Could the President be doing more to help create new jobs and revitalize the middle class?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/14061

Submitted by Jesse Russell on August 23, 2010 - 2:24pm
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Could the President be doing more to help create new jobs and revitalize the middle class? A new report from The American Prosppect suggests there is a precedent in history of Presidents using executive power as a contractor to make sure anything connecting to a federal contract has to pay decent wages and treat workers fairly. American Propect co-founder Robert Kutner laid out the example of President John F. Kennedy using executive power to set the stage for what would eventually result in legislation under the Johnson administration.

: President Kennedy issued an Executive Order requiring companies that had contracts with the federal government or wanted to bid on contracts with the federal government to take affirmative action to end discrimination in their labor forces.

During World War II President Franklin Roosevelt used executive order for government contracts:

: You had to have decent labor relations, you had to not bust unions, you had to give workers the rights they already had on paper under the Wagner Act.

With the historical model already in place, Kutner said President Barack Obama could be doing much more.

: With this precedent we realize the Obama administration could be acting more assertively to use the power of contracting to insist that companies that have federal contracts with the government be high road employers and not low road employers.

[liberal N proud]

1. He could give us all pony's

Wasn't that what he promised?

A pony in every stall!

:sarcasm:

[w4rma]

17. The DLC keeps promises to the wealthy, not to anyone else. (nt)

[Hannah Bell]

19. "ponies"

[dkf]

2. Yes he could.

Why hasn't he? No idea.

[xchrom]

3. Recommend

[Brickbat]

4. Absolutely he could be doing more. I've long ago stopped wondering why he isn't, though.

[RKP5637]

6. I've been grinding myself into the ground wondering WTF. From what I see they

are not interested in doing anything but propping up the economic mess again, money to wall street, money to banks, too big to fail, the whole thing propped up again. It's reaganomics, voodoo economics, trickle down economics, whatever all over again. I was hoping for better, but apparently not. The agenda is to just keep giving money to these guys. I've not been impressed. He needs to clean house and get better advice. Instead, he appeases the wealthy and the republicans. It's a bunch of BS.

[Brickbat]

7. I never heard any specifics that I could hang my hat on during the campaign as far as my interests

were concerned, except for what he said about EFCA. Once he started wiggling on that, it was all over for me. I didn't have much invested in Obama, so it doesn't hurt my feelings, but I am angry that someone I thought was at least an ally is actively working AGAINST my interests.

And you're right, it's a bunch of BS.

[stray cat]

5. Yes - but it might make things worse overall

You can donate your salary to help someone else but than you end up destitute

[Little Star]

8. k&r

[CTyankee]

9. Robert Reich was wondering today on MJ why Obama didn't create a WPA

type program that would truly put people to work.

I can't figure out why Obama didn't at least try that. I know the stimulus was supposed to help with it and there was a limit to what he could spend. It is not entirely his fault. But as Reich pointed out, he could fail but still fight for it. At least, people would be appreciative of that...

I think Reich is right...

[Orrex]

11. Reich is seldom wrong

:thumbsup:

[Orrex]

10. Lots of people ask if Obama could be doing more, without asking of corporations SHOULD be doing more

Even if the President uses "the power of contracting," will that create long-term jobs? With benefits? Or will it result in 10 million temp jobs that will evaporate as soon as the job-at-hand is completed? That might "solve" the unemployment problem in the short term, but it would be a tenuous solution easily undone.

Alternatively, Obama could institute some massive, comprehensive, and permanent hiring program. It would result, among other things, in a 24/7 wall-to-wall media blitz against our socialist President and our nanny state. We would hear constantly of the evil deficit and how we're "handing the bill" to our grandchildren. Implementing the program would lead to massive and aggressive efforts to secure a Republican super-majority in both houses, followed by an unprecedented campaign to install a Republican President.

Any program that Obama attempts to establish would be gutted and undermined until the final product is a faint shadow of what it might have been and what the country needs. The Right would still complain about our over-reaching government hobbling the market and therefore making it impossible, they would claim, for corporations to hire people who would rather work "cushy government jobs." And then we'd hear from the Left, complaining that the program does nothing or and/or is a gift to wealthy corporate America.

And once the GOP lock on government is re-secured, they will undo whatever feeble program Obama has established, and any money that was used to fund the program will be handed to the wealthy as an apology for Obama's presidential effrontery.


Meanwhile, rather than hiring workers, corporations are hoarding trillions of dollars and investing in ways to render those workers permanently obsolete under the banner of "increased productivity" and the like.

[CTyankee]

12. I don't think we have a choice on rebuilding our infrastructure, which a WPA

type program could do. We cannot regain meaningful jobs without it. It's not a "nice" little gesture, it is imperative. That case can be made over and over again to counter the repukes. Most people can see the crumbling bridges, buildings, roads right in their own towns and cities. It's a reality in our daily lives...

[Orrex]

14. Good point, and very true

Locally I've seen a lot of construction funded directly by Obama, though these projects seem to be perceived as business-as-usual construction funded by state and local dollars.

[CTyankee]

15. and the repuke congresspersons from those districts take credit for it!

They don't mention where the $$ came from!

[RKP5637]

13. My gut feel is the entire economy will fall apart down the road. Our entire

economic structure needs to be rethought for the 21st century, but like the reasons you mentioned, IMO, nothing is going to happen. We will be told 10% or higher unemployment is the norm, just get used to it... This country carries a lot of baggage into everything, so not much gets accomplished.

As you said, "Meanwhile, rather than hiring workers, corporations are hoarding trillions of dollars and investing in ways to render those workers permanently obsolete under the banner of "increased productivity" and the like."

IMO this country is no longer about what is best for all of the citizens. Rather, it is all about corporations and profit, keeping the wealthy richer. Any not seeing this will just never get it... The political system in this country is owned and run by the corporate structure, and there should be no surprises what that's all about.

[Hannah Bell]

20. it's true, if he were to try to do more for most of the population, he'd get massive push-back

from the owners of the country.

no way around it.

which is why people need to raise a ruckus: to give him the political cover.

unfortunately, the situation is worse than in fdr's time, because large multinationals control a larger share of the economy -- & they could really give a shit about this country. they can transfer assets and production anywhere on the drop of a hat.

[JustAnotherGen]

16. Not just the President

But Democrats in Congress as well need to be screaming INFRASTRUCTURE at the top of their lungs. And keep screaming it over and over and over again.

BTW - I saw the interview with Mr. Reich on MSNBC this morning - and I'm in total agreement with him as always.

And they should follow best business practices - i.e. you have to buy the cement from a US company. You cannot at all use foreign workers (H1-B holders) . . . We aren't building new homes anymore. We need to put our craftsmen and craftwomen back to work -

Rebuilding bridges that are falling, dams on the brink, roads in disrepair, water systems, electric, green energy based projects - And when we do - pay these folks a LIVING wage and the economy will turn around.

Combine that with telling the GOP to STFU - extending the Bush Tax Cuts for the Rich is off the table so stop whining like little cry babies . . . will get it done.

[taupe]

18. entrepreneurs

We need more entrepreneurs. They are the ones who create jobs.

[Hannah Bell]

21. lol. drop the koolaid.