This is a huge eye-opener!! We think we're the best at everything, yet we're among the worst at everything. I still think improving education is critical to getting out of this downward spiral. It wouldn't be the quick fix everyone wants, but I don't think there is a quick fix.
Yeah, definitely, right? How do we improve in other categories unless we educate ourselves? Seems cutting teachers' compensation from tiny to nothing ala Wisconsin is probably not the best way to make our most capable people go into teaching.
I think so much of this comes down to income inequality and the the power of those benefitting from it at the top gaming the system in their own favor. Check out some of the incredible graphics that illustrate just how unfair our current system is: http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph
That's just incredible. I was stunned already, until I realized the teeny circle was the bottom 90% and top huge circle was the top TENTH of ONE PERCENT.
How do we continue this way? When do we become Egypt?
This is a huge eye-opener!! We think we're the best at everything, yet we're among the worst at everything. I still think improving education is critical to getting out of this downward spiral. It wouldn't be the quick fix everyone wants, but I don't think there is a quick fix.
ReplyDeleteYeah, definitely, right? How do we improve in other categories unless we educate ourselves? Seems cutting teachers' compensation from tiny to nothing ala Wisconsin is probably not the best way to make our most capable people go into teaching.
ReplyDeleteI think so much of this comes down to income inequality and the the power of those benefitting from it at the top gaming the system in their own favor. Check out some of the incredible graphics that illustrate just how unfair our current system is: http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph
ReplyDeleteThat's just incredible. I was stunned already, until I realized the teeny circle was the bottom 90% and top huge circle was the top TENTH of ONE PERCENT.
ReplyDeleteHow do we continue this way? When do we become Egypt?