[Cronos]

Many of those people could start a small business, sell, farm a small plot of land with high-revenue plants and animals, learn a simple trade (locksmithing, small engine repair, etc.) enroll in Job Corps or go into the military to learn a skill.

Let's go through these:
1. Start a small business -- you still need some skills and acumen. This can be taught to some extent, but there are still many incapable of even doing this -- in the old days they'd be shop assistants or sweeping the floors or something. Also, keeping a business is to some extent luck

2. farm a small plot of land -- yes, and this is a good option, but we need to cut out a lot of the regulations and also remember that many are not willing to do hard labor (everyone wants an office job) -- that can be changed, but most won't like it!! But I agree that this is the best idea

3. learn a simple trade -- most engines and locks are nowadays pretty high-tech, but this is also a good option

4. enroll into a job corps or go into the military -- good options but we need good people in the military

Your points made me think -- I've always been a proponent of Heinlein's "work to get citizenship" ideal. Perhaps it could be merged with this? namely each person must put in 2 years for society - it can be in the military or community service (doctors can work in the countryside etc.) and let people EARN their vote. This would also give people an appreciation for the dignity of physical labor and also some skills

[GeronL]

"work to get citizenship" ideal

Because nothing says freedom more than being a government slave for some odd number of years.

[2ndDivisionVet]

While on recruiter's aide duty for two months in my home town, I drove a young man to the MEPS who had finally passed his ASVAB by the skin of his teeth so that he could join the Army. He was assigned to bath and laundry. That is a trade.

[2ndDivisionVet]

While I agree with his idea in Starship Troopers that only veterans earn the franchise, can you imagine the howls if anyone ever proposed such a bill?

[Little Pig]

Starting a small business these days is tantamount to economic suicide. The amount of regulations involved is beyond staggering. Virtually no one who is currently only qualified for burger-flipping is going to navigate their way through that maze.

Farming likewise is fraught with oversight obstacles, as you point out.

Small engines (such as those on lawnmowers, garden tractors, and the like), are still pretty basic. Ditto locks. These are areas that would probably be useful. Learning appliance repair would also be a good route (most appliances these days are so modular that no real skill is required). I suspect this will be a growth market for jobs, as the economy slows further and folks try to squeeze longer lives out of their stuff.