But don't be fooled by Walker's sudden concern for the state's jobless. He couldn't be less sincere.
Walker's bill has been roundly panned by Democrats and their allies for its lack of valid solutions for the state's stubborn unemployment problem. While Walker did make the politically smart move of including a few Democratic proposals, his bill was mostly made up of tax breaks that wouldn't result in any significant hiring.
Walker's bill is so unfocused on jobs that it includes "tort reform" to shield manufacturers of defective medical devices from lawsuits. Perhaps it'll save jobs at negligent manufacturers' workplaces, but is that really good public policy?
Walker also proposes to lower large manufacturers' energy bills. But that only means that other ratepayers would have to foot the bill.
Even worse, Walker's alleged jobs bill would help ease the way for a proposed iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin. True, Wisconsin has a proud history of mining. But Walker's proposal has been criticized as a way to promote his donors' and allies' business interests at the expense of Wisconsin's common good. The issue is too important to be included as an afterthought in a larger bill.
Even though Walker's jobs bill is a sham, the rubber-stamp Republican majorities in the state Legislature are more than likely going to do his bidding. They're going to ram through the rest of Walker's wish list while he's still in office. With Walker dogged by high disapproval ratings and questions surrounding a John Doe investigation, the clock is ticking.
Although Madison Republicans are likely to give Walker everything he wants, no matter how little it will do for the state's unemployed, congressional Republicans are refusing to work with President Obama and his far more serious, far more productive job-creation package. Obama has proposed to give tax breaks to workers, not billionaires; invest in infrastructure repair and public employees; and help folks who have been out of work for more than six months. The president has his priorities right. Why doesn't the governor?
Heroes of the Week
Dominican Center for Women Volunteers
The Milwaukee nonprofit group Dominican Center for Women (DCW), founded in Minneapolis in 1990 by Sister Ann Halloran and Sister Anne-Marie Doyle, continues its mission of breaking the cycle of poverty and improving living conditions for program participants.
Volunteers play a vital role in DCW's success. Based on the notion that a proper education is key to economic well-being, the Adult Education Program offers one-on-one tutoring for basic reading, writing and math skills, as well as computer instruction. Also, because those living in poverty are often unable to afford upkeep on their homes, resulting in potentially unsafe environments, DCW volunteers help participants with needed improvements to make living quarters healthy and safe.
Readers interested in tutoring or donating their skills to the Housing Rehab Program are encouraged to call 414-444-9930 or visit www.dominican-center.org.
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David, then why don't YOU get together with your fellows, create amnesty for all these lazy people's debts, and then give their entire family a free one-way ticket to where those jobs are? You will be doing a valuable service to the banks that hold those debts, making them whole again, and also removing these people from being "in the faces" of the "good" people that remain?
And if they still refuse to work, let that next area deal with them!
Unemployment is not the problem. People are the problem. There are two kinds of unemployed. First cowards and the lazy. They will not move to the jobs, they will not put aside their dignity and take the work that is available. The others are the unemployable. Those that have self inflicted issues like tats and piercings, overweight, etc. They have pretty much blown it.
The first group just needs to man up. The second group needs to grow up.
Unfortunately there are no jobs out their paying good wages to those without the mental wherewithal to work. Lets face it, they will have to work the Walmart type jobs. Dignity? They need to get over it. Many unemployed have screwed up by not saving and investing wisely. Too many have banked on having one job or one employer. They gambled their livelyhood and lost, just like at the Blackjack table in Vegas. No bailouts. They didn't know how to play the cards. If you think some politician or tax break is going to create a well paying job across the street from where you live and they are going to come and recruit you -- wake up. Not happening. Getting a well paying job takes drive, abition, gumption, networking, persistence. Often it mean moving hundreds or thousands of miles away. You can't pay people good wages to sit around and be stupid. They have to be able to use some skill or talent. If they have no ability to produce goods and services that produce big profits, then there is no use for them. Therefore they will only need to know three words - "Wecome to Walmart."
I give credit to God. Everyday he blesses me with more than I deserve. Even in bad times the blessings keep coming. When I'm out of work all I have to do is go to Vegas, put on my monkey suit, dance for them man, and prospect for new business. It comes without fail. Sure I could sit at home waiting for Obama to pass a jobs bill. But instead I take the initiative and travel to where the decision makers are, the guys who hire and write the checks. I convince them to hire me and fire the guy they have working for them now. I'm in a "short term" contract business so I must be constantly looking for work. Once you get used to finding a new job 2-3 times a year, it becomes old hat and easy to do. Like learning to fish, once you know how and where to look, its easy. Maybe I'm lucky because so many people just don't try hard enough or know how to get a job. I don't have to be very smart or ambitious. All I have to do is be smarter and more abitious than you.