Two related articles appeared in our local paper the other day, both of which were tucked a bit back from the front page. Back beyond the article dealing with the late president Gerald Ford’s 100th Birthday; well back of yet more coverage of the GOP’s ongoing uncontrollable urge to tell women what they can and cannot do with their bodies; well past Eagle Scout achievements; well past yet another letter on gay marriage and Biblical interpretations; past, too, yet another chapter in the tired saga of our nation’s Rat Fink #1, Edward Snowden. Back there, on page 9, I found a disturbing article, one that highlights our evolving national demographic and the implications this holds for the economic future and strength of this nation. “Culture Change Needed” draws attention to the growing non-white majority in this country, a majority that is too often being raised in poverty and without opportunity. Then, on the next page, we find the second article, a smallish item entitled, “Robots to revolutionize farming, ease labor woes.”
Believe me, in 25 years these may well be the only two articles that should have captured our attention, consideration, and political efforts way back in 2013. Careful reading would have informed us that the foundation of this country is largely being ignored. Large cracks and holes in the human masonry are being left untended while we push, push, push to make certain our personal beliefs and opinions as to the quality of our nation’s moral fabric take center stage. We worry over our privacy, national security, and other people's personal choices while the very basic resources needed to fuel the strength and stability of this country are left to wallow in poverty, disadvantage, and ignorance—left to become adults ineffective at working to support this nation, a population unable to grow a future, incapable of contributing to the support of the hundreds of thousands of healthy, long-lived retirees who will be dependent on entitlement programs funded with tax dollars. Instead we worry about the consequences of Mr. Snowden’s actions, misinformed as they may be. It’s easy, gossipy fun and entertainment to read and hear stories of leaked secrets, of battles over abortion, to hear clergy rail from the pulpits and editorial pages about same-gender relationships. Items we find so very important are largely distractions allowing us to ignore complex issues like childhood poverty, ethnic inequality, and the growing numbers of uneducated and disadvantaged. Religion, so-called morals, and a rose colored view of past abundance seem to be the fuel of our social and political engine these days. Youth, race, and poverty are—well—nonissues when it comes to getting elected. They don’t vote.
Another of the popular rallying cries in this era is employment. We elect “job creators.” We seek out and support those who promise to return us to a robust economy where men and women work at decent jobs for decent pay. Remember, then, that second article in 25 years. In 25 years when everything from a ripe peach to an arthritic knee is subject to a robot’s precision, efficiency, and competence. For the first time in history automation is now eliminating more jobs than are being created. Where they can’t be exported overseas, “labor woes” are being automated right out of existence. Anyone who thinks the youth of this country simply need a proper work ethic and the will to apply strong backs and callused hands to create and secure their future is delusional. To paraphrase: It’s education, stupid. Brains, not brawn.
Education is the only reliable vehicle to the future. This country had a premier system of public education and a national conscience that embraced that system. The loss of our national support of comprehensive public education is tragic but, hopefully, not fatal. We need to re-invest in education like it is the lifeline for our future—if for no other reason than it is, in fact, just that.
The most difficult problem this country faces, the greatest threat to our personal and global safety, security, ethics, and morals is our failure in the care and keeping of our youth. Not chioce. Not the intrusion of cyber technology. Not sexual orientation. Not even gun control or Al-Qaida. It’s the millions of kids so many of us don’t see. Walking, talking, hungry kids, growing up without opportunity, without resources, without education, without direction and faced with the growing loss of traditional labor related jobs. The very same kids who, in just a few short years, will be expected to economically care for us, and this country.
No comments:
Post a Comment