Boom Wages

Robert Reich (“It’s a Hot Economy, but Not for Janitors, Others,” Commentary, April 12) is completely right that the current economic boom does not affect all workers equally. But good times have never lifted all workers equally. Periods of great economic growth are usually catalyzed by new technologies that create tremendous demand for new skills. Entrepreneurs who develop the technology businesses and people who acquire and utilize these new skills capture the majority of the new wealth.

In a global economy containing billions of underemployed, low-skilled workers, it is clear that janitors cannot gain the same rewards as higher-skilled workers. Reich’s socialist suggestions to tax wealth would immensely hurt low-skilled workers by destroying many of their jobs. The best way to help them is to encourage them to develop new skills that the new economy needs.

JIM MLADENIK

Irvine