Viewpoint: Bonding bill will add jobs, improve infrastructure

TBA b.
03/15/2010 12:39 PM

Mark D. I do not disagree that the republican party failed big time. They left their values and principals at the door under Bush. Shame on them. However, you mention that red states are faring poorly under republican leadership and I would challenge you to show me cities/states that have been under democratic leadership/power for decades that are faring better. I think of detroit (have you seen the photos?) that is in utter ruin from progressive policies, CA going bankrupt under progressive leadership, The vacating of New Jersey-which now has hope of surviving w/ a conservative check in the system, oregon digging its own grave under the PERS (public employee retirement system), the N.E. states all swimming in debt-and run by democrats for eons. Conservative polices are not perfect, but then man is not perfect and therefore society cannnot be perfected. But when you increase the control of govt which is the dream of progressives, you decrease the freedoms of man. We are at a tipping point. As much as you would like to see european socialism come to the US, it cannot work here. It goes against the grain of Americanism and we are just too big. Besides, i would challenge you to point out a country in europe that is wildly successful under socialism,even the best case senario is just treading water. Seems to me that greece is on fire with others close behind. As TTC points out, we must stop the spending and that means cuts, and to pay off our mess and not leave it to the next generation that means tax hikes. And i'm not talking little tax hikes, it will be painful. I would like to think that a majority would support an endeavor to shed the debt so that our children and grandchildren will not be burdened by it. I think that is something we can all rally around, but it requires liberals to understand that govt MUST be cut. Business has to become lean and efficient in hard times, so must govt.

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Jack M.
03/08/2010 12:07 PM

Uh oh. Linda thinks Sarah Palin would have America in a better spot than Obama.

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Marc D.
Woodbury, MN     03/07/2010 11:54 PM

I'm pretty sure the notion that the Republicans excel at economics has been completely demolished by the fact that they had a chance to put their desired policies in place--lower taxes, less regulation--and the results are clear: the biggest economic downfall since the Great Depression, which comes on top of nearly a decade where "economic success" resulted in increased wealth for those who already had it, while the middle class actually lost earning power. If lowering taxes was simply the answer to everything, then Mississippi and Alabama should be economic power houses. They are not. Instead, states that invest in education, transportation and quality of life are doing the best at creating jobs: and all of those things require taxes. Government jobs are real jobs: firefighters are doing real jobs, police are doing real jobs, teachers are doing real jobs, the public works employees who plow and fix our roads are doing real jobs, and yes, the accountants, IT staff, and human resources professionals that support these people are doing real jobs. They do real work, often for less pay than they could get in the private sector, and are generally dedicated to doing good work for the people they serve. Their salaries are spent on the same things people in the private sector spend their salaries on: mortgages, transportation, groceries, the host of other goods and services that drive our economy, and yes, taxes. Government bonding for important capital projects is nothing new: spending a portion of our budget on the annual payments for these long-term projects is wise spending. The infrastructure created plays an important role in our state, and yes, while that infrastructure is being created, jobs are created to do the work. People in the construction industry have been particularly hard hit by the recession, with unemployment rates upwards of 40%. Putting these people to work through building infrastructure is a good thing. And it makes particular sense to do so while interest rates are low, as it means that the annual payments will be far lower. Since these projects represent important community needs that will likely need to be built no matter what in the next few years, it makes sense to spend money on these projects now, when the interest rates are low and constructions costs are low, rather than later, when these things will cost more money. When unemployed people are put to work on projects like these, the additional money they will have will be spent on goods and services that will help other businesses in our state, making it more possible that those businesses will be able to hire more people, which can lead to a positive reinforcing cycle of job growth. That is smart economics.

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Joe S.
03/07/2010 3:32 PM

In response to TT. I don't recall mentioning that I am particularly well educated. In fact, I have barely a high school education. I am a hard-working person who believes that Marsha is doing a great job. TT's response concerns me because he, like other extremist right-wing "regressives", he merely shouts at dissenting opinions and mocks the opinions of others who do not believe in their views. Perhaps TT should offer solutions rather than simply highlighting perceived problems.

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Joe S.
03/07/2010 3:19 PM

In response to TT. I don't recall mentioning that I am particularly well educated. In fact, I have barely a high school education. I am a hard-working person who believes that Marsha is doing a great job. TT's response concerns me because he, like other extremist right-wing "regressives", he merely shouts at dissenting opinions and mocks the opinions of others who do not believe in their views. Perhaps TT should offer solutions rather than simply highlighting perceived problems.

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R B.
03/07/2010 2:11 PM

Most people, Ms. Blank included, it seems, understand that only income producing businesses really create jobs. Apparently, our current legislature does not. Income producing businesses create permanent jobs and tax revenue for the state. The government is not an income producing business, therefore, the jobs it "creates" simply drain our budget more, and then, when the "valuable" project is finished, those jobs go away. Reducing Minnesota's corporate tax rate is the only real way to bring viable businesses back to Minnesota and lower our ever-rising unemployment rate. No business, family, or government can truly thrive until it implements a budget that pays for its "needs" and saves its "wants" until they are truly affordable.

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Joe S.
03/07/2010 10:18 AM

I wish to thank Representative Swails for her thoughtful response to the original opinion piece. Woodbury is lucky to have a steadfast leader representing our district. It is clear that Laurie has no real understanding of how to run a government. Parroting talking points from Limbaugh, Fox, or the right-wing extremists in the Republican party (such as Rep. Swail's opponent) is not an effective way to sway the opinions of educated people.

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Claire V.
03/04/2010 9:24 AM

Mrs. Swails ought not to be let anywhere near the public check book.

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