It's important to listen very carefully to what those make promises are really saying in terms of jobs these days. There is talk of not extending unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed in hopes of pushing them into jobs that are at the level of minimum wage. I think that will have mixed results. It will show job growth but I think will also result in long term lower wages for workers.

I also see the continued push for de-regulation in hopes of stimulating growth. In areas such as oil/gas this will result in continued degradation of our environment - clean air and water. In Texas the only growth we see lately is the movement of companies (mostly from California) to Texas because of the lower tax burden. Keep in mind that this is not job growth but rather job re-location for the most part and in some cases actual net reduction of jobs. For the private sector consumption is the key to job growth and without improved employment numbers people tend to conserve and save if possible.

I think time not political promises will be the only thing that brings us out of our present situation and there is the possibility that it will get worse before it gets better (hope not). I also hope that we do not become so desperate that we give away many of the gains made in terms of environment, health and safety during this process.

This seems to be one of those times in history that is ripe for flim-flam salesman, religious extremism, and corporate control. I hope we are careful about what we willing to give up during this process. Try and keep in mind what got us into this present situation because if we don't change somethings will probably get the same results.

Peace