January Potpourri
If you read the last column, the answer is D. It is amazing that for a country that embraces peace and the love of Christianity that we fight so many wars. There’s an excellent DVD documentary available titled Why We Fight, a film that won the 2005 Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. It features John McCain, Gore Vidal and others to explore over 50 years of US foreign policy. The film raises an alarming thought that the US is moving from its founding principles to a more imperial and uncertain future.
To win the struggle against US oil addiction, the answer is to conserve by driving fuel-efficient vehicles. Currently, the US imports nearly 400 million barrels of oil per month, over 3 times the amount used in 1985. At $55 per barrel, the monthly bill is $22,000,000,000 and the yearly costs exceed $264 billion! If a national goal would be to have at least 90 percent of all vehicles using 4-cylinder engines (or hybrids), it would be easy to meet the goal of cutting consumption by 20 percent. That would save Americans over $50 billion per year and maybe prevent any more US military causalities. At the very least it takes some money out of the hands of potential terrorists.
According to a 2006 report from the College Board, college pricing (tuition, room and board, fees and books) for a 4-year public college will cost over $60,000 (actually represents 5-year costs, typical in today’s higher ed environment). Five years at a private college will run over $150,000. Ten years ago, costs were lower, about $37,000 for public and $95,000 for private colleges (adjusted for 2006 dollars and for 4 years, typical in 1996). This rise in college costs will likely mean that more students will choose public schools and have much higher debt at graduation than any other previous generation.
From USA Today, Asian-Americans have the highest percentage (46%) of people in professional and managerial jobs among all ethnic groups; have the highest percentage (49%) of bachelor’s degrees of all ethnic groups; and have a median household income of $50,000 (2004), the highest level among all ethnic groups. Where do these kids get their education? Why, public schools of course; the difference is cultural attitudes toward work and education and family involvement.
From the US Department of Education (2006), the percent of high school sophomores who expect to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher was over 79 percent in 2002. That was double the percentage from 1980 and up from 60 percent in 1990. Since the real outcome of graduation with a bachelor’s degree is less than 48 percent, students are either (or all) poorly prepared, given misleading expectations or are just too immature to attend college from the ages 18 to 22. The rise in college bound students also reflects the loss of manufacturing jobs that, in 1980, would have been an appealing and financially secure alternative.
Did you know that today it costs $4600 to buy what $2500 bought in 1986? For those people who want to retire in 20 years, just how far do you think your savings will take you? By then, it will take at least $6700 to buy what $4600 buys today. Plus since you will live at least another 20 years in retirement, you’ll need at least $8800 to make those $4600 purchases. Communal living will be the norm for the next generation of grandparents and less disposable income than the current generation.
Here’s a teaching idea from Patti Ball, a member of the USA Today’s 2006 All-USA Teaching Team (a recognition program for outstanding K-12 teachers): At the beginning of 3rd grade, each student is given a recipe box and a stack of index cards to help keep track of key concepts they will learn over the next 3 years. Ball calls it the Knowledge Box. “You don’t just do what the teacher tells you. You’re in charge of your education. I’m here to help.” Ball tells students.
The most common job interview mistakes noticed by employers include: (source: USA Today 10/17/2006)
1. Little or no knowledge of the company (47%)
2. Unprepared to discuss skills and expertise (17%)
3. Unprepared to discuss career plans and goals (9%)
4. Limited enthusiasm (9%)
5. Lack of eye contact (3%)
Given that list, job interviews don’t appear to be as complicated as brain surgery. Do some research, practice your presentation skills and go in ready to express how you will be valuable to the organization over the next 5-10-15-20 years. Remember to present a firm handshake and keep good eye contact throughout the interview.
Obese people use more gasoline according to a researcher from the University of Illinois. An obese person driving 12,000 miles per year would save 18 gallons per year by losing 100 pounds. At $2.20 per gallon, obese people use $2.2 billion more in gas than if they were lighter. Let’s be honest, using more gasoline is the least of an obese person’s problems. Given the shorter life span due to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, it is unlikely that over the long term obese people will have any significant impact on excessive gasoline consumption or conservation efforts.
Finally, in 2008, 79 million baby boomers will start to retire and people over the age of 65 will make up 12 percent of the population. That number will rise to 19 percent by 2030. For those of you still alive by 2030, it will seem like the US will be one large retirement community! Who will be left to work and pay for Social Security and Medicare entitlements?
