Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85445
VOICES HOT BUTTONS Government and jobs: Guiding hand? Or hands off? Libertarian-leaning views domi- nated Overdrive's August polling of readers about what the role of government in the economy should be, which some have defined as the central issue in the presidential election. On Facebook, where we put job-creation questions to Overdrive fans this summer, we found many walking a hard line on government intervention in private business. For instance, Joe Nelson viewed the role of government as only to "get the hell out of the way." Others, however, acknowledged more complexity. "I think govern- ment plays a big part," wrote David Cox, "just for the simple fact that they control tax breaks/hikes and interest rates. Just those two alone decide if an employer will choose to expand, relocate, etc." Paul Murray then drilled deeper into the question – and the problem at the core of eco- nomic doldrums. He said the pri- mary job creator is "demand for products, goods and services. No demand, no jobs." Raising taxes to fund job-creating programs 7% None 23% to none 13% Little What role should government have in job creation? Other initiatives apart from tax policy 10% Cutting taxes to stimulate private investment 47% Summing up views of a majority of respondents, Al Kohl, posting on Overdrive's Facebook page, put favor of the private sector over government as a "job creator" this way: "If they would reduce the size of government, the private sector would fill those slots. Otherwise, they need to stay away from 'creating' jobs." Rob Gibbs: Government just creates more problems — and more taxes, making it harder for private business to survive. The foundation this (once) great country was built on revolves around private business. Andy and Amber Specht: Government mandates couldn't even sell sex and alcohol without running the place out of business and leaving all the employees unemployed. Randy Bouwens: Government has a hand in creating jobs for the private sector in the legislation it does or does not pass that affects the private sector. The government also creates jobs by hiring contractors from the private sector to perform duties that government employees used to perform and/or filling a need for future jobs that can be done less expensively by hiring said contractors. Billy Fannin: Ease the regulation and burdensome taxes that are destroying small carriers like me, and I will show you who can create jobs. Government's not the answer — it's the problem! David P. Collins: Government is not a job cre- ator… Cut taxes and reduce spending, and let the private sector do what it does best — hire more people. More people working means more tax rev- enues for the government. Scott Grafton: If they can't fix their own budget, why do they try to fix ours? Robb Van Horn: Government can only create government jobs, which must be paid for by taxes on those who do not "work" for government. Government only impedes job creation by the private sector. All government workers will say, "I pay taxes, too!" While that's true, it's simply govern- ment moving money from one pocket to the other and then back again. Watch for our Hot Button questions and have your political voice heard at: 14 | Overdrive | September 2012 Facebook.com/OverdriveTrucking @OverdriveUpdate CREATION JOB