Scott Walker and Republicans keep cheerleading their Foxconn con. Chris Kapenga (WI - State Senator) was just on Up Front With Mike Gousha talking up what a great investment Foxconn is for Wisconsin.
The "deal" is $4.8 billions dollars for 3,000 jobs with the potential of 13,000 jobs. For 3,000 jobs, that's $1.6 million per job. Or another way, a 30-year career, making roughly $53,000 per year.
If Wisconsin simply employed workers, for $4.8 billion, it could provide a 30-year career, $50,000 per year job, for 3,200 people.
At the end of the day, if it's taxpayers' dollars we're spending, shouldn't we keep the decision-making capabilities in the hands of Wisconsin taxpayers? Why provide such lavish subsidies to a private company when the economics clearly show that a public entity could create jobs for much less?
Rather than providing corporate welfare to a billion-dollar "modern" company, modernize our public transportation; green our public buildings; and upgrade our water, sewer and electrical systems. This creates jobs short- and long-term. It also improves the entire state's economic competitiveness. This is what attracts residents, retains and grows business, moves products and people, and ultimately leads to a higher quality of life.
If we're going to be spending billions and the pay-off of 3,000 is worth the cost...then why not just create 3,000 state jobs - of engineers, construction workers, scientists, builders, etc. - for the job of taking care of and improving our state and our public assets?
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