Future MDA, NASA, and military job loss (Huntsville, Detroit: 2010, how much)

[boomer]

Does anyone have any concerns about the new president cutting military/contractor/civilian jobs tied to MDA, NASA, and future combat systems? I just do not see how our local economy can survive huge cuts in these sectors. These cuts do not just affect jobs on the military/space front but trickle down to local shops, housing jobs, and surrounding business that rely on Arsenal. I have seen military base closures wipe out a whole town and bring down the local economy for years. Any thoughts?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by boomer

Does anyone have any concerns about the new president cutting military/contractor/civilian jobs tied to MDA, NASA, and future combat systems?

Yes I do, but is there anywhere that is less vulnerable? I could go back to LA but the problems with traffic and housing and job cuts are still there.

[boomer]

I don't think this news will help recruit new talent for the BRAC. If I was an outsider living in another state, I would definitely have concerns moving to this area. My guess, the BRAC will offset some of the future job cuts the new president will make. Then again, who knows how many new BRAC jobs will actually be created after the cuts.

[VMH2507]

I had a guy from a small remodeling business come over this afternoon to give me an estimate on some work. He said he couldn't sleep last night after the outcome of the election. He is originally from Detroit and was obviously concerned about the local economy for his small business.

[mm42]

When you look at what is planned to be moved here, it would take some staggering cuts to make a dent in Huntsville's future.

[Toymeister]

MDA spends its money on R & D, which by its very nature its expensive. It will be hit hard. Watch for the signs: MDA like most newer agencies is heavily staffed by contractors; if those people (your neighbors) start to lose their jobs Boeing will start to cut back and so on. Nasa produces tangible results but does it have a place of high priority in the new administation? I don't think it is at the top.

Yes Huntsville will take a hit, if you are a contractor be aware the Government keeps it ranks while paring YOU. That is just the way it is. It will take 2 to 3 years for this to happen.

There will be many nay sayers responding to this, I hope you are right.

[mm42]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

MDA spends its money on R & D, which by its very nature its expensive. It will be hit hard.

Even if they cut MDA in half Huntsville will end up with a net gain. Some people will lose their jobs or contracts, because some programs within MDA will be cut, but the competent ones will have no trouble finding a new position or customer.

The idea that MDA is an R&D organization is out of date. We are much more an integration, fielding, and test organization these days.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by mm42

The idea that MDA is an R&D organization is out of date. We are much more an integration, fielding, and test organization these days.

Time to ease up on the kool-aid. MDA is funded by 2 year R&D money, period. Don't take my word for it ask your budget person

Why is that important? Why does a detail like the type of money matter??

Imagine yourself as President-Elect Obama's advisor. You need to cut budget (MONEY) to fund your promises, OK. Entitlements: no can do. Cut Dod, OK. Operations money (bullets, soilder's pay), no can't do that hmmmm what about R&D OK. R&D for a mine resistant troop hauler (MWRAP) can't do that (bad press = bad idea). Maybe defense against a threat that most Americans don't think about? Missles?


I don't know it does not sound like too much of a dream to me....

[DvlsAdvc8]

You won't see government spending cuts of any kind for quite a long time. The last thing government does (nor should do) in recession is cut jobs. Government accounts for about 1/3 of GDP, and making cuts that cost jobs only deepens a recession.

Cuts that cost jobs won't be made until after an economic recovery, and after private industry starts bringing people in again (employment is a lagging economic indicator - companies don't start hiring again until we're well into the next "good" cycle).

This will take awhile. Now, come 2010, 2012, you'll certainly see some cuts that will slow Huntsville's growth - but not completely snuff it out or cause contraction. Of course, once the economy is back on track, I think you'll see cutbacks all over the place to reign in obnoxious budget deficits (the costs of two wars, Bush's new bureaucracies (ie homeland security dept), the bailouts, economic stimulus, plus anything Obama might want to do). In all likelihood, Obama is going to find it very difficult to pull off many of the things he proposed prior to the financial crisis reaching boiling point. Of course, by then one could assume under Obama that sooner rather than later, we won't be spending the 10 billion / month in Iraq we are now either.

Don't worry folks, one thing at a time. Obama has to deal with the economy first. Give him a fair shake, I suspect President Obama will govern from the center-left, and I'm a lifelong Democrat. However, while we're in recession, you CAN expect the Dems to spend like mad (as they should). Then, in a couple years expect Republicans to predictably attack that rampant spending in the next election... even though they would be doing the same if roles were reversed (and in fact were spending rampantly prior to the economic crisis). Such is politics; unfortunately for Democrats like me, the masses will probably buy the Republican line... even though spending during a recession is just plain smart economic policy.

But anyway, Huntsville will be fine. I'm hearing a lot of my conservative friends joke about moving to Canada. While moving to Canada (or pretty much any allied nation) was a decent option for Liberals to joke about when Bush was elected, fact is, Canada and most of the world are more liberal than the US... so it doesn't quite work as well for Conservatives.

You'll be fine. Oh yeah, contrary to emails going around, Obama isn't the anti-Christ either.

[financelife]

Originally Posted by DvlsAdvc8

You won't see government spending cuts of any kind for quite a long time. The last thing government does (nor should do) in recession is cut jobs. Government accounts for about 1/3 of GDP, and making cuts that cost jobs only deepens a recession.

Cuts that cost jobs won't be made until after an economic recovery, and after private industry starts bringing people in again (employment is a lagging economic indicator - companies don't start hiring again until we're well into the next "good" cycle).

Ummmm, maybe I forgot what GDP is because how does that relate to jobs? Gov can always spend on other areas (entitlements), so couldn't GDP stay the same if money was moved from DoD to other programs? hmm?

Oh, and we'll stay in Iraq whether dems or repubs are in office. Why would we leave and create a power-grab situation in that area? No siree, we will stay there. Watch. I mean, it wasn't long ago that dems took over congress promising troop removal. soooo, where's the removal? how much time has passed since then? Face reality, let's enjoy our new promising president and look the other way when it comes to the middle east. Iraq is ours, and control will be split between our allies in that region. I read somewhere that Biden even had some sort of plan to split Iraq amongst Saudis and Iranians. And Obama appointing Rahm Emanuel (zionist) as chief of staff, brilliant! I am so glad I voted for Obama because already he shows he is not messing around by choosing Emanuel as the 2nd most powerful person in this nation (it's not the vp spot for all of u who naively thought the VP nominees should have made any difference to your vote).