The controversy in regard the school systems is one that doesn't make a lot of sense to much of the Baby Boomer crowd. During the time of the Baby Boomers was one of great accomplishments throughout the United States that affected much of the entire global community. We leaped ahead of everyone in the tech sector and the advances we made literally changed "business as usual" and the way that governments and society interacted throughout Western society. Dropout rates were high even back then but society, like it or not, accepted that those individuals that were self-motivated and were driven to achieve greatness did so regardless of how other people were doing in school. The simple fact is that not everyone excels in academics, and when our economy and society were humming along during some of the best economic times witnessed in these United States, there weren't too many complaints. Even now, I believe that demanding that everyone excel in school is a wholly unrealistic goal and most of us are aware that some people are better served by engaging in construction and other careers that do not require a college education. To believe that one size fits all is detrimental to the entire educational system which is why "No Child Left Behind" was such a miserable failure.
As we look at the rise in so-called drug abuse in the United States, the waters are even murkier. (I don't consider Marijuana to be a drug. We have to remember that it was criminalized in the 1930's because of the "Mexican Menace" that were crossing our borders and the Deep South's claims that pot caused Black men to rape white women.) Gil Kerlikowske, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy has made it known that he believes that marijuana use has increased due to several states that have implemented Medical Marijuana Laws and the efforts to minimize jail time and prison sentences for simple possession. He goes on to state that the nation's progressive view of marijuana use is affecting our school children and is responsible for the sharp increase in drug abuse.
What would Mr. Kerlikowske attribute the rise of drug abuse in Seniors to? I would hope that he wouldn't adopt the notion that today's Seniors are yesterdays Baby Boomers who have adopted the ideology of the late sixties and early seventies as the rationale for their increased drug abuse - but it wouldn't surprise me. We have to remember that it was the Baby Boomers that helped to adopt our draconian drug laws which have filled America's prisons to the bursting point and are now straining state and federal budgets. When Washington doesn't have an answer, or in this case, is being dishonest with the public they hardly ever tell the truth and reply upon whatever seems to be the most politically correct and will help to advance their authoritarian agenda.
I have no doubt that our schools are failing some of our students and that drug abuse is rising, but that said, I wholeheartedly disagree with the establishment reasons for said failures. Our government is failing to recognize social issues that are affecting the entire United States, and in doing so they are doing a disservice to the entire country. Perhaps they should take the time to talk to those who are abusing drugs and that includes Seniors as well as school children. I have nothing but time on my hands and I have looked into this issue and what I've learned is in direct conflict with what the Talking Heads in Washington are attempting to spin into political fodder and propagandize the country with more lies and misinformation.
Frankly, about 90% of the answer is so amazingly simple that it boggles the mind that some of our best minds in educational circles and those that profess to be experts in drug abuse have missed the answer completely. (Or, they are so dishonest that they refuse to tell the truth.) Especially for the most recent years, the miserable grades we have witnessed in many of our schools and the rise in drug abuse can be directly attributed to the miserable state of our economy and the jobs market!
Why, you ask, could the economy possibly be affecting our children's school grades and causing a widespread rise in drug abuse among mainstream America and even our Seniors? Keep in mind that according to government figures approximately fifteen (15) million Americans are currently unemployed. (Most alternative news sites place that figure much higher.) The state of our economy has been the subject of the news ever since this "recession" began and quite naturally, it has been discussed and bemoaned in most of the homes in America. Most of these homes discuss the economy, especially those who have lost their jobs or are now forced to work two or three jobs to make ends meet are still discussing this issue - and most of them have children.
How do we think that it affects our nations children to witness their parents losing their homes or being so exhausted from over working themselves that they barely have time to do anything other than eat or sleep? Our children are actively asking themselves why it matters whether they apply themselves at school when they know, from their parents experiences, that there are no jobs to be found. To put it mildly, our nation is experiencing a mass case of depression and social rebellion because most Americans do not trust the government and do not believe that our economy will ever recover. Unfortunately, our children also hear the news, and even more importantly, they listen to their parents and their abject depression and insecurity is rubbing off on our children.
From the mouth of babes I have heard comments that are chilling yet understandable. How many of you have heard your child state that school doesn't matter because it doesn't take much of an education to flip burgers? Or that there aren't any jobs so what's the point of trying hard in school? (If you haven't heard any of these comments, maybe it's time to have an in-depth conversation with your Kids.) Remember, our children hear what we say and contrary to popular belief, they often remember and believe what we say. It's an especially memorable message when they have seen their home repossessed and heard Mom and Dad crying because they can't find work that will allow them to provide a decent living for their children. Even those children whose parents still have good jobs are subjected to other children whose parents haven't been so lucky, so the message is running like wildfire throughout our entire school system.
Now we have to address the rise of drug abuse in Seniors. Again, it is the miserable state of the economy that may be driving our Seniors to seek escape through drug abuse. I'm not quite a Senior yet, but being on Social Security Disability, I share their concerns and fears. We hear, almost on a daily basis that the GOP, if their reclaim their seats in Congress will cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. A large percentage of America's Seniors are barely getting by and often do without in order to purchase their medications. Food costs are rising, and with Congress's recent refusal to grant the customary cost of living increases for Social Security recipients (For two years, and there's one year to go.) it's even harder to make ends meet.
We have heard the rhetoric about cutting Social Security before, however, this time we are fully aware that circumstances have changed. The government borrowed over 2.2 trillion dollars from the Social Security Trust Fund, and now that they have to begin repaying said "loan," even though it shouldn't be, it's a drain on a national treasury that is already sorely underfunded. To make matters worse, President Obama recruited wealthy individuals that have a history of being enemies to the Social Security program and whom are expected to recommend steep cuts in the Trust program - and we expect corporatist Obama to agree and help to implement their recommendations.
Much like the rest of the country, our school children and Seniors have little faith that our government is capable of or has the political will to solve the most pressing problems that plague a once great nation. Our children are mirroring their parents concerns and the Seniors know through experience that very little the government states can be taken at face value. Unfortunately, through the years we have learned, often the hard way, that the rhetoric of politicians cannot be trusted. We know that it is a stated goal of the Obama administration to "trim" Social Security and the GOP intends to slash and or privatize the program so their Wall Street cronies can rob what little is left that offers a measure of security for those that have paid into the program for their entire lives.
In short, the majority of the people don't trust the government and have little faith that their collective situations will get any better. The country appears to be suffering from a mass case of depression and harbor a great deal of fear in regard their future. Instead of casting the blame everywhere except where it belongs, Washington needs to face the reality that Corporate America, the Wall Street thieves and our nation's Elites have dealt our entire country a dastardly blow, and until the situation is rectified, America will continue its downward spiral and continue to suffer from a severe case of fear and uncertainty.
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