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City officials: 'Grease my palms, Joe!'
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You know, it's nice that we're talking about the"Commerce Department’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership" and the "National Innovation Marketplace" coming in... (whatever that means.) It's thoughtful of you to think of ways to connect "suppliers" with "buyers" (suppliers and buyers of what?) And it's convenient of you to put two and two together (auto manufacturers, wind turbine manufacturers, same thing, right?) But I can't help but think this is little more than a really good example of why the government is failing and why many of our citizens are so downright dejected.
First of all, why even bother presenting "a plan" that's not really a specific plan at all? This new White House Council on 
Automotive Communities and Workers promises to "helps manufacturers figure out what new products they can make and whom they can sell them to" and to "help manufacturers get the information they need" to make the shift from auto manufacturing to green technology manufacturing. I fail to see how government-appointed officials are in the best position to make these calls. I'm also seeing a lot of vague, pretty language and not a lot of satisfying details.
I can handle the idea that they're just gearing up and that the plans aren't underway yet, but why bother unveiling this now if all you have is this epic dream of saving swing states like Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana from record-breaking manufacturing job losses exceeding 400,000? Also, what about that gigantic General Motors engine plant in Tonawanda, New York, where 30% of its workforce was laid off in one fell swoop? (Oh right, we always vote Democrat, nevermind!) It's hard not to see this as anything more than creating another useless council to give the guise that "the Obama-Biden administration is listening" and "taking a bold plan of action."
Secondly, I appreciate this idea of creating a society that's more energy efficient and focused on manufacturing for the future. Yet we can't just wave our magic wand and suddenly put all these retired auto manufacturers and suppliers to work creating solar panels and wind turbines. I'm not sure how long it would take to turn an old manufacturing facility into a green tech facility, but I do know it will cost a ton of cash. Consider that Ford retooling a truck engine plant into a Focus engine plant will cost an estimated $550 million... and it's already set up to manufacture engines! I'm sure we could kick out "just a few more mill" to get those wind turbines cranking, you know?
It's no wonder that, at the end of the day, no one in Toledo/Perrysburg, Ohio wanted to hear all this hoopla about "all the green jobs coming" (before the next election cycle). Mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski nearly "had a conniption fit" (as Joe Biden put it) to be heard, as he cried out for more funding so they could repair aging water pipelines. Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and the Police Patrolman Association president Dan Wagner politely asked for a grant to re-hire up to 46 laid-off police officers. Biden's response that "the spigot is flowing" was just the hot air they needed to hear. Just like the J.G. Wentworth commercials, more stimulus-hungry lawmakers will likely be yelling, "It's my money and I want it now!" -- except for Mark Sanford, the governor of South Carolina, who initially rejected the money and was later forced to use it. Clearly this is no time for pragmatism.
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