of shitty paying jobs with little to no benefits. 80% of working people worked longer, harder and ended up with less at the end of the day. That's NOT what I want this time.

I care how many of those who are unemployed or underemployed can find a job that pays a decent living wage with benefits good enough to raise a couple of kids and/or save a little for retirement - with wages and benefits good enough to live in a decent home of some sort, get basic medical care without going bankrupt, and maybe take a little vacation once in a while.

I can promise you, my uncle who gave his life in WW2 did not do that so his grandkids could live a life where they and their spouse HAVE to work 3 jobs and still can't afford the price of entry to the doctor's office.

If we are going to rebuild our economy, can we PLEASE rebuild it with DECENT jobs. Not just "jobs".

[MNDemNY]

1. mmm.... No. Not with the corporatists running things.

Try again later, thank you for your concern.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Yep, after every economic "adjustment" real pay and benefits fall. It's bullshit. K/R

[SmileyRose]

7. That's not exactly true is it?

Seems to me after the "adjustment" in 1929 we built some damn fine jobs. Between FDR's populism, unions and the fact Europe and Asia were busy destroying their manufacturing capabilities in the war, we did pretty darn good.

I don't think we can go back to manufacturing, now that Europe and Asia are full throttle, but it seems to me there should be something the world needs we have in abundance that can provide DECENT jobs.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Point well taken...

And it's my single greatest concern with the present administration.

I'm unsure, but optimistic that the coming three years will reveal stronger efforts to return jobs to America and to strengthen the ones that are here.

Increasing globalism, I think, has made it harder to initiate the kinds of changes FDR brought to bear.

Cautiously optimistic.

[intheflow]

17. The post-Great Depression economy was primarily built on the WWII war machine.

This time we will need have a war for green technologies, both in development, building the infrastructure and implementing it, but also create technologies that depend more on human participation than automation so that the jobs created are sustainable. Of course, that means corporate structures will have to be also be redesigned to value human capital over technological capital that doesn't require paid sick leave or vacation time, so I'm not holding my breath. But still.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. The second law states that jobs cannot be created nor

destroyed. Maybe I am confused on this or have it fouled up with something else. I hear you though... numbers alone mean little to nothing.

[laughingliberal]

4. k & r n/t

[kenny blankenship]

5. Look under your seats! Everybody gets a paper hat!

You get a PAPER hat! And YOU get a paper hat, and YOU get a paper hat! And you and you and you and you ALL get a paper hat!

[SpiralHawk]

6. "Smirk." - Neil 'SilveradoSkank' Bush (R - BFEE)

In this quaint Republicon Crony snapshot, Neil 'SilveradoRipoff' Bush poses with Bush Family intimate, Rev. 'Second-Coming-of-Christ' Moon, beloved Republicon Messiah & MoneyBagDude

[walldude]

16. Does that sign behind them say United Peace Federation?

Talk about false advertising...

[B Calm]

8. K&R

[asdjrocky]

10. In the Clinton era everyone was working-

because you had to have two jobs to make up for the one good job that had been shipped overseas.

[HughMoran]

11. I really believe that if small businesses didn't have to worry about healthcare so much

...that they would hire more & better qualified people. In my small company, we can only afford to hire people who won't need family insurance as it's just too expensive ($36,000/yr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Healthcare reform WILL help create jobs IMO.

[abelenkpe]

12. This is so true!

I don't know why this isn't brought up more in the debate. Not only will healthcare reform save the government money but it will help businesses save money and compete in a global marketplace. The company I work for has to bid against companies in Britain, Canada and New Zealand for work from the major US studios. Anyway the two reasons we lose out on bids are 1. tax incentives offered from other countries to bring work there. (Because our trade policies make so much sense the US refuses to offer similar incentives to protect their own) and 2. healthcare costs. It costs more to businesses to provide healthcare for their workers here because we don't have systems similar to those other countries. The owners of the company I work for understandably are huge supporters of universal care because it will help them to compete.

[HughMoran]

13. BCBS, Aetna, UHC & others are DESTROYING America

How can the Republicans be FOR destroying the heart of America - small business?

MY small company is hoping and praying for healthcare reform.

WHY AREN'T PEOPLE SCREAMING THIS FROM THE ROOFTOPS??

Who here is good at doing research and posting a good catchy thread on this topic??

[stray cat]

14. What do you consider a decent living wage?

[SmileyRose]

15. Depends on where you live.

Enough to obtain the basics in life on one job per family within a reasonable commute between home and job and within 40-50 hrs a week at work.

I have no problem with part time jobs, or lower paying jobs. But we simply DO NOT have enough jobs that pay a decent living wage for people who seek it. We have too many people with children, live in elderly parents, disabled spouses etc, who are forced to work 80+ hrs a week at multiple jobs just to keep the bare minimum roof over one's head, let alone save for car repairs.

[MadMaddie]

18. We need manufacturing jobs to come back to the US

I have finally convinced my RW co-workers that not everyone is going to be in IT and customer service jobs. Those jobs do not create a solid base for an economy.

Small businesses will save this country not the mega corporations that nickle and dime their employees.