Finneran: Bad Moon Rising
Friday, January 19, 2018
Tom Finneran, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
America is in trouble.
Too few citizens pay attention.
Too many citizens are adrift.
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It’s quite easy to overlook the problem. Given the racing pulse of the stock market and the relatively low unemployment rate of the state and the nation, it’s understandable that all seems well. The beautiful calm blue surface of our economic waters hides some dangerous currents.
Jobs are now harder than ever to fill. Good jobs. High paying jobs. Jobs that would comfortably support a middle-class family..........
The difficulty in filling these jobs does not spring from our tight labor market. That tight market might compound the challenge, but the challenge has been there for many years. And, it’s getting worse........
I call it the employer’s lament. A job posting goes up, perhaps in the help wanted section of the local newspaper, perhaps on some easily-accessed websites. That posting would certainly appear on the company’s bulletin boards. News of the posting and the opportunity would spread informally through the company’s network of employees that, “hey, there’s a nice opening” down the street at Joe’s ABC Corp.
The job carries some degree of complexity, but it’s not rocket science. The ability to read and understand a technical manual or two might be necessary. There might be some technical skill involved. And of course a prospective employee probably has to pass a drug test, particularly if there is machinery involved in the employee’s responsibilities.
Jobs such as this go unfilled for month after month after month, in every region of the country. The drug test filters out some applicants. No problem there. I understand and applaud the need to meet safety standards and quality assurance goals.
The bigger problem goes back to the required skill set. Too many Americans cannot read a technical manual. Too many lack the most basic of technical skills. Too many fail to grasp simple mathematical concepts.
The job might require the ability to read and understand blueprints. Or it might require the ability to operate sophisticated welding machinery. American industry has certainly grown more complex than the proverbial pliers and spark plug days of old. While industry has moved forward, our schools have not.
President Obama claims to have spawned an economic recovery from the depths of the housing collapse. President Trump lays claim to a zooming stock market and economic confidence. The recent tax bill will likely add oxygen to that confidence. But don’t be fooled.
Neither President’s policies have addressed the employer community’s inability to find qualified skilled employees to fill thousands of jobs.
You can imagine the employers’ impatience. They see a prospective market and an opportunity to grow. They sense the possibility of profit. They are eager to find good employees with 21st century skills. And they wait and wait and wait...............their patience turns to fatigue and frustration.
Perhaps we should eliminate the social and cultural frown associated with technical training. Not everyone has to go to college. Not everyone has to take an obscure art course or a trendy “studies” degree. We desperately need more numerate and literate technical workers. So-called trade skills are in frighteningly short supply.
Perhaps our schools will take note. Perhaps technical educators will be deemed as important as Harvard Law School professors. I don’t know about you but when the lights are out or the plumbing goes I don’t call the guy who studied poetry. I call the guy who passed the plumbing boards.
The nation has survived dot.com bubbles, housing bubbles, and stock market bubbles. But survival is not enough. We need sustainable skills and sustainable growth. The simple fact that American employers cannot find qualified employees is a disgrace. It is also a looming economic catastrophe. There’s a bad moon rising over the nation.
Tom Finneran is the former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, served as the head the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and was a longstanding radio voice in Boston radio
Related Slideshow: GoLocal: Benchmark Poll, October 2017
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Sponsor: GoLocalProv
Sample: N=403
Rhode Island General Election Voters Margin of Error: +/- 4.9% at 95% Confidence Level
Interviewing Period: October 9-11, 2017
Mode: Landline (61%) and Mobile (39%)
Telephone Directed by: John Della Volpe, SocialSphere, Inc.
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When it comes to voting, do you consider yourself to be affiliated with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Moderate, or Unaffiliated with a major party?
Unaffiliated: 49%
Democrat: 32%
Republican: 15%
Moderate: .4%
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Next year, in November of 2018, there will be a statewide general election for Governor and many other state offices. How likely is it that you will vote in this election?
Will you definitely be voting, will you probably be voting, are you 50-50...
Definitely be voting: 78%
Probably be voting: 13%
50-50: 9%
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In general, would you say things in Rhode Island are headed in the right direction or are they off on the wrong track?
Right track: 39%
Wrong track: 45%
Mixed: 10%
Don't know/Refused: .6%
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What would you say is the number one problem facing Rhode Island that you would like the Governor to address?
Jobs and economy: 21%
Education: 12%
Taxes: 12%
Roads: 12%
State budget: 9%
Corruption/Public integrity: .8%
Healthcare: 3%
Governor: 3%
Homelessness: 2%
Immigration: 2%
Other: 7%
Don’t know: .9%
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Over the past three years or so, would you say the economy in Rhode Island has improved, gotten worse, or not changed at all?
Changed for the better: 35%
Changed for the worse: 16%
Not changed at all: 43%
Don't know/Refused: 5%
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Over the same time, has your family's financial situation improved, gotten worse, or not changed at all?
Changed for the better: 26%
Changed for the worse: 19%
Not changed at all: 54%
Don't know/Refused: 1%
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Recently, a proposal has been made to permit the issuance of $81 million in bonds by the State to build a new stadium for the Pawtucket Red Sox. If there was an election today on this issue, would you vote to approve or reject issuing $81 million in financing supported moral obligation bonds to build the stadium?
Net: Approve: 28%
Definitely approve: 15%
Probably approve: 14%
Net: Reject: 67%
Probably reject: 19%
Definitely reject: 48%
Don't know: 4%
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Could you please tell me your age?
18-24: 7%
25-34: 15%
35-44: 15%
45-54: 20%
55-64: 17%
65+: 25%
Don't know/refused: 1%
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What was the last grade you completed in school?
0-11: 2%
High school grad: 16%
Technical/Vocational school: 1%
Some college: 23%
College grad: 34%
Graduate degree: 24%
Don't know/refused: 1%
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The next question is about the total income of YOUR HOUSEHOLD for the PAST 12 MONTHS. Please include your income PLUS the income of all members living in your household (including cohabiting partners and armed forces members living at home).
$50,000 or less: 27%
More $50,000 but less than $75,000: 13%
More $75,000 but less than $100,000: 13%
More $100,000 but less than $150,000: 17%
$150,000 or more: 13%
Don't know/refused: 17%
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What particular ethnic group or nationality - such as English, French, Italian, Irish, Latino, Jewish, African American, and so forth - do you consider yourself a part of or feel closest to?
American/None: 21%
English: 13%
Italian: 13%
Irish: 12%
Black or African American: 6%
Latino/Hispanic: 6%
French: 6%
Portuguese: 3%
Jewish: 3%
German: 1%
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Would you say that Donald Trump has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as President?
Excellent: 13%
Good: 12%
Fair: 14%
Poor: 57%
Never heard of: 0%
Cannot rate: 3%
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Would you say that Jack Reed has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as a United States Senator?
Excellent: 22%
Good: 29%
Fair: 23%
Poor: 15%
Never heard of: 6%
Cannot rate: 6%
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Would you say that Sheldon Whitehouse has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as a United States Senator?
Excellent: 17%
Good: 22%
Fair: 21%
Poor: 28%
Never heard of: 6%
Cannot rate: 7%
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Would you say that David Cicilline has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as a Member of Congress?
Excellent: 9%
Good: 29%
Fair: 21%
Poor: 27%
Never heard of: 6%
Cannot rate: 8%
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Would you say that James Langevin has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as a Member of Congress?
Excellent: 7%
Good: 30%
Fair: 20%
Poor: 18%
Never heard of: 13%
Cannot rate: 11%
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Would you say that Gina Raimondo has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Governor?
Excellent: 6%
Good: 28%
Fair: 30%
Poor: 31%
Never heard of: 1%
Cannot rate: 3%
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Would you say that Daniel McKee has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Lieutenant Governor?
Excellent: 3%
Good: 16%
Fair: 21%
Poor: 8%
Never heard of: 26%
Cannot rate: 25%
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Would you say that Peter Kilmartin has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Attorney General?
Excellent: 3%
Good: 20%
Fair: 28%
Poor: 17%
Never heard of: 13%
Cannot rate: 19%
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Would you say that Seth Magaziner has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as General Treasurer?
Excellent: 4%
Good: 18%
Fair: 24%
Poor: 13%
Never heard of: 21%
Cannot rate: 21%
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Would you say that Nellie Gorbea has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Secretary of State?
Excellent: 5%
Good: 21%
Fair: 21%
Poor: 10%
Never heard of: 20%
Cannot rate: 23%
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Would you say that Jorge Elorza has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as Mayor of Providence?
Excellent: 4%
Good: 24%
Fair: 24%
Poor: 22%
Never heard of: 9%
Cannot rate: 15%
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