Read Robert Zubrin’s piece about how the EPA has blocked growth of the economy.
http://tinyurl.com/8ftdd56

Obama and all his minions either believe that radical environmentalism is good or recognize that it provides the perfect vehicle for pushing big government and central planning. Either way, it has been and continues to be disastrous for economic growth in this country.

Many times I have pointed out that every modern economy floats on a sea of energy. There is nothing that is not affected by the use of energy. Want food – it takes energy to produce it and get it to market. Shelter, heat, lights, computers, cell phones, transportation, and on and on – all depend on energy. Every time energy prices go up it is a tax on the entire economy. The transfer of trillion$ of dollars from our economy to OPEC is one of the scandals of our times. Read what Zubrin has to say about that. Letting the world become dependent on Middle Eastern oil has been one of the strategic blunders of modern times. It has provided the Islamic countries with far more power than they could ever gain through their own efforts. In fact, the Middle Eastern mess we’re in is directly related to it.

I grew up in a town with a CCC camp on the outskirts. Most of the workers were young toughs off the streets of Denver, Kansas City, Omaha, Chicago and other places. The camp was run in a tough and disciplined fashion by the Army. Most of the workers gained a respect for themselves and for hard work in the camps. Many were the core of Army recruits when WWII began. Those who were in the camp near Estes Park left Rocky Mountain National park with a legacy of back country trails and bridges that are still there today. Yes, it was a make-work project, but it provided useful, lasting infrastructure. Today something of a similar nature might be part of the solution to inner city gangs and poverty. It would have nothing to do with getting the economy going except in a peripheral way. (Getting unemployed/unemployable youth off of welfare/crime/drugs and into useful work. Teaching the value and self respect that come with hard physical work.)

“Not many people would do those WPA manual labor jobs today. Certainly no youth would join the CCC. In fact, I read that plenty of manual labor jobs are going vacant. Many of those that are not vacant, are performed by immigrants; illegal or otherwise.”

Most of today’s unemployed young ‘men’ would not be willing to get dirt under their fingernails or break a sweat. Granted a 2nd term, BHO will turn them into highly paid goon squads canvasing the countryside looking for the un-PC.

I read an UCLA study that showed FDR prolonged the Depression by 7 years. He did that primarly via the minimum wage, he overpriced labor.

WW2 ended the Depression by taking FDR’s focus from the economy, in my view. I.e., it wasn’t government spending that fixed things, but the fact that the government was focused on war (something it understands) and not the economy (something it doesn’t understand, particularly the likes of FDR).

My older cousins were put to work by FDR. They were in the CCC; a program for the youth. They lived in military style barracks, wore semi-military uniforms. They were fed, housed and sent a few cents/month home. Is that what folks want for their kids now? Obama can do that–and probably will if he gets another term.

Not many people would do those WPA manual labor jobs today. Certainly no youth would join the CCC. In fact, I read that plenty of manual labor jobs are going vacant. Many of those that are not vacant, are performed by immigrants; illegal or otherwise. (I recently moved to SoCal. Nearly, every middle-class home has its yard guys. The yard trucks, some of them junk, but many surprisingly upscale, swarm through the neighborhoods. Every yard guy is a Mexican. Maybe Salvadoran.)

It is reported that also going vacant are many skilled labor jobs. People are simply not willing to serve the apprenticeships to learn the crafts needed in industry. Nor are many willing to relocate to where the jobs are. Not when 99 weeks of unemployment pay is available.

a)Get a bunch of people to push on the train, or

b)Take off the brakes