Georgia Jobs, The American Worker and Globalization

The globalized marketplace is redefining the average American worker. Not long ago, the American worker enjoyed stable, well paying jobs that afforded a home, sending a kid or two to college, a comfortable retirement, the occasional family vacation and even a few luxuries. All without the dependent use of the credit card. However, in the few short years since the birth of globalization (global computer networks, satellites, efficient international sea trade, etc.) in the late 90's, the American worker has seen once dependable jobs evacuate to South America, South Asia and various third-world nations where labor is super cheap and regulation is sparse. As the US and the global marketplace begin to emerge from the worldwide economic recession, a major question for the US moving forward is: Where does the American Worker fit into the globalized workforce?

Compared to other international workforces, especially in the manufacturing sector, the American worker has a high standard of living, possibly too high to compete for the jobs that have already left our nation. As the US desperately tries to revive hiring and lower unemployment, rather than cutting taxes on corporations and the top 2% of wealthiest Americans (and hoping jobs will be created), states and the US government should be investing in the expansion of the United States' alternative energy industries and infrastructure. Environmental issues aside, the alternative energy industries, such as solar, wind, bio-fuels, recycling and natural gas, are American industries and can provide good jobs to the American worker.

Creating a solar powered, electric highway in the Georgia (like Washington state is doing) can't be outsourced to South America. The work must be done in Georgia. Developing wind farms off the coast of Georgia must be completed off the coast of Georgia, not South Asia. Growing plants for fuel can easily be done by Georgia farmers and utilized in Georgia vehicles, not grown halfway around the world and shipped in to our state. Even though some of the alternative energy components, such as solar panels and wind turbines, will be made overseas, the installation process must be completed within the US and will create jobs. With minimal government incentives, however, the American worker can compete for the component manufacturing process as these jobs are skill positions, require an educated workforce and can be assembled close to the installation site.  

And we don't need to wait for the Federal government to give these industries a jump start in Georgia. With the right leadership in Georgia's government, we can benefit from the 21st century alternative energy industry: good jobs that can't be outsourced overseas. Even though the American worker is being redefined by the globalized marketplace, with the right state leadership, Georgia can create jobs in the alternative energy industry and cause a surge of well paying jobs for Georgians.