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I believe that in light of recent events the President is going to announce a similar program to the WPA. I have noticed that the rhetoric out of the white house and Dems on the hill has switched squarely on job creation. There are two schools of thought for job creation. 1. Government doesn't create jobs but they can create an environment for the private sector to do so. 2. Government has a responsibility to create government jobs.
The second is about to happen in a big way (I think)
This will position President Obama as being a job "creator" and when the GOP refuses to support the initiative (and they will) it will serve as the perfect stump speech for the white house.
So, check out the Wikipedia link because you are likely to hear a lot about the successes and failures of the WPA in the next few months. I would be shocked if a huge jobs program isn't put forth in the next 2 weeks.
Who knows though, I could be wrong.
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thenewgreen · 4990 days ago · link ·
He will propose something like this and not just because it makes good sense. He will do it so that the GOP has no choice but to oppose a giant job creating bill. He will do it to be able to go into the election cycle saying he has a way to create millions of jobs and that we can finance it by taxing the wealthy and cutting tax loopholes for corporations. And as great as this all sounds, politically, it wont mean a thing for the President if he cannot sell it. So far, all he has proven to me is that he was great at selling himself to the public while campaigning. I have no idea where "that" Obama has gone though. He has been so terrible at communicating ideas to the electorate since he's been in office. Healthcare, Debt Ceiling... even the killing of Bin Laden wasn't capitalized upon enough. -I've been very shocked by his inability to communicate ideas and accomplishments.
All that being said, I agree that he will put forth something huge like the WPA soon.
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Maybe. However, I don't see that Obama can convey how taxes upon the top earners will directly go to this program. I think such a program would go down as big spending, big government. FDR got the WPA passed in 35' just after midterm elections gave him big majorities in the House and Senate. I don't know if this was part of the midterm campaign.
At any rate, this brought to mind something I was thinking on recently: Politically, progressives have the advantage of vision. They can paint a picture of a new and better day, and sell changes that are intended to get us there. On the contrary, conservatives cannot strongly sell vision, as they are more past-oriented. I think the Obama of the campaign trail was one of vision. In office he has proven to be a mediator. He has achieved some large goals, but under the auspices of compromise, not vision. IMHO, that's very becoming of a Senator, but not a President. I think he's in real political jeopardy.
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thenewgreen · 4990 days ago · link ·
As for the $ to fund a jobs bill, isn't there still unallocated stimulus $? As for your points regarding Obama the campaigner and Obama the President, I completely agree. I wouldn't be surprised if he had some major political tricks up his sleeve come election time though.
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monkeycrisp · 4984 days ago · link ·
I thought they had used those funds for all the construction I'm seeing everywhere.