Create a WPA to rebuild the nation

Much like a doctor who seems “sick symptoms” in a patient but needs to understand before he tries to cure the disease, economists are befuddled and perplexed by what they see in our economic world today.

Perhaps the first order of business is to look at the symptoms:

1. High worldwide unemployment rate.

2. Staggering foreclosure rate in the United States.

3. Slow growth to no growth of most economies worldwide.

4. Very slow permanent job creation.

5. Record low interest rates.

This is the second Depression in 80 years in this country. Many government safeguards were put in place because of the first Great Depression. If all that government help were removed, you would see much higher unemployment rates today than the first Depression.

As far as I can tell, we are in for a protracted period of unemployment for many years. Arguably, it wasn't until World War II that the Great Depression ended, but our nuclear age does not leave war as an option.

There is only so much the government can do. The real answer lies in getting the unemployment rate down and good-paying jobs created.

I think the federal government can do a great service to this country with doing as FDR did during the Great Depression. Create WPA systems where each community gets federal money to redo major interstates, bridges, dams and national parks. Rebuild the infrastructure, create a great nation and put people back to work again.

Ed Lowry

Cedar Rapids