Shovel Ready Jobs are stupid

When I hear the term, shovel ready job, I blow a gasket.  Working for the sake of work is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.  Well maybe not the dumbest, but it's up there at the top.  If people are going to invest time and money into something, they should take the time to find something worth working on.  I know shovel ready jobs is a term associated with the national government, but it applies to Texas just as much if we call it government investment in jobs.

There are several things that need to be considered when we talk about the government investing its capital into jobs.  These considerations are job creation, area to direct funds, and most long term impact on society by those investments.

We live in a mostly capitalist society.  Because of this, each person having an opportunity to work is essential for them to be able to provide for themselves and their families.  That is why the number of unemployed people in the country is such an important indicator of how healthy the country's economy is.  Because this is so important, the government gets a little panicky when unemployment rates go up.  Legislators try everything they can to get people back to work.  This normally means throwing money at the problem.  In this last round of stimulus spending, the government put a great deal of their effort into repairing highway infrastructure and building new highways.  To me, this is a waste of money.  Why throw money at technology from the 1950's when there are better investments to be had.  I have a few ideas on better places to spend stimulus money and put people back to work.

In World War II, the allied forces realized they could not fight the entire global war at once.  They took on a strategy of taking beaches in Europe or island hopping in the Pacific.  By taking on the larger problem of the axis forces one piece at a time and solidifying their victories with reinforcements, the allies were eventually able to win the war.  For the state of Texas, the place for biggest impact in the state is the Rio Grande Valley.  This area has the highest crime, lowest education level and most people living in poverty.  There are many contributing factors but we could focus on a few and make a serious impact on the standard of living for those most in need. 

First of all, we have to stop illegal immigration into that section of the state.  Illegal immigrants poring over the border in an uncontrolled fashion is taxing that society beyond is ability to cope.  Using another metaphor, if you are in a boat that is sinking in the middle of an ocean filled with drowning people, the first reaction of any compassionate person would be to start hauling people into the boat.  But if those people only compound the problem, you will all parish.  However, if you first fix the boat, then begin pulling people into the boat and getting them healthy enough to help pull more people in, you will benefit the most people.  The same holds true for immigration, before we can help people that want to come to America for opportunity, we have to solidify the area in which they will find themselves when they first come to America.  If we as a nation and state can hold off immigration to a controlled level, we can fix the Valley.

As illegal immigration comes under control, the problems of poverty, crime and education need to be addressed.  The first thing to do is making higher education palatable to the people of the valley and giving them a place to work after they receive their education.  The question to ask is, which services are most needed in the valley?  Health care is a big problem for the indigent in the valley.  Providing education in health care in schools located in the valley would provide an immediate healthcare workforce for an immediate need that has a long term benefit to society. 

So, here is my plan for spending stimulus money.  Step one; build new learning institutes in the valley.  Going away to school is a daunting idea for many people in the valley, by putting the schools in that area, that problem is overcome.  This also puts construction crews to work immediately.  Step two; give full scholarships with future requirements to anyone who is willing to attend.  Scholarships should include a standard of living allowance depending on the level of support needed.  Many of the brightest people in the valley are providers for a larger family.  They cannot afford to go to school and not earn an income if their family is depending on them to provide an income.  A short term investment in supporting their families while they are educated raises the standards for the best and brightest in the community.  Step three, build health care facilities. Building the facilities puts construction workers back to work, gives the community a place to go for services and provides the newly educated a place in their area to work and apply what they have learned.  Step four; call in your favors for the education provided.  This is where the future requirements I mentioned above comes into play.  People receiving their new degrees courtesy of the government will have an option of paying back what they have borrowed either with cash from their new jobs, enabling the next set of students to come into the pool, or by serving for a set amount of time in the newly built health care facilities in their home area.  This combination of investments should lead to higher education levels, better health care and less poverty in the area.

The real hope of these investments is to change the culture of the area.  By building success stories in the community, the government will be able to change people's long term thinking.  Nothing works as well as a real life example with someone you know to motivate people to change their ways.  Not only does this approach put people to work and provide better healthcare for the neediest Texans, it also provides hope for a different kind of future.

This is just an example of how I think the government should change its spending habits when it comes to stimulus.  I know politicians are trying to get elected by a fickle electorate.  But, if they focus on doing the right thing and spending the people's money with the greatest long term affect in mind, my hope is that eventually the Texas voters will catch on and start backing these types of programs.  Unfortunately, this would take a significant number of brave politicians which are in short supply in Austin lately.