Speech-writing jobs have been created

Yes, Virginia, our president is creating lots of jobs. Since his inauguration, dozens of speech-writing positions have been filled at the White House. Acolytes and professional apologists are much sought after in journalism and the media, in spite of the rash of newspaper bankruptcies.

The building industry is seeing an increase in the construction of town halls, as the present number of these public structures cannot accommodate the eponymous meetings Mr. Obama has on his itinerary. Mountaineering guides, as an offshoot vocation, are consequently much in demand. They are needed for the numerous "summits" the president likes to hold.

For those with doctorates in European history, or royal blood in their veins, becoming one of many administration "czars" is the popular thing to aspire to. In theory, there can be as many "czars" in Washington D.C. as there are desks in a furniture warehouse. There are jobs in airport security, where all that is required is the dexterity to wield a metal-detector, and the willingness to wear political blinders on the clock. Even former panhandlers have found work, plying a similar trade within the U.S. Treasury Department by selling bonds to every nation in the world with a dollar or euro to spare.

It isn't the president's fault that unemployment is at 12 percent. He's done his best to help the economy. Why, Michelle Obama has personally seen to it that her staff is double the size of the previous First Lady's. And if people stop looking for work because they have wearied of the effort, it's only because they haven't looked in the right places.

Alexander Lee

Carol Stream