Stimulus: something that rouses or incites to activity
In Oregon, where they’re spending $176 million to supplement the federal monies, stimulus jobs are lasting about a week. Or they could employ everyone for an hour.
‘Help Wanted’ counting stimulus jobs
By RYAN KOST (AP)— How much are politicians straining to convince people that the government is stimulating the economy? In Oregon, where lawmakers are spending $176 million to supplement the federal stimulus, Democrats are taking credit for a remarkable feat: creating 3,236 new jobs in the program’s first three months.But those jobs lasted on average only 35 hours, or about one work week. After that, those workers were effectively back unemployed, according to an Associated Press analysis of state spending and hiring data. By the state’s accounting, a job is a job, whether it lasts three hours, three days, three months, or a lifetime.
“Sometimes some work for an individual is better than no work,” said Oregon’s Senate president, Peter Courtney.
With the economy in tatters and unemployment rising, Oregon’s inventive math underscores the urgency for politicians across the country to show that spending programs designed to stimulate the economy are working — even if that means stretching the facts.
??
Still, good news for a few:
If Oregon’s dollars-to-jobs ratio remains steady, the program will create about 688 full-time, yearlong jobs. So far, it’s generated only enough hours to employ 54 people full-time for a year.
And after the year?
The government should not have to dole out taxpayer money for jobs! Lower business taxes and employers can start hiring again.
Maybe it’s just me, but nothing this administration does seems logical.
July 29th, 2009 at 10:55 am
That’s because you’re not a communist.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:18 am
…and thank God for that!
July 29th, 2009 at 11:32 am
“That’s because you’re not a communist.”
*giggle* *Snort*
My brother lives in Portland, OR and is unemployed. He said that 500 people applied for a dishwasher position!!! Crazy.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Back in February 1,000 showed up to apply for firefighter positions in miami!
July 29th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Here’s a plan: the government can give me 20 million dollars and I’ll make sure I employ 1000 people for the next year. I need a new home built, a chauffeur, a stylist, a publicist, and various assistants, suppliers and menial workers. I’ll need accountants and bookkeepers and an HR admin. I will not even start a business that produces anything, so there will be no failure and hand out for extra money. Just give me 20 million and turn me loose to buy all the luxuries Michelle Obama is enjoying, and I’ll employ all my friends and cronies and it’ll be copacetic and uncomplicated.
I can’t believe they won’t let me run the world.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I can’t either.
You’d hire me, too, right? See, voting for you is conditional…
July 29th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
This guy has me really wavering. Sometimes I think he’s deliberately trying to bork the economy so as to slip his schemes through, thinking the lynch mobs won’t get him. Other times I think he is just ignorant, after all, he has an Ivy League Affirmative Action Education. Still other times I think he’s just plain stupid, see again that Ivy League Affirmative Action Education.
The I come to my senses and realize it’s all three.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Er, that’s wavering.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Nope, that’s not wavering, it’s pretty definite. Besides, you can be educated and ignorant. One is not exclusive of the other…
July 29th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
I think Joan’s plan is really a good idea. I’m applying for a staff photographer/yes woman position.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I’m applying for Pepper dog walker. Should pay about 60 large a year.