Reader comments
Loss of 15,800 construction jobs a blow to Utah economy

Not to worry | 12:58 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Obama wants to offer a $3,000 tax credit to employers hiring new employees.
That should fix the problem because everybody knows employers hire for tax credits not skills, productivity or needs.
Thanks Obama, your so smart.

Anonymous | 1:58 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

There ain't no job losses in Utah.
This is just another liberal lie supported by the drive-by media.

Anonymous | 2:24 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Not to worry | 12:58 p.m In you contempt for anything Obama, did you ever figure that economics figure in to a businesses needs? If you need a skills set to increase your companies productivity but the cost to benefit was borderline a tax credit might swing your decision.

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 2:33 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

tell that too a kraftmaid employee

RE: Not to worry | 3:05 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

You'd be surprised.

Anonymous | 4:28 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

I lived through the Recession of the early 80's when Utah country was officially listed as the 3rd worst economically distressed country in America, exceeded only by a county in Mississippi and one in Louisiana. The joke back then was that Utah county was not far off from being a 3rd world country. It was hard.

That said... what happened back then is nothing compared to what is coming down the pike at us right now.

So Utah, get ready for the diving ride of your life. We've been going up, up, up the roller-coaster rise, now for the big, and I mean BIG diving ride. Frankly, many are going to get bludgeoned to bits financially, and sadly, most here in Utah, officially 68% of you (Republican voters) are still going to insist that the problem wasn't caused by deregulation of key business sectors and that those Hedge funds that catalyzed this whole mess were not really the cause, even if they weren't regulated at all... ad nauseum...

Reganonomics is a dismal failure. Neoconservatism went right wing-nut crazy. And Utah's Republicans have no leadership sense or innovative thinking in Washington DC whatsoever.

But then what to expect of self-deluded spinmeistering.

Disgusted | 4:39 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Like they'd hire more Deaf employees... they're always at the bottom of the totem pole. When they're done hiring with Hearing people, they will turn to Deaf people... NOT fair. HIRE only the qualified person, not the quota system!

Anonymous | 4:51 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

My father, brother, husband and several friends have all lost their jobs since November...don't say it doesn't happen here in Utah.

to disgusted and not to worry | 5:16 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Employers are not hiring anyone who looks over 40. They are the first people who will NOT be offered a job however if they have the skills needed for the job will be led to believe that they are the best person for the job only to have the employer turn around and hire someone who is 20 something. Next time you go to an interview look at the interviewer and those in the company- you will see what I mean.

There are jobs out there - but not for the over 40 group. I had over 30 interviews this year - each one was by a person under 35. I started to look at the people who worked for the company. I will now be asking what is the average age of their employees before wasting my time and money going to the interview. If it's under 40 I know they won't hire me.

Age discrimination is alive and well and is happening in Utah.

karma | 5:19 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Why not look on the bright side?
What's so bad about simplying your life?
What's so terrible about returning to basics?
Less IS more after all.
Now ask yourself these questions: Have I shunned panhandlers? Have I looked down on the underserved in my community? Do I view wealth as a "gift from God?" Do I give liberally to those in need.
Karma is karma and we reap what we sow.

Need to understand | 5:20 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

So if you were to hire somebody for the tax credit wouldn't that be instantly off set by a yearly wage or salary, and health benefits? In the end is that 3,000 credit that big of a deal?

Anonymous | 5:29 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

People erroneously believe the Great Depression happened overnight.
Not so.
It slowly ground to a halt after 10 years of warning signs.

RE: anonymous 4:28 | 5:32 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Reagan hasn't been president for two decades.

So who playing the blame game?

IT was regulation, government involvement that forced banks to give loans to poeple who could not afford to payback those loans.

It was the governemnt that forced the american car companies to to build cars a certain way and meet certain arbitrary standards,

It was the goivernment that forced to at great expense to the car companies to retool their factories.

It government that thought they knew how engineer cars better than the engineers that work for the car companies.

It was the liberal democratic supported unions that drove employee expenses through the roof,

that have weighed down a great burden on these companies of pensions and benfits they can no longer afford to pay.

YES it was government regulation and mandates and taxes that have caused this.

Government is the PROBLEM not the answer.

Why is unemployment and the tax burden higher in socialized and nationalized countries?

IT is the left-wing wackos like you who want to enslave us to the government that is destroying the country.

Taking away our freedoms to own land, guns, businesses, responsibility-for-our-own-health, freedom-to-practice-our-religions-publically, free-speech, the list goes on and on.

Re: Anonymous | 5:54 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

As the dark clouds of socialism thicken under Obama's administration, as my business faces increased taxation and government regulation, and more demands from the union, I too will have to lay loyal, dedicated employees off. I don't want to, but I have to because most Americans are now buying what I produce from China by non-union workers. So you see, your system of socialism is causing this dilema for me and for your family.

RE: anonymous 4:28 | 6:58 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Our finishing room had 60 workers.
Many had been with the company for 30 years.
It cost 73 dollars to make finished wooden chair legs for our most expensive chairs. Wages, benefits, SS and taxes.
Now I can order those same finished chair legs in a box from overseas for 23 dollars. We shut down our finishing room and still saved -50 dollars per chair. 60 people gone- out of work.
If you buy furniture and that same chair, my chair, cost 450 dollars and my competitors chair cost 400 dollars- same quality, you will save the 50 dollars and we will be out of business.
I know you don't believe in gov. regulation, but the Chinese- Indian- Vietnamese etc. have the advantage. No quotas, no import taxes means no American jobs. Obama and congress have to regulate this problem or even you and I will be on welfare and who will be working to pay the taxes for it?

Re: Anonymous | 7:19 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

How long has it been now that the congress has been dominated by Democratish wish wash? I'm amazed that spoiled children always think the father of our country, the president, is suppose to make everything perfect for everyone. Democrats have a mission for socialism first, and communism second!

employed | 7:27 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

there never were jobs in utah to begin with.

re: Re: Anon 5:54 | 7:51 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Yet another disenchanted Limbaughite who refuses to accept that mainstream America voted his kind out of the White House last month and is now left with "The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming!" right-wing nonsense.
Such childishness!

Re: Re: Anonymous 5:54 pm | 8:00 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

"As the dark clouds of socialism thicken under Obama's administration,"

Which hasn't even started yet. Intelligent post.

"So you see, your system of socialism is causing this dilema for me and for your family."

Whose system of socialism? Last I checked, Obama wasn't responsible for anything yet. Bush is still to blame, pal. When Obama gets into office and the economy improves, will you credit Bush? You're likely one of the same people that says Clinton's policies caused the recession of 2001 and Jimmy Carter's policies caused the slowdown of the early Reagan years.

Your business, so called, will benefit from tax breaks and new programs designed to BENEFIT it. Stop being defeatist and look at all sides of the issue.

anybody? | 8:55 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

So if you hired somebody for as little as $20,000 a year plus health benefits, minus the $3,000 for a tax credit, which leaves you on the hook for $17,000 a year. Is that going to make you out and start hiring?

You can't have mine | 9:05 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Then I guess I am the only person in Utah that has a job? Then why is the freeway so crowded every morning and evening commute?

Anonymous | 9:20 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

DON't you think that we are feeding the recession by eliminating jobs. If only companies would have paid there everyday employee closer to what they pay there execs. we would have a sound economy. Not one where the rich stay rich and the middle class and poor get poorer.

Re: Anonymous | 9:24 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

obviously, you have never owned a business!

Anonymous | 9:26 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

When was the last time you heard a CEO or upper management take a pay cut?

Re: Anonymous | 9:48 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Which Obama were you listening too? He never said anything about giving me a tax break. All he said was he would redistribute Joe the Plumber's "wealth".

Every week | 10:04 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

The fire CEO's if the don't make a profit! I know, I got fired.

Asura | 10:09 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

ï¿½Stop being defeatist and look at all sides of the issue.ï¿½

Ok I do agree with you that Bush caused this mess. But you need to take your own advice and look at both sides of issue. It would have been very hard for the recessions to take hold that quick if Regan and Bush caused it during there early years and before you call me a conservative begot donï¿½t because I am an independent I don't swing severely both ways but you liberals got much as the radical conservatives to blame on going to extremes. Socialism is not the answer neither is bush's polices in my opinion however, I am hopeful with Obama mostly with his energy plan. My advice to you and for other liberals is to take your own advice and look and see why people are conservative before resulting to name calling or thinking that they are idiots because of there conservative ideals. Give them a chance to think on there own. There have been bad presidents on both sides.

Unpopular | 11:08 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008

Know who has a lower approval rating than President Bush? It is the Democratically controlled congress! Lowest in the history of our country at about 11% who approve! And for those on here who don't know, it's congress, not the President, that spends money, runs up deficiets and lines their pockets with pork! So, if you want to know who really is in charge of your misery, it's your tax and spend, redistributing liberal members of congress! Go figure! And now we have Obama who won't veto one spending bill! God help us because no one else can now!

0802 | 12:14 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Government intervention is never the answer. However, its not just the democrats or just the republicans. They are equally responsible and when you take a step back and look honestly at their ACTIONS, not their words, you will see they are really no different. If you really want to know whats going on in the economy then you need to look somewhere other then the main stream media. Try mises.org, or google "great economists".

Interesting | 5:54 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

I find it very discouraging that people who are in charge of the regulating the economy, never owned or operated a business, never tried to make payroll, never struggled with OSHA,the IRS, a labor union or any other government regulation. If they had, believe me, they would see things very differently! Obama is a prime example. He has done none of the above and thinks he knows about how to "fix" the ecomomy with more and more of the same stumbling blocks that got us where we are! The govenment and unions have driven us out of business and the Chinese and the Japanese who understand ecomomics better than our elected officials are doing just fine at our expense! Thank you liberals, for what you have done to America!

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