If you don’t have time to read the whole book, or even the whole review, here’s the nut:

Could, and should, something be done?

Claudia Goldin and Lawrence F. Katz, two Harvard economists, think yes. Their book, “The Race Between Education and Technology” (Harvard, $39.95), contains many tables, a few equations and a powerfully told story about how and why the United States became the world’s richest nation — namely, thanks to its schools.

The authors skillfully demonstrate that for more than a century, and at a steady rate, technological breakthroughs — the mass production system, electricity, computers — have been increasing the demand for ever more educated workers. And, they show, America’s school system met this demand, not with a national policy, but in grassroots fashion, as communities taxed themselves and built schools and colleges.

Beginning in the 1970s, however, the education system failed to keep pace, resulting, Ms. Goldin and Mr. Katz contend, in a sharply unequal nation.

“My, aren’t we cheery.

You can just feel the blue birds of Raynor and the White Cliffs of Dover.

You can cut the gloom and doom with a knife.“

I thought that’s what people wanted us to talk about.  If I post anything else, I get criticized for, essentially, fiddling while Rome burns. 

I can find more gloom and doom to post, I’m sure.  Or I can find lots of happy pictures of cute kittens and puppies.  Or something.

My, aren’t we cheery.

You can just feel the blue birds of Raynor and the White Cliffs of Dover.

You can cut the gloom and doom with a knife.

What I find interesting is that everyone agree’s that a persons fortune can collapse in a moment and, while we as individuals can work to prevent such from happening, sometimes it’s just beyond our control. This makes me wonder why so many are convinced that we can create a perfect, no fault, no failure society.

A person should work to aquire as much knowledge and as many skills as possible. A degree looks nice on the wall but, when your chosen field goes tits up (a little aircraft jargon for Roy)and you have no other marketable skill to fall back on…well…get in line at Wal-Mart.

In the end, you, your family and maybe a few close friends, are all you can count on.

Which is not to say that’s always enough. Sometimes the combined effort of the community is needed…as long as it’s not exploited, as it usually is.

And remember…things could always be worse. The girl that lives 2 doors down from me went into the hospital for a routine operation and woke up 3 months later with no hands and feet because she went septic. She’s like 25.

Remeber that next time you’re bitching about how bad things are.

Strongly disagree, you may find yourself out of a job even if you are a PhD. But no matter how poor you get, no one can take that degree away from you once you have earned it (Chief Monroe’s is another matter). Meta-physical? Sure, but it counts and it keeps people going.

And again, the most glaring inequality in Richmond is education, where RPS’ s buildings are the oldest in the state while the counties get some of the newest. This falls squarely on City leadership, who have put wasteful downtown development before updating and building schools.

Larryboy said, “Bill you could be out of a job tomorrow. Don’t think you can’t be . I’m not saying you will be—but it can happen. JUST LIKE THAT.“
Oh, gall and wormwood to admit it, but Larryboy’s right for once.
When 9/11 came, there was a noticeable drop in contributions to many churches.  A bit later, the national denomination for which my lady had worked for seventeen years told her that they were eliminating her position in three months—and, by the way, be sure to finish up the four months’ work that’s already on your desk.
Little-known fact: churches are not required to participate in the unemployment compensation system.  Her’s had chosen not to.  Therefore, out of work in one’s fifties, no unemployment, no income . . . but a mortgage and other bills.
Don’t think that it couldn’t happen to you.  My lady was a moderately big wheel in the vast machine that is any major national church denomination, making about $75k . . . and then out on her butt.

Ok Bill, I’ve gotten to read your post in full. Sure, that’s right: One has to go out there & roll the dice to win! I know this. But after that…..

Bill you could be out of a job tomorrow. Don’t think you can’t be . I’m not saying you will be—but it can happen. JUST LIKE THAT. We are all one step away from homelessness. We just don’t care to think like that (I know I don’t).

So yes in the end its a crap shoot. Tweaking (“improving”) the education system will have had nothing to do with any of it; on what transpires. Go ahead & laugh at Larry the Fool when he says this, all you want. One day you will see what I am talking about.

Thanks Ed, but what I’m trying to say is that I don’t have control over other people! I did my part—I was in complete control of that (myself).

I’m on the move right now so haven’t had time to fully read Bill’s. But I’m sure it has something to do with the “Free Will” concept also. So I’ll preface my (later)  reply by saying that life is not like Burger King—personal responsibility or not, none of us can have it our way all the time. We as individuals can only do what we can to be “successful”. The rest lies in how OTHERS on this planet view what we do.

“totally out of my hands.“

“Success is a crap shoot”

I get your general sentiment, Larry, but I disagree with the above two statements.  It leaves too much up to external forces and the vagaries of fate.  The people I know who have become “successful” financially did not get there just because some other people believed in them and gave them money.  They worked extremely hard and diligently over a period of years to build up to where they now are.  Again, Edison’s inspiration versus perspiration.  Drive, determination, single-mindedness, dedication and stamina go a hell of a long way to beat out momentary flashes of brilliance - although those do help along the way. 

Biscuit is right in his general sentiment.  It’s what Jim Rohn referred to as “the set of your sails.“  Everything around you - external forces, like who’s in charge of gubmint, the economy, etc., may play some small part, but ultimately it’s just the wind blowing past.  What the individual makes of the circumstances determines outcome. 

Next I’ll be quoting Ghandi…

Larry,

There is a principle in psychology called locus of control. If you feel like you have control over your life you are much better adjusted and positive. If you feel like others have control over you then you tend to be more maladjusted.

Your materials research may be very complex and somewhat out of your control but that is no reason to give in to feelings of helplessness. You do have control. Of yourself.

Quick, quick, listen to what I’m saying before Roger tunes in and accuses me of being an internet intellectual.

Yes Simmertime that’s right. And its also absurd for economic ‘experts’ to expect the education system to ‘fix’ things too. And so now I go aaaall the way back to my original position & post: Success is happenstance. Pot luck—a crap shoot.

I’ll use myself as an example, so that I’m not just leaning on convenient slogans with that:

Most of us like to think we do good things in life, and, because of these we deserve financial success. Now, I did some work recently that I am trying to get published. I feel the material I made is novel & groundbreaking (indeed nobody’s made such a material before…). I believe that BIG things should come from it. But…

...what I think doesn’t count. UNLESS a large group of experts agree that my work is “big”, then really my work isn’t so big! Its totally out of my hands. Either people will, or they won’t.

Success is a crap shoot. And this is why there are inequalities. We can’t roll Snake Eyes all of the time. So Adios to the economic experts!

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