Exactly what jobs do we need?

We all pretty much agree that "jobs" is one of the major issues surrounding the "recession" - not so much jobs, as the lack of them. So about a month ago, when I started to see these signs popping up, I was bothered ... but I wasn't certain what it was that was eating at me.

I'm still not sure, but here are some of the things I've been pondering about:

1) How much did this sign cost - and which individual tax payer has the honor of paying for it?

2) How many individuals were employed in the making of these signs?

3) When I look at both 1 and 2 - am I seeing a classic catch 22? - If we don't order the signs, do the sign people go without employment?

4) Are the contractors executing this job, local? From out-of-town? From out-of-state? So who exactly, are we putting back to work?

5) Why are the contractors pouring the asphalt; coming back in a few days and digging parts of it up again; re-pouring the asphalt? Is it against the rules to plan all steps before you start executing?

6) After the asphalt has been poured, re-poured and made to look nice again - then the contractors come back and core our part of it to cut in the access-covers to the storm drains. Usually this seems to take five people, two cutting the asphalt, one digging out the asphalt, and two sweeping the street. The rules must also say that only one person may work at a time ....

7) The last observation - this is a street I travel with regularity ... the condition of the street hardly needed to be resurfaced at this time.

So when we are "putting America back to work" - are we having America working on things that we really need ... do the signs offer a useful utility or are they merely a "see what we are doing" benefit? Or, are we just supposed to see them and think ..."Wow, look what "they" are doing...putting America back to work?"