Economy

By Rich Gordon

A strong economy is vital to the well being of all Californians.

The California economy can still grow if we fully unleash the potential of our people.

With investments in nano-technology, bioscience, clean energy, and green technology, we are poised to be the leaders in some of the highest growth new industries. As we shift from fossil fuel to alternative energy sources there will be higher-paying "green collar" jobs created.

Our community colleges can play an important role in re-training displaced workers for these new and emerging jobs. There needs to be a strong partnership between the business sector and our educational system so that our companies get the skilled workers they need, and our workforce is prepared for the new global economy.

Government must foster innovation and economic growth. Incentives and appropriate tax policies can assist those who are developing new businesses, but policies can also be looked at to help retain jobs that are shifting overseas or to neighboring states.

Though government has a role in nurturing our economy, it must also play a role in regulating it. The key here is finding the right balance between the free market and overregulation. We have seen the devastating effects on our financial industry when deregulation was the mode. We have also seen industries strangled from overregulation. It is important that we also guarantee that the rights of workers are protected and that we ensure their health and safety in the workplace.

California can create good jobs in cutting edge industries and, thus, secure our quality of life.