This blog is home of the 21st century scholars course at East Knox High School. Those who visit must interact , debate, and discuss events that are important to our lives.
Books I read in October 2024
11 months ago
The Fat Lady Has Sung
Author: Ryan Gallwitz
This is very interesting New York Times article.
The author is Thomas Friedman who also penned The World is Flat and Hot, Flat and Crowded. In this article he uses terms like: The Greatest Generation, The Grasshopper Generation, Obamism. He also calls politics a spectator sport like all-star wrestling. How do you make sense of all this?
I think this quote says it all:
"Now we and our kids together need to be “The Regeneration” — the generation that renews, refreshes, re-energizes and rebuilds America for the 21st century."
I was actually just talking about a similar situation with some of my older friends. The problem is that instead of working for our children, our generation is not just accepting what is given to us and not expecting to do any more.
My problem with government reform is that there is too much emphasis on the executive branch. Congress is not ready to unite and pass powerful bills yet, and until then, Obama can only try to get that legislation passed.
My other personal concern is state power. I have always been more of a federalist, but I am wondering if it is time to put some power back in the states hands. I am learning about the constitution now, and until the Civil War, states were separate entities, much more so than today.
With all the ideas about how to reform, I think it would be interesting to give the states power. Imagine if one state tried out universal health care for residents, while another created new rules for business in its own borders. If states try things on their own, we might be able to see what works and what doesn't, instead of just speculating.
P.S. Whigs rock! Woot woot!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig_Party_(United_States)
Our parents generation worked hard for what they had, so it is time for our generation to make a difference in the world.But I also agree with David about how the states should receive more power in the decisions.
I like David's idea on the state power, I would just hope that ohio wouldnt get stuck with say, paying double or triple the taxes... not very likely but hey at the rate this economy is moving, who knows what will happen next.
About the article. I think twhat stuck out to me the most was when the author wrote "The president needs to persuade the country to invest in the future and pay for the past." How are we supposed to invest in the future when it is also our job to pay for the past? The young adults of the 21st gerneration are stuck with a lot the financial problems of the past. Just a few years ago our economy seemed to be booming, and then all of a sudden we are stuck in a recession. Supposedly the 80's and 90's were some of the best years, financially in the U.S. Why was it so different? Now we are so much into debt that the young adults trying to start their lives can hardly find a job or figure out a way to pay for their education. Even at East Knox many of the graduates didn't proceed to the colligate level of education. I dont think it was because the didn't want the schooling but becasue of the financial troubles they were already facing strait out of high school. Middle aged adults trying to keep their selves afloat through the financial hardships, can hardly do so anymore. With gas and food being so high, and the housing recession, many are having trouble with their everyday living expences.
When the article said "Our parents truly were the Greatest Generation." I felt as if it was a sarcastic remark, although the last decade or two has been very progressing in the technological sense, our country has still more than doubled it's debt, making the parents of our time financially unset for the future. If we had gone about things at a little less of an agressive manner we might not be in such hard times right now.
I think Kurt Andersen was spot on when he called us “The Grasshopper Generation,” eating through the prosperity that was bequeathed us like hungry locusts" . We truly are greedy people in this day and age. We have no desire but to work hard for ourselves even if it means at the dismay of others. We no longer are united together in America, working together for the common good. We are an individualistic society that has no care for what we did today and we don't care what problems that it brings tomorrow.