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Highlands Today

Employer Of Last Resort

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John B. Huber

Published: January 9, 2009

Before the federal government adopts a new self-image as "Spender of Last Resort," we should at least explore a less costly role for the government as an "Employer of Last Resort." Idled workers could be directly engaged by the government in advancing our nation's educational, environmental, energy and infrastructure needs.

Once a fail-safe employer is in place and full employment levels have been assured into the indefinite future, employers in the private sector will have good reason to believe that their customers will have a sustained ability and inclination to buy. Having re-instilled that good reason to believe in the national mindset, there will be a diminishing need for the government to provide employment for workers whose time and skills are once again in demand. The private sector will take it from there, and produce a sustained economic recovery. What the federal government needs to provide is the economic catalyst of positive thinking.

Unemployment compensation is too short in duration to safeguard sustainable self-confidence within the private sector and otherwise returns little of substance back to the economy. An entitlement to that short-lived handout (unemployment insurance) should be replaced with sustainable employment assurance and the recognition of an entitlement to gainful employment.

John B. Huber
Sebring

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