A letter to a young worker

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and give young people meaningful ways to contribute.” Deep snow probably would be the equivalent metaphor for the United States.

Yet the wealthy and the powerful in the United States do not fear you. You amuse or annoy them. Many hold you in contempt, the same contempt that a playground bully might hold for a victim who simply endures mistreatment.

You should form organizations to lobby for local, state and federal assistance.

This strategy certainly protected Wall Street bankers from their arrogance and greed; they still receive massive pay bonuses.

Start small if you like – join with nine friends in your town or city and begin to hammer the opinion pages of the local newspaper with factual accounts of the bleak picture from your perspective. On election days, meet for a meal, and then go to your various polling places and vote for the candidate whose proposed policies are most likely to create jobs for young workers. Make sure people in your community know you’re acting in concert. Use the Internet to coordinate with other young workers.

Try this proven strategy, and you might survive the ongoing domestic and global struggle to attain prosperity.

Nick Capo is an associate professor of English at Illinois College.