Economist are telling us that we are turning the corner on this recession. They say stocks – particularly bank stocks – are rebounding. Too bad the 15.1 million unemployed Americans aren’t feeling any relief.
The unemployment rate for September is well over 9-percent but should be higher. Over 570,000 people dropped out of the work force last month, probably because they gave up hope thinking they’d find a job. If they were still looking, they would have been counted as among the unemployed. The unemployment rate is the highest it has been in decades. Men, traditionally responsible for caring for their families are hit the hardest. Black men, who often have trouble finding sustainable work, even in good economic times, are struggling the most.
America needs to focus on creating jobs for its workers. The much-debated healthcare reform could create new jobs. With government funding, hospitals and clinics would need to hire additional medical support staff, creating a growing workforce. Pending energy legislation will also create new jobs. As companies, with the support of federal dollars, work to ‘green’ their operations and environments, American workers would have a new career opportunities available to them.
But more must be done. The government should mandate that companies who receive any federal funding should not be allowed to outsource jobs to other countries. Outsourcing has cost America hundreds of thousands of jobs over the last several years. Additionally, legislators should create a job program specifically geared to hiring and putting Americans into jobs.
These jobs should not be dependent on federal funding. Rather, the program should investigate new job creation strategies and work to implement them. Lastly, the funds distributed via the stimulus package, intended to repair the nation’s infrastructure, creating new jobs in the process, should be monitored more closely. Reports indicate funds are not being used as intended. Cities not using the funds as planned should be sanctioned.
The economy may indeed be improving. But it will be some time before the average American sees that change. People need jobs now. And American must work to create them.
Tags: Economy, Jobs, Unemployment
Iv’e been inflicted,affected and damn near destroyed,mentally,physically and you look for resources, and at the end of the day, you have to go through,some bogus training for 8 weeks for filling out a job application and what you need to wear , WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY THERE FOR! These people need some certification in Social Skills class 2009.
I am a high school teacher and coach. Recently I saw one of your programs where a 15 year old girl was suppose to be a gangster. You told her if she was not jacking money from people that she was not a gangster……. she was a wangster. Apparently at our school we have a lot of Wangsters. I like the phrase but where does the term wangster come from….. so I can inform these wanna be’s that they are wangsters….. not gangsters. Love your show and your logic. Thanks!
Mike Morgan
Head Baseball Coach
Pasadena Memorial High School
Pasadena, Texas 77504
Judge M.,
You’re Right On about the economics of optimism versus actual jobs. More than ever, I believe that individuals must look to empower themselves versus depending on corporations to provide jobs. No matter what, we can only depend on our Higher Power and ourselves. – Andre V. Milteer, M.A.
While I agree that the job situation is dire I must say (and please don’t think I am racist for this) that black men are not the hardest ones hit by this recession. I know here in Texas theose who are having the most difficult times are ex cons. Granted black men can be included, but you also have to include those of every race. Sadly, once your debt to society has been paid on paper, it seems that society refuses to accept payment. With the unemployment rate going higher, we are going lower on the list. Add to that the restrictions on jobs we are allowed to do, govenment regulations requiring that we get things like the T.W.I.C card and the increasing number of new people being added to the unemployment line, we are quickly falling through the cracks. I wonder at how we can be upstanding citizens when we can’t seem to find a way to survive. Race aside, everyone is getting hit hard, some of us more than others. It seems unfair to single out any 1 race and say they get the worst without looking at those who are falling through the cracks. We’re all in this together, and unless we all work together, no one will see an end to it.
What about jobs for ex felons? When are you going to blog on that issue Judge Mathis? I don’t think that it service the conversation of recidivism justice to NOT have a MEANINGFUL conversation about what’s wrong with the prison system in this country and why “the system” NOT working. I think that it’s ignorant of taxpayers across America to NOT demand this information from law and policymakers. Taxpayers fund the dysfunction and breakdown of “the system.”
Everybody has a reality TV show about all kinds of issues up under the sun. Buying homes, drug addiction, “bad girls” gone wild, dating, spouse swapping etc. The only one who came close to touching on a reality TV show that specifically address the plight of ex felons was a felon himself, and that was the rapper TI in “The Road to Redemption.” Evidently he did not feel “The Road to Redemption” was a cause and topic of conversation worth advocating any more subsequent to his release from prison even though he himself is still traveling that same road! Duh????
As an ex felon in law school now, I would LOVE to sit in on any conversation related to parolees and ex felons and the barriers that they face. Further, I am not in law school because I expect to make TONS of money advocating the rights of my clients. I choose law because this is my own personal way of challenging the system to see ex felons in a different light. When I come before the bar for moral determination, I would NOT be overly dissappointment if the were to deny me a license to practice law. Moreso, I am interested to see if they will deny me a license and under what basis, because it surely can’t be “non qualification.” They will want to talk about all the things I did seven and ten years ago, even though its OBVIOUS that I have elected to do more things with myself than break the law; and that’s what is revelant in my opinion.
Society demands INTEREST on a debt that has already been paid even though interest was NOT apart of the original plea agreement. And I’m sho bout it, because I was one of the ones that KNOWINGLY and INTELLIGENTLY waived my rights, so I can appreciate the COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES of my plea. So my question to you is “When are you going to champion the cause of adult parolees and ex felons who have stayed out of trouble?” WE NEED A HERO!
And what I meant was “I don’t think it serves the conversation…..” Sorry.