Is there a connection between the three words in the above title?  You better believe it.  We are in the midst of the most ubiquitous contradiction that I can ever recall in my forty four years of living in South Carolina.  Throughout the national recession that we are currently embedded in Mr. Bernanke, economist, professors, democrats, republicans and independents have all claimed that the high unemployment rate is the major impasse holding back economic recovery.  Unemployment is the most critical of all essentials necessary to get us back on track……. JOBS.  Furthermore, as former President Clinton commented recently, “The housing market must come back in order for the economy to recover.”  Almost all expert forecasters and crystal ballers tell us that we must have jobs along with a surge in the housing market in order to mend and restore strong and lasting market conditions in our country. 

So what’s happening in North Charleston, SC? Boeing, one of the most highly respected, successful, profitable industries in the world selected North Charleston, South Carolina to build a plant that will offer over 1,000 jobs to citizens in that community.  In addition hundreds of other jobs will be created to supply and service the Boeing plant. Great news, right? Incredibly, amidst volumes of agreed upon theory regarding the need for jobs in this country (where South Carolina is experiencing over 11% unemployment) the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has sued Boeing because Boeing “violated labor laws by opening a plant in South Carolina to punish workers in Washington State for past strikes.” As a result, the NLRB wants the North Charleston plant to be relocated back to the unionized west coast.  One reason that Boeing chose South Carolina is because we are a Right to Work state.  There are only 22 states the United States that hold this sacred bill and as a result, it attracts good, solid companies like Boeing.

    Meanwhile the Washington 787 plant has added “3176 jobs to that facility.” MSNBC…The Everett, WA plant has grown consistently since the 787 plant in N. Charleston has been announced.  No decline in employment or JOBS there.

Are you crazy yet?  Let’s look at who this NLRB crowd really is.  They were formed in 1935 and they are an independent federal agency that reports ONLY to the President of the United States.  The NLRB has a five-person Board and a General Counsel.  The President of the United States appoints the Board and the General Counsel (Lafe Soloman) and these appointees must be approved by the Senate.  The NLRB employs between 1,600 and 1,650 people.  The approved 2011 budget for the NLRB was $282.8 Million.  The President is asking for that to be raised to $287.7 million for 2012.  http://www.nlrb.gov/who-we-are/board

Now here is what elevates my insanity to the pinnacle of lunacy: Jobs are the needed vehicle to get the US back on the road to recovery.  Boeing brings 1,000 - 2,000 jobs with their new plant.  People with jobs buy houses.  It is necessary for housing to recover and become vibrant in order for the economy to stabilize and move forward.  The lawsuit being carried out against Boeing by the NLRB, who has publicly vowed to “shut the North Charleston plant down” is being paid for by American tax dollars from the working class.  That alone is not what makes me craziest! It’s that the efforts of “big labor” to shut down this plant are financed and facilitated by American (South Carolinians) Federal Income Tax dollars. That pushed me over the edge!  In 2011, the 50% of us who paid federal income tax, paid in over $282 million so that NLRB, this Independent Federal Agency reporting directly to the President can file a lawsuit and attempt to close down a fabulous, much needed plant in our Right to Work State of South Carolina.

So, back to real estate where “underneath all is the land.” For your personal house value to be restored we need employment….we need jobs. To get “real” jobs we need the Boeings of the world. I hope this report made you “Nuts” and that you’ll say something to somebody…anybody… about it.  As my friends from up north say, “enough already.”

db      



 

  

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