I don’t think so. Of course some action by the government is better than nothing but let’s allow common sense and business logic to prevail. First, let’s think about state infrastructure projects and construction jobs. The very second that money is allocated to infrastructure projects (which will take months or years of debate before allocation) the state and municipal governments will put those jobs out to bid. The awards processes will be partisan and corrupted through social networks and politics. A few rich guys will make some other rich guys richer.
But somewhere along the line a rich guy has got to get the job done. That’s when he’ll hire some cheap labor. Real cheap. Like non English speaking, work visa, Hispanic cheap. The Mexicans have not stopped crossing the border looking for work and now they’ll work for even less. So the labor money will go in large sums to Mexico, Puerto Rico and other Hispanic origins. I’ve personally known white and black males who’ve tried to work on mostly Hispanic construction crews and it is reported to be intolerable. It is also a closed club where the American stands out as the only non Spanish speaking guy on the crew. Prepare to see more real cheap lobor on job sites everywhere as the true American middle class suffers and politicians proclaim they’ve created jobs.
I also question the common sense behind other areas of economic “stimulus” that have been discussed like renewable energy technology. How many people do you know with education or experience in crystalline silicone solar technology that’s looking for a job? Didn’t think so. What about Vanadium Bromide battery manufacturing? Me neither. So how is government investment in renewable energy technology going to create jobs among a populous without training in such technologies? This problem reaches from the raw materials handling to the actual manufacturing of things like solar cells. The people I know who are out of work are not in a position to quickly re-train to work in this new, complex industry. There has to be education first.
To date I have not heard any actual solutions discussed that could really turn this country and this economy around in the short or long term. I think we need mandates for increases in teacher pay. If we want the best people instructing our kids and preparing them to compete in a future economy we have to entice the best among us to take the instructional jobs through financial incentive. We have to invest in workforce training. If we actually want to convert our economy back into one that manufactures high end technologies being discussed we’ve got to have a workforce that knows more than how to put a door on a car and paint it. And if the cost of goods rise slightly to facilitate stateside manufacturing that is a sacrifice we should be prepared to live with, through increased salaries.
I also feel we need to give companies incentives to hire Americans inside the US for all jobs, not just the construction and services sector. Otherwise companies will always look for the cheapest labor first and that seems to come readily available from outside our borders. I’m not calling it a legal or illegal immigration issue. I’m stating that we need to make hiring US citizens the better financial option to businesses as opposed to the hiring of foreigners on work Visas. Until this key issue is resolved the American middle class will continue in a downward economic spiral.