Category: Money

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Dr. Paul Krugman for Treasury Secretary

This is all I want for my birthday.  Anyone who knows me can attest I haven’t asked for anything for my birthday in years.

Paul Krugman is a Nobel prize winning economist and Professor of Economics and International affairs at Princeton when he’s not writing for the NY Times.  He received a BS from Yale and a Ph.D. from MIT by the time he was 24.  I’ve been a fan since January of 2007 when he published an this article, The Dark Age of Macroeconomics.  He was also one of the first people to call out the sinister Phil Gramm as one of the architects of the recession long before it was known he authored the legislation allowing the retention bonuses at AIG.

We need a Wall Street outsider at the helm of this disaster.  Not another former Wall St. Chairman and bankers best friend.  Keeping bankers happy will only do so much to alleviate the crisis we’re in.  Bring in an outsider.  Since before Obama appointed Geithner (which was the moment I first questioned Obama’s commitment to “change”), Krugman was a known contender for the job.  Draft him if necessary but do what should have been done in the first place.  Time and money are burning.

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IT Jobs on Craigslist

A lot of companies and proprietors who post IT jobs on Craigslist are flat out cheap.  Cheap to the point of being ass-hat stupid.  I saw a few postings today that just made me laugh at the idiots who posted the positions.  I know the economy is bad but you still get what you pay for.  I would never hire or trust an “expert in MS Project” with “project management experience” that is only asking for $14.50 per hour.  That’s not smart hiring in a down economy, it’s ignorant wishful thinking that will most assuredly end in disaster.  Here some of the insulting wages I’ve seen posted for relatively technical, experienced positions:

“Must have extensive knowledge of MS Project 2007; 14.50/Hr“

I don’t care who takes the job, they’re not qualified.

“15 hours a month basis for the general support regarding our phone line , cat5 lines , wireless cameras and POS maintenance…. If you are expecting hourly rate more than $15/hr, please do not respond.“

So, you want someone to support all of your technology requirements in your two business locations for $225 a month?  Sounds like a bargain!  If you are someone who agrees to this position please do so with full recognition of the cheap ass owner you’re working for.   You will be used and abused accordingly.

“We currently have positions available for Laser Printer and Copier Repair Technicians. We are a local company that specializes in sales and service of refurbished office equipment….. Compensation: 8 to 10/hr plus possible bonus“

Not only do you get the opportunity to work with cranky, used copiers and printers from multiple manufacturers but you will do it at half the rate of technicians factory trained on specific models.  Again, what a bargain for the guy looking for frustrated slave labor.

This has got to be my favorite:

“The ERP Configuration Support Analyst will have moderate to advanced understanding of computer principles and the ability to perform or supervise computer based tasks independently. They will generally have a thorough knowledge of CRM groups / Help Desk CSC and ERP client environment…. Experience with ERP implementation and ERP support an advantage…. Compensation: $10/hr. “

Are they serious?  Really?  I quote again “thorough knowledge of CRM groups / Help Desk and ERP client environment”.   Here’s a hint: If someone even knows what these acronyms stand for they are worth more than this $10 per hour insult.  People at Arby’s get paid that much for taking an order.  In fact, in NC most people experienced with ERP deployments would make more on unemployment than this job pays.

These postings are an insult to the IT community and each of these employers deserve the failed employees they will end up hiring.  I understand the concept of getting the best bang for your buck but these ass clowns are trying to meet moderate to high technical criteria at janitor wages.  Get real.  The economy is struggling and I’m sure a few very overqualified people have sent in their resumes for these positions.  If you’re one of them thanks for running the market wages down.  Personally if I were in the unfortunate position of losing a technical job I would take the 60% unemployment and wait until the market rebounds.  Once there’s a recovery these jack asses will be forced to pay what skilled people are actually worth.

Oh and FYI: I’d watch out for most of these positions anyway because these fly-by-night cheapskates are obviously looking for something for nothing.  If they had any capital they would be searching for talent somewhere other than a site offering free job postings.  They may not have enough money to cover the first paycheck.

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How bad can the economy get?

I’ve been playing through scenarios in my head to build an image of just how bad the economy could get in America.  Imagine this…

40-50% unemployment.  1 in every 2 Americans eligible working Americans without a job.  The “great” depression had a national unemployment rate of just over 20%.  This could result in closed schools becoming shelters as foreclosures skyrocket to 60-70% while the government continues to protect the banks by pumping more money into them.  This would be done so those who still have money without working can keep it.  But they won’t spend it.  There won’t be job creation and there won’t be any “re-distribution of wealth” in the private sector.

Once it is agreed there won’t be any continued redistribution of money the anti-socialists will cheer – hooray!  Capitalism has won!  America is a class system.  The divide that we see between the haves and have-nots today will pale in comparison as those who have wealth begin to protect themselves in fortress style residences.  The personal and private security industries will flourish.  Guns could be everywhere.

Education begins to take place inside of shelters and communal living facilities while schools sit empty as shaky municipal governments struggle to pay the increasing tax burden created to support the banks.  The rallying cry of politicians will continue to be “save the banks” to protect what little money is left in the hands of a few.

People will walk, not drive, passed their old houses which will sit empty and unkempt.  Infrastructure crumbles.  Third world conditions will truly exist literally in our back yards.  Medical care would become impossible to find and deteriorating sanitation conditions results in a 8-14% casualty rate with the youngest children dying the fastest.  Whether you live or die would be determined by nepotism (those born into the wealthy families will survive).

This is the current path America is on because we’ve decided against natural capitalism.  Banks are a business and many have already failed. This is what everyone is forgetting.  The super banks have already failed.  If they had not, we would not be continuing their operations with tax payer dollars.  This is so a certain segment of our population has a “safe haven” for their money.

How can you tell which side of this fallout you would be on?  Easy.  If you could currently take out all of your money from the bank and begin living by cashing your paycheck somewhere (other than a bank) and pay your bills with cash – you’re screwed.  It’s only those with vast wealth (100’s of thousands) and capital assets that will keep their homes, fortify them, and live in the top class.

In other words, this could be the beginning of the end for the middle class.  In this scenario there would be wealthy and poor and the transition would not be smooth.  There would be a rampant increase in crime, black market activity and underworld riches.  Education would be a privilege.  The majority of children would learn only what their parents can teach them.

How do we avoid this?  That’s easy too.  Stop the bailouts.  Let industries and businesses naturally fail as they should.  There is a worse thing than letting banks fail in a down economy.  It’s not letting them.

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Knightdale and Wake Forest Pediatrics

Yesterday I was indirectly informed by the Knightdale and WakeForest Pediatrics accounts receivables clerk, Diane, that these practices care more about money than they do about children. I will elaborate on how this information was derived but I want to focus specifically on one of Diane’s comments: “Care of the children is our primary concern but our physicians deserved to get paid”.  Now, through an account of factual events I will show exactly how much more hypocritical Diane’s comment was than it even appears on the surface.

Prologue: During a 24 hour period on Feb. 9th and 10th my 23 month old, Logan, had a Grandma seizure and two full seizures.  During this course of events we turned to Knightdale Pediatrics, our Pediatrician of record with our insurance company, and the practice denied treatment to Logan, stating financial reasons.  Fifteen minutes after Amy left their practice, ashamed and in tears, my son had his second seizure in the parking lot of the Carolina Urgent Care Center in Knightdale.  He is in the care of Wake Medical Center this morning as I write this.

Up until yesterday my sons had been patients at Knightdale Pediatrics and occasionally Wake Forest Pediatrics here in NC.  Through some service or treatment that is honestly unknown to me we ended up owing one of these practices approximately $400.00.  I do not know the actual amount because Amy had all of the conversations about this balance with Diane and to date I have not seen a hard copy of an invoice.

Apparently Amy set up payment arrangements with Diane for a monthly amount.  It is unclear if she signed anything authorizing payments in the form of automatic withdraws of my checking account.  Even if she did it’s not valid because her names not on the account and her signature would not authorize this.  That’s beside the point.  The dispute between Amy and Diane began when the practice tried to run my card for a monthly payment.  It wasn’t denied.  My card number had been changed by Bank of America fraud alert services because a company in Florida, the Xacti Corporation, was trying to fraudulently process transactions against my Visa check card.

So Diane called Amy for a payment last week that I think Amy committed to.  She called Amy’s cell number, the one everyone had ending in 4715.  Everyone that knows us personally and well knows that Amy washed that phone about two weeks ago and it hasn’t been replaced because she’s carrying the phone ending in 6029 now.   She could not check the old messages.   Regardless, at some point in the last two weeks Amy did commit to pay $60 to Diane and the practice but neglected to call Diane to make the payment last Thursday.

So after Logan had a Grandma seizure Saturday, a full seizure Monday night and a trip to the ER Amy called Tuesday morning to see if she could take Logan to Knightdale Pediatrics for follow up.  She had to call “Diane” for clearance because the practice wouldn’t see her until she said it was okay.  So much for caring about the children before money.

Amy asked Dianne if she could come Tuesday morning and make a payment to them on Thursday.  Note: we could pay the entire outstanding balance that very day but it would have been nice to wait until Thursday.  It was just a request.  Amy explained to Diane about the seizure.  Diane told Amy she could not bring Logan in unless she made a payment to her on the phone at that moment.  Amy got mad and cussed at Diane.  Amy just wanted Logan taken care of.  Eventually in the conversation Amy agreed to make the payment to Diane and went to okay it with me.  I was in the shower.

Amy didn’t want to make the payment without asking me.  She got back on the phone with Diane who told her Logan wouldn’t be seen without a $60 payment on the account and the co-payment of $20.   Amy got mad and cussed some more at Diane.

So I got out of the shower, gave Amy a wad of cash (she could have paid anything they asked for) and sent her to Knightdale Pediatrics.  Money was not an object and we are insured.  When she arrived the  receptionist would not admit Logan right away.  Amy told me the receptionist turned to speak to a doctor in their hallway (I’ll get his name from Amy later).  The receptionist returned and said “We have no responsibility to see your children anymore, we can give you the forms to release your records to another practice”.

So there stood my wife with my 23-month old who was shaking with fever in a medical practice that was refusing him treatment.  Amy told them she had their money and what “Diane” said about the $60 payment on the co-payment on the phone.   They refused to see Logan because apparently “Diane” calls the shots at this practice and if you don’t speak kindly to her the doctors will not like you and they will not treat your children.

Minutes later I met Amy at Carolina Urgent Care in Knightdale.  I was going to get back all the money I had given her and put it back in the bank on the way to work.  Amy got Logan out of the car and laid him in the front seat to change his diaper.  That’s when he had his second full seizure and I ran him into the Urgent Care.  Amy couldn’t help but speak about the whole ordeal at Knightdale Pediatrics.  The attending physician recommended we go to The Growing Child in Zebulon which Amy says she’s heard good things about.

I called Diane myself that morning.  I started the call by letting her know I would never, under any circumstances, return my children to their practice but I wanted to know where the breakdown was between her telling Amy to pay the $80 and when Logan was denied treatment in the office.  Her response was “ya, that was before she cussed me out”.  She then went on to elaborate to me about how she had never spoken to me about the account and said “I might still be able to work something out with you guys”.  I guess it was because I was being pleasant.  I responded “Okay, thanks, I understand now.  You tried to pressure account collections on  Amy, she got mad and cussed you out, you got pissed and decided to refuse my child treatment”.  I heard the beginning of her next sentence “No sir…”.  I hung up.

So there you have it.  Form your own opinion.  Apparently if a parent makes harsh remarks to an Accounts Receivables clerk at a medical practice they will refuse treatment.  Funny thing is, I can tell you from my own  conversation that Diane is not a pleasant person to talk to.  After all she’s an account receivables (i.e. collections) clerk.

Knightdale and Wake Forest Pediatrics biggest mistake was never discussing this with me before denying treatment to my child.  I will now spread this account of events in every public venue I can find.  These events are factual and not opinion.  Sure it’s up to their discretion who they treat and they were within their bounds to eliminate my children from their patient list.  I will provide them the publicity they asked for.

Now I will only pay the $400 as soon as I actually see a bill.  Then maybe the Doctors of Knightdale and Wake Forest Pediatrics can get their paychecks because their “care of the children is their primary concern but (they) deserve to be paid”.

All repercussions aside, this is a fight to me worth having and I’m taking it to the NC medical board.

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The GOP smells…. waste.

Republicans listed what they thought was “wasteful spending” in the stimulus bill currently being debated.  Here’s their logic:

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

If the Dept. of Energy labels anything “inefficient” it probably is.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

I don’t get it either.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

I didn’t get a coupon, did you?  Oh wait.  I don’t need one.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

Manufacturing creates jobs.

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

Again, construction creates jobs.  It’s stimulus.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

Uh, hell no.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD’s.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

I don’t see how this is creating jobs.  Sounds like stimulus for inside the beltway to me.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

• $75 million for “smoking cessation activities.”

Will save on health costs.  Should be included.

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

Not a bad idea.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into “green” buildings.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

If you live in CA this would be a plus.

• $1.2 billion for “youth activities,” including youth summer job programs.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

A half a billion dollars for “repairs”?  Seriously?

• $160 million for “paid volunteers” at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• $5.5 million for “energy efficiency initiatives” at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

Long overdue.  We need to upgrade our rail systems now.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

• $75 million to construct a “security training” facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

So they can disburse those subsidies to millionaires and corporate farms more efficiently.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

Because every man in uniform wants to drive a Prius.

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We need jobs now.

As long as we continue to hemorrhage jobs there will be no economic recovery.  For all the talk about economic stimulus and job creation there is little or no talk about creating financial incentives that will allow companies to keep workers.  Businesses can cut employees in a heartbeat to maintain revenues or stave off losses.  And they will.  Those positions rarely, if ever, return.

Without political intervention to create financial incentives fro comapnies to keep workers the cuts will continue until we are a nation of unemployed.  We don’t need to just look at ways to create “new jobs” that people are unqualified to fill.  We need to find an immediate way to let people keep their current positions.  No one seems to be interested in including this in the agenda if it creates even the slightest hardship on companies to find a way to keep their workers.  It’s an easy out and they’ll take it every time, especially if there’s no embarrassment because all other companies are doing it.

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SmartSavingsCenter.com and Xacti Group SCAM ALERT

Today I added Amazon.com on the list of companies I will never do business with again.  Last week I attempted to purchase a Haynes service manual for Amy’s car.  Amazon directed me to the reseller discountbooks.com.  This is a site run by the Xacti corporation out of Boca Raton Florida.  It is a front for the phishing scam site SmartSavingsCenter.com.  Whenever you buy from discountbooks.com you are invisibly agreeing to a “trial membership” for SmartSavingsCenter.com.  If you don’t cancel this intentionally obscured trial within 7 days they hit your card with a $29.95 fee.  You will never see it coming.

This scam put forth by the immoral and ethically corrupt Xacti corporation is well documented in any Google search for SmartSavingsCenter.  The Editor of Ripoffreport.com even has a site informing “how to get your money back into your bank account” if you are a victim of Xacti’s deception.  He makes it sound like it could be difficult for your bank to agree to the refund.  In fact when I called Bank of America this morning the scam is so well known that they didn’t resist one bit.  Other Xacti websites that are a front for the SmartSavingsCenter.com scam are HotMovieSale.com and Rushmore Towing and Locksmiths.  There are probably others.

If you’re a victim of the Xacti corporations immoral internet trade practices you can contact them directly using the information at the bottom of this post.  Personally I wouldn’t bother as I understand they won’t cancel the “subscription” over the phone.

Instead try to locate the welcome email sent by these fraudsters when they initiated their malicious activity against you (mine was in the spam filter), retrieve the password for your account, go to SmartSavingsCenter.com and cancel the account.  There is even a selection in the “Reason for Canceling” that says “I believe SmartSavingsCenter is a fraudulent service”.  Pick this one.  Then call your bank, dispute their fraudulent charges and place a fraud alert on your account against this company.  The Attorney General of Florida should move to shut these crooks down ASAP.  Here’s where the dishonest cowards hide…

Xacti
999 West Yamato Road
Suite 100
Boca Raton, FL 33431-4478
Telephone: 561-989-7400
Fax: 561-989-7401
UPDATE:
Since posting this article I received a letter from the Florida Attorney Generals office informing me, as one of many complainants, that they are beginning an investigation of the company.  Hopefully they’ll be shut down soon and anyone who requires additional reimbursement from their fraud will get some money back.  If you’ve been affected by this scam file your complaint on-line with the Florida Attorney General.  Here is a link.
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Bad Customer Service Practices
I am establishing the guidelines for what I will consider good customer service in 2009. This is my oath: If I come in contact with any company using the practices described here I will work to discontinue all business relationships that will result in a monetary gain for the company engaging in reduced or bad customer service.
  1. Automated phone attendants.  Time Warner – gone.  Sirius – gone.  Any other company want me to answer to a damned computer that poorly impersonates a humans job?  Don’t bother employing the computer, just cancel my account.  I’ve heard plenty of people say “I don’t mind automated attendants, I just don’t like it when they can’t understand me”.  Well, it’s sad to know the human intellect in some people has reduced them to a bowl of brain lard willing to answer to a computer.  Do they realize how stupid they sound answering these automated questions in front of other people?   This God forsaken technology was adopted by companies for no other reason than replacing humans to answer the phones.  It’s sold as “better customer service”.  It’s bullshit and I call it.  End automated service attendants and put customer service reps back to work on the phones.
  2. The inability to pay on-line or limited web presence.  I can pay my water bill on the Internet.  If the municipal governments can do it so can any finance or service company. While searching for a car recently I was offered financing options.  I was amazed how many companies don’t offer electronic invoicing or on-line bill payment.  As far as I’m concerned they are not worth conducting business with if they can’t accept payments on-line when I want to make one in 2009.  Which is actually different than number three:
  3. Any company that requires scheduled electronic drafting of a checking account for bill payment.  I’m about to change my life insurance next week because of this.  The only way ING will accept payments on the policy is through scheduled electronic drafts.  I’m not letting any company take money out on a schedule when they want.  No one’s ever taking money out of my checking account at any time until I authorize it each and every time, not once for a particular date of the month, recurring.  The utility companies try to push people into scheduled drafts as often as they can.  Even if you are a millionaire and you’re letting any company do this your a fool.  If I need to explain why you are a bigger fool.
  4. Any service or product exceeding the cost stated in a quote, written or verbal.  Hidden fees, and other “Misc.” charges can go to hell.  I’m not putting up with it anymore.  It’s a good thing I don’t have a phone bill because cramming is part of their game.  You never know what you’re going to pay until the bill comes.  It’s time companies learned to invoice their customers and make revenue without feeling like they have to add small change to the bill using cryptic charges and ridiculous fees.  Send me one crammed bill during 2009 and I’ll send you a notice of account termination.  Mine will be easy to read.
  5. Any company that refuses to refund or credit an account for a bad product or service(s).  This is the ultimate heeeellll naaawwww.  If you sell me crap, you take it back and give the money back.  If I pay someone to do a job or provide a service it will be done as expected or it will be refunded.  It’s surprising how many stories are emerging about companies that will not refund money when they have provided bad products or services.  The Snake-oil Salesmen think they can win.  The “buyer beware” mentality that has formulated under the Bush Administration and the best congress money can buy which does not hold companies accountable for their actions has nurtured this prolific, vile attitude in companies.  I will learn the art of the lawsuit if this occurs to me this year.
Perhaps they are in charge thanks to the calls for Corporate America and Capitalism at any and all cost.  The cost has been reliable products and quality services.  It’s been replaced by rampant dishonesty creating consumer distrust and a struggling consumer market.  I know full well that great big companies worth billions, some facing bankruptcy, could care less about my one little account.  I’m still canceling it if the service sucks.
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Sirius Asshats
I’m on the phone canceling all of my service with Sirius satellite radio.  My decision lies ENTIRELY with Sirius’s poor customer service.  Not to mention the fact that they are trying to complicate and delay the return of $106 to me.
On January 2nd I ordered two Stratus 4 radios from them.  One was to replace my aging original Sportster and one was to add a radio to the account for my Dad as a Christmas present.  January 7th came and went with no radios and the hold on my account had been removed for the $106.72.  So I called and canceled the order.  Sirius confirms the cancellation is in their notes on the account.
I went to Best Buy and bought two Stratus 5 radios for a total of $143.  Forward to January 13th.  Today I look at my bank account and what do you know there’s a new hold for $106.72 from Sirius.  Apparently they didn’t cancel the order.  And as far as I can tell they’ve run my card again for a new hold.
So I made the dreaded call to sort it out.  First you’ve got to verbally navigate through the highly annoying automated attendant.  Any company that resorts to automated attendants for first line customer service stands a high chance of losing my business under the best of conditions.   As a life rule I don’t talk to computers.  Cus at them a lot but never talk.

Once I finally got a human on the phone she said “yes, I see where you canceled on the 7th.  Let me let you talk to ‘Ecom’ about the billing and why the charges haven’t come off your account.”
So the guy from “Ecom” gets on the phone.   He said the order “couldn’t have been canceled”.  I told him the previous customer service rep told me that it was.  He replied, with attitude, “that person doesn’t work in Ecom and could not have canceled the order”.
So did the radios ship? “I can’t tell you at this time”.  What about the charges for the radio, how do I get those back?   His response “there’s nothing I can do about it at this time sir”.
So here I was trying to buy additional radios and add service to my account so Sirius could have more revenue.  Instead they screw up the order, the cancellation, charged me for the canceled order and can’t even tell me if the radios shipped.  Send me to cancellations.
Now customer retention is on the case right?  Problem is that if Sirius screws up bad, like they have, customer retention can’t do a damn thing despite their efforts.  She tried contacting corporate customer relations and a lot more but couldn’t get an answer on what’s going on or what to do.  So “cancel my service” I said.  “That’s why I was transferred to ‘cancellations’ in the first place.”
She responded, “Well, can I give you three months for free for the inconvenience?”  And I asked “Can you tell me when I can expect my money back?  Or how many more times you guys will keep putting holds on my card without shipping any product?”  She could not.
Then she put me on hold again.  She came back to inform me that “I’ve escalated your issue to my manager who will have someone from corporate customer relations contact you within 5 to 7 days.”  5 to 7 days???  “Are you for real?” Of course she was.
So I had no alternative, “Cancel the service.”  The battle presses on.
Bad customer service will cost revenue.  This, along with other management reasons, is why Sirius closed at $0.13 a share today.  They’re scheduled to be delisted from Nasdaq on April 20, 2009.
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Do you think a government economic stimulus package will create jobs for Americans?
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.