Many of America’s problems can be blamed on government dysfunction. Sluggish job creation is no exception.
It’s important to understand that government does not create jobs, but rather creates the environment in which the private sector does. These private-sector businesses deal in profits and losses and want to understand one thing: the bottom line.

The bottom line is what President Barack Obama’s first term has failed to deliver. The U.S. economy is clawing back, but Obama has been unsuccessful — and appears unable — to give a precise economic vision to bring confidence to the private sector. Washington’s inactivity has led to private-sector inactivity in hiring.

Poll after poll shows businesses are severely understaffed, but won’t hire new workers because of economic uncertainty. Small business owners don’t understand the costs of Obamacare, how our national debt will affect long-term markets or if their retirement savings will be enough. Obama hasn’t eased their worries.

The private sector looks at an ominous fiscal cliff next year and heads into hibernation. Why should businesses create jobs when Washington cannot guarantee — literally — the solvency of our government?

There are many lawmakers to blame, but the buck stops at the president’s desk.

Obama needs to showcase leadership, stand with Republicans and Democrats and say the state of the American economy is strong. For an orator and campaigner as accomplished as Obama, he hasn’t shown the skills to work the political process and deliver this bipartisan message.

When it came to failed talks on tax reform and debt reduction, Obama blamed congressional Republicans. It’s hard to believe that a few radical Tea Partiers thwarted the most powerful human being on Earth.

While the private sector respects and admires Obama, it doesn’t see him as a leader to restore faith in our struggling economy.

Jared Kraham is a senior political science and broadcast journalism major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at jmkraham@syr.edu and followed on Twitter at @JaredKraham.

 

Published on October 2, 2012 at 1:00 am