Are American public schools that bad?

[sivispacem]

Classes for 'Special' students, they used to be mixed with regular classes, if they were salvagable. The really useless ones where kept at home. Then some fools decided that Gods mistakes need to be educated in schools even though they had no expectations of real world jobs.

No f*cking way did you just say this.

Have you not met Weasel before? That one-man war on intellect bloke? Has roughly the same attitude to the educated as Mao Zedong?

 

I'll be frank, I've never seen quite so much hatred for education, self-fulfilment, self-betterment and intelligence as I've seen on this forum.

[Finn 7 five 11]

 

To be honest, "American public schools" is too broad of a label to access the health of the entire system.  The quality of American public schools directly correlate with the affluence of the areas around them.  People forget that it's the community that makes a school, not the government. 

 

 

"Education" is underfunded in the US, but it's more of a mindset problem than a financial one.  Americans need to invest effort, discipline, passion, time, and innovation into our education more so than just money.  Though all of these things cost money, the money hardly ever goes in this direction.  It generally goes to buying new equipment and placating the powerful teachers unions that complain about having some of the highest teacher salaries in the world.  Not to mention the fact that all teachers in America are warned/aware of the salaries ages before getting into the profession.

I agree with pretty much everything here. I don't think the education system is all that broken, it's the mindset and culture of people in the US who just blame their lack of success on the system.

 

People do the same in Australia, just blame the system, yet plenty of kids do brilliantly at school.

[IM_YOUR_GOD]

Very racist teachings, im looking at European History and US History courses. And they wonder why non-whites have a higher drop out rate.

[Adler]

Very racist teachings, im looking at European History and US History courses. And they wonder why non-whites have a higher drop out rate.

It has little to do with the course selection or material if that's what you're implying. Granted, history taught in classes is bound to be Euro-centric or biased from a White point of view of the past, but students don't just drop out because they feel their culture is not respected enough. There's no blatant racism in the material, it's just a subtle lack of perspectives on the other side of the fence. Nothing that would compel any student to drop out.

[IM_YOUR_GOD]

Tosh.

 

I could name a few. All my history classes were in high school.

 

AP World History

AP US History

AP European History

 

I could of died of boredom if It weren't for the videos we rarely watched. I do think racist was a strong word, I should of said useless. No disrespect to any Europeans, its not your fault your history is so rich with war and art.

[ryuclan]

I wouldn't say they taught useless things but I would say that our public schools need help. We have to somehow get class sizes downfar enough so that the children that need one on one attention can get it. My high school would have been pretty decent if there weren't 43 kids to a class and that's not even an exaggeration. I am thankful for public schooling though because I got exposed to a lot of culture I wouldn't have in a private or catholic school.

 

 

But I do remember one year in history we learned about Jesus dying on the cross and whatnot then the next year we completely skipped over colonial times and slavery. Luck me, we learned all of this is Elementary. I think my elementary school was way different from everyone else's though. We had sex ed in like third grade.

Edited March 4, 2013 by ryuclan

[Adler]

 

I could of died of boredom if It weren't for the videos we rarely watched. I do think racist was a strong word, I should of said useless. No disrespect to any Europeans, its not your fault your history is so rich with war and art.

"Racist" is a big leap from "boring." Maybe you should take a course on language.

 

I wish we had a European History class at my high school. Instead they had this required course called Freshman Seminar which was supposed to help students adapt to high school. But then you find out high school is no different from middle school, and we ended up doing nothing for an hour each day. sh*t like that would make you want to drop out.

[gtamann123]

 

It's not the schools that are bad, it's the lazy students who don't ever study/pay attention to anything, but expect to pass all their classes. They think they can get through life without ever putting forth effort or trying at anything. Not everyone is like this, but at my school at least 40% of the kids here are, and their grades reflect it.

 

Sources: Junior in High School 

I agree. I go to a very "ghetto" school that is in the suburbs but because of the forced integration and open enrollment stuff they bus kids from the inner city to my school. Its basically turned the school into a s*ithole because pretty much all that's left are inner city kids who believe they deserve something for nothing and blame the teachers of being racist if they ever give them a failing grade or punish them for doing something wrong. I'm so glad my senior year is finally over and I can finally leave that place behind. And one day when I have kids Its going to be the upper middle class suburbs for my family. Because I can only see this problem of entitlement getting worse and the only places that will be a decent place to raise a family are the wealthier outer ring fringe suburbs.

 

 

I agree with pretty much everything here. I don't think the education system is all that broken, it's the mindset and culture of people in the US who just blame their lack of success on the system.

 

People do the same in Australia, just blame the system, yet plenty of kids do brilliantly at school.

 

I agree completely. I hate when people who fail at life and don't achieve anything blame society or the education system for their failure. All it does is create the same mindset in their children and the cycle repeats. You can't leave poverty unless you yourself takes ownership and decides to actually do something with their life instead of blame other people and think you are entitled to something simply because of your situation or past history. I'm deeply concerned for my generation because I believe we are being bred to believe that we shouldn't have to take ownership for our own lives and that the government or the affluent class owe something to the poor. I also blame the welfare culture as well for this mindset but I really don't want to open up that can of worms.

Edited March 4, 2013 by gtamann123

[EscoLehGo]

You can't leave poverty unless you yourself takes ownership and decides to actually do something with their life instead of blame other people and think you are entitled to something simply because of your situation or past history.

Wowzers! Is that all it takes to remove yourself from the throes of poverty! My god! It's all so simple! I'll be sure to stop by my local project housing community and let them all know the good news! They are sure to be millionaires in no time, thanks for the tip!

[Finn 7 five 11]

Tosh.

 

I could name a few. All my history classes were in high school.

 

AP World History

AP US History

AP European History

 

I could of died of boredom if It weren't for the videos we rarely watched. I do think racist was a strong word, I should of said useless. No disrespect to any Europeans, its not your fault your history is so rich with war and art.

You know what pisses me off about a lot of Americans. They know almost nothing about the world outside of America, you need those damn classes.

[gtamann123]

You can't leave poverty unless you yourself takes ownership and decides to actually do something with their life instead of blame other people and think you are entitled to something simply because of your situation or past history.

Wowzers! Is that all it takes to remove yourself from the throes of poverty! My god! It's all so simple! I'll be sure to stop by my local project housing community and let them all know the good news! They are sure to be millionaires in no time, thanks for the tip!

Well wouldn't getting out there and applying themselves and getting an education or getting some work experience be better than sitting around collecting welfare payments and doing nothing productive? I'm sick of the angry poor blaming everyone else for their poverty and saying everyone should help them when they are doing nothing to help themselves. And nowhere did I say they would become millionaires. I just said that, especially in the richest countries on earth (US, Western Europe etc.). Its entirely possible to make it into the middle class with some initiative and hard work. Most of the people in my family have done it so I know it can be done.

[EscoLehGo]

Well wouldn't getting out there and applying themselves and getting an education or getting some work experience be better than sitting around collecting welfare payments and doing nothing productive?

Because this is what most if not all poor people do, yes of course, they're all choosing to live in squalor and filth in dangerous neighborhoods out of laziness! My boy, you sound like an outstanding young republican, there's a bright future for you yet.

[lil weasel]

Bad Schools, Bad Instructors, Bad Policy.

Kid got expelled for forming his lunch in the shape of a gun.

Kid got expelled for pointing his finger and saying, “Bang.”

Kid gets expelled for wearing a Tee-shirt with a message.

Kid gets expelled for having a ‘disruptive’ haircut.

 

But, what do you think the schools should be Teaching.

Most education is a matter of telling the kid information that is needed and is helpful if learned without having to go through the life experience.

Like:

How to read.

How to use books (etc.) to research information.

How to read a map or plan.

How to count change.

How to do everyday math.

History (alleged so as to not repeat the bad bits).

 

Then there is the Prep for Higher Education.

And, Specialty training for useful occupations such as the Building trades.

 

So… what courses should and should not be taught at Tax Payer expense.

I think only the basics, and let the Business pay for whatever ‘special’ training the Business needs.

 

[gtamann123]

 

Well wouldn't getting out there and applying themselves and getting an education or getting some work experience be better than sitting around collecting welfare payments and doing nothing productive?

Because this is what most if not all poor people do, yes of course, they're all choosing to live in squalor and filth in dangerous neighborhoods out of laziness! My boy, you sound like an outstanding young republican, there's a bright future for you yet.

Thank you. I am excitied for my bright future as well. When I am raising my family in my nice house in a subdivision somewhere in the Houston suburbs working as a civil engineer for a private contractor and driving my kids to their sports games/practices in my SUV because I decided to put effort into life and strive for something in my future i will totally regret being a young republican. While you sound like someone who will be spending their life fighting for "social justice" for people who don't even want to help themselves and just prefer to blame others for their problems. Have fun!!!

Edited March 5, 2013 by gtamann123

[The-King]

 

Well wouldn't getting out there and applying themselves and getting an education or getting some work experience be better than sitting around collecting welfare payments and doing nothing productive?

Because this is what most if not all poor people do, yes of course, they're all choosing to live in squalor and filth in dangerous neighborhoods out of laziness! My boy, you sound like an outstanding young republican, there's a bright future for you yet.

Thank you. I am excitied for my bright future as well. When I am raising my family in my nice house in a subdivision somewhere in the Houston suburbs working as a civil engineer for a private contractor and driving my kids to their sports games/practices in my SUV because I decided to put effort into life and strive for something in my future i will totally regret being a young republican. While you sound like someone who will be spending their life fighting for "social justice" for people who don't even want to help themselves and just prefer to blame others for their problems. Have fun!!!

Victim Blaming.

 

It's not to say the the entire lower class are victims, but to make such a brash, ignorant, generalized statement is absolutely disgusting. Knowing how many people like you are out there, people completely lacking in human empathy because you happened to make it, so you thus assume everyone else has the same environmental capabilities as yourself is sickening. Caring for yourself and your own is one thing, but such glaring selfishness in the face of a completely one-sided system is another thing entirely.

[gtamann123]

Well wouldn't getting out there and applying themselves and getting an education or getting some work experience be better than sitting around collecting welfare payments and doing nothing productive?

Because this is what most if not all poor people do, yes of course, they're all choosing to live in squalor and filth in dangerous neighborhoods out of laziness! My boy, you sound like an outstanding young republican, there's a bright future for you yet.

Thank you. I am excitied for my bright future as well. When I am raising my family in my nice house in a subdivision somewhere in the Houston suburbs working as a civil engineer for a private contractor and driving my kids to their sports games/practices in my SUV because I decided to put effort into life and strive for something in my future i will totally regret being a young republican. While you sound like someone who will be spending their life fighting for "social justice" for people who don't even want to help themselves and just prefer to blame others for their problems. Have fun!!!

Victim Blaming.

 

It's not to say the the entire lower class are victims, but to make such a brash, ignorant, generalized statement is absolutely disgusting. Knowing how many people like you are out there, people completely lacking in human empathy because you happened to make it, so you thus assume everyone else has the same environmental capabilities as yourself is sickening. Caring for yourself and your own is one thing, but such glaring selfishness in the face of a completely one-sided system is another thing entirely.

I hate the word "one sided system" isn't there a reason capitalism has created the most affluence and wealth of all other economic systems attempted by man? Isn't capitalism the system that turned Andrew Carnegie from a dirt poor immigrant into the richest man in the world at one point? Isn't it the system that has created a level of affluence in the US that pretty much everyone (including the poor) has benefitted from? (The money in Those welfare checks comes from somewhere) and the poor in America would be among the rich ins oem areas of the world. Isn't it the system that creates all of the devices we use and take for granted everyday? (Do you seriously think that IPhones, Personal computers, luxury cars and suburban housing would exist in a communist society?) maybe instead of hating the capitalist system the poor should embrace it and use it to pull themselves out of poverty. And what do you mean by "environmental capabilities" the last time I checked my household income is barely above the federal poverty line and both of my parents are low wage blue collar factory workers. But I'm not using that as an excuse and blaming "the system" for my family's low income. I know that it was just their choices and actions in life that lead to our current situation. And I'm using that as motivation to provide a better life for my future children and then their children and their children's children.

 

They way I see it there are three types of poor people: Angry poor who blame others for their situation, Depressed poor who just give up hope and don't try in life, and motivated poor who get motivated to better their position. I am of the last group.

[EscoLehGo]

Well wouldn't getting out there and applying themselves and getting an education or getting some work experience be better than sitting around collecting welfare payments and doing nothing productive?

Because this is what most if not all poor people do, yes of course, they're all choosing to live in squalor and filth in dangerous neighborhoods out of laziness! My boy, you sound like an outstanding young republican, there's a bright future for you yet.

Thank you. I am excitied for my bright future as well. When I am raising my family in my nice house in a subdivision somewhere in the Houston suburbs working as a civil engineer for a private contractor and driving my kids to their sports games/practices in my SUV because I decided to put effort into life and strive for something in my future i will totally regret being a young republican. While you sound like someone who will be spending their life fighting for "social justice" for people who don't even want to help themselves and just prefer to blame others for their problems. Have fun!!!

I'm far from a champion of "social justice", I'm no hippy, son. I grew up in an upper middle class family and have never once experienced a day of true poverty (aside from a short stint in college which my parents mostly funded) in my life. My parents however, both grew up very poor, one in a rural piece of sh*t backwater town and the other in a project housing community that has long since been torn down. They both worked very hard to get out of their sh*tty situations and I still have a lot of direct family members who haven't gotten out of the "trap" so I'm just a generation away from being part of the group you're making vast generalizations about. I embrace capitalism, I think economic competition is healthy but to write off every poor person as if the only reason they lack any sort of wealth is by their own direct doing is a very ill minded approach to take in my opinion. Everyone who "puts an effort" into succeeding in life doesn't always receive back what they put in, sh*t happens, maybe you're not old enough to understand that yet but I'm sure if the sh*t hits the fan for you and you end up in the same place as the people you're bitching about you'll be holding your hand out to someone as well for a bit of help.

[ryuclan]

Tosh.

 

I could name a few. All my history classes were in high school.

 

AP World History

AP US History

AP European History

 

I could of died of boredom if It weren't for the videos we rarely watched. I do think racist was a strong word, I should of said useless. No disrespect to any Europeans, its not your fault your history is so rich with war and art.

You know what pisses me off about a lot of Americans. They know almost nothing about the world outside of America, you need those damn classes.

You seemed to know everything about Americans. Please, tell us more.

[Ex Hellraiser]

Classes for 'Special' students, they used to be mixed with regular classes, if they were salvagable. The really useless ones where kept at home. Then some fools decided that Gods mistakes need to be educated in schools even though they had no expectations of real world jobs. Which became baby-sitting at public expense.

 

I hate this with a burning passion. I have been forced to go to school with potatoes like them since the beginning of 6th grade. I go to a vocational school right now. By definition, I learn a vocation there. Yet, we still have retards ( I don't care for political correctness) that go there. To learn what? What do they have to gain by going to a trade school?

 

While I have no person hatred toward retards, I don't feel safe being in the same room with a dmaged mind that might decide to go off without warning and attack someone.

 

During a testing day a few weeks ago, a day where I had my testing done, there was a bunch of different activities we had to choose from to do during the day instead. They included bowling at a nearby bowling alley, basketball at the neighboring college, a self defense course, a drumming activity, Zumba, etc. Though I didn't choose it, I was stuck with drumming. Guess what happens when the special ed teachers decide to take every potato in the school and stick them in one room with a hundred bongo drums? Hell. For me, and everyone else.

 

'Murica. Ruining education since 2008.

[gtamann123]

 

Well wouldn't getting out there and applying themselves and getting an education or getting some work experience be better than sitting around collecting welfare payments and doing nothing productive?

Because this is what most if not all poor people do, yes of course, they're all choosing to live in squalor and filth in dangerous neighborhoods out of laziness! My boy, you sound like an outstanding young republican, there's a bright future for you yet.

Thank you. I am excitied for my bright future as well. When I am raising my family in my nice house in a subdivision somewhere in the Houston suburbs working as a civil engineer for a private contractor and driving my kids to their sports games/practices in my SUV because I decided to put effort into life and strive for something in my future i will totally regret being a young republican. While you sound like someone who will be spending their life fighting for "social justice" for people who don't even want to help themselves and just prefer to blame others for their problems. Have fun!!!

I'm far from a champion of "social justice", I'm no hippy, son. I grew up in an upper middle class family and have never once experienced a day of true poverty (aside from a short stint in college which my parents mostly funded) in my life. My parents however, both grew up very poor, one in a rural piece of sh*t backwater town and the other in a project housing community that has long since been torn down. They both worked very hard to get out of their sh*tty situations and I still have a lot of direct family members who haven't gotten out of the "trap" so I'm just a generation away from being part of the group you're making vast generalizations about. I embrace capitalism, I think economic competition is healthy but to write off every poor person as if the only reason they lack any sort of wealth is by their own direct doing is a very ill minded approach to take in my opinion. Everyone who "puts an effort" into succeeding in life doesn't always receive back what they put in, sh*t happens, maybe you're not old enough to understand that yet but I'm sure if the sh*t hits the fan for you and you end up in the same place as the people you're bitching about you'll be holding your hand out to someone as well for a bit of help.

Of course not everyone that is poor is ther because of their own choice sometimes people get f*cked over by something but what I'm saying is there is a way out and bitching and complaining about it doesn't get you anywhere. And that's where I see too many people going theses days. They say "oh I'm going to just complain about my situation and take my handouts because that's all I need and not put any effort into life." Both of my parents grew up poor as well. My dad is straight off the farm and my mom is the daughter of a trucker and a maid and one of 5 kids. And while you are "one generation away" from poverty I grew up in poverty. Both my parents lost their jobs in the same week and when they were working it was very low wage blur collar labor. But one thing we didn't do is just take handouts and not put forth effort in life. After the divorce my mom worked very hard to provide for me and my sister and I'm proud of that. And I'm going to continue where she left off and elevate myself even further. Unlike most people in my situation who would just blame "the system" and demand that they are owed something when this is simply not true. So coming from someone who grew up in and to a certain extent still is in poverty the majority of the poor have only theirself to blame and shouldn't expect that anyone owes them anything. There's a huge difference between someone who is poor but hungry to get out of poverty and doesn't throw blame around and someone who is in poverty but blames Everyone but themselves. And this is what I was saying. If you live in squalor and filth PULL YOURSELF OUT!!! if you live in a crappy section 8 housing project PULL YOURSELF OUT!!!!! And I don't get what you mean by sh*t hitting the fan because the majority of people that go from having wealth and fall into poverty do so by their own actions. It's kind of hard to progress backwards in life without making bad decisions and that's something I don't plan on doing.

 

Capitalism ultimately rewards the hungry and motivated. You get what you put into life. If you put nothing into life and put no effort towards bettering yourself your going to stay in poverty. But if you take initiative in your life and work hard you will eventually make it.

Edited March 5, 2013 by gtamann123

[Finn 7 five 11]

 

Tosh.

 

I could name a few. All my history classes were in high school.

 

AP World History

AP US History

AP European History

 

I could of died of boredom if It weren't for the videos we rarely watched. I do think racist was a strong word, I should of said useless. No disrespect to any Europeans, its not your fault your history is so rich with war and art.

You know what pisses me off about a lot of Americans. They know almost nothing about the world outside of America, you need those damn classes.

You seemed to know everything about Americans. Please, tell us more.

I don't, but I am pretty sure I learnt more American and world history than Australian history.

 

But seriously, a bunch of guys from over here went to America and they couldn't even say which hemisphere Australia was in, and they were convinced that the ifle tower, the leaning tower of Piza and Mount Rushmore were in Australia...

 

I have seen heaps of sh*t like that though, could just be me stereotyping, but it sure seems like Americans in general are pretty ignorant of the rest of the world.

[DarrinPA]

 

So coming from someone who grew up in and to a certain extent still is in poverty the majority of the poor have only theirself to blame and shouldn't expect that anyone owes them anything. .... PULL YOURSELF OUT!!! .... PULL YOURSELF OUT!!!!!

 

 

This reminds me of a news reporter who did a story on the homeless. When they ask for spare change people often respond with "get a job", so he dressed down and applied for jobs - unable to list a phone number or place of residence he wasn't able to get a job. Some places wouldn't even let him apply for a job.

 

 

You get what you put into life. If you put nothing into life and put no effort towards bettering yourself your going to stay in poverty. But if you take initiative in your life and work hard you will eventually make it.

 

No, not always. Do you increase your odds, probably, but somethings just never happen.

 

 

Capitalism ultimately rewards the hungry and motivated.

Capitalism ultimately rewards the connected, those on top are usually born into money. Nepotism, cronyism, ect... are those who are going to benefit the most from capitalism.

 

[gtamann123]

So coming from someone who grew up in and to a certain extent still is in poverty the majority of the poor have only theirself to blame and shouldn't expect that anyone owes them anything. .... PULL YOURSELF OUT!!! .... PULL YOURSELF OUT!!!!!

 

 

This reminds me of a news reporter who did a story on the homeless. When they ask for spare change people often respond with "get a job", so he dressed down and applied for jobs - unable to list a phone number or place of residence he wasn't able to get a job. Some places wouldn't even let him apply for a job.

 

 

You get what you put into life. If you put nothing into life and put no effort towards bettering yourself your going to stay in poverty. But if you take initiative in your life and work hard you will eventually make it.

 

No, not always. Do you increase your odds, probably, but somethings just never happen.

 

 

Capitalism ultimately rewards the hungry and motivated.

Capitalism ultimately rewards the connected, those on top are usually born into money. Nepotism, cronyism, ect... are those who are going to benefit the most from capitalism.

Homelessness is a wicked form of poverty I agree. But I think what the problem is is the discrimination of the homeless. When people see a homeless person on the street they automatically think mentally ill alcoholic/drug abuser. And in a lot of cases this could be true but there are times when it's not. He could be a wounded vet. It he could have a rare disease that drained all of his money and left him broke. But I think the solution of the problem isn't socialism and bringing down the wealthy to help the needy. The solution is to educate more people to embrace the true capitalist ideals of everyone getting a fair chance to prove themselves and self reliance is golden and the key to success.

 

Now in not calling you out saying your a die hard socialist or anything (even though you might be idk) but its people like you that have me concerned for the future of America. People that just don't understand capitalism and only see the bad side of things. There are bad sides of socialism and communism as well and the bad side of those is worse than the bad side of capitalism. Get what I'm saying here? Capitalism is the system that turned the US and all the other industrialized/developed counties in the world into economic powerhouses that produced a standard of living higher than would ever be possible under a centrally planned economy. We can't turn our back on it simply because of the downsides associated with it. This is what I have been saying all along. Maybe the poor should embrace the system and see all the upsides to it instead of only looking at the downsides and thinking they are owed something because they lost the game.

[Triple Vacuum Seal]

@gtamann123 You from Houston? I am too (but raised in Dallas). If so, I can see where you get your view of things. In Texas, legal citizens are given just about all they need to succeed in return for relatively low taxes. Both of my parents came from the "hood" and with a little initiative and HARDWORK, they worked their way to the upper middle class no problem. To be honest, the government is f*cking our generation over with this new mindset of "blame the rich" and entitlement. It's really only going to lead to more cronyism and reliance on connections for our generation as this anti-business/anti-wealth building sentiment leads to less jobs to go around for the average American. It pains me to see this new generation who label themselves "poor" with the newest Air Jordans, an iPhone, and the newest gen gaming console while some poor Ethiopian can't even find a slice of bread. Entitlement at its finest.

 

 

Some of the self righteous people on here will write you off as a Republican, but they fail to realize that if you can't make it in the US. You can't make it anywhere in this fiercely competitive world. That's not Republican talk, that's just the blunt honesty that most people don't want to believe because I'm no Republican by any means. I just tell it like it is. I'm not going to sit before my fellow Americans and feed them the Democratic Party lie they want to here; which is that their circumstances are entirely the problem of the rich and the government will swoop in and save them. The political left doesn't tell America what they need to here when it comes to socioeconomic issues, instead they capitalize on the growing working-class & poor population's votes by telling them what they want to here...."It's the 1%'s fault you can't make ends meet....not because you picked a useless major following your 'passion' and/or had kids before paying off you credit card and student debt"

 

Meanwhile, people on the other side of the world who are ten times more willing and deserving by every moral standard we hold starve to capitalize on the same set of American resources that our poor have failed to capitalize on. I look around and see how unfair our wealth-concentrating system of climbing the socioeconomic latter has become (despite being worse in most other countries). Then on the other hand, I see how the majority of the suffering in America is a result of laziness and lack of motivation more so than oppression as those in way poorer countries would either excel here with ease or settle for the conditions of the 1st world lower class.

Edited March 5, 2013 by canttakemyid

[gtamann123]

 

@gtamann123  You from Houston?  I am too (but raised in Dallas).  If so, I can see where you get your view of things.  In Texas, legal citizens are given just about all they need to succeed in return for relatively low taxes.  Both of my parents came from the "hood" and with a little initiative and HARDWORK, they worked their way to the upper middle class no problem.  To be honest, the government is f*cking our generation over with this new mindset of "blame the rich" and entitlement.  It's really only going to lead to more cronyism and reliance on connections for our generation as this anti-business/anti-wealth building sentiment leads to less jobs to go around for the average American.  It pains me to see this new generation who label themselves "poor" with the newest Air Jordans, an iPhone, and the newest gen gaming console while some poor Ethiopian can't even find a slice of bread.  Entitlement at its finest.

 

 

Some of the self righteous people on here will write you off as a Republican, but they fail to realize that if you can't make it in the US.  You can't make it anywhere in this fiercely competitive world.  That's not Republican talk, that's just the blunt honesty that most people don't want to believe because I'm no Republican by any means.  I just tell it like it is.  I'm not going to sit before my fellow Americans and feed them the Democratic Party lie they want to here; which is that their circumstances are entirely the problem of the rich and the government will swoop in and save them.  The political left doesn't tell America what they need to here when it comes to socioeconomic issues, instead they capitalize on the growing working-class & poor population's votes by telling them what they want to here...."It's the 1%'s fault you can't make ends meet....not because you picked a useless major following your 'passion' and/or had kids before paying off you credit card and student debt"

 

Meanwhile, people on the other side of the world who are ten times more willing and deserving by every moral standard we hold starve to capitalize on the same set of American resources that our poor failed to capitalize on.  I look around and see how unfair our wealth-concentrating system of climbing the socioeconomic latter has become (despite being worse in most other countries).  Then on the other hand, I see how the majority of the suffering in America is a result of laziness and lack of motivation more so than oppression as those in way poorer countries would either excel here with ease or settle for the conditions of the 1st world lower class.

My family is from Texas but I'm not. But from what I have heard and read it is the state that that embraces capitalism and is the best place for someone who wants to work hard and make it into the middle class. It's a state with no Income tax for Christ sake. Its all about rewarding the hard working and motivated. And look what it has done! If Texas was it's own country it would have the 14th largest economy in the world and its level of affluence is just as high if not higher than California or the northeast. I currently live in a blue state and my dad is looking to move back and I am looking at going with him to pursue my career after I get my degree. I know that I can make it there with hard work and initiative.

 

I completely agree with your statement that the Western poor believe they are just entitled to good things just by simply living in the US. And the poor here would be among the rich in East Africa and those people would kill to have the types of opportunities the American poor have. And this has created the Anti-wealth sentiment both me and you are concerned about. People just want to blame the rich for their problems even though they screwed themselves over in most situations like useless majors or their feeling of entitlement and that they don't have to work for anything. People don't realize that without capitalism we would be much poorer than we are now. And that's why your statement "If you can't make it in the US you can't make it anywhere" Is entirely true. We live in the wealthiest country on earth with a level of widespread affluence not seen anywhere else. Getting out of the projects and into the middle class housing development is entirely possible but with the current sentiments and ever growing government I can only see the economy getting worse. Raising taxes and destroying wealth only makes it harder for people to provide for themselves and thus hurts the poor in the long run. A job is ten times better than a handout but people fail to realize that.

 

And I am no Republican either. I hold leftist views on most social issues such as Gay marriage, abortion, and I really don't care for religion. Its just not the government's place to get into those things. So I guess I could be called a Libertarian of sorts.

 

I guess I am coming to realize that the internet is not a safe place for people who hold my views.

 

I liked this speech. I think it is very interesting and I agree with most points he makes.

 

 

 

I also liked this one as well.

 

 

Edited March 5, 2013 by gtamann123

[Triple Vacuum Seal]

^Agreed

I hate corruption in the "big banks" and excessive greed as much as the next guy...but this emotionally-driven renaissance in socioeconomic policy in America is hardly based in economic due diligence at the political level to ensure that things will even be better for our poor and working class. We will inadvertently shoot ourselves in the foot with this anti-wealth building sentiment as we forget that the poor have the most wealth to build. Regulations that make the wealth ladder steeper will hurt those who have the farthest climb.

 

 

As for the internet not being safe for people with your views... These forums are a very Eurocentric place at times, so you should just keep in mind that a stronger America isn't really in the best interest of Europeans. They would prefer a more European America; but that's an anthropological argument for a whole different discussion.

Edited March 5, 2013 by canttakemyid

[gtamann123]

^Agreed

I hate corruption in the "big banks" and excessive greed as much as the next guy...but this emotionally-driven renaissance in socioeconomic policy in America is hardly based in economic due diligence at the political level to ensure that things will even be better for our poor and working class. We will inadvertently shoot ourselves in the foot with this anti-wealth building sentiment as we forget that the poor have the most wealth to build. Regulations that make the wealth ladder steeper will hurt those who have the farthest climb.

 

 

As for the internet not being safe for people with your views... These forums are a very Eurocentric place at times, so you should just keep in mind that a stronger America isn't really in the best interest of Europeans. They would prefer a more European America; but that's an anthropological argument for a whole different discussion.

Lol Yeah that is very true about the Europeans. I think it's hilarious when Europeans try to bash Americans as being Ignorant and Arrogant when Europeans are some of the most Arrogant people I have ever seen or interacted with. They look down on us Americans like we are some kind of stupid little child that know nothing about the world or how things work. While they are typing on an American invented computer and use a cell phone that runs on American made software and watch American TV and movies. And some even drive American made cars. But this is a discussion for an entirely different day lol.

 

 

[IM_YOUR_GOD]

Please let's not start another American vs European world. It's safe to say Europe has done a great deal for America, they gave us English for crying out loud.

[gtamann123]

Please let's not start another American vs European world. It's safe to say Europe has done a great deal for America, they gave us English for crying out loud.

I know that's why I'm not elevating it beyond my comments on his post.

[Kwabs]

they teach useless things like maths and do not teach things that you need in life

Yea, it's not like you should be able to count or something. Hell, who needs that..