Replacing Welfare With Jobs

* Re “Welfare Law’s Job Goal May Be Impossible,” Nov. 4:

Agreed: In California alone, the new welfare-destroying law will leave millions without jobs, or welfare, or child care, or health care, or better job-qualifying education and training.

Agreed: The best solution is jobs with a living income for everyone capable and willing to work.

Only solution: A federal, full-employment with a living-income program that restores our disintegrating infrastructure and public services.

Pay for it by: 1) Restoring a genuine progressive income tax that reverses the decline in the corporate share of federal income taxes from 33% in the 1940s to less than 10% in the 1990s. 2) Eliminating corporate welfare in subsidies and tax breaks that cost each taxpayer $1,388 per year, compared with $415 for social programs. 3) Cutting military spending that takes 52 cents of every 1996 federal tax dollar to pay for wars of the past, present and future.

Such a full-employment program is the first step to a functional, peaceful, democratic society in today’s global economy.

NICHOLAS V. SEIDITA

Northridge

* There is some question in my mind as to whether it is mentally or physiologically possible for mankind, through science, technology, government or other agency, to generate worthwhile employment for all people who, unemployed, are effectively in overpopulation of what actual labor is needed to sustain them.

PERRY BEZANIS

San Pedro

* Your article neglected one vital fact. A large number of jobs in California are currently held by illegal aliens. If these people were deported, their jobs would become available for former welfare recipients who are U.S. citizens.

ROGER LINFIELD

Pasadena