Target black unemployment with enterprise zones
$900 billion in stimulus spending, and two and a half years later almost two million fewer Americans are working.

The Congressional Black Caucus is gearing up for its big annual Washington event -- its "legislative conference."

This is the annual shindig where America's corporations pour in millions to pay for lavish dinners and parties for Black Caucus members to discuss the crises of black poverty and unemployment.

The New York Times reported last year that the event in 2008 cost $3.9 million, with more than $350,000 going to the official decorator.

Amidst the wine and prime rib this year, the focus of discussion will be President Barack Obama's American Jobs Act.

One of the more vocal members of the Caucus, Maxine Waters, D-Calif., says she'll be scrutinizing how the act will be "targeting the communities with the hardest unemployment and the most harmed in this economic meltdown."

When it comes to government borrowing and spending as a way to "create" jobs, the Black Caucus is possibly the last vestige of the triumph of hope over experience.

Or in Einstein's famous definition of insanity, "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

There is certainly good reason to be deeply concerned about employment in black America. Total employment in this community is 17 percent lower now than it was ten years ago.

If Waters and her colleagues manage a sober moment to reflect during their festivities, they should consider a concept that could provide targeted help for their communities, proposed last week by economist Arthur Laffer in the Wall Street Journal.

Laffer revived an idea first championed a quarter century ago by the late New York GOP Rep. Jack Kemp: enterprise zones.

These are geographic areas of high unemployment that would qualify for special tax and regulatory relief to encourage investment and establishment of businesses.

The version Laffer proposes has four key elements that would operate in these areas:

First, no payroll tax on the employee or employer.

Second, suspend federal and state minimum wage.

Third, eliminate regulatory impediments to construction and setting up businesses.

Fourth, profits on businesses operating in these zones would be taxed at one-third the regular rate.

I would add two other elements to Laffer's proposal.

Dollar for dollar tax credits for all charitable contributions going into these areas. And school vouchers for all children in these areas to attend the school of their choice.

This package, including Laffer's elements and mine, would bring businesses into areas that badly need enterprise and employment, would get otherwise unemployable black youths into the world of work and responsibility, would channel charitable funds directly to churches and other worthy organizations who understand and work diligently with the horrible problems in these communities, and would give kids an open door to the most crucial step in the process -- education.

Needless to say, business-as-usual voices on the black left have wasted no time to dismiss enterprise zones, calling them "regulation-free ghettoes ... for corporate exploitation" and places to hire black youth at "cut rate" prices and not pay taxes that would be used "for social-welfare programs that really do improve the lives of America's poor."

Really? Name one.

The way they see it, giving an opportunity to work to an otherwise unemployable youth, a victim of the very welfare state culture built by these same individuals, is called exploitation.

What does it take to learn? Nine hundred billion dollars in stimulus spending, and two and a half years later almost 2 million fewer Americans are working.

How about the great green jobs idea? The FBI is checking this out at the recently failed Solyndra, an Obama green jobs poster child, now down the drain along with $500 million in tax payer backed loans.

Any government bureaucrat who could make a smart venture capital investment wouldn't be a government bureaucrat.

How about the novel idea of bringing freedom to our blighted areas? It's the one thing we haven't tried.


Star Parker

http://www.urbancure.org/article.asp...86&tag=Welfare

Originally Posted by KatzPajamas

Target black unemployment with enterprise zones
$900 billion in stimulus spending, and two and a half years later almost two million fewer Americans are working.

The Congressional Black Caucus is gearing up for its big annual Washington event -- its "legislative conference."

This is the annual shindig where America's corporations pour in millions to pay for lavish dinners and parties for Black Caucus members to discuss the crises of black poverty and unemployment.

The New York Times reported last year that the event in 2008 cost $3.9 million, with more than $350,000 going to the official decorator.

Amidst the wine and prime rib this year, the focus of discussion will be President Barack Obama's American Jobs Act.

One of the more vocal members of the Caucus, Maxine Waters, D-Calif., says she'll be scrutinizing how the act will be "targeting the communities with the hardest unemployment and the most harmed in this economic meltdown."

When it comes to government borrowing and spending as a way to "create" jobs, the Black Caucus is possibly the last vestige of the triumph of hope over experience.

Or in Einstein's famous definition of insanity, "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

There is certainly good reason to be deeply concerned about employment in black America. Total employment in this community is 17 percent lower now than it was ten years ago.

If Waters and her colleagues manage a sober moment to reflect during their festivities, they should consider a concept that could provide targeted help for their communities, proposed last week by economist Arthur Laffer in the Wall Street Journal.

Laffer revived an idea first championed a quarter century ago by the late New York GOP Rep. Jack Kemp: enterprise zones.

These are geographic areas of high unemployment that would qualify for special tax and regulatory relief to encourage investment and establishment of businesses.

The version Laffer proposes has four key elements that would operate in these areas:

First, no payroll tax on the employee or employer.

Second, suspend federal and state minimum wage.

Third, eliminate regulatory impediments to construction and setting up businesses.

Fourth, profits on businesses operating in these zones would be taxed at one-third the regular rate.

I would add two other elements to Laffer's proposal.

Dollar for dollar tax credits for all charitable contributions going into these areas. And school vouchers for all children in these areas to attend the school of their choice.

This package, including Laffer's elements and mine, would bring businesses into areas that badly need enterprise and employment, would get otherwise unemployable black youths into the world of work and responsibility, would channel charitable funds directly to churches and other worthy organizations who understand and work diligently with the horrible problems in these communities, and would give kids an open door to the most crucial step in the process -- education.

Needless to say, business-as-usual voices on the black left have wasted no time to dismiss enterprise zones, calling them "regulation-free ghettoes ... for corporate exploitation" and places to hire black youth at "cut rate" prices and not pay taxes that would be used "for social-welfare programs that really do improve the lives of America's poor."

Really? Name one.

The way they see it, giving an opportunity to work to an otherwise unemployable youth, a victim of the very welfare state culture built by these same individuals, is called exploitation.

What does it take to learn? Nine hundred billion dollars in stimulus spending, and two and a half years later almost 2 million fewer Americans are working.

How about the great green jobs idea? The FBI is checking this out at the recently failed Solyndra, an Obama green jobs poster child, now down the drain along with $500 million in tax payer backed loans.

Any government bureaucrat who could make a smart venture capital investment wouldn't be a government bureaucrat.

How about the novel idea of bringing freedom to our blighted areas? It's the one thing we haven't tried.


Star Parker

http://www.urbancure.org/article.asp...86&tag=Welfare

Excellent post, but I am afraid that our liberal friends will gloss over this information and pay it no mind at all.

I wish that the media was fair in it's reporting in 2008, we would not be in this mess at all. I still can't believe that the media refused to investigate and repot Rev. Wright, well known race baiter. And Obama listened to his race-baiting sermons for 20 years? Imagine if George Bush went to a church for 20 years that preached hate against blacks?

Originally Posted by villagegolfer

Excellent post, but I am afraid that our liberal friends will gloss over this information and pay it no mind at all.

I wish that the media was fair in it's reporting in 2008, we would not be in this mess at all. I still can't believe that the media refused to investigate and repot Rev. Wright, well known race baiter. And Obama listened to his race-baiting sermons for 20 years? Imagine if George Bush went to a church for 20 years that preached hate against blacks?

Star Parker is a black woman who pulled herself out of the grips of the welfare system. She is trying to wake black America up to the realities of "Uncle Sam's Plantation". I have also posted messages from other black American's who are trying to do the same. What amazes me are the white Americans who have most likely never rubbed elbows with the likes of these people, and yet they dismiss what they have to say...Gloss over, as you put it. Where is the respect that these black Americans deserve? Shouldn't their voices be heard too? I don't know if I could be as strong and brave as people like her are. It doesn't matter what the liberals on this forums think. They speak of being open minded, but don't seem to act it out. Their loss because truly good people will continue to light candles, while they continue to curse their perceived darkness.

I really love to see posts like this since it does once again prove that President Obama has the vote of at least 90% of African-American votes and that is going to help him get re-elected for another 4 years.

Originally Posted by buggyone

I really love to see posts like this since it does once again prove that President Obama has the vote of at least 90% of African-American votes and that is going to help him get re-elected for another 4 years.

BUGGYONE, TBUGS..whatever you are going by today....your post illustrates the reason(s) that folks migrate from this board. A deep insightful comment that shows you absolutely do not understand the problems facing this country and treat this forum as your own personal playground.

Thank you, Bucco. Glad to see you are doing well.

Yes, I do understand the problems facing the country. I personally think that Black Entrprise Zones are a great idea. It helps the economy in creating more jobs and small businesses. That is my viewpoint and the viewpoint of many others.

I fully believe that the African-American vote helped President Obama in his 2008 victory and it will help him win in 2012.

Did I happen to mention that Star is a strong supporter of the Tea Party and often speaks at their events?

Originally Posted by KatzPajamas

Did I happen to mention that Star is a strong supporter of the Tea Party and often speaks at their events?

It would not surprise me as there are good people from all walks of life that are proud to call themselves TeaParty members. They are very nice people who are really concerned about the direction this country is heading. They are nothing like the left continues to describe. They are also from all party affiliates, Dems, Rep, and independents and any other parties.

Originally Posted by villagegolfer

It would not surprise me as there are good people from all walks of life that are proud to call themselves TeaParty members. They are very nice people who are really concerned about the direction this country is heading. They are nothing like the left continues to describe. They are also from all party affiliates, Dems, Rep, and independents and any other parties.

This has been my experience with the Tea Party also. All the different parties represented at their events is very exciting!

Originally Posted by buggyone

I really love to see posts like this since it does once again prove that President Obama has the vote of at least 90% of African-American votes and that is going to help him get re-elected for another 4 years.

I know this has only a relationship to this thread and is not the point at hand, but since you brought it up, it's apparent you know little of what you speak.

Obama is losing support across the board, and is experiencing a dramatic drop among black voters. His support has dropped from 83% to 58% in a new Washington Post/ABC News Poll.

Maybe I might suggest that you read more and assume less.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...dlK_story.html

In July, only 54 percent of blacks said they thought Obama’s policies were making the economy better compared with 77 percent the previous year.

Obama is losing the liberal votes, the black votes and the independents. Heck, even McCain would beat this guy in 2012?

Originally Posted by RichieLion

I know this has only a relationship to this thread and is not the point at hand, but since you brought it up, it's apparent you know little of what you speak.

Obama is losing support across the board, and is experiencing a dramatic drop among black voters. His support has dropped from 83% to 58% in a new Washington Post/ABC News Poll.

Maybe I might suggest that you read more and assume less.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...dlK_story.html

Now you are asking for thought and reading skills that may lead to something other than what has been implanted...quite a task !!

What bothers me and I am unable to locate it at present, but there was a report recently about job openings in areas of unemployment where the companies cannot get applicants. Not saying it was in black areas but that is troubling.

I did recently discuss unemployment with a man who is a fairly sizeable employer in Marion County. He tells me that finding people who will work shift work...weekends, etc. is VERY difficult and he has lots of trouble with that. I am afraid that many of our problems is this country can be traced to our "entititled" attitude that seems to prevail in all aspects of society.

I do not subscribe to any special organizations and efforts in the name of blacks or any other group(s).

Do whatever for the general population and then keep score by blacks, blues, yellows, baptists, catholics, one eyed and the one legged if one needs to measure such things.

Too many special interests that are in of themselves have too many that could care less...if it wasn't for members of these special interest groups who are elected officials trying to woo a voting block there would not even be a discussion.

I do subscribe whole heartedly with a passion to those who attempt to help themselves.

The practice does little more than enhance the breeding of prejudiced behavior for one group VS any other.

But that is me!

btk