This page was last updated on February 4, 2010.
We must create private sector jobs; Philip S. Dedig; Beaver County Times; February 4, 2010.
Mr. Dedig supported the proposed federal gasoline tax holiday, Hillary Clinton for President, complained about “business as usual” (“Business as usual in D.C.,” 6/17/08) in Washington, DC, regarding energy, opposed offshore drilling, said Democrat voters deserve better candidates (“Local Democratic voters merit better,” 8/22/08), supported “bailing out Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae” (“Fed, Treasury had to move”, 9/30/08), told us we had “No choice but to help auto makers,” told us “College costs must be made affordable,” supported the $787 billion “stimulus” package, and told us “U.S. can afford health care for all.” If it’s a leftist position, Mr. Dedig supports it.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“During the last decade, the U.S. economy lost 5.6 million jobs, resulting in a 10 percent unemployment rate this year.”
[RWC] Mr. Dedig throws around a lot of figures. My experience tells me you need to verify them.
“All the job losses were in the last two years (2007-09), and all were in the private sector. The auto industry alone lost 170,600 jobs.
“The public employment sector - government jobs - didn’t lose any employees and remained steady at 22.5 million jobs. This was an increase of 1.7 million jobs from 2000.
“Government employment didn’t lose their jobs because the $787 billion stimulus package focused on government employment that was part of phase one, which included government jobs, tax cuts, unemployment compensation, food stamps and other social programs.”
[RWC] What “tax cuts?” I suspect Mr. Dedig is talking about the redoing of the income tax withholding tables. All this did was reduce how much was taken from your paycheck during the year. It did not reduce your tax liability for 2009. As a result, when you file your 2009 tax form, you will either receive a smaller refund or have to send a larger check than you would have otherwise.
“Phase two will concentrate on infrastructure jobs, green jobs and research.”
[RWC] Wasn’t the stimulus supposed to focus on so-called “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects? If so, why the delay to Mr. Dedig’s “phase two?” Mr. Dedig appears to be engaging in a bit of revisionist history to justify what happened. After all, I don’t recall anyone encouraging support of the stimulus bill to “focus on government employment.”
“Half of the stimulus money has been spent, and phase two should create jobs in the private sector.”
[RWC] According to a White House report, only about one-third was spent by the end of 2009. Does anyone want to bet the remainder will be spent during the lead-up to the 2010 mid-term elections?
“Health-care reform would have been a great opportunity to create jobs in the private sector. With 30 million uninsured people now having access to affordable health care, there would be increased demand for more doctors, nurses, technicians and employees in related fields.”
[RWC] I’m confused. Don’t supporters of a government-run healthcare monopoly tell us such a scheme will reduce the total healthcare bill paid by Americans? How could that be “With 30 million uninsured people now having access to affordable health care … [and] increased demand for more doctors, nurses, technicians and employees in related fields?” Please read my paper entitled “Healthcare.”
“If the U.S. economy doesn’t create jobs in the private sector, we are destined to become like some of the welfare governments of Western Europe that have stagnant economies and declining wealth.”
[RWC] Yet logic and history tell us all the policies Mr. Dedig supports will do exactly what he says he doesn’t want.
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