Laptops? How about desktops instead?

When Newt Gingrich tossed out the idea of computers for the poor, many of his opponents locked onto his (admittedly) far-fetched idea of lap-tops via tax credits and mocked him. I guess we should expect that from the liberal media, whose stance is any who oppose them are greedy, selfish and unwilling to help, and that all ideas concerning the poor from conservatives are automatically suspect.

However, Newt's purpose was to stimulate thought about the poor and what we can do to help them, not pat ourselves on the back for being clever. And his catalyst has had the anticipated effect, at least for me. You see, I did let that idea of computers for the poor percolate in my subconscious for a few days, and darned if an idea did spring forth.

You see, Newt's idea of laptops was a little off the mark. As some have pointed out, computers themselves are not the solution, nor practical for people who are unlikely to have the disposable income (even after tax credits) for a $2000 computer. The real problem is access to computers and access to instruction.

With that new orientation, I realized that what we need are places where computers can be used for instruction, and made available to anyone in the community who needs them. Sound familiar? It should, as every local school district has for several years now been receiving federal, state and local tax money to buy computers for just that purpose.

The solution is thus remarkably straightforward: during non-school hours schools can make computers available for community instruction. Since the computers have already been paid for, the costs will be minimal: instruction, utilities, materials, etc. With help from computer professionals and teachers, we can cut down the costs of instruction through volunteerism, and materials through corporate donations. In the end, we can provide instruction in computer operation, software use, and even programming for a minimum of taxpayer dollars. Best of all, we will not need a federal bureaucracy to administer this plan! It can be totally under state and/or local control.

I'd like to encourage all of you to contact your local school districts to see what their policy is for computer use after-hours. With a couple of grass-roots programs, we can prove that this is not a "nutty idea" after all.

Newt's purpose was to stimulate thought about the poor and what we can do to help them, not pat ourselves on the back for being clever.

The real problem is access to computers and access to instruction.

...every local school district has for several years now been receiving federal, state and local tax money to buy computers for just that purpose.

Best of all, we will not need a federal bureaucracy to adminster this plan! It can be totally under state and/or local control.