Convergence Bad for the U.S.?

[Cal]

I have been thinking that our convergence of globalization, a large deficit associated with the war in Iraq, and a lack of funding for education and science in our civil agencies is an ominous convergence for U.S. hegemony. Not to mention some of the ideological views of the U.S. administration. Thus, China has a healthy trade surplus, most of Asia has 10 times the science and engineering educated young people than we have, Korea is about to beat us up in medical breakthroughs involving stem cell research, and so on.

I am about to write my Senator (John Warner) to discuss this and get his view. Tom Friedman wrote a good column on how our investments are going into Homeland Security and the war, with no parallel investments in U.S. and global initiatives as there were when the DoD was established post WWII.

What do you think?

I think you, Reader II, should invest heavily in these foreign economies you just discussed with your own savings.

 

[Cal]

I just think that you have a propensity to look at the negative side of the ledger without taking the positive into proper consideration. My hurried comment was comparable to "put your money where your mouth is" if we're falling behind so badly.

Regarding the supposed lack of government funding for science and education, I would compare it to doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results. I don't expect many great things to happen at all because of the government, with the exception of national defense, nor do I expect the majority of great minds of the future to come from public schools and universities.

 

[Steve]

it is easy to follow the media democrat view and cry that our children are getting short changed in comparison to what we would "like to spend" on each child, but to look at it factually takes an effort. with this in mind I spent a whopping three seconds to look up a few facts,

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_spe_per_sec_sch_stu

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States spends more public and private money on education than other major countries,

http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/09/16/sprj.sch.education.compared.ap/

The United States spends more public and private money on education than other major countries,

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2003-09-16-education-comparison_x.htm


It is easy to complain, and Blame the other side for not spending more, but maybe we should really be asking , why if we spend more then the rest of the world are the democrats still asking for more? Shouldn't they be demanding results? Making efforts to find why many schools are failing while others can graduate top students at a fraction of the cost?

Local school $17,000 per student, Highest drop out rate in State, (thank you big goverment)

Local Parochial school $1750 100% graduation rate, ( Thank GOD?)

 

[Steve]

a few more facts:

Percentage of adult population (aged 25-64) educated till tertiary level
Tertiary education is commonly higher education,

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_edu_att_ter

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_pro_of_18_yea_old_in_ter_edu

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_ter_enr

Maybe we should spend more time on Math? even though we now spend more time then the most of the world?

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_pro_of_pri_edu_tim_spe_lea_mat

But once again it is best to finish with one final fact, not only do we spend alot on our education compared to other countries, we also spend the the greatest share of our GDP then any other country, and yet we don't spend enough?

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_tot_exp_as_of_gdp

1. United States 7.0% of GDP

 

[Steve]

a few more facts:

Percentage of adult population (aged 25-64) educated till tertiary level
Tertiary education is commonly higher education,

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_edu_att_ter

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_pro_of_18_yea_old_in_ter_edu

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_ter_enr

Maybe we should spend more time on Math? even though we now spend more time then the most of the world?

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_pro_of_pri_edu_tim_spe_lea_mat

But once again it is best to finish with one final fact, not only do we spend alot on our education compared to other countries, we also spend the the greatest share of our GDP then any other country, and yet we don't spend enough?

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/edu_tot_exp_as_of_gdp

1. United States 7.0% of GDP

 

[Cal]

Steve, interesting research. I geuss it also burns my butt that government science research grants have been responsible for so much junk science. Just as long as they come up with more BS the money will keep rolling in.