We need new guaranteed work program

The pope recently had a tweet "When we cannot earn our own bread, we lose our dignity. This is a tragedy, especially for the young."

In our inner cities, we need a WPA-type program, to teach the youth trade skills and rebuild the infrastructure of their neighborhoods (1930s Work Progress Administration program).

Judges could use this program as an alterative to prison (2 million in prison).

The new Democratic Party has lost its way. In the 1960s the party considered but failed to approve the Humphrey- Hawkins Act, a bipartisan, full-employment act guaranteeing a job to all. The money saved by canceling the other, hand -out programs, almost paid for it.

Congress and Mr. President, please give the youth of the inner city a chance to earn their own bread and get their dignity that they are entitled to

Ed Smetana

Arlington Heights