Help Wanted: More Jobs for America

Why are there so few constructive responses to America’s unemployment and underemployment problems? Many individuals who were once members of the middle class or who grew up in solidly middle-class families are justifiably dissatisfied with current political and economic realities. This dissatisfaction partly accounts for Donald Trump’s election. Although corporations are creating jobs for robots, computers and offshore employees, little is being done to create well-paying jobs for Americans. The private sector either is no longer able or no longer willing to do so. Isn’t it time to demand that political and business leaders effectively address unemployment and underemployment?  Our infrastructure is in a deplorable state. President-elect Trump, to his credit, has proposed that public-private partnerships address this issue. Shouldn’t the federal government do more? Shouldn’t it create something like a public-private version of a Works Progress Administration? Such an agency could coordinate public-private efforts to create well-paying jobs and facilitate job training.  And let’s consider public-private undertakings that employ young adults in community service projects such as teaching, aiding the handicapped and homebound, mentoring disadvantaged youth and aiding disabled veterans. Should we even consider “drafting” all able-bodied young adults into some form of national service? So many young adults, even those with advanced degrees, are currently unemployed or underemployed. Isn’t this a huge waste of human capital?