Teach the unskilled

There are 7 million job openings, but many can’t be filled because candidates aren’t technology literate. Better education is needed in high school that challenges students to become technology literate. For the unskilled, what’s needed is for politicians to create jobs at the city, county, state and federal levels with a $15 wage. Unskilled candidates that are homeless, on welfare, are out of work or are tired of playing video games, watching “Oprah” or “The View” might be candidates.

We could call it the Spokane Regional Work Program and design it like the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. Candidates could fill in pot holes, provide neighborhood security, unclog drains, clean up the area, encourage rural neighbors to prune and clean up their forests rather than paying others at higher wages to do this work.

We need to teach the unskilled to become self-reliant, so they can support themselves and their families. And … for say three years of service, we could give them more training at the Community College to get a skill so they can move on up with a more successful life. Does this make sense?

Dick Westerman

Spokane