Can it be true that there are myriad unemployed American adults who can’t do “9th grade” math? Can it be true that companies are just unable to find people with the right skills here in the US of A? It’s all the fault of a “collectivist” attitude, right? I say it’s not. First of all, this can’t be true. Whatever 9th grade math is (Algebra, right? Or are you supposed to have mastered that by 5th grade these days the way some parents talk), is it necessary for the job? Or does the company want to be assured they’re not hiring idiots (did the Times article say anything like that?, perhaps they should’ve).
If it’s collectivism that’s to blame, then why aren’t there jobs that are matched to the abilities of these lowbrows? According to their abilities, they should be able to something, right? How about picking up trash on the beach? How about sorting trash from recycling bins? How about something useful – BUT perhaps not so well-paying that they will be able to reproduce, eh? Well, then you get the angry young man problem and good recruitment pool for terrorists…
In the world of reality, there are plenty of folks of authority (at various levels) who fail those who cannot make the grade. Those who fail move on to something they can do tolerably well and perhaps make a living at. Are there no workhouses? Are there no orphanages?
The real skills all companies look for are two: you’re already trained and you are easy to fire once the work is done. That is it. And perhaps a nation of independent contractors is what’s desired by some but if that became the case, most of the smart people would choose piracy as a career. Arr!
