Colorado coming out of the recession? (Denver, Colorado Springs: real estate market, 2010, rent)

[CosmicWizard]

jazzlover wortoe:

Since I have spent a lot of time looking at new construction in the last few years, the term "crackerbox McMansion" is quite appropriate, in my opinion. A lot of what has been built--especially by some of the bigger developers--are large (4,000+ sq. ft.) homes with quality of a thrown-together tract house. Sorry, but a granite countertop in the kitchen does not make a quality house. Of course, most Americans don't know good or bad building quality when they see it these days, so they are (or at least they were) gleefully signing on the dotted line to buy these puffed up pieces of crap.

Coming from a construction backgound, and having worked with a true craftsman, I am strongly inclined to agree with the terminology puffed up pieces of crap for most of these monstrosities. The ones that I have been inside of had craftmanship ( I'm stretching the term here ) that could best be described as slap-it-together bullsh*t. There is likely to be some that are well built, but I've not yet been inside of one that I would classify as well built.

[wanneroo]

There is a lot of debate whether the CCC really accomplished much for all the money sunk into it, like any government program I guess.

In any case that job program isn't going to stimulate the economy any or provide any long lasting jobs.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

There is a lot of debate whether the CCC really accomplished much for all the money sunk into it, like any government program I guess.

In any case that job program isn't going to stimulate the economy any or provide any long lasting jobs.

While I am generally not a fan of government programs, the Civilian Conservation Corps and it's cousin, the Works Progress Administration, did manage to do a lot of good things during their existence. Nearly every town in America has well-built enduring buildings erected by the WPA. In the Western states, especially, one can still find numerous examples of enduring CCC projects on the public lands.

The true Keynsian economists of the Depression era believed that the only way to keep deficit government spending from being wildly inflationary was if the money expended was used to make capital improvements with lasting public (and private) benefits. That is what the CCC and WPA attempted to do--unlike today's spending which is geared more toward simply encouraging consumption.

The other lasting value of the CCC and WPA is that thousands of people were given training in marketable skills that they used later in life. I have known several marvelous craftsmen who got their start and training in the WPA and CCC.

Those programs were no panacea, but they sure beat the hell of our current welfare and unemployment system. Of course, they did actually expect people to work . . . what a concept.

[CosmicWizard]

jazzlover wrote:

Those programs were no panacea, but they sure beat the hell of our current welfare and unemployment system. Of course, they did actually expect people to work . . . what a concept.

What is going on in this crazy world? Twice in the same day I find myself not merely agreeing with you, but strongly agreeing with you.

[zenkonami]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

The true Keynsian economists of the Depression era believed that the only way to keep deficit government spending from being wildly inflationary was if the money expended was used to make capital improvements with lasting public (and private) benefits. That is what the CCC and WPA attempted to do--unlike today's spending which is geared more toward simply encouraging consumption.

Couldn't have said it better myself. As a freelancer in a slow economy, I'm having trouble drumming up much work. I also don't qualify for unemployment, but would be only too happy to pick up a few months government labor doing work beneficial to our country's future to fill in my own employment gaps until we rebuild the economic engine and get it functioning properly enough that people can afford to pay me for my services again.

Unfortunately we have economic policy being driven by non-productive "industries" and politicians unwilling to listen to those who put them in office. The left accuses the right of propping up the wealthy and the right accuses the left of allowing the development of an unproductive welfare state. To a large degree it's something both sides are correct about, but it harms our entire country.

I'd love to be an optimist and see that any part of the country is coming out of recession (particularly Colorado), but without some serious changes in what we value economically, we're just rebuilding our house on the same active fault line. The earth is gonna move again and these bricks have already tumbled several times.

I don't know what Colorado can do to get it's boom/bust self out of the economic quake zone, but I don't see it doing much more than any other state or the federal government. I would love to be corrected if I'm wrong.

[Katiana]

One purpose of the CCC was to keep these young adult males out of trouble.

[electric_lady]

Colorado has done a lot better than most states.

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by electric_lady

Colorado has done a lot better than most states.

True; although I tend to think that things just haven't quite caught up to Colorado yet. I believe they will.

[CosmicWizard]

Shuffler wrote:

True; although I tend to think that things just haven't quite caught up to Colorado yet. I believe they will.

Or maybe they wont! We'll just have to wait and see, so let's imagine a desirable outcome rather than weakening our immune systems with worry and negative expectations.

[Bob from down south]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

Shuffler wrote:

True; although I tend to think that things just haven't quite caught up to Colorado yet. I believe they will.

Or maybe they wont! We'll just have to wait and see, so let's imagine a desirable outcome rather than weakening our immune systems with worry and negative expectations.

Who says that things catching up is a negative expectation? Seeing developers going broke all over the place warms my heart...seeing development come to a screeching halt in Colorado Springs is wonderful.

My worry is that the idiots in DC, Denver, and City Hall will find a way to borrow enough money to start the cancer growing again...