This is a good idea

                                                                                 



The last time I watched the news (This morning) our economy was still in the shitter, and when I looked to our politicians they were all too busy spitting out useless rhetoric to actually do something about our sagging job market. Just when I was about to give up on finding some positive news, and give in to my rabid facebook addiction, I ran into this article. In it President Barack Obama is praising the state of Georgia for their unique job program, while at the same time cryptically mentioning that it may be in his jobs plan. here is a look at what the article said.

 Instead of collecting a check while looking for work, Georgia has a program to give the unemployed on-the-job training. It has caught the eye of President Obama.
The Georgia Works program allows those receiving unemployment insurance to be placed at a local company for up to eight weeks of training. Participants don't get paid, but they do get to keep their jobless benefits and receive a stipend of up to $240 for transportation and other expenses.

 Now before you get too excited understand that a program like this would need the proper amount of funding, and we've seen how excited our politicians are to fund things that are good for those in need, and we must also note that the program has had mixed reviews in Georgia, but I'll let the article explain that.

The program has received mixed reviews from unemployment advocates and economists though. Some question whether it really helps the jobless return to work, while others are concerned about the quality of training participants receive.
Also, the state has had to dramatically scale back the program as officials seek the money needed to continue it. Georgia Works' financial troubles began last fall when the labor department increased the stipend to $600, from $300, and opened it up to anyone without a job, not only those receiving benefits. That expansion essentially drained the programs of funds within a few months, forcing officials to cut back the stipend to $240 and restrict it once again to those getting unemployment checks.

If we could find a nice medium for this program in every state, I think that we would be in a lot better shape. One of my biggest frustrations in the world, is having to go to work every day, while people who are on unemployment collect a free pay check every two weeks for zero to no labor. Imagine if they were able to get some work experience while doing this?
The best part about it is if they do well enough, that company may ask them to stay for a permanent position. Similar to what happened to a quarter of the people who have done this program in Georgia.

Since the inception of Georgia Works in 2003, more than 23,000 participants have completed training programs at more than 16,500 employers. A quarter of them were hired at the firm by the end of the eight weeks, while nearly 60% were employed somewhere within three months of completing the program, state labor officials said.

At this point in the game we really have to do whatever we can to get this economy going, a program like this is something that would not hurt to try. What do you guys think.

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