Now I Understand - Obama Means Five Million New Government Jobs
I have not been able to figure out how Obama gets to a 5 million job creation number from his alternative energy plans. As I pointed out,
OK, so the total employment of all these industries that might be
related to an alternate energy effort is about 2.28 million. So, to
add 5 million incremental jobs would require tripling the size of the
utility industry, tripling the size of the utility construction and
equipment industry, tripling the size of the auto industry, tripling
the size of the aircraft industry, and tripling the size of the
shipbuilding industry. And even then we would be a bit short of
Obama's number.
But now I think I am starting to understand. Tom Nelson gave me the clue with this article from the town of Frankfort, Kentucky:
Commissioners again discussed the possible creation of a sustainability coordinator position for the city.
Andy MacDonald, of the Mayor's Task Force on Energy Efficiency and
Climate Change, told commissioners that the creation of the position is
"the next critical step" to reduce the city's environmental footprint.Commissioner Doug Howard brought up the possibility of asking the
city's recycling coordinator to fulfill part of the proposed position's
duties until money is available.
OK, so we need both a recycling coordinator and a sustainability coordinator for a town of 27,741 people (2000 census). At this rate, that would imply nearly 22,000 government jobs across the country just in the government recylcing and sustainablity coordination field. Now I am starting to understand. Obama means five million new government jobs.
