3 ms·

Do we have any good examples of mass retraining programs working well?

tdb7893 9y ago
I'm not aware of good data either way so it seems something that would be sensible to try at least for some time to collect data on it. You need something to get the workers able to do other jobs because protecting all the current jobs is unreasonable.
6stringmerc 9y ago
Yes, the make-work programs by FDR. The Civilian Conservation Corps worked very well. In the US, considering the infrastructure maintenance / replacement needs, starting up something similar strikes me as with a lot of potential. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps
- greedo 9y ago
  That was a different era, where physical labor was still valued and needed.
  - 6stringmerc 9y ago
    You've got to be kidding, right? Have you seen the reports about roads, buildings, and facilities? They've been financially and physically neglected since the early 1980s. The US needs physical labor more than ever - AND - US needs a drastic re-allocation of Capital from Investors to Poor People Who Spend if we ever want to fix this broken dang structure. The US needs to over-pay for much needed fixes and the rising tide will lift all boats, except the big goddamn yachts of the .01% but whatever they can afford it.
wwkeyboard 9y ago
Would you count the G.I. Bill? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Bill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Bill
- protomyth 9y ago
  To a point, but the bigger problem for military people entering the workforce is getting civilian certifications for things they have been doing for years. I really wish, in addition to drastically improving the VA, the country would put together a formal "after service" program to help people deal with becoming a civilian. One part that would be helpful is to work with state vocational and certification to translate the military experience into immediate certifications without starting over. The G.I. Bill is very good for military professions that don't have a common civilian analog and the person is going to start again anyway.

I'm not aware of good data either way so it seems something that would be sensible to try at least for some time to collect data on it. You need something to get the workers able to do other jobs because protecting all the current jobs is unreasonable.

6stringmerc 9y ago

Yes, the make-work programs by FDR. The Civilian Conservation Corps worked very well. In the US, considering the infrastructure maintenance / replacement needs, starting up something similar strikes me as with a lot of potential. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps

greedo 9y ago
That was a different era, where physical labor was still valued and needed.
- 6stringmerc 9y ago
  You've got to be kidding, right? Have you seen the reports about roads, buildings, and facilities? They've been financially and physically neglected since the early 1980s. The US needs physical labor more than ever - AND - US needs a drastic re-allocation of Capital from Investors to Poor People Who Spend if we ever want to fix this broken dang structure. The US needs to over-pay for much needed fixes and the rising tide will lift all boats, except the big goddamn yachts of the .01% but whatever they can afford it.

wwkeyboard 9y ago

Would you count the G.I. Bill? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Bill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Bill

protomyth 9y ago
To a point, but the bigger problem for military people entering the workforce is getting civilian certifications for things they have been doing for years. I really wish, in addition to drastically improving the VA, the country would put together a formal "after service" program to help people deal with becoming a civilian. One part that would be helpful is to work with state vocational and certification to translate the military experience into immediate certifications without starting over. The G.I. Bill is very good for military professions that don't have a common civilian analog and the person is going to start again anyway.