Jobs We Can Believe In?

Barack Obama says he plans to "create" 3 million new jobs with his approximately $675-$775 billion stimulus plan. Mr. Obama, when you get the final price tag, be sure to let us know, won't you? In the meantime:

-- This appears to be a very expensive jobs program. According to my calculator, if the total is $700 billion, each job will cost taxpayers $233,333.33. Where do I sign up for one of these?

-- A few years ago, Chicago Democrats fought hard to keep Wal-mart (one of the few currently profitable companies) out of the city, over the objections of poor job seekers, to protect union payscales. Obama, a frequent critic of the successful retailer, certainly didn't stand up for the folks simply trying to feed their families. Can we expect more of the same from Mr. "Change We Can Believe In"?

-- The number of promised jobs is actually smaller than the number of positions lost this year in the current downturn. So despite the astronomical cost, this plan is only part of any solution. As we should now start saying, "A trillion here, a trillion there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money."

-- Chicago, "the city that works," is legendary for its government waste, cost overruns, patronage, ghost-payrolling, and the like. Just look at Chicago pol Rod Blagojevich. What is to keep Obama's plan from simply being more-a lot more-of the same?