Financial illiteracy in America

Here's a short reply I gave to a post about credit cards and debt on a 9-12 board I'm on:

One more enormous failure of the public school system (and parents who are expecting the schools to teach) is the incredible lack of practical skills, especially financial management skills. Kids go off to college where credit card companies happily give them credit cards, and the government happily gives them student loans. When they leave school, they are usually saddled with a very depressing amount of debt. It's a sad way to start adulthood, and leaves these people with no choice but to very often live paycheck to paycheck. Most have acquired a car payment by now as well. The pattern continues with an unaffordable house payment. Banks tend to give far more credit than what can be handled, and of course people tend to spend the maximum approved loan amount for everything. Credit continues to be used to finance a lifestyle that took someone's parents a lifetime to achieve. So many look well to do, yet struggle to put food on the table. They just don't truly own much, though they are paying on much.

We are so far removed from the traditional American ethic of working hard, and saving for purchases. This collective mentality has destroyed our nation. Not only is our government now living under unsustainable debt, so are most of our citizens. This leaves the people unable to care for themselves.

Until people choose to live within their means, stay out of debt, and save money, they will remain enslaved to government, banks, jobs, etc.

How to solve the education crisis

Here is a short reply I made on my favorite 9-12 message board regarding the many problems with our education system.


Most Americans have been taught that you are a good parent if you send your kid to school. Not only are you a good parent living up to your societal expectations, but you get free babysitting and the kids out of your hair. If you pay property taxes, then you surely want to take advantage of that and actually get something for your money. Americans have been brainwashed that education is a right, and they expect the government to provide a free education. Who can blame them? After all, they were taught by government schools not to think for themselves, but to believe what their government tells them.

I attended government schools and graduated from one. I was always the kind of kid who asked a lot of questions of my school and church teachers, and even got into debates with them at times. I have always been an avid reader, who loves to learn. The best thing I ever learned in school was how to read in the first grade! I am free to learn whatever I wish as a result.

What is the solution for the public school fiasco? I think abolishing the Department of Education and return all authority to the states is the first step. Get the federal government and it's insane propaganda out of education! But, I don't think that's going to happen.

Therefore, it's up to parents to educate themselves as to what is best for their kids, and then do it, making whatever sacrifices are necessary.