We need a new WPA now!

[KingFlorez]

The bottom line is this, the recovery isn't moving fast enough and people need to work. The unemployment rate is stuck and the reason for the dip in the rating is some workers have stopped looking. The private sector is is unable or unwilling in some cases to provide much needed jobs, so it's time for the Administration and Congress to step up.

A modern WPA and maybe even a new CCC is what we need right now, Roosevelt's idea provided eight million jobs over 8 years from 1935 to 1943. If it could work well in the Depression, it could work well in modern times. Every corner of the country would benefit. Rural, suburban and urban communities alike could have their infrastructure strengthened by workers from those communities, so a new WPA would have a double edge in improving conditions. There is so much that needs to be done and some many people out of work that can do it. This would be especially vital in communities that are in poor shape. With no sign of big job growth in site, it's time for action. We put Democrats in control in the last election because the country needed fixing, it's time that they started doing just that.

Contact your member of Congress and tell them why we need a new WPA. Email the President and Speaker Pelosi and tell them why we need a new WPA.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
http://www.speaker.gov/contact/

We need action now.

[phantom power]

1. There's no shortage of useful projects. Roads, bridges, sewers, national parks...

We could even do our version of the Rural Electrification Project -- this time for rural broadband.

Oh well, gotta bail the banksters out first :eyes:

[readmoreoften]

2. Wow. I've never agreed with you about anything. But here I'm 100% on the same page.

WPA now.

[GoCubsGo]

3. We need that regardless of unemployment levels

Thanks to all those "drown the government in the bathtub" fucks, our roads are crap, and a large portion of our bridges are unsafe. Our sewage systems and electrical grids are antiquated. Our national park facilities are in shambles. The whole country is falling apart due to neglect. It's well past time to clean up their mess. Employing the jobless would be an added benefit.

[annabanana]

4. a great big +1 for THIS. . .n/t

[Wilms]

5. k&r n/t

[LibDemAlways]

6. Not only infrastructure but transportation. Go to Europe and

get just about anywhere by fast, efficient modern rapid rail that puts most of our public transportation to shame. In some ways, we've regressed. Two decades ago Amtrak ran passenger service between LA and Las Vegas. It was slow and cumbersome, but it existed. Today the only public transportation between the cities is by plane or bus. It's ridiculous.

There is so much we could accomplish in this country if we'd get the hell out of Iraq and Afghanistan, make the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes, and rearrange our priorities to put people to work on projects that would benefit everybody.

[smalll]

7. Good idea. But you'd have to suspend enviro laws/regs to be able to

give the masses shovels "right fucking now."

It takes 5 to 10 years of environmental review these days in this country to begin to build anything substantial.

The New Deal is no match for the snail darter. :shrug:

[GoCubsGo]

9. Hogwash.

There is a lot that is already built that is in dire need of repair. One does not have to undergo 4 to 10 years of environmental reviews to repair bridges, re-pave roads, or mend buildings in our national parks and monuments.

[Exilednight]

15. Any time you touch anything in a national park you need to have an ................

environmental study done, even if it's a repair.

Filling a pot hole is one thing in a national park, but a total repaving project requires a complete study of the environmental impact of possible future erosion of materials that are in place vs the materials you hope to use. How much damage will moving heavy machinery through a protected park cause? Are their endangered animals that may be misplaced by large machinery? Is there protected wetlands or water source for animals that may get contaminated from runoff of materials? Will noises and vibrations of heavy machinery upset or scare away any of the local wildlife?

This takes about a year or more to do. Then, if the answer is yes to any of those questions, it could take years to find ways to either eliminate or reduce the possible impact.

[Norrin Radd]

8. kr

[dotymed]

10. I have.

I've e-mailed the President many times asking for a WPA and many other Roosevelt style laws that saved America. It seems to me, if you're not corporate, you're shit.
making minimal changes in existing policy and calling them "reforms" is bullshit.
I'd projected way too much on this administration, hoping for some FDR style legislation.

[Steely_Dan]

11. Some Of Us Have Been...

pushing for this for months now.

To me, this is a no brainer.

Of course this would kill two birds with one stone. Is there something missing from this concept that we are not considering. I've thought about it for a long time. The only drawback that I can see would be with the private sector. At least "some" (if not many) private contractors would possibly lose work. Of course, there seems to be no reason why they (the contractors) couldn't be a part of the project.

I just don't see a real downside. With all the money that has been thrown out there...like to the financial institutions with no real strings attached to benefit the working class...It seems to me it would take considerably less to fund a program like WPA.

How could the RW even begin to criticize this? Okay...they could continue the Obama is a Communist mantra....but we've heard that before. They would have to be pleased with the idea that people are "working" for their so-called welfare. Further...this directly addresses the unemployment issue. People could save their homes, etc. etc.

Okay...it's not a magic bullet. But it would (in my opinion) go a long way towards addressing a multitude of economic issues.

-P

ON Edit: I also think that this would be a huge PR plus for our President. This is the kind of "outside the box" thinking that I expected from this President. Huge issues require huge and bold solutions.

-P

[howaboutme]

13. Those at the bottom need to be given an opportunity to produce something

I agree that there should be a program where unemployed people can get paid to do something productive for society instead of being paid to do nothing. Those on unemployment comp. need time to look for meaningful work but they also need to be able to supplement the unemployment and the country should get something meaningful in return.

In conjunction our leadership should be encouraging an era of sacrifice by all Americans. It should start with those who have benefited the most and they should be encouraged to sacrifice the most and reduce their need for greed. Those in political leadership positions should be demonstrating sacrifice first by accepting pay cuts and tax increases. Instead we see public servants first on the gravy train. We need to reverse the era of moving to a welfare state that we are in, but first those at the top need to accept significantly less. Those at the bottom need to be given an opportunity to produce something.

I oppose handouts without commensurate opportunity. But it drives me nuts to see handouts to those that are already wealthy such as the owner of the Florida Mariners (there are many others). I oppose hand outs unless there is a requirement for responsibility.

[Steely_Dan]

16. I absolutely agree...

I like the approach...very much.

[DailyGrind51]

12. We have to repeal NAFTA, CAFTA, GAT, and the WTO also!

Our tech and industrial workers can't fairly compete with Asia and Latin America!

[howaboutme]

14. It should drive you nuts

to see the USA people stumble around blaming Republicans and Democrats. BOTH are to blame.

The blatant cause of our USA economic suicide are these free trade pacts by the rich elitists in both parties. They win, we lose. When unions had power the Democrats were right there with them. When the unions lost power the Democrats said lets go to China. The Republicans were there, but long before the Democrats. Patriot (meaning for the country) doesn't exist in their vocabularly.

That is the core reason that America has been left behind. Read this.....

http://www.nolanchart.com/article368.html as it is one of the best apolitical op-ed articles on free trade.

[Sherman A1]

17. Agreed