Build Back Better

Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer

Last week America won.  It received strong news about the present economy and the outlook for the future.   President Joe Biden and the Democratic Congress delivered on their promise to create and improve American jobs. 

The CNBC headline read “Job creation roars back in October as payrolls rise by 531,000.”  This rate of job creation beat expectations and drove the unemployment rate down to 4.6%.  

Not only are more Americans working, but they are earning higher wages.  Wages today are 4.8% higher than they were a year ago.   The labor market is working for the first time in years as wage earners take home more pay. 

As more and more of us take a Covid shot for America, the economy is growing again.  We are traveling and spending money on hospitality and recreation.  These industries attracted new workers by offering hourly wages of $15 and $20 per hour. 

This situation is quite a turnaround from Donald Trump.  Donald argued that American wages were too high.  Conservatives want low wages to pay investors. Liberals want workers to earn their fair share. 

On the heels of this good news, Congress finished its negotiation of an infrastructure package.  Infrastructure is like the skeleton or circulator system of the body.  It keeps the many parts standing up and moves products around. 

Republican leaders Representative Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump tried to block this legislation.  Not only did Democrats pass the bill over their objections, President Biden and Speaker Pelosi even won about a dozen Republican votes in the House and Senator Mitch McConnell in the upper chamber.

Any infrastructure bill had been allusive for years.  This bill, part of Biden’s Build Back Better program, invests $110 billion in roads, bridges and bicycle paths. This money will replace or repair existing infrastructure. 

The infrastructure bill also addresses railroads.  Railroads are an essential part of our supply chain. Just as important, however, passenger rail provides a vital commuter service.  Improving rail service will create jobs and reduce greenhouse gases. 

The future of job and business growth also requires investing in information infrastructure.  The Democratic bill provides $65 billion dollars to expand high speed internet, or broadband, services.  This investment is a big win for rural areas left behind fast growing urban areas. 

Add all of this up, and we have a big win for America.  America is building back better.  Job creation is strong now and will be in the years to come.  Despite the efforts to sabotage the Biden Administration, American resilience is forging ahead with a future full of hope. 

Glenn Melancon is a professor of history at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He can be reached at glenn@glennmelancon.com. His opinions are his own and do not reflect those of the Jefferson Jimplecute.