The Young and the Screwed: America's Youths

One Thing to Do Today

2011-05-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Evening, all!

I am currently writing letters to my representative and senators in Congress. My complaints include education funding and health care reform.

I believe everyone should write a letter (not an e-mail) about an important topic(s) and send it to his or her congresspersons. The only way our politicians will listen to us is if we speak to them.

So, let's start speaking.

Welfare Abuse in Michigan

2011-05-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

I would like you all to read this story about greed, selfishness, and unreasonableness: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localdtw/20110518/ts_yblog_localdtw/2m-michigan-lottery-winner-defends-use-of-food-stamps

Leroy Fick is a pathetic individual. He's arrogant, selfish, and spoiled. His (and his lawyer's) attitude can be summed up by this quote: "The problem is with the state". That statement is only half-correct. The other half of the problem is Leroy Fick; specifically, the problem is Leroy Fick being a greedy, welfare-abusing bastard.

Does it surprise anyone that one of the baby boomers would stoop to this low of a level? It doesn't surprise me one bit. After all, the boomers do form the "greediest generation ever", according to Thomas Friedman.

Anyway, food stamps and similar programs are for the truly needy. These programs are meant to make sure that Americans (especially youngsters) aren't starving and dying on the streets. Welfare programs are not for
millionaires.

Leroy Fick is, in my book, one of the greediest persons in America. I believe he belongs right up there with Republicans, Democrats, derivatives traders (especially SLABS and oil-futures traders), the UAW, the RIAA, professional athletes, and celebrities.

A Brief Look at the Iraq War

2011-05-15T23:39:00.000-07:00

I decided to talk about the Iraq War today after watching the film "The Hurt Locker".

Honestly, if you have never seen the film, please go do so. It is disturbing, intriguing, and, according to some veterans, somewhat accurate in terms of the addiction to the adrenaline rush that comes with dismantling bombs (see: http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2010-02-17-hurtlocker17_CV_N.htm). Marine Lance Corporal Nate Knowles, who lost a leg to an IED in Afghanistan, actually said of the film: "I think everybody should watch it and see how things really are".

Sure, the director of the film took liberties with the movie in terms of proper signification of ranks and solider actions. But, as stated in that article, many of the emotions portrayed in the film are spot on in terms of what soldiers feel while they're in Iraq, and when they come home.

So, please watch the movie. And, when you're done, thank a veteran.

A Great Youtube Video for High School Students About College

2011-05-15T00:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, teenagers.

I want you to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpZtX32sKVE&feature=player_embedded. It is one hour long, and, I must say it is a worthwhile investment of your time.

The video is pretty preachy (and not totally right about the whole "hyperinflation" thing). But, I still mostly agree with the message: college is way overpriced and it may not even get you a good job anymore.

If you are still considering where to go to college, you should seriously consider community colleges. Or consider a trade school.

Honestly, I don't want you to suffer the indecencies of our college financing system. You will graduate with at least $30,000 in debt, you probably won't get a job that pays that off for years, and you will lose four years of income while you're working towards a degree. And, if you run into tough times, there is no help for you: there are no bankruptcy protections for private or public student loans.

I believe you would be better off working, saving your money, and then traveling the world. You will learn much more and learn it all cheaper.

If you want to learn about a particular scholastic discipline, you have a fantastic resource: the Internet. Use it to educate yourself.

In essence, everyone has a degree nowadays. Since everyone possesses a degree, each degree's value is minimal. It's not called a "B.S." for nothing: given the number of people who are college-educated today, a degree is bullshit.

Higher education is a business now. It is not about teaching students how to think, start a business, or manage finances. It is about making money for administrators, coaches, and lenders. Your educational needs and desires are secondary to profit. Do you want to go $30,000 in debt for that?

Entitlement Reform is Easier than You Think

2011-05-13T21:43:00.001-07:00

Bad news on the entitlement front: Social Security and Medicare will be gone earlier than anticipated.

Remember how I posted that Social Security would not be able to pay out full benefits after 2037? Well, that has been changed to 2036. And Medicare? That's not going to be able to pay out full benefits after 2024! (See: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/13/news/economy/social_security_medicare_trustees_report/index.htm?hpt=T2#disqus_thread).

It's a good thing that report came out today as I was planning on discussing this subject anyway. See, I was having a discussion with my cousin the other day about whether or not Baby Boomers and the elderly deserve their Medicare and Social Security benefits. She thinks that because they worked hard their whole lives and paid into those government programs they are entitled to every penny.

I, on the other hand, disagreed strongly (as you can probably tell given my numerous previous posts on entitlement spending). The problem I have with current and near-future retirees collecting full benefits is the fact that we young people will also pay into the systems our whole lives, but we will (at best) get about 75% of our legally allowed benefits when we retire. That is truly unfair and I have no intention of living in a country with older generations who think it's totally fine to rob young people like this; it's too disgusting, irresponsible and uncivilized for America.

Adding to my fury is the fact that our country's poor fiscal, political, and social health can be attributed to the fact that Boomers and their predecessors haven't been paying attention over the decades. This entitlement problem has been building for 30 years (at least) and no one paid attention until now. The older adults make excuses like "oh government does whatever it wants" and "it doesn't affect me" and such. These are unbelievably lazy and self-absolving excuses: they are pretty much the opposite of what American adults should be doing in terms of taking responsibility for their failures.

Old people like to accuse us teenagers and young adults of shirking personal responsibility. Well, older people, I have news for you: you have been totally irresponsible in your duties as American citizens. You have failed your country because you did not do what citizens in a democratic republic must do in order for their country to maintain economic and political excellence: you failed to keep your officials' spending and lobbyists' bribes in check. If you don't like this opinion, too bad: it's truth.

Now that my rant is out of the way, it is time to come up with a solution to our entitlement problem. And, yes, it will involve cutting some benefits for current and soon-to-be retirees: I am sorry to say it, but, you have partially caused this problem and you will be part of the solution. There is no reason why we young people should only get 70% of the amount we paid in to entitlements while those who failed us get 100%; that is too unjust and I will not stand for it.

Here is a simple plan that would solve Social Security's problems quickly (you should note that it affects both the taxpayer and the Social Security recipient minimally): first, we can reduce the cost of living adjustment by 1%, and, then, we can extend the Social Security tax to all wages above the current cap of $106,800 (this last trick should take care of the funding by itself, but, I would reduce the total tax rate by 2% and expand the levels of income that are subject to the tax). (See: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37195779/ns/business-personal_finance/t/can-tiny-changes-save-social-security/).

Medicare is the tricky one. The NYT said old people should die sooner because 28% of Medicare costs occur during the last year of life (see: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/business/yourmoney/27view.html). I doubt anyone likes the idea of dying sooner (I know I don't) so here are some other plans: raising the minimum age of entry into the program, eliminating services, and making wealthy people pay more. Also, we could use a voucher plan that would have senior citizens buy insurance plans that suited them best (see: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=3726).

If you don't like those solutions, feel free to propose some other ones. But, know this: we don't have time for partisan crap. We need practical ideas ASAP.

So, young people. Pressure your grandparents and parents into supporting these relatively modest reforms: your futures are on the line (it's not your fault) and your family members need to know it.

Health Habits of Young People

2011-05-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Today, I have decided to write on a non-political issue that is affecting us young people: poor health habits.

Right now, 50% of teens and 70% of adults are overweight or obese. The more troubling problem is that 80-90% of young people believe they are living healthy lives despite the fact that most of them are overweight or obese (see: http://www.newsroom.heart.org/index.php?s=43&item=1324).

(Note: I know that BMI calculations are not perfect measurements of a person's health. However, combined with waistline measurements, the BMI is pretty good. Specifically, if your BMI is over 25 (overweight) or 30 (obese) and your waistline is more than half your height, you have a problem. For instance, your author has a BMI of 28, but his waistline is 38. Given that your author is 73.5 inches tall, he does have some poundage to lose).

Being overweight or obese does partially depend on genetics, but, there are definitely other, more-controllable factors. The two that stand out are high-calorie diets and sedentary lifestyles.

What's the solution? It's hard to change eating habits in terms of cutting out desserts and high-calorie foods, so I have a different idea: eat slowly and only eat until you are 80% full. Also, be sure to lift some weights and go for a walk (I like to combine weight-training and aerobics by doing ballistic exercises with kettlebells: I save time, and still get good results). I've lost some weight over the past month with this method, and it can work for you, too.

In essence, young people do not have healthy habits, and, they don't know it. If you are a young person and you are reading this, please, pay attention: you probably aren't living a healthy lifestyle and you will pay for it (financially and in terms of a shorter lifespan. See: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/PDFs/stat904z.pdf).

You owe it to yourselves to stop eating so much McDonald's, do some aerobic exercises, and go throw some weights around for a while. Your body will thank you in the future.

A Disturbing Story from the USA's Justice System

2011-05-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

I would like to bring to your attention a disturbing story about espionage and our justice system. Please read it here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110508/ap_on_re_us/us_stealing_for_china_the_networker.

Does that not make you mad? It should. The criminals in that story have betrayed our nation, and, yet, none of them will serve more than six years in prison. Six years!!!!!!

This sort of treatment for well-connected and well-financed individuals burns me up. First, there is the fact that justice (in my opinion) is about balance (specifically, the balancing of the crimes against the punishments). I fail to see how six years in prison is a just punishment for espionage when pot-dealers have been imprisoned for 25 years. Does this seem inequitable to anyone besides me?

Another troubling aspect of this case is that it does not send a good message to other would-be spies. This case has set a precedent: get convicted of espionage, rat on the people providing you with the cash or the info, and then serve a few years in a prison that allows you to teach tennis to your inmates (and get paid for it). How much of a deterrent is that?

I believe that our justice system works much of the time. But, our judges and lawyers dropped the ball on that espionage case. I just hope they don't do it again.

USA = Unreasonable Stupidity of America

2011-05-07T23:01:00.000-07:00

Okay people.

I read a blog post over at Voice of America that disturbed me greatly. (It is possible that blog is just a propaganda tool of the US government, but, I doubt it; the reason I doubt that the government is using that blog only to scare me is basically because many of the claims made on that site have been witnessed by me firsthand. For instance, I graduated from a public high school in 2005, and I remember that some of my classmates did not know who George Washington was. No joke).

Anyway, here is the blog post that initially got me all riled up: http://blogs.voanews.com/tedlandphairsamerica/2011/05/05/u-s-a-the-uninformed-states-of-america/.

Specifically, this quote drove me crazy: "Students can’t be blamed for not knowing what they haven’t been taught".

Why did that statement drive me crazy, you ask? We'll, first, it's only partially true. The teachers have an obligation to teach, and the students have an obligation to learn. I know for a fact that my school made students take several history and government classes (and I went to a sub-par high school). And, in those classes, students had the opportunities to learn about American history and civics; however, I know students who never did homework but ended up passing with D's. That means that the teacher failed to hold the students accountable, and the students failed to study. There is failure on both ends.

The more distressing part, however, is the fact that our government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on lower education, yet, we are becoming less-educated. What exactly are we paying for? I am guessing, based on my brother's input (he's an English teacher at my alma mater), we are paying ineffective teachers' salaries, exorbitant pay packages for administrators, and excessively large payments for retirees. The system is unreasonably stupid, America.

And, I read some more of Mr. Landphair's blog posts. This one I found to be even more troubling than the first one: http://blogs.voanews.com/tedlandphairsamerica/2011/04/29/math-smath/.

Math, smath? I can't stand that sort of position. Granted, I am naturally a fan of math (I hate real and complex analysis while I enjoy analytical geometry and topology) and I understand the discipline much better than most people. However, there is no better training in terms of understanding logic and reason than math training. That is precisely why we should be encouraging more students to take math: critical thinking will be vital in terms of maintaining American superiority in a globalized economy based on information.

Basically, it all comes down to this: right now, USA stands for "Unbearable Stupidity of America". In the future, it is crucial that USA stands for "Unbelievably Smart Americans".

(Okay, that might have been really cheesy, but, it should make my point clear: the USA is stupid right now, but, in the future, Americans must be smart to survive in the world).

And that is precisely why the "Math, Smath" article bothered me so much. Math is universal. It is important.
I think we should start shoving math down everyone's throat as soon as possible. No one should leave high school in the USA without taking a course on trigonometry. No one should leave college without understanding basic calculus. Other countries (South Korea and China, for instance) make their students do this much. We need to do the same if we're going to compete.

An American Revitalization: the State Convention Amendment Method

2011-05-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I was doing some thinking about our citizens' views on our federal government (specifically, the Congress) and I came to a conclusion: we should directly reform our Constitution. (I'll explain how the Constitution can be amended by citizens in a bit).

According to separate polls conducted by Gallup and Rasmussen, no more than 18% of the population approves of the job our congresspersons are doing. You can see the polls here http://www.gallup.com/poll/147227/Congressional-Job-Approval.aspx and here http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/congressional_performance.

In my opinion, it is unacceptable that the individuals in charge of drafting and approving our nation's laws are given such great powers despite the fact they are hated by the nation. Americans see their legislators as corrupt, self-serving, ineffective drags on society, and, yet, we still give them these important powers. It appears to me that the solution is congressional term limits and salary reductions; I believe we will then have the "periodic rotation" of rulers that George Mason and Thomas Jefferson desired. However, no congressperson would ever cap the number of years he or she could serve or cut the amount of money he or she could make: the congressional job is too good and it would be irrational for any congressperson to curtail his or her benefits.

Thankfully, the country's founders provided ordinary people with a way to bypass Congress when amending our governing document. In Article V of the Constitution, the Founding Fathers established four ways for the Constitution to be amended. These four paths are: "proposal by convention of states, ratification by state conventions (never used); proposal by convention of states, ratification by state legislatures (never used); proposal by Congress, ratification by state conventions (used once); and, finally, proposal by Congress, ratification by state legislatures (used all other times)". (Source: http://www.usconstitution.net/constam.html).

The paths that intrigue me the most are the first and second ones. Both have never been used, and I believe it is time for us citizens to use them. In the first method (proposal and ratification by conventions), citizens have a direct input in both the creation and acceptance of an amendment. In the second method, citizens from each state meet in a convention and create an amendment; after that has been done, 3/4 of state legislatures must approve the convention's amendment. (See: http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_acon.html).

The main problem is that neither method has been used, and, so, there is no precedent. However, Americans increasingly believe the corruption in (and ineffectiveness of) our Congress is unprecedented; we therefore have the obligation to change things for the better. Alexander Hamilton and the rest of the Founders gave us these tools to keep our leaders in check, and that is precisely what we should be doing right now.

Can conventions actually work, though? Well, our Constitution was created in a convention that began in 1787. Do you think that worked? I do (for the most part, but it does need tweaking as the USA evolves).

In sum, the main point I want to establish is that our current system of producing legislation is illogical and damaging. We have a constitutional reprieve, however: state conventions. Congress has always been hated (see: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/17/132141805/why-we-love-to-hate-congress) but we as a people have not aggressively sought changes. I believe now is a good time to use the methods the Constitution has provided us with a way to correct the problems we face in terms of corrupt legislators. We just need to spread the word and actively seek this outcome.

A Look at a Nation with Integrity

2011-05-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

Evening, folks!

I was cycling through the USA's top news sites when I came across this great story on Foxnews.com (Fox News does have some legit stories, haters): http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/05/japan-sends-tornado-relief-supplies-alabama/.

Just in case you have been under a rock the past couple months, Japan was rocked by a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11th. Even though Japan is one of the most-organized and diligent countries in the world, the nation is still trying to get its economy and infrastructure back on track.

And despite the fact that Japan lost 18,000 people, the Japanese still had the decency to send supplies to their struggling allies in Alabama. Alabama has had horrible issues with tornadoes over the past 10 days or so; at least 238 people are dead. It's just such a nice gesture of the Japanese to help their friends out even though they are having troubles with their own nation.

I admit, I have always been a huge fan of Japanese culture. I spent five months living in Osaka (it is a city of 7 million people in the western part of the main island), and I can say that the Japanese are some of the hardest-working and nicest people you will find.

In sum, given that we live in a country that has a hard time telling friend from foe (I'm talking to you, Pakistan), it's just nice to know that we still have some friends in the East. I hope that my generation keeps our alliance strong with these noble people: Japan and the USA will both benefit in the future.

Why I Am Glad to Be an American

2011-05-05T00:31:00.000-07:00

Like you, I have been closely following all the crazy things going on in our world: the uprisings throughout the Middle East, the drug cartels' killing sprees in Mexico, and the civil war in the Ivory Coast. After reading about each of those violent episodes, I came to a conclusion that I hope you all came to as well: I am so glad I am an American.

I know I write a lot about the failings of our country (political, financial, and social) but that is only because I want America to be better. Maybe I am just young and naive, but I believe (with wise leadership and an engaged citizenry) this country can be an inspiration for the rest of the world. That is why I am so critical of my fellow Americans and my rulers: I want everyone to understand the areas we need to improve in so this nation can be as great as it should be.

What I really want to say is that I am so happy I am an American because I have freedoms many people around the world do not have. I live in a country that allows me to harshly criticize my leaders without having to worry about being kidnapped and disposed of. My country's laws allow me to organize a peaceful protest in a public setting without having to worry about the police opening fire on me. I can cast my vote in a private booth and base my electoral decision on my own criteria instead of being forced to make my choice while a candidate's friends stick their guns in my face.

These are amazing achievements. The respect for the rule of law and the emphasis on free speech are some of the best things this country has going for it. Sure, we may have our problems, but, I believe that we will overcome them. There may be some dark days ahead, but, we will pass through them on our way to a bright future. I know this because we Americans have the freedom to create our future the way we want it to be. We just have to put in the effort to make our ideas a reality.

In the end, I am glad I am an American because I have freedoms, comfort, and hope. And, really, who needs anything else?

An Organization That Can Help Us Youngsters Shape Our Futures

2011-05-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

Greetings TYATS followers!

I know I have been posting a fair amount of negative material recently, so my posts today will be all about good news. I finally found an organization of intelligent, well-meaning individuals who genuinely want the USA to have a prosperous future.

The organization's name is "Common Good". You can read about the group here: http://commongood.org/.

I will quickly give you a synopsis on the group. Common Good is a non-profit, non-partisan organization formed in 2002 by Philip K. Howard (a lawyer who is tired of our legal system). It claims as its members prominent intellectuals, lawyers, businessmen, and politicians. The goals of this group are to clean out and modernize the legal system so we can achieve better results in terms of health care, education, and the justice system.

Please go to the website I posted and join the movement to fix our nation!

Rising Gas Prices and My Solutions if I Were the President

2011-05-03T22:51:00.000-07:00

I have decided to post a little bit about today's insane increases in gas prices and what I would do to fix them if I were the President.

The national average for a gallon of gas is approaching $4. In fact, the average gas price has risen about 86 cents since the end of January. That's basically a 30% increase in 3 months.

This rapid rise in oil prices may derail an already fragile economic recovery (the reason being that we Americans use oil and oil derivatives in everything: fuel, lipstick, plastics, etc). I believe it would make sense if our government took strong action now in order to preserve our recent economic gains. To help our overseers out, I have proposed a list of options that I would take if I were President that would cut gas prices and aid the American people.

First, I would remove the federal fuel tax (which is 18.4 cents per gallon). Then I would pressure all the states to remove their fuel taxes as well. These two changes will save almost 50 cents per gallon of gas.

To balance that loss in revenue, I propose a cut in government spending (shutting down operations in Afghanistan would be a good place to start).

There are other ways to ease the pain at the pump. For example, if I were the President, I would "ask" Iraq to produce more oil. According to government estimates, Iraq has about 120 billion barrels of oil in known reserves (that amount could run the USA for approximately 15 years or so). Additionally, Iraq is supposed to have an additional 100 billion barrels in untapped reserves, so we could have the Iraqis produce even more.

Furthermore, I would lift the ban on offshore drilling in the Gulf. Make no mistake: what happened with BP's oil spill was awful. But, an accident should not stop us from doing what is best for our nation in terms of energy provision.

Finally, if I were the President, I would get the oil shale industry going. The USA is supposed to be sitting on 2 trillion barrels of shale oil deposits. From what I have gathered, it appears the only reason why we are not more invested in this industry is that oil shale processing releases too many pollutants. However, Royal Dutch Shell has a mining method that heats the oil shale while it is still in the mine and then pumps out the resulting oil and gas which is then refined on the surface. Right now Shell gets about 3.5 units of energy for every 1 unit of energy it uses to extract the shale oil. And it's only going to get better.

As I hope you can see, most of these policies are simple, common sense solutions to our troubles. Hopefully, our leaders will come up with similar approaches to solving our gas issues.

The American Dream is Dead (For a Little While, at Least)

2011-05-03T17:43:00.000-07:00

America was once a place where people believed that they could work hard and improve their lot in life. Well, it appears that dream is mostly dead. Read this article and observe the lack of optimism for America's future: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110503/ts_yblog_thelookout/optimism-about-future-for-american-youth-at-all-time-low.

Besides the fact that most people are right, what else is deeply disturbing about this article?

This paragraph: "Older Americans were much more pessimistic about the future than younger ones. Among those between the ages of 50 and 64, just 36 percent said they expected younger Americans to have a better life than their parents, and among those 65 and over, just 37 percent did. By contrast, 57 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said they expected their lives to be better than their parents'. Among Americans aged 30-44, 45 percent agreed with that view--a total just about in sync with the results as a whole".

Question: Why are the Boomers much more pessimistic about our futures than we young people are?

I have a theory: it's because they know they screwed things up for young people in terms of destroying our image in the world, creating massive liabilities that we will have to pay for (e.g. Social Security and the public debt), and screwing up our education system so badly (in terms of quality and price) that we young people will not be ready to compete in tomorrow's economy.

In short, I believe the Boomers may feel a little bit bad. But, I doubt they feel bad enough to do anything about the problems they created. I seriously doubt they are willing to cut their retirement benefits or raise taxes on themselves. I do not believe they will help us when we finally wake up and realize our education system sucks. Basically, I do not believe they will fix the messes they created.

And, I believe that will impact how the Boomers will be remembered. The generation that did a lot to push minority and womens' rights forward will not be remembered for those actions. They will be remembered for their partisan bickering, their refusal to serve in Vietnam, and their unfettered licentiousness. Mostly, though, the Boomers will be remembered as the generation that financially and morally bankrupted America because of their selfishness and unwillingness to make small sacrifices.

So, Boomers, do you want history to remember you as the most selfish generation the USA ever saw? If not, you should make things right. Fix America's debt problems, the education system you screwed up, our entitlements, and our image in the world. If you do not fix the mistakes you made, I can promise you this: history will not remember you kindly and we young people will make sure of that.

Complex Thoughts About Osama bin Laden's Death

2011-05-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

I would just like to write a bit about Osama bin Laden's death; specifically, I want to talk about my and my fellow Americans' reactions to it.

Like hundreds of millions of Americans, I was shocked and skeptical when I first heard the news that OBL was killed. It had been almost 10 long years since 9/11, and, I think, as a nation we despaired of ever bringing him to justice for the crimes he committed against our country.

After I got over my initial skepticism, I felt a variety of conflicting emotions. First, I was glad he was dead; I believed that OBL getting shot in the head was a just punishment for the atrocities he ordered against the world's citizens. Then, I realized that my belief in OBL's assassination was inconsistent with some of my principles as a future doctor (namely that lives are sacred and that I do not have the authority to judge others).

A few seconds later, however, I remembered that his punishment was commensurate with his crimes, and achieving a more just world is also a belief doctors have. So, I at least do not really have that feeling of cognitive dissonance anymore.

There was one thing I did not like about the death of OBL, though: I did not really appreciate my fellow Americans (and some reporters) practically partying in the street. It reminded me too much of the partying in the streets that many Middle Easterners did after 9/11. Did their joy about the deaths of thousands of innocent Americans not make you sick with anger? I'm sure it did. And I would not doubt that there are thousands of people around the world today feeling that same displeasure.

The better reaction to OBL's death, in my opinion, was the considerably less-raucous candlelight vigil held in NYC.

(Note: I am not saying that Americans should not be glad justice has been served and OBL is dead. What I am saying is that perhaps it would have been better to be a little more restrained for national security purposes. That's it).

I guess I am just genuinely afraid that my countrymen's public displays of joy and exuberance after OBL's death may incite more violence against our country. I am sure there are people in the world who are pissed about last night's party in front of the White House just like I was furious when I saw people celebrating in the streets in the Middle East after the towers fell.

The only difference is that the people who are going to be pissed about Americans' exuberance over OBL's demise are people who supported him in the first place; and those people are probably prone to violent anti-American tendencies.

I really hope that I am wrong, but I would not be surprised if we created some new terrorists today. Let's just hope the CIA, the SEALs, the rest of our defense network, and our rulers are prepared and able to keep us safe. No one knows what is coming for us next, but I am sure it will be bad. And that scares me to no end.

Stop Screwing Yourselves (Part IV): Get Engaged in Politics

2011-05-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

The main point of my blog is to inform, and, hopefully, inspire young people in terms of caring about political events. All too often I hear my fellow youths talking about how political happenings are irrelevant to their lives, and that they can't do anything to change the political sphere anyway. The first claim is crap, and the second one is sort of legitimate, but mostly crap.

Political events going on today will impact everyone's future well-being (and present livelihood). For instance, let us just look at the enormous public debt our country is facing. Right now, some of our leaders are working on a deficit reduction plan. I am guessing that this plan will include budget cuts and maybe some tax increases. Clearly, people who are affected directly and indirectly by the soon-to-be cut government programs will be affected; additionally, the people who have to pay higher taxes will be affected as soon as the taxes are implemented. Now, all of this will add up to a lower amount of spending in this country, and that means there will be fewer jobs for the unskilled and uneducated (young people and college students) soon. Just check this out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/02/teen-joblessness-may-hit-record-summer_n_856619.html. Contrary to your beliefs, young people, you are feeling economic pain now and you will be feeling the pain of the political (and economic) process in a few weeks.

Furthermore, because whatever deficit reduction plan our government creates probably will not do anything to dent the total public debt (accumulation of all the deficit years), we are going to be screwed in the future. We will be screwed over down the line because we will have to pay higher taxes, deal with massive government reductions, or default on debt (or some combination of the three). This curtailing of our economic futures will be the result of failures today, just like the fiscal issues of today are a result of the political failures of the past.

In short, current political events affect many lives now, and will affect everyone in the future; oftentimes political mistakes will add up over the years and punish citizens in the future economically because it costs more money (due to inflation and interest) to clean those errors up. That is why I want you all to pay attention and get involved now.

As for the claim that we young people have no influence on political events, do you people not remember the 2008 presidential election? About 24 million people under the age of the 30 voted, with 18 million of those going for Obama. Those 18 million votes put Obama in the White House.

In addition to voting, young people can get involved in politics in terms of corresponding with political organizations. We can get in contact with lobbying groups and other organizations (such as the College Democrats and Republicans).

Additionally, we can write to our representatives and voice our concerns. For instance, I know right now that a Facebook group ("Forgive Student Loan Debt to Simulate the Economy") is planning a massive e-mail campaign that will send all our Congresspersons messages discussing the state of higher education financing.

So, fellow young people, you can get involved in politics if you want to. And, in my opinion, you all need to. Our futures are on the line and I think we all should be adamant about getting a fair deal.

Stop Screwing Yourselves (Part III): Learn Money Management Skills

2011-05-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

Next to learning how to think properly, I believe it is crucial for young people to learn money management skills. Specifically, young people need to understand the benefits of saving money, compounding interest, and opportunity cost.

I believe most of the practical knowledge on the aforementioned topics can be addressed in an economics class. Additionally, the earlier someone understands these concepts, the better. I know some high schools have money management classes. Take as many as you can! The more you know about managing money, the better off you will be in the long term (I wish I had taken a money management class in high school, but I didn't and now I am paying for it).

There are a few tips I can give to my fellow young people right now, though. First, every young person should start a retirement account ASAP. As I have posted numerous times on this site, we will not be able to rely on Social Security for our retirements. And, the earlier you start your retirement account, the earlier you can start taking advantage of compounding interest. You will regret putting this off later in life because you will end up having to sock away much more money down the line in order to be ready for retirement. In terms of finding places that host retirement accounts, check your bank or local credit union.

Additionally, try to pay off student loans ASAP. That interest builds up over time, and it's not uncommon for you to pay back the principals and an additional 30% in interest. On a related note, try to be as cheap as possible when you are in college. You'll save a bundle in the long term.

Finally, try to cut down on the non-essentials. For instance, the next time you are at a gas station, don't waste your money on the concessions. They are too expensive. You'd be better served putting that money in the retirement account I told you to start.

If you master the major money management concepts of opportunity cost and compounding interest, you should be financially set.

Props to Obama, the Navy SEALS, and the CIA for Getting UBL and New Intel

2011-05-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

I will admit that I have been a huge skeptic and critic of President Obama thus far. I thought he was in over his head and he was incapable of making a tough decision. However, I have to give the man props for ordering the mission that killed Usama bin Laden (UBL). That took some huge balls for a few reasons.

First, he did not know for certain if UBL was in that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. If bin Laden wasn't there but a bunch of Al-Qaeda operatives were, some 40 Navy SEALS would have been in severe danger. And Obama would've had to live with those consequences personally and politically.

Additionally, this mission took an incredible amount of secrecy. Obama could not tell the Pakistani authorities before the strike due to the fact that the Pakistani intelligence agency (ISI) may very well have some pro-Al Qaeda sympathizers who would have alerted bin Laden. It remains to be seen how this will affect relations with Pakistan.

President Obama also deserves credit for reiterating the fact that Americans are not at war with Islam. Perhaps Muslims around the world will believe him more than they believe President Bush.

Obviously, SEAL Team 6 (I believe they are the SEALS specially trained for counter-terrorism missions) deserves massive credit for getting this done. It took 7 months of preparing for this strike (in terms of getting the intel and getting the team ready to strike); obviously their hard work paid off. They also deserve credit for getting very valuable intel from the compound they killed UBL in.

Finally, I have to acknowledge the great job the CIA did in terms of getting the intelligence on bin Laden and keeping it quiet.

All in all, this operation was well-planned and well-executed. Mad props to everyone.

Breaking News: Osama bin Laden is Dead!

2011-05-01T20:12:00.001-07:00

CNN confirms on its website:
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/01/obama-to-make-statment-tonight-subject-unknown/?hpt=C1

Stop Screwing Yourselves (Part II): Get Your Priorities Straight

2011-05-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

This is my second post on how young people can stop screwing themselves over. (Note: this piece will mostly be based on anecdotal evidence and detailed observations as opposed to scientific studies). Anyway, I am quite certain that youths today are too distracted by nonsensical baloney and they would do well to heed my criticisms and get their priorities in order.

My first complaint is against cell phone usage. I have no problem with cell phones per se (I am not a Luddite); my issue is with their ubiquitousness. You see, it is impossible to walk down the street in any city without being bumped into by someone who is posting a stupid status update on his or her Facebook while holding a video chat with his or her BFF while looking up directions to the nearest Baby Gap. It is almost as if many young people are totally unaware of the world because they are solely utilizing technology for socializing purposes and never for informational purposes.

I wish young people would take a step back from their mobiles and chill out; they need to recognize that it is unnecessary to post Facebook updates from their cells every time they buy a new pair of shoes or have an exceptionally stinky bowel movement. Instead of wasting their precious (and fleeting) time texting, updating Facebook 26 times every day, and having long-winded IM chats about nothing, young persons should try to take a step back and think some deep thoughts about life, love, happiness, and death. Actually considering some of the greatest puzzles that have ever vexed our race (such as the topics I just mentioned) may impact the world: Facebook updates primarily impact Mark Zuckerberg's pockets.

My next complaint is against the excessive sports coverage young people pay attention to. I love sports as much as anyone else, but, for the love of God, why do you need to know every single score at every moment of the day? How exactly does any of this impact your lives? There are more important things going on in the world than the Heat/Celtics playoff series. For instance, people are being slaughtered in Syria and Libya by oppressive dictators, our fellow Americans are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, and our government is on the brink of bankruptcy. Why aren't the people in my generation paying more attention to stuff like this?

In the grand scheme of things, whoever wins the NBA championship should not matter (the winners only won a few silly games after all); however, they will probably be remembered for generations to come. On the other hand, the young men and women who died in Afghanistan and Iraq will eventually be forgotten despite the fact that they made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country. This situation is absolutely shameful and speaks volumes about the priorities of our people. Does this embarrass any of you? I sure hope it does; if a lot of you are embarrassed, there may be some hope for the future of our nation.

I know a lot of young people will make foolish decisions and forget about their priorities (I certainly screwed up, too). My advice for them is simple: learn from those errors. If one misses an opportunity, he or she should jump all over the next chance. If he or she does poorly in a class, he or she should make sure to pay more attention to school. Essentially, I want my generation to make success a priority.

Finally, this is the most important thing I can tell my fellow young people to do: learn how to think critically and logically. The ability to truly think is probably the best attribute any decent human being can have.

If you follow these tips, you will live a considerably more happy and prosperous life. And you may even help fix our ailing country.

Stop Screwing Yourselves (Part I): Secondary Education Failures

2011-05-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

I have decided that it is time for me to talk about problems we young people are creating for ourselves. Sometimes, people need a metaphorical boot to the loins from someone who knows their struggles, and I believe I am an appropriate person to kick some youths' butts due to the fact that I am young. The Millenials and Gen Z'ers need to get their acts together in terms of one of the largest problems facing us as a nation: our abysmally large high school dropout rate and the general apathy of high school students. If our young people fail to wake up academically, the long-term consequences for our futures could be catastrophic.

Approximately 25% of all high school students in the USA will drop out at some point before graduation (see: http://www.americaspromise.org/Our-Work/Grad-Nation/Building-a-Grad-Nation.aspx). The current graduation rate of 75% is about 10 points lower than the OECD average. Nations with promising futures (such as Korea) have graduation rates almost 20 percentage points above our fair nation's rate.

What really bothers me about that high drop out rate is that, in general, high school today is not hard as measured by national standardized tests (like the SAT). The SAT is designed to measure college readiness (or how much students learned in high school). Let's look at what should have been learned in high school as assessed by the SAT: http://www.universitylanguage.com/quiz/SAT/. Compare those questions to the questions a high school graduate and prospective student at Harvard in 1899 would have had to deal with: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/education/harvardexam.pdf. Quite a difference in difficulty and expectations, eh? If you are a high school student and you are planning on dropping out because "classes are hard", just remember what you would've dealt with in 1899. That should put any ideas of dropping out to rest.

Even more troubling than the low graduation rate is the fact that high school students do not seem to be learning anything. In terms of reading and scientific comprehension, American high schoolers are mediocre compared to other OECD countries. As for mathematical knowledge, the USA's students are far behind their counterparts in countries like China and Korea (see: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/54/12/46643496.pdf).

This trend of illiteracy in mathematics is discouraging. Mathematics is one of the languages in our reality (I have not figured out yet if math can completely describe reality) and it is unreasonably good at describing our universe. Our future ability to compete in the world economy will be directly related to today's youths being able to succeed in mathematics and math-based disciplines (such as engineering, physics, and computer science). So far, it looks like our competitors are winning the battle for mathematical and technological superiority.

However, I have some encouraging news for you high schoolers struggling with math: Archimedes, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Leonard Euler all spent hours every day studying math (Google those names if you do not recognize them). If it took those geniuses hours of diligent study to understand mathematical topics, it is no surprise that it takes you a lot of time as well. So, do not be discouraged if you can't figure out a problem; the giants of math I just mentioned struggled at times, too. Just keep trying.

In sum, high schoolers, it is time to stop screwing around. Get off your computers, turn off your iPhones, open up your trigonometry books, and get working on using that unit circle to derive the tangent function's graph. You will be at it for a while, just like the great mathematicians of the past were.

A Look at Today's Healthcare Problems and Some Simple Solutions

2011-04-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

As a former Ph.D. economics student and a future doctor, very few issues bother me as much as the healthcare system in the USA. It is rife with inefficiencies and abuses and is in great need of reform. And, quite honestly, anyone who has ever taken introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics classes can solve most of our healthcare system's problems.

There are a couple of problems plaguing the healthcare system that can be solved by anyone who understands "barriers to entry". Barriers to entry are obstacles that prevent would-be participants from entering a market. In any market, there are two groups of actors: buyers (demanders) and sellers (suppliers). In the healthcare market, the suppliers need help. And we can fix what ails the supply side through the simple removal of three entry barriers.

In order to become a doctor in the USA, you need to complete 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, and then 3-8 years of residency (depending on specialty). At the earliest, a person can start practicing on his or her own when he or she turns around 30. How many other careers have this sort of a strenuous education program?

In addition to the 12+ years of training after high school, we need to look at the educational costs imposed on aspiring physicians. The average college graduate in 2009 left school with $25,000 in loan debt. Medical schools' tuitions and other costs are close to $50,000 annually. So, it is not uncommon for students to leave medical school with over $250,000 in total debt. And, on top of that, recent medical school graduates cannot make enough to pay back those student loans until after residency is completed. So, today's doctors oftentimes have to make student loan payments into their late 30's and early 40's.

Another (although smaller) entry barrier is the specter of malpractice lawsuits and malpractice insurance. It is not uncommon for doctors in certain specialties (like OB/GYN) to pay $50,000 yearly in malpractice insurance. Granted, insurance rates vary greatly by the specialty and the state, but that does not mean changes should not be made to the system.

(Note: people become physicians because they want to do something great for their fellow human beings; they want to make a difference by helping people and they have the skill-set to do so. They are, in other words, better people than you will ever be. When they make mistakes, I have no problem holding them accountable. But, do not forget that doctors are humans just like you: you probably screw up all the time and I am pretty sure people cut you some slack. So, why shouldn't you give your doctors the same treatment)?

Now that we know the main three entry barriers (training time, costs of education, and malpractice issues) in the healthcare provider market, I can recommend some simple reforms to get more doctors into the healthcare field to meet the ever-increasing demand for healthcare services.

In terms of training time, the answer is to shorten college and medical school course requirements. Specifically, do not make would-be doctors take unnecessary classes during college; additionally, in terms of medical school, perhaps we can cut it down to three years. Of course, the top priority should be to do something about residency. My roommate will be a resident at Stanford, and he says that he will spend half of his 80-hour week on meaningless paperwork. And he has to deal with that for his entire 4-year residency. Why are doctors wasting 40 hours a week on paperwork? They could be learning important medical stuff instead, and, therefore, cut their residencies in half. This change definitely needs to happen.

As for education costs, you can start with opening more medical schools across the USA. Additionally, we could subsidize students (like most western countries do).

In terms of malpractice insurance, it is quite simple: cap the amount of damages a doctor can be responsible for. And, for those few physicians who are truly negligent, revoke their licenses. We do not want bad doctors around doing bad things to helpless people.

The healthcare system in America is too large (about 16% of GDP) to allow to run this inefficiently. And, I might add that our problems are not beyond fixing yet. I just hope that you all have the sense to propose these reforms to your Congresspersons so we can save our healthcare system before it flat-lines.

Republicans and Democrats: Are They Really That Different?

2011-04-30T16:30:00.000-07:00

Now that you know my feelings on the major political parties, I will explain to you precisely why both parties' avid followers are idiots. If you are a Democrat or Republican, and you do not like being called an idiot, then you should stop being one. Stop supporting your party (financially and electorally) because, in all probability, "your party" does not represent you.

Republicans and Democrats like to bash each other in the media using violent rhetoric to motivate supporters to action while hoping to enrage and injure the other party's members. Today's political arena features nothing more than a glorified and expensive battle between gangs of adults who suffer from childish volatility. Honestly, when was the last time you saw the political parties put aside differences and meet in the middle? Does anyone besides me believe that Washington, D.C. is more like a high school inhabited by immature, uncooperative idiots than a bastion of problem-solvers and wise individuals?

On a daily basis, reports surface of individuals attacking the other party's members like young children attack each other. "Boehner is in bed with Big Oil and the Tea Baggers" or "Obama is not an American, but he is a closeted Muslim who wants to destroy America". How are statements like these any better than the shrill attacks and sheer gossip of high schoolers?

The lack of maturity on both sides is just one attribute Republicans and Democrats share. Let us look at a few others.

Both parties falsely claim to be the party of the working and middle-class American. In reality, both parties do not give two craps about the typical American; the parties just pretend to care to get your votes. Who did Bush's War in Iraq help? It certainly hasn't helped me (or you) although it may have helped oil companies (they have made well over $100 billion in profits since the war began). This war is just going to cost us middle-class members in the long-run in terms of higher taxes and lasting disdain from the Arab world.

Also, who did the Bush tax cuts help? They supposedly were for everyone. Well, my question is how is it good to cut taxes on everyone while government spending is ballooning? That is not good for the middle class because we now have to live life under the specter of imminent and massive tax increases.

Finally, how have those Wall Street bailouts worked for middle-class Americans? Well, almost 10% of us are still unemployed. It is difficult to get credit to buy houses or cars. We can't pay off credit card and student loan debt due to the recession. Where is our bailout? And, more importantly, why aren't you pressuring your leaders for a bailout?

On the Democrats' side, how exactly was GM's and Chrysler's second bailouts good for you? You are probably not one of the 800,000 UAW members who benefited. You probably are not one of the other 2.5 million people who depend on the auto sector. Think about that: 3.3 million people (1% of the population) got about $90 billion to save their jobs. To those of you who say "GM and Chrysler only got loans and they'll pay them back" I will say that you are an idiot and you should look at this website: http://money.cnn.com/news/storysupplement/economy/bailouttracker/.

Also, how does a massive government program like Obamacare help you out when you are going to be taxed to cover the insurance premiums of 25 million people?

To my generation, why do you students so avidly support the Democrats? Have they helped you fund school? No. They helped make student loans so hard to deal with for unemployed graduates. And they haven't stopped the insane increase in tuition (I will explain how they actually created our tuition troubles in another post).

Now that we have quashed both parties' claims that they help middle-class Americans, let us look at both parties' views on the size of our government. Republicans have no problems telling people what to do in terms of morality and safety; they have no problems increasing government spending through population control (Patriot Act), morality wars (War on Drugs), defense spending (Iraq, Afghanistan) and subsidies for constituents (oil companies, pharmaceuticals). Expanding government influence is clearly okay with Republicans.

And the Democrats? Well, they have no qualms about destroying your chances of thriving economically. Think of programs like Medicaid and Social Security, which are nothing less than wealth transfers from workers to non-workers (although, as I have said before, I don't have a huge problem with these programs' goals: the programs are just too big right now). They have no problem with levying unjust taxes (think of the taxes on gasoline which have inflated gas prices) that help crush decent, hard-working Americans like yourselves. Democrats also don't think twice about creating new regulations (think of the EPA's decisions against off-shore oil drilling) that stunt economic freedom. Like the Republicans, Democrats have no problems increasing their influence over your lives.

I hope that you now understand that neither party is on your side. Democrats and Republicans seek the same goals (making their own lives better and increasing their political power) through different means. Democrats and Republicans do not care about YOU, and YOU are an idiot for giving them your money and votes.

We should all be tired of these immature, lying, self-serving individuals who seek to make the world better for themselves and their financial backers; these are not good traits for people in leadership roles. And, yet, we do not hold our leaders accountable. We kind of just accept their corruption. It is a huge joke, America, and the politicians are the ones laughing.

Democratic Hypocrisy

2011-04-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

If you read my last post on Republican hypocrisy, you will get the feeling that I hate the Republican Party. And you are totally right.

But, I am no Democrat. I freaking hate those people, too.

Democrats like to portray themselves as big-business busters, enlightened leaders, and more-advanced individuals. Well, they're not really any of those things.

You see, Democrats are big fans of big business just like Republicans are. The only difference is that Democrats like different businesses. For instance, they get along very well with the "Big 3" car companies. Why do you think GM and Chrysler got those massive bailouts (that are analogous to Republicans' bailouts of Wall Street)? Well, because the Democrats controlled the Senate, the House, and the White House; the UAW campaigned heavily to give Democrats control of the government, and the Democrats owed the UAW a favor. Voila! Corporate welfare from and for the left.

Additionally, Democrats like to think they are more educated and advanced than Republicans. (It's crap). They especially become more arrogant with pseudo-studies like this one: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1968042,00.html.

The annoying thing about Democrats' arrogance is that the really smart people typically lean libertarian (not liberal). How do I know this? I looked it up on Mensa's website. (Go to "Freed-M" and you will see what I am saying: http://www.us.mensa.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=SIG_List&Template=/customsource/SIGs-p.cfm).

(Note: I know that link does not provide a scientific assessment of high-IQ persons' political leanings. I am not an idiot. I just assumed Mensa did some internal polling that yielded results that could be summarized in that particular assessment of members being libertarian. If you want an actual survey, check out the Triple Nine Society's results: http://www.triplenine.org/poll/index.html. The results there aren't as left-leaning as Democrats might have you think).

Finally, I would like to bring up Democrats' policies. You see, Democrats typically support "nice" policies such as free health care for all, generous unemployment benefits, and grand retirement outlays. Does anyone see a problem with an "educated and enlightened" bunch supporting these programs?

I do. The problem with those programs is that the goals of those programs are essentially anti-evolutionary. Isn't it amazing that "smart" people like Democrats largely accept the principles of evolution, yet their practices do not match those beliefs? According to natural selection, sick people should be left to die and the unemployed should be left to starve (and then die); life is all about the "survival of the fittest" after all. Yet the Dems clearly don't practice any of that. So, why is there such a discrepancy between beliefs and practices? You'd have to ask one of them because I am not sure (I have theories, but I will not waste your time with those).

In sum, Democrats aren't as smart or as evolved as they think they are. They suck, just like Republicans do.

Quick Update on EAYNUF Feed

2011-04-29T22:26:00.000-07:00

Greetings EAYNUF Feed Subscribers!

EAYNUF has become The Young and the Screwed (http://theyoungandthescrewed.blogspot.com/). You can subscribe using one of the "Subscribe" buttons on the new TYATS website.

We are truly sorry about all the confusion and hope that you will be back!

TYATS