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A new WPA or CCC could work if four elements are in place
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By JON M. HUNTER, Publisher
| 12/16/2008 |
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In a time of national recession, with a new Democrat becoming president January 20, there is talk of bringing back elements of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) or the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
The WPA was the largest of all the New Deal agencies, employing nearly eight million people between 1935 and 1943 and affecting almost every community in the United States. The stone walls in Madison's Memorial Creek were built by WPA workers, and some sidewalks in older parts of town still have the "WPA" stamp in the concrete.
Nationwide, the most money was spent on constructing roads, public buildings such as schools and publicly-owned utilities, such as electric or sewage treatment plants.
The CCC was established in 1933 as a similar jobs program, but focused more on work that enhanced or protected natural resources. In South Dakota, more than 30,000 men were paid $30 a month to work, and another $25 was sent to their family.
Today, two factors cause us to consider creating new agencies like the WPA and CCC: rising unemployment throughout the country, and a highway, road and bridge infrastructure in the U.S. that has needs attention.
We believe a new jobs program can address these challenges head-on and help the country. Nevertheless, there are four key elements we believe are critical if we expect success.
1) Don't let Congress set the details but leave that to the administration. Congress would surely specify where projects would go based on political vote-trading, just like other legislation is filled with pork barrel "earmarks."
2) Money must be paid to people who work for it. Hard work is the very foundation of American success in the last two hundred years. Work provides honor and a sense of accomplishment, in addition to wages. Paychecks are much better than "stimulus" checks that the government hands out but can't afford. While some of that money is used well, a good chunk is clearly wasted.
3) The projects themselves must be worthwhile, and have long-lasting effects. A new water treatment plant or flood control project would matter; raking leaves just to be busy would not.
4) The jobs programs should shut down when the economy comes back. CCC funding was discontinued in 1942 and the WPA was disbanded in 1943, both because jobs became available as part of the war buildup. The federal government should not be the primary employer in a free market, and these agencies should go away when they aren't needed.
We think that new programs have tremendous potential for our country and its citizens. But they have to be established and managed well to be successful.
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©Madison Daily Leader 2010
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