In terms of issues in a Republican primary, there are often very few points of demarcation among the candidates. In the race for Senate District 56, however, there are a few important differences. One such point is the issue of jobs.

Our campaigns position is unique in this race in that we do not believe that government or its many subsidiaries can “create” jobs. Yes, we all want more jobs; however, there is a fundamental misunderstanding as to who can “create” them. Babies are not delivered by storks. Jobs are not created by the government.

The government has nothing that it did not take by taxes or by force. Or put another way, it can give only to one man what it first took from another. Thus, no matter how much the government spends, it can only divert jobs from private hands to public hands or from one industry to some other industry. And, as bad as this sounds, it’s much worse.

Jobs transferred are jobs Destroyed

The process of job diversion is not as simple as one job lost, one job gained. In the private sector, individuals and businesses risk sweat and money based on the likelihood of reward. This is the risk-reward ratio. When the government intervenes by diverting resources, increasing taxes, or increasing regulation, the risk-reward ratio is recalculated. Thus, the detriment to our economy is not simply the jobs lost or diverted. The detriment is also the fifty plus untold jobs destroyed by the dollars withheld and withdrawn in our economy as the result of the change in the risk-reward ratio.

In a nutshell, our government’s policy of increasing spending to “create” jobs only expands the very problem it attempts to solve. Yet, too many buy the government’s argument of “job creation” because all attention is given to the job that was given and not to the jobs which were destroyed to make that one diverted job possible.

At my church, North Point Community Church, the staff focuses on creating an “environment where the unchurched can come and hear the life-changing truth that Jesus Christ cares for them and died for their sin.” Stay with me. They know that they cannot create Christians. Nevertheless, what they can do is create environments where attendees are more likely to become Christians. Creating these environments is their full focus.

In the same way, while the government cannot create jobs, it can create environments where businesses and individuals are more likely to create jobs. To do so, we have to tip the risk-reward ratio back towards opportunity and reward. We do this by lowering taxes, limiting the functions of government, increasing transparency, repealing regulation, and incentivising business relocations and business development. We also do this by performing the legitimate functions of government, such as transportation, water and education, with excellence and efficiency so as to draw business and jobs to our State and our communities. 

Paid for by David Belle Isle for Senate