Constructive gadfly
Published on January 10, 2012 By stevendedalus In Politics

Remember when Reaganomics turned the New Deal uoside down? Let's take on the poor economy by returning to respectable labor laws and restructuring a vibrant middle class.

It's not rocket science. The need for Public Works[hiring PRIVATE contracturs] is a foregone conclusion. Furthermore, we have to put an end to lionizing millions who work more than 40 hours a week in order that others can be hired. The Labor Department should enforce the law. There should also be a surtax on every damnable item made overseas in order to discourage perpetual outsourcing.


Comments
on Jan 11, 2012

Overly simplistic, steve.  Adding to the cost of things isn't going to help.  What law should the Labor Department be enforcing that it's not?  What are 'respectable' labor laws?

The trend toward 'outsourcing' is the result of a myriad of cumulative factors driving up the relative cost of labor (and doing business in general).  Adding a surtax can't help that.

on Jan 13, 2012

Daiwa
Overly simplistic

Maybe, but the prevailing criticicm of Obama is that he's not doing enough. Violations are in innumerable when it relates to not only low skilled jobs but fifty, sixty hours in skilled and white collar. Even it out and there are more jobs.

on Jan 13, 2012

Very overly simplistic.  Reagan did not reverse the new deal.  Nor did the new deal even do anything for the economy.  Reagan slowed its growth.  The New Deal inhibited the recovery from what was essentially a bad recession. It sucked up the capital and made it impossible for companies to grow thus condemning many to long unemployment.

Sound familiar?  It is what is happening today as well. On top of the government sucking up capital, it is also increasing costs dramatically with its regulations.  Companies are not hiring due to uncertainty and cost.  No porkulus is going to get the economy going.  Only a removal of the problem.  Obama must go.

on Jan 13, 2012

stevendedalus
Maybe, but the prevailing criticicm of Obama is that he's not doing enough. Violations are in innumerable when it relates to not only low skilled jobs but fifty, sixty hours in skilled and white collar. Even it out and there are more jobs.

Some criticism may be justifiable however don't believe everything you hear. One day the critics say he is not doing enough and the next they say he is doing too much. It 's election season to boot so criticism is often nothing more than fodder for the masses.  A lot of white collar and skilled labor jobs simply can't be broken up nor should the the federal government be given any power to control such a thing.White collar jobs are often management positions and task or goal based. Many of the other skilled jobs where people are working more than 40 hrs are being dictated by a lack of labor with those particular skills or that overtime it much easier to bear than the cost of benefits for additional employees.

I work contract jobs that at a minimum have required 80 hrs/week and max at over 100 hrs. per week for periods lasting as long as 6 months. There is no way to break up those jobs since the ultimate responsibility of the tasks were laid at my feet. Probably rather unique since they were management jobs that were very much hands on since the "skilled" labor I managed was rarely adequately skilled.