I’m glad that the Nation elected it’s first black President.
Heck, I voted for him and I’m anxious to see how President Obama will handle the problems in front of us all. I’m not terribly happy with some of his appointments, one in particular. His appointment of Robert Reich as the Secretary of Labor, who believes that the color of someone’s skin is MORE important than the skills he/she possesses is dissapointing. He posted an article on his blog entitled “The Stimulus: How to Create Jobs Without Them All Going to Skilled Professionals and White Male Construction Workers,” which I really take exception to. The concept of taking money that was initially allocated to refurbish our physical infrastructure and redirecting it out of the hands of our skilled labor force is absurd and a waste of resources in my opinion.
He continues,”if construction jobs go mainly to white males who already dominate the construction trades, many people who need jobs the most — women, minorities, and the poor and long-term unemployed — will be shut out.”
Firstly, isn’t that a racist, classist, sexist statment or a combination of all three? Secondly, who the fuck are the long term unemployed? If you’re out of work for more than 6 months your just LAZY…not in need of an exception! Thirdly, why should the people who’ve worked hard to become skilled workers be discounted because of their ethnicity? Should skill level be the first criteria considered?
He continues, “I’d suggest that all contracts entered into with stimulus funds require contractors to provide at least 20 percent of jobs to the long-term unemployed and to people with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. In addition, advantage should be taken of buildings trades apprenticeships — which must be fully available to women and minorities.”
The long term unemployed have been unemployed long term for a REASON. This is 2009 and the economy is going to get worse before it gets better…if you’re unemployed and not doing everything you can possibly do to get a job you DON’T WANT a job. As an employer I’ve now got to tell 20% of my skilled work force they’re being replaced by the non-skilled, long term unemployed?
Don’t get me wrong I think we need to address the long term unemployed but those programs should be based on the initiative of those it serves. There are so many people in this country that are HAPPY to be unemployed because they’ve been trained by getting FREE MONEY, ENTITLEMENTS and PROGRAMS like this one…white, black, hispanic, gay, male, female!
I’m so tired of seeing the term “White Male” used as a negative label.
/rant off
MiH
- Tenacious D – Wonderboy
- GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five – The Message
- The Go-Go’s – Head Over Heels
- Jamie Cullum – Photograph
- Bush – Disease of the Dancing Cats
- No Doubt – Underneath it all