While there are lots of new and interesting things going on in mobile, an article from a college student this morning bemoaning what Congress and the President are doing to help their job prospects caught my eye.

Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana apparently spoke at Georgetown University, saying that 14 million unemployed is the “red menace” but there are limits to what government can do to resolve the issue.

Fred Messner, writing at FrumForum, responded:

While Daniels’ lived up to his reputation, speaking about concrete policy proposals, as a college student I worry about a job in 2014, not a government check in 2054, especially since I’m not planning on getting any government checks at all anyway. Regulatory, entitlement, and tax reform have little to offer us in the short term.

…

I admire his honesty, but is this really the Republican Party’s attitude toward massive, crushing unemployment? Can nothing be done for laid-off workers and future workers (like myself) whose only crime will be timing their graduations badly?

Well, Fred, welcome to the real world. While we would all like to bury our heads in the sand and let someone else take care of our problems, that’s not always possible. Sometimes we have to make our own destinies.

When I went to college, 1991, we were in the worst recession we had had in a while. Everyone at school was bemoaning the fact that jobs were scarce for college students entering the work force. By the time I graduated I decided I would take the bull by the horns and make my own future — I started a company and am still running it, to this day, 14 years later.

Fred, you are in an enviable position. You are likely young and without family obligations. Your expenses are probably pretty low. And because of this you have a distinct advantage: you have a huge run-way to make your own way. Sure, you probably have debts but so did I (~$60,000 in 1997 prices) and so did my cousin (+$100,000 in 2003 prices) and both of us managed to pay them off while starting businesses.

My advice to you: if you are waiting for the government to come through for you, you will have a very long wait. Grab the bull by the horns. Make your own future.