Left in the dark
Tom Ault
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
I read with interest the Bloomberg News editorial written by Noah Smith entitled, “A federal job guarantee for everyone? Be skeptical.” I expected to find a controversial documentary on the skepticism regarding that suggestion apparently made by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. However, the article left me in the dark on skepticism.
Now, let’s consider this job guarantee subject. Assuming that everyone can now be employed, which in itself is certainly another discussion in itself, what will all of these people do? Is the government going to take over all business so it can afford to put every person on a payroll while those that built those businesses through their sweat and blood, could be forced to accept whatever pittance the government would like to offer them after taking over their companies?
Nowhere in the article did it tell us where all of this money was going to come from to pay these people, what would be done for those that just didn’t want to work, or many more questions that many reading the article would like answered. Universal Basic Income is a farce apparently dreamt up by some folks who have never been in the work force and live in some dream world of non-reality.
I had an acquaintance several years ago who said he hurt his back in his job. (He was a heavy equipment operator.) Due to in the injury it was decided he could no longer operate that heavy equipment. Less than six months later, while collecting disability, he was offered a supervisor’s job for which he was qualified but turned it down because he didn’t like management responsibility. How would this person fit into the government’s guarantee program?
A “job guarantee” will not reduce poverty or equality since those that don’t want to work will always be there, and those that spend their money on things they don’t need will still be spending their money, no matter where it comes from. Many job training programs are similar to training a dog to pull a sled but not how to hunt, and then turning it loose in the wilderness when sled pulling season is over.
The time has come for these people trying to get elected by telling everyone they will get something for free should be exposed as the “King Midas” thinkers they are. A “job guarantee” is not a good thing!