Delaware's Troubles in Traditional Economics

In 2006 my mother lost her job at MBNA after working there for about 16 years. When the company was bought by Bank of America, they decided to close the MBNA Dover, De site. I thought it would be okay because I would get a job. I had just graduated from college. It's been almost two years since then and we have struggled to get by. I was only able to get a part-time job at a local college and my mother decided to substitute. My family is not the only family in the state of Delaware looking for better jobs or any job. Delaware doesn't have many choices. Just after MBNA cut many employees, Chrysler another huge employer for the state laid off thousands of employees. When looking through the classifieds it appears that the most jobs are in the healthcare field and also in education, but recently even teachers have been in fear of losing there jobs.

Delaware's economy has been based on and dependent on industries such as manufacturers and banking. Close to my neighborhood there is a Playtex Plant, also near by are the Kraft's and Scott Plants with lay offs every now and then. Before closing its door, the Dover Branch of MBNA and the Dover Branch of Bank of America were the top employers of high school and college students. This state can not depend on these types of corporations anymore, or the government needs to discuss ways to help these businesses which could then help the workforce. Democratic candidates looking to win the Governors seat, Lt. Governor John C. Carney Jr. and State Treasurer Jack Markell have similar ideas in helping businesses to boost Delaware's economical standing and provide better jobs for the citizens in the workforce in Delaware.

It appears that both Carney and Markell want to strengthen the economy by strengthening the workforce. Both have in their workforce plans ideas to linked education and training to businesses. Ensuring that higher educationally facilities have programs to help educate and give those going into the workforce everything they need educationally to be able to get jobs. Of course this means that there has to be jobs available for the workforce.

Carney's plan includes using the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) to create a plan to reach small and large businesses to gather information on the business' needs, challenges and opportunities. He also wants to use the DEDO to help GM and Chrysler maintain an existence in Delaware and to name opportunities for training and employment. He also wants to find ways to use the facilities to be a factor to economic development if the facilities become vacant.

Markell, wants to focus on educating the workforce, working with the already imposed strengths of the State, and creating ways to create more businesses. Markell thinks that if the proper steps are taken then Delaware can "growth" its own businesses with entrepreneurs.

Looking at Carney's plan to strengthen Delaware's traditional industries, I still can't see those particular companies treating its employees better. I am not sure how it is thought that the governor can lobby to get the needs of a company, and then see that company follow the needs of the employees. If a company is doing badly as a whole then lay-offs are to follow. There couldn't possibly be a pay increase. Just thinking about Chrysler; gas prices are changing people's lives, people are riding bikes to work; car sales can only be going down, I can't see how a company like this can come back and hire employees and increase their pay.

The Markell plan is outlined very well if looking at the pdfs from his website, but Delaware has always had issues with entrepreneurs. Businesses go up and shortly there after businesses come down. He does know that that particular issue needs to be worked on, but I am not sure just how years of this problem can be fixed.

The candidates should actually focus on developing ways to keep a workforce in the state. Once some student graduate for state high schools many left the state and many stayed in other states and are doing well economically. Those who will be graduating soon also want to stay clear from Delaware. The candidates should consider a plan that will retain some of the younger population. At least when MBNA was a powerhouse in Delaware many students had scholarships to attend college and had jobs during and after college.

The ideas and plans from both candidates make sense, but with the national economy at a crisis, I really wonder if any plan for Delaware's workforce will make Dover or Delaware as a state flourish in the years to come.