Bush's comments regarding employment training

www.whitehouse.gov ^ | 7/30/2003 | George W. Bush

[dirtboy]

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Staying with that theme, although there are some signs of improvement in the economy, there are sectors in the work force who feel like they're being left behind. They're concerned about jobs going overseas, that technology is taking over jobs. And these people are finding difficulty finding work. And although you're recommitted yourself to your tax cut policy, do you have any ideas or any plans within the administration of what you might do for these people who feel like there are fundamental changes happening in the work force and in the economy?

THE PRESIDENT: Sure. Listen, I fully understand what you're saying. In other words, as technology races through the economy, a lot of times worker skills don't keep up with technological change. And that's a significant issue that we've got to address in the country.

I think my idea of reemployment accounts makes a lot of sense. In essence, it says that you get $3,000 from the federal government to help you with training, day care, transportation, perhaps moving to another city. And if, within a period of time, you're able to find a job, you keep the balance as a reemployment bonus.

I know the community colleges provide a very important role in worker training, worker retraining. I look forward to working with our community colleges through the Department of Education, coordinate closely with states, particularly in those states in which technology is changing the nature of the job force.

I've always found the community college -- and this is from my days as the governor of Texas -- found the community college to be a very appropriate place for job training programs because they're more adaptable, their curriculums are easier to change, they're accessible. Community colleges are all over the place.

And -- but you're right. I mean, I think we need to make sure that people get the training necessary to keep up with the nature of the jobs, as jobs change.

[dirtboy]

This subject isn't going away...

[strela]

This subject isn't going away

Wanna bet?

[lelio]

Why was this pulled earlier? Its an answer by Bush in an interview.

[dirtboy]

Wanna bet?

Thought you'd left (not that I'm complaining that you're here). Folks can clamor for this issue to be removed from FR - but the truth is, when Bush says that training is what is need, when government policies supported by his administration are removing many jobs that people could possibly retrain for with $3,000 and a couple of course from the community college, it shows he is out of touch with this issue.

And this is not from a biased source - these are Bush's own words, straight from www.whitehouse.gov.

[dirtboy]

Why was this pulled earlier?

I don't know. I reposted it as the complete response by Bush to the reporter's question, straight from the White House website.

[lelio]

Folks can clamor for this issue to be removed from FR

Come on, you're being a meanie and raining on their parade of the GDP growing by 2.4% (1.4 of that being increased government spending, but never mind that).
Are there secret tribunal notes that we can see to find out who complained about this thread not being pro-Bush enough?

[strela]

Folks can clamor for this issue to be removed from FR - but the truth is, when Bush says that training is what is need, when government policies supported by his administration are removing many jobs that people could possibly retrain for with $3,000 and a couple of course from the community college, it shows he is out of touch with this issue.

You obviously missed my last post on that thread that got pulled. They're going to take away my Bushbot Medal for that one.

[dirtboy]

Come on, you're being a meanie and raining on their parade of the GDP growing by 2.4%

Well, we're not gonna have a GOP presidential primary this year, so this is the time for all folks to air their grievances about the Bush Administration so that it might be pulled back to the right the way a primary pulls GOP candidates rightward. If some folks wish to squelch dissent as the Bush Admin lurches leftwards, they'll have themselves to blame if the core abandons Bush in 2004.

I am not saying this because I want Bush to lose in 2004 or because I want to start a third party. I am saying it for the exact opposite reason, but somehow I'm a Bush-basher to some folks are so blinded by partisanship that they can't discern any more between liberals and the comments of principled conservatives.

[tkathy]

I love Bush, but here he sounds stunningly out of touch.

[dirtboy]

They're going to take away my Bushbot Medal for that one.

It never went with your neckline anyway. What was your comment?

[strela]

I'll advise you via Freepmail. No sense in getting this thread pulled as well.

[Jade12]

I know. Look at this story where Bush has assured India that he will not allow our states to impose any restrictions that could hinder the outsourcing of jobs to India. It's like Bush is doing for India what he is supposed to do for us. I am starting to get worried. The Bush administration provides assurances to India over outsourcing The Prez and his administration have already repeatedly told the India government that they will oppose all state-level attempts to block company's attempts to outsource jobs overseas. **HI Y'all!! I am long-term lurker...and finally wanted to post.

[livius]

He's doing the right thing. There's no possible way to keep outmoded industries functioning, so the thing to do is retrain people who worked in them.

As for offshore stuff, a lot of it is things we don't like doing. In any case, protectionism would ultimately not keep these jobs in this country, because our industries will not be competitive with foreign industries and they would fail.

Americans have to think outside of the box, something that the Dems, the unions, and even a lot of folks on FR seem to have trouble doing.

We have the freedom to do whatever we want - so let's go do it. Change careers, use all of your credit cards to start a business (it's been done), move to where the work is - but don't expect the government to preserve outmoded jobs, because it just ain't possible.

[dirtboy]

I can't access freepmail from here, so I'll just envision what your comments were. Good to see you, hope things are well.

[dfwgator]

At least in the technical world, what is training? I'll tell you what training is. Training is either going down the the local Barnes and Noble and buying technical books, or getting the information free from the Internet, or it is working on open source projects. All of these so-called technical institutes are the biggest scams going. Companies don't pay for training anymore, they don't have to. With the Internet, everything you need is just a Google search away.

[dirtboy]

**HI Y'all!! I am long-term lurker...and finally wanted to post.

So this subject pulled you out of the shadows. Welcome! I think it, along with illegal immigration, will make or break the power structure by 2008, if not sooner.

[jpl]

Welcome to Free Republic, and you're not the only one who's worried. This insanity is starting to give me nightmares about '92, and unlike his father I actually like this President Bush and desperately want to see him get re-elected. This isn't going to help.

[lelio]

There's no possible way to keep outmoded industries functioning, so the thing to do is retrain people who worked in them.

Retrain them ... to do what? As noted before any job that can be done behind a desk or on a computer is a candidate for offshoring. That leaves us plumbers, mechanics (whoops, Pep Boys is laying off), nurses (unless more H1bs are imported), and lawn care providers.

[strela]

Sorry, didn't realize you couldn't get to your Freepmail. Essentially, it was a sardonic reply to Mr. Bush's apparent invitation to consume frosted baked goods.

[dirtboy]

lawn care providers.

Illegals have taken that over, and a new poster who only hired legal workers got the boot and I never found out why.