Things aren’t great, and they are getting worse. The University of Michigan’s economic forecast last week projected that our state’s jobless rate will soon hit double digits, and stay there, for a good long time. And that’s assuming there is an auto industry bailout.
And if there isn’t we could be looking at numbers I don’t even want to imagine. I do know the one person with job security in Michigan; my friend Jim, who works for the state. His job is to calculate the state unemployment figure every month.
The family joke is that when the rate hits 99.9 percent, his instructions are to turn off the light on his way out.
Well, we aren’t ever going to get that bad, but it is pretty clear that the strain on the state unemployment fund is going to worsen.
Michigan already has borrowed close to half a billion from the federal government to pay unemployment claims. True, the state is increasing the amount some employers are going to pay into the fund next year, and increasing the payments for most employers the year after that. That‘s something even the Michigan Chamber of Commerce approves.
But as things now stand, that won’t be enough.
Nor is the free market likely to create jobs for these folks anytime soon. So I have a reasonable, conservative and time-tested solution. We should put as many of them as possible to work.
We are going to be paying out billions in unemployment insurance, and perhaps other forms of welfare. So, why shouldn’t we get something out if it? We should recreate something like the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration, or the WPA.
The WPA put millions of unemployed people from all walks of life to work during the depths of the Great Depression. Critics raged at it, saying it was socialism. No doubt there were abuses.
But not only was it a lifesaver for millions, it left this country better off. Nearly every town in America has a bridge or a public building somewhere built by the WPA. One of the few decent and functional buildings in Highland Park today is the WPA post office.
Now, if anything, America needs such a program more than ever. Think of it: We have thousands of unemployed skilled workers, including laid-off engineers and construction specialists. We have roads which look like they’ve been shelled by enemy artillery.
We have bridges that are dropping pieces of concrete. Parts of Detroit’s sewer system date back almost to the Civil War. Most of our central cities have buildings that need to be demolished.
Think of how greatly we could benefit from something like a Michigan Infrastructure Corps. Yes, it would cost money. But so does unemployment insurance. Having a crumbling public sector costs in other ways. Those who are hung up on labels will say this would mean bringing “socialism” to part of our economy.
Yes, you could say that. But for that matter, so does the army. We could easily structure my Michigan Infrastructure Corps so that it doesn’t compete with the private sector - which, by the way, doesn’t seem to have many jobs to offer right now.
By the way, know what happened to the old WPA? Eventually, everyone went back to work, after World War II started, and it quietly died. If a shot of temporary “socialism” would help the people and the state of Michigan, I say, let’s make the most of it.
I support Jack's proposal..I want his job and the governor's as well..
Posted by: Thrasher | November 25, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Mr. Thrasher does not understand that minimum prerequisites for either the governorship or Jack's job is a modicum of intellect.
Thrasher is good for lying, deceit, anger and the ever present incendiary tone of a minimally accomplished loser who thinks he has something to add. Ignore him and his pathetic rantings
Posted by: AugustasWoodward | November 25, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Where do I sign up?
Posted by: David | November 25, 2008 at 09:55 PM
just think of how many acres of feedstock for biofuels will be grown just on the middle of the freeways that are mowed now.
in fact the fast growing perinal grasses will just regrow, like switchgrass.
in other places cannabis hemp one of the strongest and tallest of all the plants will be more suitable.
all of it used for fuel for the snowplows and police cars and govt transporters.
all the while showing off MI as a leader in biofuels with the big three using the fuel in there cars and trucks.
the other day npr had a short [piece- on ethanol saying that it use to take months to pay off the ethanol plant at say 100 million now it takes to long so they are shutting down the plants --
am i the only one that said da-==
every gallon of biofuel ethanol is not quite a gallon we do not have to pipe in.
how much do we use in gal of gas.
we grow the plants and we make the fuel and we keep the money here.
why is dupont joining a danish food com in making cellulose ethanol --
when will the state of mi come out with a plan to work with the big three to present a plan to work together.
dont tell us that the ethanol is a failure tell us that we have shown it can be done and we can do it much better - and ask every school to get involved =
Posted by: mike | November 25, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Augustas aka Jose Santiago..I am blushing over the passion you have over me so I guess this means I am not on guest list for Thanksgiving dinner ...
Your rants directed at me are full of anger,vemon and rage...such a demeanor reveals you are a wounded person with a low self esteem..
I better watch my back...
Posted by: Thrasher | November 26, 2008 at 09:22 AM