Education in America is a Complete Failure

 

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart

 

Over the last two decades studies prove that the United States is far behind other developed nations in quality of life, including education. History proves that the opportunity to receive a college degree opens doors which remain closed to less educated Americans.

I am not claiming that every young American should attend a college or university. However, anyone who wants to extend their and education, their knowledge, should have the ability, the right to attend an institute of higher learning.

One of the primary reasons America is falling behind other nations in several areas of economic development lies in the fact that the prohibitive cost of higher education prevents some of our most gifted young men and women from continuing their education after high school. Everything in America is about money.

If America is to survive the 21^st century, our government must reverse its present course and end its obsession with corporate profits. It’s past the time when people must become the priority.

Every nation is judged by the quality of life offered to its people. On the list of 15 developed nations, the United States is last. Possibly the most egregious lie coming from politicians is that “America is the greatest nation in the world.” It is not even close because the United States has become a business, not a country.

Change, real and great change, is necessary to save our nation. Our government is broken beyond repair. It has become necessary to establish term limits for all in Washington. It was a wise decision to force term limits on our presidents. It is equally important that the legislative and judicial branches receive the same consideration. Power corrupts and our government has become the most corrupt in the world.

Nearly a trillion dollars is handed to our military every year with no questions about why 50 percent of it is often wasted. This is five times more than all other developed nations combined. If just a small part of that money was added to our education budget classes could be smaller, more teachers could be hired and paid a fair wage, and more schools could be built. We could then afford to make school days longer with more time spent on all important subjects including math, science, computer science, and English.

Our country’s priorities are very skewed. Our government cares more about profits for corporations than the quality of life for our nation’s people, or the future of our nation. Over the last 40 years the United States has moved from its existence as a capitalistic society and is currently a plutocracy. The super-rich make all the decisions for Republican legislators in Washington.

When I was a much younger man who was born and raised after the end of WWII, one of the most talked about and encouraged issues was education. I loved school, and that passion combined with life’s lessons from my mother and her parents inspired me to study hard and do well in both elementary and high school. If I received less than an “A-“ I was upset. However, growing up poor, and unable to receive a scholarship, I did not attend a college or university. I did enroll in some specific classes, mostly in night classes, but never achieved my dream of receiving a college diploma.

Sometime after my own children were born in 1973 and 1977 our nation moved away from its former focus on education. There is a perfect relationship between that fact and the beginnings of our current growing income inequality.

All nations in Asia, Japan, China, Taiwan, and India, increased their focus on higher learning in the 1980’s and continue their efforts today. Our tech companies frequently invite young men and women from these nations who fit their needs to become a major part of their company’s future. Few American cities are chosen.

I’m going to be crude here, but only this phrase aptly describes the truth: Our government must get its head out of its ass. They are destroying our nation’s future as the focus on profits for the wealthy and ignore our people.

There is no doubt that our government is the most incompetent and corrupt in the free world. Only you can change that.

Op-ed by James Turnage

Find my nine novels here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Turnage/author/B00LOCJ2Z2?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true