BETHESDA RANKS #2 IN

PROJECTED JOB GROWTH

BY 2020, SAYS

U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Need a job? You've come to the right place! The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says that Bethesda will experience the second-highest rate of job creation in America between now and 2020. Washington, D.C. ranked first.

I'm guessing this is based on two fairly-solid projections: continuing growth of county, state and federal government, despite growing deficits; and what is apparently an ever-expanding theater of war, which will result in more defense spending. Firms such as Lockheed - headquartered right here in Bethesda - stand to benefit from such developments.

But, although I hate to burst the bubble on this lovely dream, this projection is overly-optimistic in my opinion.

First, there is no guarantee of continued big spending in Washington. President Obama is suggesting deep cuts in defense, and has already turned over spaceflight to the private sector. (And what a sad statement about America today, that space exploration is something many Republicans and Democrats now mock and laugh at. Such people have no clue about science or the universe. If you didn't sleep through Chemistry 101 in high school, you know that there clearly are new elements and fuel sources out there to be discovered. Do these folks realize what will happen if Russia or China find them first?)

Second, Montgomery County - without a 180 degree change in the structure of government, taxes and regulation, and completion of its transportation system - could never attract the number of public or private jobs claimed by this projection. Not one single large employer has relocated here in years.

Our roads are jammed with traffic, and business travelers have no easy access to Dulles Airport.

If Bethesda aspires to claim its rightful spot on this list, citizens and the BCC Chamber of Commerce need to take action to make this area more attractive to large employers. We need to retain industrial zones and office parks, not sell them to developers as the county council just did in the Betco plant debacle last fall. Where will future corporate headquarters go?

Finally, we need to build the Rockville Freeway and Outer Beltway if we are to even begin to handle the traffic we have today.

To be number 2, we have to try harder.