Many of California's "Green Jobs" Involve Thinking about "Green Jobs"

The Los Angeles Exception ^ | August 10, 2010 | By Exception Staff

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The Environmental Defense Fund only tallied businesses that were directly involved in the green economy, such as those that build green buildings or develop low-carbon energy solutions. This year, the environmental group added two additional categories: "businesses that use sustainable practices; and non-profits, academic institutions and public agencies that design policies, train workers and educate the public on the economic opportunities that stem from energy and environmental policies."

It's even more troubling that such a high percentage of the state's green jobs involve nothing more than thinking about green jobs or training workers for green jobs that don't exist today and may not even exist tomorrow.

There's a lot of brainpower behind the green economy. Yet most of it seems to be dedicated towards making the case for government investments.

Investing in a green economy may have its merits. But elected officials will soon have to explain to voters why there are so many green businesses in the news and so few that are actually ready to employ all the green job trainees.

In other words, over half of the green businesses in California are not really green businesses at all.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

No wonder the Kenyan's economic team is bailing out.

[dalebert]

ya green jobs were already here...(eco friendly) before Obama took office. its just another word for rip off...and they are still robbing us..

[The_Victor]

Eventually our government may figure out that you cannot manufacture a market for something that has no value.

[cripplecreek]

Green shoots and choo choo trains might as well be lollipop trees and magical unicorns.

[Dixie Yooper]

Now let me get this straight, you want to pay me for dreaming about "Skittle $hitting Unicorns"? Where do I sign up?

[Vendome]

They aren’t thinking about Green Jobs.

They are daydreaming about Green Jobs.

[PATRIOT1876]

*Eventually our government may figure out that you cannot manufacture a market for something that has no value.*

One of the best quotes that I’ve heard about the carbon credit scam is:

“It’s a perfect business for those in the carbon credit scheme.
It’s a product that you never have to deliver that doesn’t exist”

[thulldud]

Eventually our government may figure out that you cannot manufacture a market for something that has no value.

Most of them figured that out a long time ago. That's why they work the law so that when you buy something with value (meaning, you want it), you are forced to buy their worthless stuff along with it, or do without.

This current crop seems not to have got the memo.

[Red Badger]

The next step is Talking about Talking about Green Jobs.....................

[Marty62]

This is the Dum MO. The only thing they do is sit around thinking up ways to make Americans miserable.

They NEVER create ANYTHING tangible.

[cripplecreek]

“It’s a perfect business for those in the carbon credit scheme. It’s a product that you never have to deliver that doesn’t exist”

Here in Michigan our legislature has imposed production cuts on energy producers. It works out great for those producers. The have lower overhead costs and an artificial increase in demand to help push the prices up. At the same time they sell carbon credits for the carbon they aren't producing.

[engrpat]

Green jobs will get mowed by the lawn mower of reality.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Yet most of it seems to be dedicated towards making the case for government investments.

Necessary when the business plan generates no profits.

[algernonpj]

And the rest of the green jobs are in China.