Why Are Jobs Good?

This morning, let's explore how fundamentally removed from normal life politicians actually are. Though today's example focuses on a Democrat, I have heard similar idiocies spouted by Republicans in the past, as well.

What is good about jobs and lower unemployment? Any normal person (i.e. non-politician) would say there are many benefits. Benefits start with the newly employed person bringing home money to support his (or her) family, and extends to the business which will benefit from the employee's contribution... not to mention society at large when the economy grows because of the additional economic activity.

That's a normal point of view. But how does a politician see things? If you have a job, then you can pay taxes, and government revenue improves. And no, I'm not kidding. Here is what House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md) said:
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/60444

“We also had some good news for the first time in approximately two years. The projection of revenues has stabilized, not decreased. That is a very good sign because it is a sign that people are in fact making money and will be in a position, because they’re making money, to pay a portion of that in revenues to the federal government.”

So that's is the most important thing about us annoyingly necessary little ignorant slobs of non-politicians, eh? We must be in a position to pay taxes so Steyer and his ilk can spend that money on whatever pork project seizes their crazed imaginations.


Nice to know that the politicians think so highly of us, isn't it? When they look at us, they see dollar figures. And when they see unemployment, they IMMEDIATELY think of declining tax revenue. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

I remember a news article from eight or nine years ago that dealt with a small Alabama town getting their first Wal-Mart store. The news article didn't deal with the new jobs in town, the new shopping opportunities, or even local businesses that would go bankrupt because of the competition. No, the news article dealt primarily with how much revenue the store would generate for local governments and what they were planning to do with the extra money.

Listen people, jobs are NOT good because of the taxes they generate, jobs are good FOR PEOPLE. Remember us? We're the ones you pander to every election cycle but otherwise do your best to ignore.

Ain't politicians wonderful? Remember this next time they want to pass legislation that is "for our own good."