Government must build rapport with business
It's time to stop blaming others for the shape the country is in. Each and every one of us have a responsibility, and I hope the desire and behind-the-scenes energy, to make the world a better place for future generations. We're dealing with things that didn't happen overnight. Along with a negative, there has to be a positive.
For several years, our elected officials have let the business world know that it must qualify to be in our state. They can't produce smoke or waste, and can't use too much water. Also, produce no heat, no odor, and get along with our crops -- and farmers? Don't raise wages and don't make noise.
Several businesses have left California and opened up in neighboring states and other countries, and they have been very successful. Their citizens prosper. Our politicians still blame everyone but themselves.
Our police are hiding under bridges and off ramps to cite us for speeds that are legal everywhere else, but California. People still don't have jobs. Our leaders refuse to encourage businesses to talk to us about locating in California.
Let's go positive! Let's start by building a good rapport with businesses. It takes all of us. One person cannot solve everyone's problems. Be business friendly. It's time to regroup. We have time to open avenues and work hard with businesses and encourage business with all we've got to come into our area. Provide effort, not excuses regarding equal opportunity. Our people are out of work and living through difficult times. Some are losing their homes, some living on the streets. They need hope in a hopeless society.
If we want employment, stop fighting the employers who are the businesses that will hire our people. Inspire people to want to make their lives and their world a better place using determination, hard work, and education. Give people the courage to try, and the belief to believe in themselves. Help "them" bring about a change. Every person can succeed if given the opportunity.
Encourage people to keep hope in the right pocket. Our people want to work, but if it's not farm work, it seems it's not welcome in certain parts of California. Wake up and look around. Look at the truck stops that are being built, putting in new filling stations and building their own little cities around them. Look at rapid transit throughout the state. We must hope that the non-farming areas are able to convince California as a whole to accept it. It's going to take time to put rapid transit into a go mode, because it will open up California, both north, south, east and west, with similar salaries for the same work. Our children must be qualified, through education and common sense, to secure these jobs.
Gina McClellan Rodriguez, a Bakersfield businesswoman, is a Democrat seeking the 32nd Assembly District seat.
