Green Collar Jobs?

[yoyoma51]

So what do you think about Hillary Clinton's plan to create millions of 'green collar' jobs but starting a massive, government backed program to eventually making the U.S. energy independent?

Although I'm not sure who I'm voting for yet, I must say this idea is intriguing.

I figure if we can spend a TRILLION dollars (so far) in Iraq, we could certainly use money to EMPLOY millions of people in the U.S.

[AMISLANDER]

So what do you think about Hillary Clinton's plan to create millions of 'green collar' jobs but starting a massive, government backed program to eventually making the U.S. energy independent?

Although I'm not sure who I'm voting for yet, I must say this idea is intriguing.

I figure if we can spend a TRILLION dollars (so far) in Iraq, we could certainly use money to EMPLOY millions of people in the U.S.

I hate to get political, but in respect to her creating "green" jobs, which I haven't been aware of...maybe she could fine Bill Gates for farming out jobs to foreign countries when our people could use those jobs?

This is in response to what I saw on CNN, I think it was last week....not one legislative person said anything negative about the fact that he was doing this....they were just gaga eyed over him....interesting? eh....

[yoyoma51]

The outsourcing of American jobs is a true tragedy, but I doubt anyone in Washington will do anything serious to stop it.

Big business has too much influence.

[sharksfan]

...maybe she could fine Bill Gates for farming out jobs to foreign countries when our people could use those jobs?

It's not that simple.

The problem is that as a country, we want to pay as little as possible for all of the products and services we enjoy. On the same token we want fantastic paying jobs with top notch benefits.

Think about how much your Big Mac would cost if the guy behing the grill, the person taking your order, and the person taking your money all made $25+ dollars an hour instead of near minimum wage. How much would your favorite pair of jeans cost if the person who assembled them made 2,4,10 times as much?

[BKOnce]

What are "green collar" jobs??

[One Half Full]

She is talking about ethenol production, wind farms, I guess solar energy cell manufacture, electric cars-- really transferring the transportation and energy system as it is today to that of tomorrow (blah-blah-blah).

Ethenol will crash and burn though. Its use relies on continued use of oil as it is just an additive. One reason we are now seeing higher food and meat prices is that "greedy" farmers are producing the oil corn for ethenol and not feed corn for cattle/pigs & people. Already a few manufacturing facilities have gone belly up. I tend to see it as just another bubble. It will last for a few years, and then it will become cheaper to do, investors will lose their stock yada yada yada.

Now, wind farms are interesting. They are setting some out here in Iowa, and they are producing a lot of energy.

I don't see these as really producing jobs though. They will be owned by either utilities or private companies and will need a few engineers, bill collectors, and telemarketers-- same people working for them now.