"Limited/Small Government" and Job Creation

I frequent some political boards and also love to read the comments on political articles on news sites for smurfs and giggles. I am always reading and hearing right wingers crying for limited/smaller government or constitutional purism and in same breath, chastising our current administration on job creation (which has improved...the national average unemployment has dropped to 7.7%, a four year low). I also see a lot of demands to keep the government out of the private sector/deregulation. They also claim that "trickle down" economics and tax cuts for the wealthy is what will create more jobs, however there have been breaks for the wealthy for quite some time and there was still the huge mass loss of jobs in the past 4-7 years.

Questions posed:

1. If you are a small government advocate and/or constitutional purist, do you think it is our governments job/burden to create jobs in the private sector?

2. If tax breaks for the wealthy are suppose to be the right direction for job creation, isn't the burden to create said jobs on the wealthy and not the government?

Uh, they aren't upset that the government hasn't created more jobs. They're upset when the government puts in regulations that stifle growth from the private sector.

By the way, the only reason unemployment keeps dropping is because hundreds of thousands of people are giving up looking for work each month and/or their unemployment benefits are running out.

The number of jobs created each month isn't enough to keep up with population growth, plus, they have been mostly minimum wage jobs.

1. Government should stay out of jobs, job creation, product regulation, etc. Where in the Constitution does it say the government should do these things? It doesn't. The FREE MARKET works itself out. If a product kills/hurts too many people, people stop buying it, and it goes away.

Dismantle the EPA, FDA, USDA, etc and you will see job growth.

2. The wealthy would create more jobs, but it's a bitch to do in the US. There are too many regulations and thousands upon thousands of rules. I personally want to see an elimination/cut in 47% of government programs, elimination of the IRS, and a FairTax implemented and I believe then you will see an increase in jobs.

I am three things (not a right winger), a Constitutionalist, a Libertarian, and a minarchist.

Quoting Nymphadora:" I frequent some political boards and also love to read the comments on political articles on news sites ... [snip!] ... suppose to be the right direction for job creation, isn't the burden to create said jobs on the wealthy and not the government?"

1. No. It is NOT governments job to crreate jobs. It is governement's job to create the environment for growth. It is the job of governement to get out of the way of jobs.

2. I dont hear calls for tax breaks for the wealthy. The burden of job creation is primarily with the middle class and the rich. They cant do it with government in the way and with a governement that creates uncertainty and business obstacles known and unknown.

Quoting SpaceCowgirl:" By the way, the only reason unemployment keeps dropping is because hundreds of thousands of people are ... [snip!] ... of jobs created each month isn't enough to keep up with population growth, plus, they have been mostly minimum wage jobs."

This. Unemployment is dismal right now. I'm almost in panic-mode for some of my tenants right now.

Quoting SpaceCowgirl:" By the way, the only reason unemployment keeps dropping is because hundreds of thousands of people are ... [snip!] ... of jobs created each month isn't enough to keep up with population growth, plus, they have been mostly minimum wage jobs."

This!!!!

It is government's job to create a ripe environment for job growth. Regulation stifles this.

Over taxation, over-regulation and the like all hinder job growth.

Screw the small give vs big government argument. There is no government quite like no government.

Quoting khigh:" 1. Government should stay out of jobs, job creation, product regulation, etc. Where in the Constitution ... [snip!] ... will see an increase in jobs. I am three things (not a right winger), a Constitutionalist, a Libertarian, and a minarchist. "

I don't necessarily agree with you, but at least you are consistent.

Quoting TantricLemons:" Screw the small give vs big government argument. There is no government quite like no government."

So do you guys believe an employer should be able to treat employees horribly-->sweat shops-->pre-government intervention and government regulation? We would all like to believe that people would be ethical if deregulated, but history and our treatment of workers overseas says differently.

The unemployment rate is a joke  

You would have to add all the people dropped from their benefits that have not aquired work.

While it may not be the governments responsibility to create jobs, it certainly is in their best interest and a direct reflection of the governments ability to manage and address fiscal problems.

Just like any other "business"

Quoting khigh:" "

To be fair on the gas prices, it fluctuated a lot even in Bush's era and was over $3 a gallon.

Quoting Nymphadora:" So do you guys believe an employer should be able to treat employees horribly-->sweat shops-->pre-government ... [snip!] ... to believe that people would be ethical if deregulated, but history and our treatment of workers overseas says differently."

Sure, I'd be fine with the government regulating "ethics"....of they were at all ethical!

We've got a government who abuses their power to the nth degree. I pretty much don't trust them on anything.