cawacko
Well-known member
Now this is from the San Diego Union Tribune editorial board so take that for what it is worth. But it is pretty funny (or sad) how when called out to show evidence of these "jobs" created he then switches his rhetoric to jobs saved and how although promised in the private sector they are mostly government jobs. Way to go Arnold.
150,000 jobs created? Uh, no / Trek through stimulus maze shows governor’s claim was wrong
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s assertion on Feb. 21 that the $787 billion federal stimulus bill had created 150,000 jobs in California prompted these straightforward inquiries to his aides:
Could you send a list of the jobs created?
Could you break down how many were in the public sector and how many were in the private sector? (President Barack Obama had promised that 90 percent of the jobs created by the stimulus bill would be in the private sector.)
The immediate answer to both questions was OK, but it will take a few days. A few days later, two Excel spreadsheet files were provided that appeared to show Schwarzenegger was correct.
In the meantime, however, the governor changed his language, saying the stimulus had “saved” or created 150,000 jobs – a huge distinction.
We still don’t have an estimate from the governor’s office on the public sector vs. private sector breakdown, but the information we were provided indicates the jobs are overwhelmingly in the former category. This information as well as a further look at the official recovery.gov Web site further suggests the overwhelming number of California jobs affected by the stimulus were “saved” public-sector positions.
So much for the governor’s initial claim. So much for the president’s promise.
Meanwhile, our visit to recovery.gov only added to this editorial page’s skepticism about the stimulus and the wisdom of its design. For example, a check of National City’s ZIP code reveals the Bay Vista College of Beauty got 67 federal stimulus grants totaling more than $300,000. But 25 of the grants were for $0 or for a negative sum – in stimulus speak, “deobligated” sums returned to the government. It appears access to stimulus funding is so unfettered that it is the equivalent of a checking account, with regular deposits and withdrawals.
Then there is the further peculiarity that in every corner of California, hundreds of grants are going to beauty, cosmetology and barber schools – apparently because they have figured out how to qualify for stimulus funding more quickly than other types of trade schools.
This is not a quirk or minor point. It gets to the central folly of using massive government spending as the primary means of reviving an economy – the inescapable inefficiency of throwing money at a problem.
In the private sector, jobs are created based on market forces, supply and demand, the public’s appetite for particular products and services. Under the stimulus program, jobs are often created based on how well trade schools can figure out the rules that turn the U.S. Treasury into their personal piggy banks. And this costly scheme is entirely paid for with borrowed money.
How Obama, Schwarzenegger or anyone with a conscience could tout the glories of this approach is hard to fathom. But at least the massive looming surplus of hair stylists in California will keep the cost of haircuts in check.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/03/150000-jobs-created-uh-no/
150,000 jobs created? Uh, no / Trek through stimulus maze shows governor’s claim was wrong
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s assertion on Feb. 21 that the $787 billion federal stimulus bill had created 150,000 jobs in California prompted these straightforward inquiries to his aides:
Could you send a list of the jobs created?
Could you break down how many were in the public sector and how many were in the private sector? (President Barack Obama had promised that 90 percent of the jobs created by the stimulus bill would be in the private sector.)
The immediate answer to both questions was OK, but it will take a few days. A few days later, two Excel spreadsheet files were provided that appeared to show Schwarzenegger was correct.
In the meantime, however, the governor changed his language, saying the stimulus had “saved” or created 150,000 jobs – a huge distinction.
We still don’t have an estimate from the governor’s office on the public sector vs. private sector breakdown, but the information we were provided indicates the jobs are overwhelmingly in the former category. This information as well as a further look at the official recovery.gov Web site further suggests the overwhelming number of California jobs affected by the stimulus were “saved” public-sector positions.
So much for the governor’s initial claim. So much for the president’s promise.
Meanwhile, our visit to recovery.gov only added to this editorial page’s skepticism about the stimulus and the wisdom of its design. For example, a check of National City’s ZIP code reveals the Bay Vista College of Beauty got 67 federal stimulus grants totaling more than $300,000. But 25 of the grants were for $0 or for a negative sum – in stimulus speak, “deobligated” sums returned to the government. It appears access to stimulus funding is so unfettered that it is the equivalent of a checking account, with regular deposits and withdrawals.
Then there is the further peculiarity that in every corner of California, hundreds of grants are going to beauty, cosmetology and barber schools – apparently because they have figured out how to qualify for stimulus funding more quickly than other types of trade schools.
This is not a quirk or minor point. It gets to the central folly of using massive government spending as the primary means of reviving an economy – the inescapable inefficiency of throwing money at a problem.
In the private sector, jobs are created based on market forces, supply and demand, the public’s appetite for particular products and services. Under the stimulus program, jobs are often created based on how well trade schools can figure out the rules that turn the U.S. Treasury into their personal piggy banks. And this costly scheme is entirely paid for with borrowed money.
How Obama, Schwarzenegger or anyone with a conscience could tout the glories of this approach is hard to fathom. But at least the massive looming surplus of hair stylists in California will keep the cost of haircuts in check.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/03/150000-jobs-created-uh-no/
