Students of history may recall the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Born in the heart of the Depression, 1935, the agency created some three million federal jobs, sucked-up $11 billion worth of taxpayer money (back when $11 billion was a lot of money) and built hundreds of roads, bridges and buildings That said, the WPA did sweet FA to decrease unemployment figures. And its inefficiency was legendary (nicknamed the “Whistle, Piss and Argue”). But the WPA was an integral part of a sea change in federal government power and scope. And now, it’s back! The Detroit News mentions, almost in passing, that Presidential Task Force on Automobiles (PTFOA) is creating a “Director of Auto Recovery for Auto Workers and Communities.” The man tipped to spread the love: Edward Montgomery, a “top labor economist” and former deputy labor secretary. Eddy’s tasked with “working to leverage all resources of government to support the workers, communities and regions that rely on the American auto industry.” His official PTFOA remit after the jump.
He will work with the Administration, relevant Governors and Congressional leaders to launch new executive and legislative initiatives to support these distressed communities and help them retool and revitalize their economies. He will identify and pursue all possible opportunities, including for example, initiatives to:
• Maximize the effectiveness of Recovery Act funds for new and more diverse economic development for new jobs, business and industry through various means including local infrastructure, housing, education and new industry.
• Deploy rapid response unit to communities facing plant closings to both meet immediate needs and to develop strategies for new job growth.
• Extend Trade-Adjustment-Assistance (TAA) to the auto industry, including retraining, healthcare extensions, income support and wage insurance.
• Attract major defense, research, green industry and other project to the region. Channel Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and other emergency grant funds to the region.
• Work with stakeholders to develop new legislative efforts to direct emergency support to affected communities and regions, and bring new jobs and economic opportunities to these areas.
More like FDR’s National Recovery Administration (NRA)which aimed to take over industry but was struck down by the Supreme Court. National Socialism for the USA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Recovery_Administration
Jimmy Durante promoting the NRA.
Must of copied this from the Soviets.
So what I don’t get is where this all ends. Really, every community in every region has workers that depend on the auto industry in one sense or another. It doesn’t all stop at the factory that puts the cars together. Why don’t they do more for those communities by telling GM and Chrysler that if they’re going to take more bailout money, then they need to make a commitment to bring more jobs back to the U.S. Chrysler’s doing good by bringing their customer service call centers back the America. If their foreign competition can build cars and service customers here, they should be able to do the same.
Eddie Money!
superbadd75 :
March 30th, 2009 at 8:48 am
So what I don’t get is where this all ends.
It ends badly, that’s where.
It ends badly, that’s where.
Not for all. the fat cats in the UAW will be sure to get thier share.
Eddie Money’s auto-appropriate hits:
“Big Crash”
“Shakin\'”
“Baby Hold On”
“Take Me Home Tonight”
“Heaven in the Back Seat”
“Two Tickets to Paradise”
The other nickname for it was “We Poke Along”.
Not for all. the fat cats in the UAW will be sure to get thier share.…
And why not? There’s plenty of room at the trough along side management’s fat cats. Why is the union any more to blame than management?