Nation's founders had answer to our job crisis
Outdated. Ancient. Irrelevant. Those are some of the words used to describe the United States Constitution by many who wish to dismantle the freedom it protects. What many people fail to recognize is that at no other time in history has a nation been more prosperous, industrious and innovative as America has been under the guidance of that document. At least 80 percent of all inventions on the planet came from our soil because the Constitution unleashed freedom and incentive as never before.
My answer to how we create jobs in Kern Country would be the same as the founding fathers: Get the government's nose out of business. Imagine if I offered my grandson an hourly allowance for mowing the lawn, and yet I required him to spend extra money on environmentally friendly gas, forbade him to work on days where the air quality was poor, and forced him to purchase health insurance, mower insurance, and unemployment insurance. To make ends meet, my grandson would have to double his cost. The whole operation becomes too expensive, so I lay off my grandson and hire the illegal immigrant down the street who will practically mow my lawn for free.
Excessive regulation smothers the free market, resulting in reduced profits, increased expense, decreased productivity and devastating job loss. I watched Kern County's version of this scenario play out on Jan. 11 as I rushed to Sacramento to testify in opposition of the proposed 12.5 percent oil severance tax. I went in support of Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, along with some 350 industry workers, to fight what would have resulted in at least 7,000 lost jobs in Kern County alone. We think we have won this particular fight -- for now. But the threat to the free market philosophy that provides our jobs is real, and there is no telling who Sacramento will choose to be the next victim of their self-imposed budget crisis.
One of my opponents has suggested that we take 5 percent from our hard-working teachers, or that we lower by 15 percent the salaries of our public servants. There is no need to punish these people for government's overspending.
President Reagan pulled us out of the most serious economic recession outside of our own since the Great Depression. The answer was constitutionally based tax cuts, deregulation, budget cuts and a strict anti-inflation monetary policy. I propose the same. The free market needs a government-ectomy. George Washington said, "The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments." Marvel no more, President Washington. Our patience has been exhausted and we are ready to reclaim the free market.
Harold Pease, a Taft College instructor, has more at haroldpease.com.
