FRN Columnists' Corner - "Solving Jobs through Personal Responsibility" By Andy Oberman

Free Republic Network ^ | 4-5-04 | Andy Oberman

[Bob J]

Coming back from his luxurious, Idaho-ski resort vacation, John Kerry has hit the ground running with his campaign message of outsourcing and job loss. In a speech given at a rally in St. Louis, Kerry revealed that over the next few weeks, he will be unveiling a jobs plan, expected to produce millions new jobs in the first year of his would be presidency. To create all of these new jobs, Kerry plans to raise tax rates on middle and upper income earners-some $900 billion according to several estimates-to redistribute wealth through a series of public works programs. This New Deal type legislation will provide low paying, menial labor jobs, in the way of public works programs, to the masses by taking money out of the hands of employers and putting it into the pockets of government.

The key to this entire scheme seems to be the erroneous belief that government can efficiently handle the funds collected via taxes and apply them to private sector job growth. My main question for Sen. Kerry is, "When has government ever efficiently handled taxpayer funds?" This question appears irrelevant, however, because Americans will obviously flock a candidate promising false hope for job creation in this election-entirely removing personal accountability from the equation, altogether.

If it has been a while since you gave the Constitution a read, let me fill you in. You are guaranteed the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (or property in the words of John Locke)." Nowhere in this equation are you guaranteed a job. You have the right to seek work. You have the right to earn a wage and spend that wage, but you aren't guaranteed a job to produce that wage. The simple reality is it isn't the president's (whoever he may be) responsibility to provide you with a job. It is your responsibility to find one!

Contrary to popular belief, Americans are not born with an inherent right to a job. In fact, any job you currently have is not even "your" job, as most people aptly put it. The position you currently hold belongs to the company that employs you. If you fit the company's needs, you have a job. If not, someone else will get it. If labor is cheaper elsewhere for the same amount of product, the job will go there. It may be a cold reality, but it is the nature of capitalism.

Most Americans, however, are not upset with aspects of capitalism; they are only upset with their own job outlook. They worry that they may not be able to find the job they desire, or one with which they are happy. It is no one's fault; it is just a reality of our time. The best advice anyone can give them is to adjust their qualifications to meet the needs of the position they wish to occupy.

These demanded qualifications from employers can be met through education, experience, or a variety of other methods. Instead of blaming the president for the job situation, why not focus on yourself, adjusting your qualifications to meet those of the employer you for which you seek to work?

President Bush's tax cut package has put a few extra dollars into your pockets, and, if additional tax relief is pushed through Congress and made permanent, more will soon be following. Why not, instead of spending these extra funds on trivial purchases and complaining about jobs, try saving or spending that extra cash on a few night classes or some other experiences that will expand your individual job outlook.

Instead of putting the blame elsewhere and complaining about your situation, take the initiative and make yourself fit what the company demands in their employees. If your tax break wasn't enough to make take these actions, look into other means of furthering yourself. From my own experience, there are literally hundreds of different government programs, regional and local scholarships that will help in funding advanced education.

The main problem is that Americans are prepared for jobs that are now non-existent. To cure our current job "crisis", we must prepare for jobs that currently exist and do not yet exist. Job woes are not a problem solved by government, although it can be a tool to aid in the process. This problem is one best solved by the American people-through time-tested traits of will power and individual initiative.

This is our only long-term solution.

Andy Obermann is a 22-year-old senior at a small private college in Central Missouri. He is majoring in both History and Secondary Education at Missouri Valley College.

© 2004 Free Republic Network, Inc. All rights reserved.

[oceanview]

Andy is clueless. In the US today, people with engineering degrees are "retraining" to work at Lowes. I notice Andy is majoring in education, I guess he plans to take a job in a non-productive sector of the economy - on the government payroll as a teacher. Where does he think the tax base that pays his salary will come from?

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[codyjacksmom]

Just two simple words: Personal Responsibility.

[uncitizen]

To create all of these new jobs, Kerry plans to raise tax rates ...-to redistribute wealth through a series of public works programs. This New Deal type legislation will provide low paying, menial labor jobs, in the way of public works programs, to the masses by taking money out of the hands of employers and putting it into the pockets of government.

So Kerry's gonna grow the government even bigger?

[upcountryhorseman]

This isn't new: sounds just like FDR and the WPA of the 1930's.

[Willie Green]

Instead of blaming the president for the job situation, why not focus on yourself, adjusting your qualifications to meet those of the employer you for which you seek to work?

Because current the federal regulatory environment oppressively places the economic efforts of our own citizenry at a competitive disadvantage.

..it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on. If for the encouragement of industry we allow it to be appropriated, we must take care that other employment be provided to those excluded from the appropriation. If we do not, the fundamental right to labor the earth returns to the unemployed. It is too soon yet in our country to say that every man who cannot find employment, but who can find uncultivated land, shall be at liberty to cultivate it, paying a moderate rent. But it is not too soon to provide by every possible means that as few as possible shall be without a little portion of land. The small landholders are the most precious part of a state.

-- Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, Oct. 28, 1785 -- PROPERTY AND NATURAL RIGHT

[Sweet Land]

In the US today, people with engineering degrees are "retraining" to work at Lowes.

So what's the answer? More government?

[oceanview]

government caused it, they sold us down the river on these free trade agreements. globalism is killing the american private sector middle class. we need to step back, scrap these free trade agreements that allow open access to our markets and exports of our jobs, while we face protectionism in foreign countries. scrap them all, start over.

It amazing that on FR, most people despise the UN and the "new world order", yet embrace the WTO and free trade with almost religious fervor. The UN and the WTO are both parts of the same beast. People here love the WTO because they cannot resist the lure of a $9 toaster or a $5 shirt, they ignore the underlying hollowing out of the private sector economy, manufacturing and technology, that is going on.

[oceanview]

This fellow was on Lou Dobbs last night, making some good points from his book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0809085313/ref=sib_rdr_dp/002-5796558-8926415?%5Fencoding=UTF8&no=283155&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&st=books

[A. Pole]

These demanded qualifications from employers can be met through education, experience, or a variety of other methods.

More education? In what fields? Who will pay for it? What experience, in flipping burgers? Variety of other methods?