California remains home to three of the nation’s largest container ports at Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland. Trade through these ports constitutes one of California’s biggest economic engines, processing over $500 billion in goods in 2008, representing more than 40 percent of all the nation’s containerized imports and nearly 30 percent of all exports, generating more than $10 billion in state and local taxes and more than 2 million jobs nationwide.

With California struggling to dig its way out of the worst economic downturn since the great depression, international trade may well be our best hope for recovering lost jobs and economic activity.

And yet, there is a storm brewing on the horizon for California Ports.

Despite their importance to the economy, the state’s ports and trade infrastructure have been taken for granted for years and the competitive advantage that the state has enjoyed and the economic benefits they have brought could very well disappear over the next decade.

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Independent researchers find policies to create ‘green jobs’ harm the overall economy

In a recently released report, The Commonwealth Foundation compares the green job industry with the “Broken Window Fallacy,” which was coined by a 19th century economist who disputed the idea that a broken window was good for the economy.

In other words, green jobs, which are alleged to create a positive effect on the economy, have actually created a negative impact.

The report says:

Green jobs, i.e., jobs in wind, solar, and other alternative energies, are in and of themselves a good thing. But when government attempts to pick winners and losers—by identifying which industries are “green” or “good” and subsidizing them at taxpayers’ expense, mandating their use, and even punishing their competitors with costly regulations—it hinders our overall economy. Jobs created in industries that depend on government assistance are not sustainable, will not stimulate the economy, and will not result in net job growth.”

The researchers use Pennsylvania as an example of green jobs theory gone badly saying the state’s “experiment with alternative energy demonstrates the broken window fallacy at work: policies to create ‘green jobs’ harm the overall economy.”

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Free Enterprise Zone breakfast seminar in Santa Clarita

Make plans to attend the upcoming Free Enterprise Zone Breakfast Seminar on June 23 to learn how your business can benefit from the Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone. You may be able to reduce or virtually eliminate your State income tax all together.

What Can the Enterprise Zone Do for You?

If your business is located in the City of Santa Clarita or you plan to relocate your business to the City, you can reduce your State income tax significantly by taking advantage of the Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone Program.

WHEN:

Wednesday, June 23 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

WHERE:

Santa Clarita Transit Maintenance Facility
28250 Constellation Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

R.S.V.P. on or before June 22, 2010 to 661-286-4071 or by e-mail to RSVP@santa-clarita.com