The Role of Creating Jobs: It's True, It's Damn True

One of the interesting aspects of visiting Las Vegas is that, as a result, I am now immersed in advertising for the heated election between current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his Republican challenger, Sharon Angle. Despite being months away, campaign spending is fast and furious out here, a strong indicator of how important this bellwether contest between a long-time Washington insider with incredible power and an insurgent complete opposite may be.

So, since I am not a resident of the fine state of Nevada, why am I blogging about it? Because one ad I saw yesterday from Senator Reid annoyed me to the point of rage.

There are actually a few variants on the same theme, attacking Angle for an off-the-cuff statement on how it would not be her job as US Senator to "create jobs." They usually then roll out countless ordinary, average state citizens who all shake their heads in incredulity over this declaration. Here's one example:



Assuming these citizens are not paid actors playing a role, and actually reflect a philosophical / governmental zeitgeist out here, all I can ask is please remove yourself from all future political discourse, thanks.

It is not, and never should be, the role of the government to create jobs, per se. For now, we are still primarily a capitalist nation and it is the role of the private sector to drive economic growth and employment. When the bloated, bureaucratic government offers its own two cents on the matter -- via such initiatives as the recent failed stimulus package, regulations / subsidies, and other Keynesian initiatives -- the results usually betray a series of unintended consequences that shift the natural supply and demand curves in ways that raise prices and stifle economic development.

Instead, the government should get out of the way and let people go about the business of living their lives and conducting their businesses. That so many disagree and now favor Big Brother as the driving factor in our lives sends a chill up my spine.

Links:

• "No Change in Unemployment, But We've Traded Full-Timers for Part-Timers" (Innocent Bystanders)
• "The Impact of an Excise Tax or Subsidy on Price" (San Jose State University Department of Economics)

Comments

[teejcee]

i totally agree with that! frickin communist  - that is SCARY