Obama Outlines Plan For 2.5M New Jobs

(AP)  President-elect Barack Obama promoted an economic plan Saturday he said would create 2.5 million jobs by rebuilding roads and bridges and modernizing schools while developing alternative energy sources and more efficient cars.

"These aren't just steps to pull ourselves out of this immediate crisis. These are the long-term investments in our economic future that have been ignored for far too long," Obama said in the weekly Democratic address.

The goal is to take it quickly through Congress, with help from both parties, after Obama takes office Jan. 20.

The plan, which envisions those new jobs by January 2011, is "big enough to meet the challenges we face," he said.

Obama noted the growing evidence the country is "facing an economic crisis of historic proportions" and said he was pleased Congress passed an extension of unemployment benefits this past week. But, he added, "We must do more to put people back to work and get our economy moving again."

Nonetheless, he said, "There are no quick or easy fixes to this crisis, which has been many years in the making, and it's likely to get worse before it gets better."

It will take support from Democrats and Republicans to pass the economic plan, Obama said. "I'll be welcome to ideas and suggestions from both sides of the aisle," he said. "But what is not negotiable is the need for immediate action."

People "are lying awake at night wondering if next week's paycheck will cover next month's bills," if their jobs will remain, if their retirement savings will disappear, he added.

The Labor Department reported that claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to the highest level since July 1992, providing fresh evidence of the weakening job market.

"We'll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, modernizing schools that are failing our children, and building wind farms and solar panels," Obama said.

He also made a commitment to fuel-efficient cars and alternative energy technologies "that can free us from our dependence on foreign oil and keep our economy competitive in the years ahead."

Obama pointed to the past, saying that Americans in this country's darkest hours have risen above their divisions to solve their problems, as a hope for the future.

"We have acted boldly, bravely, and above all, together," Obama said. "That is the chance our new beginning now offers us, and that is the challenge we must rise to in the days to come. It is time to act. As the next president of the United States, I will."
By Associated Press Writer Will Lester

[Renegade.Rivers]

Unless Obama starts letting farmers grow hemp again, there will be no giant breakthroughs in alternative energy. There is little doubt but what hemp could cut down tremendously on our need for petrol based products, and the pollution that is caused by petrol based products.

One ton of hemp will produce minimally 100 gallons of methanol, or about 2.3 barrels of methanol. One acre of land can produce minimally 20 tons of hemp, or 46 barrels of methanol. At this rate, 100 acres would produce 4600 barrels of methanol. This does not take into consideration all of the other benefits in growing hemp, including making fabric from the stock, and most any of the other uses the petrol bases oil is now used for including the making of plastic. Another great benefit in growing hemp is the fact that hemp requires no insecticides be applied. This saving could be added to less use of petrol based oil because most insecticides contain petroleum products, which are not good for the environment.

Until we have a president who is willing to rein in the DEA, and allow farmers across the country to grow hemp, just as they would any other crop such as corn and beans, we as a country will never be able to say that we have done everything possible and feasible to take control of our failing supplies of petroleum, and find real alternatives to petroleum.

If and when I see Obama do that, then I will believe he is truly serious about solving our energy problems.

[aceshigh333-2009]

the majority of the people that voted for obama don''''t want a job

Posted by jamesm12341

You have a point. They have their hand out for housing to be paid , free collage, and cedit card debt to be erased. O, I forgot, a monthly check also.
It will be interesting to see people with collage degrees pouring concreat or welding high steel......

[peach652]

But, are these 2.5 million jobs with salaries people can live on? I find it hard to believe my getting a job paving streets will pay my mortgage.

[dinkydog1]

genius aren''''t you? "your" should you''''re and "there" should be they''''re.....your post proving you are not the sharpest knife in the drawer


Posted by jamesm12341 at 12:53 PM : Nov 24, 2008

.............................

James, we''ve been over this before, just because you have spell check on you browser dosen''t make you intelegent. Anyhow, if you read your post again you''ll find there should be "be" between should and you''''re and "your post proving" should be your post proves.

Poor James, You might check out word perfect, I here they have a new verson of grammar check.

[dinkydog1]

the majority of the people that voted for obama don''''t want a job


Posted by jamesm12341 at 12:38 PM : Nov 24, 2008

........................

Your right, they already have one. There just worried that people like you in lower and subserviant classes might lose all those service sector jobs Bush created.

[txgrouch2007]

What happens when the average working man''''s taxes go up by 50% when Obama''''s administration kicks in? Posted by TheMasses10 at 10:40 AM : Nov 24, 2008

Then we''ll be JUST LIKE EUROPE!

They get "free" medical care, and they say the crime rate is near zero because all the social programs give people so much money that they don''t NEED to steal.

They don''t need to steal - the government is doing that for them by taxing the population and just HANDING THE MONEY OVER to the would-be thieves.

So they get free medical care and no crime - all in exchange for turning over more than half their income to the government, when you include all the "hidden" taxes like business taxes that increase prices. They''ve been paying $4/gallon for gasoline for years.

[louiville2]

Hey did you see that Jimmy Carter was banned from returning to the scene of the crime Zimbabwe where he helped leave a Neo-Marxist thug into power. Helped turn a once prosperous country into starving millions.

I suppose now he will have one of his fire side chat%u2019s to tell them socialism is great.

[jt_lancer]

How exactly will Obama ''create'' 2.5 Million jobs out of thin air?

If government can simply create jobs where there were none before, why is there ANY unemployment?

Wouldn''t it be in the best interest of any incumbent politician to eliminate unemployment so they can remain in power?

Alas, the government CANNOT create ANY new jobs (via confiscation of taxes) without first DESTROYING private sector employment.

Unfortunately, most Americans are economic illiterates and cannot understand this simple concept. Thus, they will continue to believe the false promises of their elected Masters.

[lyla65]

You people are so off base. Get a clue.

[oleander8]

P.S. - I would rather see my money spent like this than propping up fat-cat financial institutions.