When it comes to jobs, has there ever been a time when so few leaders seem able to address, much less solve, the issue?
Exhibit A: The President’s Jobs and Competitiveness Council
Take, for example, the President’s Jobs and Competitiveness Council (JACC), which kicked off with a media blitz earlier this week. What exactly are they trying to accomplish? An op-ed in The Wall Street Journal breaks down their perceived mandate: Read the full article.
To refresh your memory on how this Council came to be: in January, President Obama appointed General Electric (GE) CEO Jeffrey Immelt to lead the group. Their goal? To generate more domestic jobs—jobs for Americans rather than for people overseas. Since then, it’s been five months and still no major developments. Hold that thought.
Immelt’s Appointment
Immelt’s appointment was widely praised, even though, as CEO of GE, he oversaw one of the company’s largest declines in shareholder value. At the time, GE had also failed to generate high-paying jobs in the U.S. since the Jack Welch era. Attempts to reach out to GE for further comment would likely result in the typical corporate line: they operate as a global company, end of story.
Since then, Immelt has teamed up with American Express CEO Ken Chenault to tackle the issue. Below are some highlights of their recommendations:
1. Process Doesn’t Yield Results
The Council’s plan involves “90-day recommendations,” followed by more “strategic actions” over the next 90 days. In simple terms, that means six months of waiting with no real action. The lag between appointments and recommendations could stretch to nearly a year—during a period when recovery indicators have already softened. Meanwhile, those of us working on the ground know that life doesn’t allow for endless strategic reviews; we need action now. It’s a shame that PR teams and executives waste time on this kind of slow-moving process.
2. Flawed Recommendations
Let’s talk about the content of their recommendations. Phrases like “rehire more construction workers” and “boost jobs in travel and tourism” feel outdated—almost like something out of the Carter or Reagan administration. If the Council is serious about employment in construction, where’s the call for a massive public-private partnership to rebuild national infrastructure? Wasn’t this proposed years ago by former New York Times columnist Bob Herbert? As for tourism jobs, are they suggesting we turn the U.S. into a giant Disney World to attract more international visitors? There’s no harm in tourism, but the real ideas may come from talking to local retailers who are familiar with the impact of international visitors. Perhaps these conversations would lead to better insights than the disconnected strategies being floated at the top.
3. A Widening Divide
Combine slow-moving action with outdated solutions, and you get a recipe for the same problems we’ve been facing. The lack of focus on supporting entrepreneurs or encouraging the creation of new businesses is troubling. Instead, we get more talk of “innovation” while ignoring the need for fundamental change. The result? Status quo thinking, from those who’ve felt no personal pain from the Great Recession.
Even prominent figures like Paul Krugman have called this a “top-down disaster,” comparing it to “rule by rentiers”—where the asset-rich are catered to, while ordinary Americans suffer. This is perhaps the most glaring issue that both the current administration and Republican presidential candidates fail to tackle. It permeates all sectors, including big banks that continue to resist change while reaping the benefits of a rigged system, particularly when it comes to the housing crisis. Until the divide between the haves and have-nots is addressed meaningfully, “Nighttime in America” will continue.
A Call for Leadership
This situation is a damn shame. We can do better—we must do better. It’s not about political sides; it’s about common sense. There’s a need for leadership that cuts through the bureaucracy and addresses the real concerns of everyday Americans. Unfortunately, those in positions of power seem disconnected from the struggles we face daily.
Good day,
JG
Editorial note: Despite mentioning specific subjects, this post is not a political message. It’s a call for common sense, which should exist but too often fails to reach the highest levels of power.