At least one thing results from CaveGate: The Wealthy HAVE to (cringe) create JOBS now.

[HughBeaumont]

A Democratic president (called him “Democratic”, mind you) is about to give you rich guys what you want. As usual. Only this time, there will be absolutely no more excuses or . . . what’s that word they like to use . . . “uncertainty”.

Money where your mouths are, scions of business; if your precious “Trickle Down” economics works like you keep attesting, then do something you idiots haven’t done successfully in 10 years now – PROVE IT.

Get to stepping. You mofos better whip up some damned jobs and whip them up FAST. You and the Greed Oily Predator party are on the clock once this crap sandwich gets extended. And guess what else – if job creation is the least bit miniscule (as in less than 130-150 thousand jobs per month on average to accommodate incoming-outgoing workers), as it has been for the past decade, you WILL be called on it.

Yeah. But . . . see . . . there’s just one eeensy-weeensy little problem with that.

Actually, there are several eeensy-weeensy little problems with that . . .

OK, you got your damned tax cuts. Tell me, how are jobs going to be “created” when there’s no DEMAND?

First, let’s talk about currently employed Americans. Judging by the pitiful overall savings rate, and the fact that many people have not received raises in going on three years now, your average working poor/working class/middle class citizen doesn’t really HAVE disposable income to buy anything other than necessities. They’re still trying to dig their way out of the Bewsh II/Wall Slots debacle, which (if they’re still lucky enough to be employed) likely took five to ten years of financial progress off their lives. They’re having trouble enough catching up to bills, utilities, mortgages, rent, gas, etc. Let’s not even count unforeseen incidents that set them back even further that they’ll have to cope with sans pay raise to deal with it all. And you wealthmongers think they’re gonna be headed out to Best Buy to same-as-cash them some TVs or Camcorders when all is said and settled? Actually, explain how the American worker is helped by buying products that haven’t been made HERE in a decade or two.

Now, lets move on to the several dozen million un/underemployed Americans – for those who haven’t been put out on the streets or into their cars by now, every single cent of income from UI (if they get it) goes towards survival. These people cannot even begin to think about things like “retraining” (which costs time and lots of money), “pulling oneself up by their bootstraps” (kind of hard to do when you ain’t got boots) or consumer debt of any kind. We’re an hour beyond “necessity” here – it’s now about eating and keeping roofs over heads. This used to be your working class. This used to be the engine that drove your economy and businesses to sustainability, and frankly, I’m not really seeing how cutting them off your agenda HELPS you. Are you Bentley-Jockeys gonna hire THEM back anytime soon? Let’s not pretend your oh-so-vaunted tax cuts are going to put significant disposable income in these people’s wallets just because it puts six figures more in yours.

Also – How are jobs going to be “created” when Corpmerica is still practicing ageism?

How are jobs going to be “created” when Corpmerica apparently only wants to hire those who are still employed?

How are jobs going to be “created” when Corpmerica is doing just fine stretching the existing workers for every ounce of soul they got, all in the quest for “greater productivity”?

Here’s another nightmare that’s really been keeping me up at night – What exactly are all of us going to DO for a living five, ten, or twenty years down the road? Anybody got any idea? The way that technology and the business practices that run it are going seems to be leading to multiple millions more being OUT of work rather than MORE work being created for humans to do. This looks about the same with industrial technology, medicine, pharmacology, journalism, entertainment, media and retail and about a hundred more facets of working life that are either going to fall victim to offshore/inshore outsourcing or automation. There’s a study that recently measured around 14-15 million jobs potentially falling victim to offshore outsourcing in 5-10 years and millions more to automation.

I’m not seeing any whiz-bang “killer apps” or “next-big-things” coming on the horizon to get us out of this mess. I’m not seeing any major investments or strides made in alternative energy sources, something we urgently need to get going on. Without any replacement industries for obsolete ones, all you’re getting is rehashes of old technology or stopped progress. I’m not seeing how any strides can be made in energy or infrastructure repair/upgrading/modernization with no tax monies.

To put it simply, make-work low-wage jobs aren’t going to solve your problem. Holding back significant raises on your current workers is definitely not going to solve the problem. Supply was never the problem – DEMAND is the problem. Always has been. No raise in wage, no demand. Too much necessity spending, which leads to no disposable income means no demand. Layoffs – no demand. Unforseen financial hardship – no demand. See how this works?

Pretending that tax cuts are some engine to prosperity is straight-up landfill garbage. More worker democracy and prosperity is the only way this is going to be solved.

Unless you rich guys and the GOP prove me and all of us wrong, that is.

But hey, good luck with that. Just ignore the laundry list of problems I just laid out for you, much of which was caused, in large part, by unbridled capitalism and the quest for profit at the price of your worker’s prosperity. Getting around those things shouldn’t be a problem, should it? I mean, seeing as how you GOP experts at finance and business seem to be so much smarter than common-sense progressive-ol' me, after all. What am I thinking; you guys have such an enormously successful and exemplary 30-year track record so far. That ol’ economic machine should be humming along ANY second now, or do you need another 10 years?

Still “uncertain”? Doesn’t matter. You’re on the clock. Startiiiiiiiiiiiing . . . NOW.

[spanone]

1. no they don't. that bullshit will be forgotten before the sun goes down

and republicans don't have to pay for the tax cuts either

[rfranklin]

4. You are absolutely correct...

Any lack of increase in jobs will be blamed on the Democrats and there will be a call for additional spending cuts and to privatize social security while raising the contributions of workers.

[HughBeaumont]

6. I'm being facetious, of course.

You and I and millions more KNOW they ain't a-gonna do shit with that cash except SIT on it.

The problem is, how is the media going to successfully be able to spin a 2012 case for Repubs if we give them what they want and they still don't do shit with it?

"WE STILL NEED MORE"!!!

Yeah, they need more guillotines.

[Crazy Dave]

9. They won't be blaming republicans and they shouldn't really

We STILL have the majority in both houses that could do something to stop this but they won't. That's who is going to be blamed. You see even the ones who lost in the mid-terms are rich and about to get even richer once they get out of office and go work for a lobbyist.

Democrats who decide to either leave the party or opt out in 2012 will do so because the majority was to weak and scared to do anything for them.

[glitch]

33. They'll only sit on it until there is another bubble to speculate on.

Creating more havoc in the global economy.

[HughBeaumont]

34. Kick that can and keep on kicking it.

You'd figure they'd get a head start from the inevitable angry mobs of people with nothing to lose by now.

[donco6]

38. Ok, now definitely going back to K&R

Good post - especially the guillotine part. (Now I'm being facetious). Sorta.

[potpolpilot]

Now the Repubs will BLAME Obama for tax cuts INSTEAD of jobs!

Then Obama will apologize for not 'reaching out to the repubs'. Then he will bend over and decline the KY.

[ladjf]

15. Thanks, you have just posted what I was going to post. nt

[Poboy]

39. 100% correct. Obama gave them the Queen.

He didn't even demand that they pay for the tax cuts.

F_A_I_L_U_R_E!

[Enrique]

2. nope, because the GOP demanded PERMANENT tax cuts

there's still "uncertainty".

I guarantee you, the GOP will still scream about Obama's Marxism, how he is waging class warfare, how he still hates America, etc.

[Yavin4]

21. EXACTLY!!!

Once they're made permanent, then it will be, "well they have to be 28%".

[Enrique]

3. nope, because the GOP demanded PERMANENT tax cuts

there's still "uncertainty".

I guarantee you, the GOP will still scream about Obama's Marxism, how he is waging class warfare, how he still hates America, etc.

[hobbit709]

5. I got a bridge for you.

I'll even throw in a couple of monuments.

[HughBeaumont]

10. They're on the clock.

Tick tock, tick tock.

Money where their mouths are.

Of course, part of the new "Cave-o-Rama" Party means never calling the GOP on past, present or future fails. And we all know they won't be creating shit except more massive debt and little to show for it except their new mansions and yachts. One last heist before they leave the building.

Yes, Virginia, it IS a Plutocracy.

[toddwv]

32. What clock?

It's been 7 years since the Bush Tax Cuts. Private sector job growth plummeted.

Yet we're still supposed to believe, according to the right, that cutting taxes creates jobs.

Unfortunately, I don't think another year or couple of years is going to even make a dent in the right-wing media's favorite unsubstantiated myth.

[HughBeaumont]

44. Why, the Fantasy-Land clock, of course.

It's where logic and time go to die, and you can tax cut, conduct wars, create jobs, balance budgets and solve world hunger all at the same TIME!

[Crazy Dave]

7. You nailed it! Excellent points brought up but...

Like you refereed to, all anyone cares about anymore is their iphones and their Facebook account while everything around them is falling apart.

[Kievan Rus]

45. Bread and circuses, just like in late Roman times

[Stargazer99]

8. this dude gets it!

too bad the majority of Americans cannot see what is in front of their noses. No wonder the "better than somes" want to stife public education. The peasants might start to think for themselves and start trouble for the "better than others".

[Javaman]

11. the rich don't have to do a damn thing...

they answer to no one, they do what they please and at the end of the day, they still make money, jobs or no jobs.

[HughBeaumont]

13. And they won't.

I fear they've long since dug the hole they're going to bury themselves and the rest of us in, all because it has to be all about THEM. ALWAYS and FOREVER.

I still hold out hope for the premise that there's nothing more dangerous than the person with nothing left to lose. I still want to believe that one day the privileged class will be running for their lives.

[Javaman]

31. I always hope for that.

One day they will run for their lives, but until that point, it will be some scary times.

[newportdadde]

12. "What exactly are all of us going to DO for a living five, ten, or twenty years down the road?"

Thats the killer question isn't it. I'm in IT and I see it every day. It is all about offshore and onshore. The idea of taking a young college person, mentoring them in development and more importantly in the business process doesn't exist anymore.

The cycle will continue, eventually it will come to the business side and not just IT and when it does it will be a bloodbath. Trust me if onshore/offshore can do IT work they can certainly do basic accounting/financial/marketing work.

[HughBeaumont]

27. This article got me thinking on that one . . .

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/111385/disappearing-jobs-high-paying-careers-with-no-future

Granted, it's Yahoo Finance, but looking at that list, I'm thinking "These were once part and parcel a wide range of working-to-upper-middle spectrum jobs. If they go, what's going to happen to this economy?"

There is seemingly nothing on the near horizon to immediately replace all of these obsolete jobs when there should have been, starting about 10-20 years ago. America really doesn't have time to wait for the "Next Big Thing". There is only NOW and these bills in front of them.

[area51]

14. Excellent op-ed.

:thumbsup:

[theaocp]

16. Wasn't it Henry Ford

who paid a good wage to his workers so he'd have someone to BUY his contraptions? Anyway, the obvious way forward is cutting income taxes on those who make $250k+ a year so they'll create universal employment! What's with all the crickets?

[OHdem10]

17. They have had the benefit of these taxcuts for over 10 years. and

they created jobs---in Tehran, China, Asia, India and
some in South America. It is these very same people
Multinationals, who sent American jobs from this country
to the previously listed countries.(Leaving the Middle
Class in this country decimated).

They are in the process of getting their wishes, Trade
Treaties with S.Korea, Columbia and, my memory fails,
Where do you think the new jobs will be created. Just
asking?

[Subdivisions]

18. Why in the holy fuck is this post getting un-recs!? You fucking...arghhh! n/t

[HughBeaumont]

23. Maybe people are reading the title sight unseen?

I find it difficult to believe that they actually WANT to create jobs. They didn't even when there was a Republican-controlled Washington. A low-paid, unemployed, desperate and starving worker is an obedient worker.

[Subdivisions]

26. Many times, Hugh, I don't agree with you. Sometimes you literally piss me off.

But, man, I got to give you highest props on this one. You bullseyed every point.

I've printed it. Saved it to faves. I only wish I could claim it as my own and send it to my local newspaper, though them red-assed fuckwits would probably wad it up and throw it in the trash can.

[HughBeaumont]

42. Er . . . dare I ask why the non-agreeance and the piss-offedness?

[ehrnst]

19. No, they won't. They'll pocket it and blame "Obama's Recession." (nt)

[CTyankee]

20. They didn't do it last time they got the tax cuts and look what happened.

They know they'll get away with it because they always have.

[TwilightGardener]

22. No they don't--if unemployment goes down, Obama might get re-elected.

The GOP isn't going to let that happen.

[HughBeaumont]

30. On the other hand, it will be kind of hard for them . . .

. . . if they don't create jobs with their "seed wealth", that is . . . to spin a case for Palin/Gingrich 2012 if they screw the American people on jobs yet again.

How would that work?

"Er . . . sorry about the economy and screwing you on the jobs and all, even though we got our tax cuts . . . but Democrats are still godless, gay-loving commies. Vote for us. Or . . . something."

Of course, when you control the message (as the Corpro/GOPig party does) and you have an audience of drooling ass-scratchers that share the same brain, you can spin baby eating into a sound nutritional plan if you wanted to.

[PufPuf23]

24. Tax cuts to the wealthy will be stockpiled to feed on the detritus

of ruined lives and enhance the transfer and increased disparity of wealth and income.

Tax cuts to the wealthy do not create jobs.

[closeupready]

25. This is nice, but without any enforcement mechanism, they aren't going to do jack squat.

That isn't in their best interests. And if that means they take the tax cuts and run, that's what they'll do.

But K&R anyway.

[rucky]

36. ...or even with one. n/t

[pitohui]

28. they don't and won't have to do anything

the truly wealthy do not create jobs, they buy business, consolidate, and destroy jobs, and we've known this since the 1980s when reagan got the merger era booming

people who still think the wealthy create jobs are so ignorant of how the world works that their opinions do not need to be seriously considered except as humor

the wealthy do as they please, w/out concern for our feelings, that's sort of what being wealthy means

they don't help or support us, we support THEM

[shanti]

29. but, wait

they ARE creating jobs....just not here in the U.S.! :(

[rucky]

35. You're supposed to exchange both suitcases at the same time!

[kestrel91316]

37. They won't. And the media and RW will blame Obama for the lack of jobs.

And the general public will buy it hook, line, and sinker.

[HughBeaumont]

40. But . . . we will have given them what they wanted.

I can see if we didn't give them their cuts and they go and pull some petulant hold-their-breath-and-the-jobs tantrum until they got their stolen loot. What excuse would they have?

At some point, I'm wondering when America is going to stop buying their excuses and constantly-tossed shiny objects and put 2 & 2 together.

[sad sally]

41. yeah, and Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy will be visiting you real soon.

There will be no requirements for the wealthy to do anything but buy another island, staff it with people they pay little to nothing and send their children to "good" schools. The rich are laughing all the way to the bank.

We've just been screwed again!

[wiggs]

43. Certainly there will be some jobs created in the lobbying and PAC industry. nt

[704wipes]

46. I looked at jobs on Indeed.com for my zip code this eve

Not a lot of inspiration out there. I think it looks worse that 4 months ago.

[Bragi]

47. Or what? We all go home and blame ourselves? /nt