If you had the chance to be the Roosevelt of our time what jobs would you provide?

A re-think is required, about which 'jobs' must be done for a society to thrive, how will this be funded, which skills are needed to carry out these tasks?

Is that one of the reasons Russia can't give up the fight?

Grantanow

The massive expansion of US industry to fight WW2 probably provided far more jobs than the New Deal ( good as that was) and underpinned the growth of the US economy for years to come.

It is not a way of improving employment and growth that I would care to recommend, though

Some peacetime work will do fine…

The massive expansion of US industry to fight WW2 probably provided far more jobs than the New Deal ( good as that was) and underpinned the growth of the US economy for years to come.

valdali I'm sure there's an array of skills for repairing potholes - but- although its not an area I have personal knowledge of - could these skills not be taught within a reasonably practical length of time?
Not the assessment, material selection, theory behind how to repair different potholes - just how you actually do a good job when the holes have been assessed and appropriate materials provided?

Correct, it's a skill, fairly easy to comprehend.

Given the appropriate instruction, materials, and tools - a person could accomplish filling potholes. Not rocket science.

MaizieD

MaizieD

What are you quoting from, DAR?

Sorry , I’ve realised it’s an AI summary. Did it cite a source or sources?

I'm not sure Maizie - sorry. I think I would have copied them over but I was trying to answer quickly as I felt I had not come back was trying to catch up.

If the people who do this work are currently unemployed or underemployed, it's likely they are receiving some form of state benefit. Surely it's better that they are doing something that will benefit communities and enhance peoples' lives.

In any case, the money spent on wages will ultimately go back to the Treasury, either as direct taxation or by being spent (which provides an income for somebody else) and going back as tax on profit or corporation tax, etc.

The whole point is that the money is moving round the system, creating improvements on the way, which wouldn't happen if people are sitting around doing nothing.

I think I’d set up far more opportunities for those with the aptitude for practical work, carpenters, fitters, plumbers, electricians, as well as all the skills required to work on building sites in all capacities.

I would also set up a nationwide scheme aimed at every person having the opportunity to work on local allotments and learn how to grow food, then to prepare and cook it.

I’d also set up lots of “little libraries” and “little pantries” schemes.

I agree with the whole water infrastructure thing and also the clearing and clearing of all our lakes and rivers.

So much to do, so little money to spend on it.

M0nica

MawsRosie

Consider yourself told off M0nica, clearly not the answer OP was wanting.

No, I am not told off. It is the natural exchange of views.

I think if we were to look for any scheme as worth reviving it might be an updated version of the YTS scheme introduced in the 1980s. That scheme certainly had its defects, but I think a scheme that was compulsory for NEATS and included elements of social skills and picking up educational problems, together with basic working skills.

I think any scheme will need to be local and deal with local needs. I would point out that repairing potholes, so that they stay repaired is a skilled jobs. There is more to it than shoving tarmac in a hole and packing it down.

I'm sure there's an array of skills for repairing potholes - but- although its not an area I have personal knowledge of - could these skills not be taught within a reasonably practical length of time?
Not the assessment, material selection, theory behind how to repair different potholes - just how you actually do a good job when the holes have been assessed and appropriate materials provided?

Id encourage people to set up their own business by making it easier So for example Preston rail station seems to have a lot of disused buildings Let people test how much they can sell something without ridiculous rents use empty buildings

MaizieD

What are you quoting from, DAR?

Sorry , I’ve realised it’s an AI summary. Did it cite a source or sources?

What are you quoting from, DAR?

Roosevelt’s New Deal was the deliberate injection of new money into the economy, the Keynesian ‘spend your way out of a recession’. Of course it worked to a great extent. Maizie

The largest amount came from borrowing apparently, then taxes, then money creation " Unlike more recent periods such as after the 2008 financial crisis or during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve was not the dominant financier of government deficits during most of the New Deal era." An often-overlooked source of financial strength was international gold.
[AI]

That seems reasonable given the times. Does it chime with your thinking Maizie?

LemonJam

Perhaps elected metropolitan mayors could come up with a programme for their electorate area- perhaps in consultation with their constituents? Would be Democratic, regional, not Westminster or Government centric, community focussed and have potential to support regional growth?

Councils in nearby proximity could apply to be involved if they wanted?`

This sounds a bit like AB was saying some time back when he compared the Combined Authorities to the German Landers. I still don't know as much as I would like to to make that comparison but I do believe in community so I wonder if, at least to some extent, they should be allowed to choose?

Prisoners in Norway are required to work or study as part of a "duty of care", Sago and I think that's the sort of system we tried to follow here. I imagine it severly underfunded at the moment. Another one for the list but I think you have to allow the Minister to fight hard for this area - although that may be the problem with any suggested move. Ministers just don't have enough power!

I think if we were to look for any scheme as worth reviving it might be an updated version of the YTS scheme introduced in the 1980s.

An updated YTS is an interesting one M0nica. NEATS are very troubling at the moment; there are too many missing out on what first jobs bring. Local meeting local needs should suit AB and his "place not politics" views. We know the issues that arise from not looking at the local needs, for example, no real attempt to replace mining jobs as the mines we closed.

There can be cross regional collaboration on national projects - agree that could be a good thing.

LemonJam

Perhaps elected metropolitan mayors could come up with a programme for their electorate area- perhaps in consultation with their constituents? Would be Democratic, regional, not Westminster or Government centric, community focussed and have potential to support regional growth?

Councils in nearby proximity could apply to be involved if they wanted?`

I think there would need to be some national projects too. Transport, for example, doesn't have regional boundaries. For example, the northern east-west rail network needs upgrading, so that Liverpool has better links with Manchester and Leeds and then towards York and Newcastle, but that involves a number of regions.

Even better if it's new money. Funnily enough, I thought you might be along to write what you did. My point really was that even if it's not new money, it would result in money being spent on something constructive rather than just paying people to claim unemployment benefits (I know it's not quite that simple).

CatsWhiskas

There are so many projects which would involve people helping ourselves to a generally better quality of life, eg health/social care, transport (inc potholes), cleaner water, internet connections, education (inc reintroduction of evening classes, modernising property. Yes, we'd probably pay a little for the projects, either by taxes or subscriptions, but more people would be employed, so the Treasury would pay less in benefits and the money people earned would be circulated in the economy, thus boosting retail, personal services, entertainment, etc. Win, win all round.

I think we hadn’t to bother about the cost of our proposals. Roosevelt’s New Deal was the deliberate injection of new money into the economy, the Keynesian ‘spend your way out of a recession’. Of course it worked to a great extent.

Yes, we'd probably pay a little for the projects, either by taxes or subscriptions,

New Deal money didn’t come out of taxation or any revenue stream as far as I’m aware. It was completely new money. Because that’s what governments with sovereign currencies can do.

Perhaps elected metropolitan mayors could come up with a programme for their electorate area- perhaps in consultation with their constituents? Would be Democratic, regional, not Westminster or Government centric, community focussed and have potential to support regional growth?

Councils in nearby proximity could apply to be involved if they wanted?`

These programs had two main goals: Give unemployed people immediate income through paid work. Leave behind infrastructure that would support long-term economic growth.

When we've visited Washington DC we've enjoyed the lovely Suitland Parkway. East of the city, limited access. It's a pleasant drive, FDR project.

Similar beautiful 1930-1950s road projects surround the city.

If I could choose -- limited access (no commercial vehicles) wide roads with no potholes, would be a lovely useful project.

There are so many projects which would involve people helping ourselves to a generally better quality of life, eg health/social care, transport (inc potholes), cleaner water, internet connections, education (inc reintroduction of evening classes, modernising property. Yes, we'd probably pay a little for the projects, either by taxes or subscriptions, but more people would be employed, so the Treasury would pay less in benefits and the money people earned would be circulated in the economy, thus boosting retail, personal services, entertainment, etc. Win, win all round.

Good ideas MaizieD

Re pothole repairs.

I wasn’t suggesting just shoving a bit of tarmac in a hole, I meant proper lasting repairs, and yes, done by teams of skilled workers.

That’s what’s sadly lacking in so much nowadays, jobs done efficiently by workers who know what they are doing.