Mort Zuckerman: How to Get Americans Working Again

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I have a govt job. Nice pay. Good benefits. If you are working in the private sector you are a fool.

Russ was a californian of NC 1:53PM January 17, 2010

What will power this economy is cheap energy. We need to go all out in developing all forms of energy; fossils fuels and nuclear should be at the top of the list. Less money to the middle east more at home.
Lower the tax burden; allow small business to employ more people.
The Obama Administration is doing the exact opposite.

Terry Cooper of CO 1:31PM January 17, 2010

Three pages of BS. More government investment? All of this overspending is killing our economy. The US has been government invested into the toilet. This is a failed bad strategy and needs to be aborted. Mort the moron!

Eric in MS of MS 1:27PM January 17, 2010

What happened to US Jobs? The Democrats happened. The Democrats and their destructive minions: the useful idiots, the lawyers, the ACLU, the unions, the marxists, the socialists and, worst of all, activist judges happened.
This country was destroyed from within. What was once a creeping cancer of socialism going back before L. Johnson is now in its final marxist form under todays dems and obama.
We lament the plight of California but the Democrat’s socialistic policies made that outcome inevitable. We lament the plight of Detroit but the unions control and demands made that outcome inevitable. We lament the plight of our ecomomy but federal lending requirements made the current outcome inevitable. We lament the plight of our industry, but federal taxes and unions made that outcome inevitable. And now the federal government is poised to take the final step and take over as much of our economy as is can get away with. It now controls most of the financial system banks, insurance and the markets. Setting wages is just the beginning. It now controls most of the American owned auto industry. Direct ownership of GM and Chrysler. It wants to control all of the national health industry. And with Cap and Tax, it will have the right to control and dictate everything that has an energy or emission component - which is everything.
The only jobs that obama has created are government jobs

jloti of CO 12:19PM January 17, 2010

I'm 63 and own a small business. I've worked since I was old enough to get a work permit.
In the current climate, with Democrats dreaming up new ways to take money from me every day, there's no way that I'll spend anything to expand my business. I need to save all that I can for my retirement.
Even my savings is greatly at risk from the current bunch in Washington (and the NH state house.) Whether they inflate the currency or just start taxing savings, I fear then more than anything else.
I have not started collecting Social Security. I probably should start. I assume it's only a matter of time before Social Security is converted into a pure welfare plan. If you've worked and saved, tough. "You don't 'need' Social Security, so thanks for your contributions, but we'll just give them to someone else."

Paul of NH 11:23AM January 17, 2010

Mort's comments are correct. What government gives,government can take away. Just ask the seniors who will have medicare cut soon thanks to Obama. Obama over promises, and under performs.

Richard Driver of NJ 11:17AM January 17, 2010

Owen of NJ,
I, at 55, closed my small business of 30 years, a year ago October for the very reason you speak.
I will, if it still exists, begin collecting SS at 62. I'm currently living off investments which produce half the income I was accustomed but without the heavy taxation being inflicted on it, and guess what; my standard of living is almost the same.
It's sad that I no longer employ the 3 people who worked for me, 1 for 25 years but due to governmental policies I was tired of the fight. President Obama's and the democrat's policies, I'm afraid, will finish off once was a great country unable to rise from the ashes that will come from his class warfare and redistribution policies.

JRS of NC 11:17AM January 17, 2010

The problem with this argument is the dramatic jump in productivity that has happened in the last 50-60 years. Infrastructure jobs sound great but can be done, now, by far less people and much faster than they were in the past. James Thompson of OH hit the nail on the head. The only way to pull out of this is manufacturing jobs. The only problem with that is that productivity allows those jobs to be done by far fewer, unskilled workers. The small businesses need a break. Government is NOT the answer and it is showing. The situation looks very bleak. I think it may be time to push the reset button.

JoetheAmerican of FL 11:13AM January 17, 2010

Look at Japan and you will see our future.

Darryl Becker of MD 11:12AM January 17, 2010

Don't let the door hit you on the way out. The likes of Alec Baldwin and Sean Penn have made similar threats. Why can't liberals ever follow through on their promises? Liberals have made lying an art form.
Mort's analysis is spot-on.

KM of IL 11:03AM January 17, 2010