Monday, September 6, 2010

BloggeRhythms 9/6/2010

I was going to add a few more thoughts about public education in the U.S. today, because I believe it's current worthless existence and monetary drain on the system is a critically important subject. But then a news item caught my eye that's worth a couple of keystrokes.

It seems the president wants to spend some more taxpayer funds in the following way. "Vowing to find new ways to stimulate the sputtering economy, President Obama will call for long-term investments in the nation's roads, railways and airports that would cost at least $50 billion, administration officials say."

Now, if the administration really thought about it, where would that money actually go? Well, right off the top about 40% would likely go directly into the pockets of the major contractors (as profits) who'd win artificially rigged bids, and I'd guess about half or more of that would kick right back to the big-time politicos who allowed and greased the bid-rigging. And that $20 billion or so wouldn't hit our economy at all, because it would go right into some off-shore accounts to avoid discovery, or worse yet...taxes.

Of course, that still leaves $30 billion to play with. Well, between licenses, permits, filings, hearings, court costs and fees, let's say $10 billion will be spent in local jurisdictions, legislatures, offices and courts allowing politicos and shakers and movers down the line to share in the windfall. Naturally then, there's a chance that some of that money might wind up in local bars and restaurants where the payoffs would be made under the tables. So, I guess, with all those new bucks in play, a few waitresses will see an increase tips.

Then, naturally, there'd be a need for plans, designs, architectural drawings, schematics, blueprints, forms and supporting paperwork. So, I guess, some out-of-work architects, engineers and technicians might get some temporary employment while the plans are drawn up, and then hit the streets again looking for permanent jobs. In all, perhaps this might add up to five or ten million bucks in government spending to a group of highly-skilled folks.

Then of course there are the folks who operate the big equipment, bull-dozers, cranes, earth movers, scrapers, back-hoes, lift trucks, even vans and trucks. At their wage-rates the costs would be substantial, even after their unions took 10% or so off the top to re-line their coffers. So, let's say another $5 billion gets spent here, some of which due to items like mortgage payments and food might even trickle back into the economy.

If my arithmetic's correct, then, there's still about $14.5 billion to play with. And, lets see...what jobs are left? The one's where all the work is of course. There'll be a huge need for people to swing picks and shovel dirt all day long, to make the roads nice and smooth, and others to hammer spikes into railroad ties or put cones on the road during construction. Unless you're an Indian or some other kind of unique person that can accomplish the difficult high steel work on bridges, which would put you into a greatly needed class of your own.

And that brings me right back to education in the U. S., because now I completely understand our public school system. Our brilliant, foresightful educators knew that this fiscal debacle was coming and thus, prepared their students for it by making sure that every recess included some time spent in a sandbox with a pail and shovel. And in that way they insured that when the government opened the floodgates to a world of opportunity in highway construction, their students were well trained in earth-moving and ready for it.

That's it for today folks.

Adios

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