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Following up on the post I made on Thursday, U.S. Automakers are appearing to continue a business as usual mode. This may or may not be a great example, but something that I found interesting and wanted to share with everyone.
I watched both the Colts-Bengals and Steelers-Cowboys games today and noticed a lot of the same commercials time and again. The ones that appeared the most was three separate Cadillac commercials advertising their CTS and Escalade models but all three advertised their "Red Tag" event and exclaimed how this was a first ever for Cadillacs. "The price you see on the Red Tag is the price you pay, not a cent more (taxes?). See your local Cadillac dealer today for great deals."
The most curious part of these great deals? The CTS had an all-new, low price of...over $43,000 dollars. The Escalades? Over $57,000. Remember, this is not including taxes.
Wasn't GM one of the automakers pleading and begging for money the past several weeks from our government? Yet, they still advertised overpriced, gas guzzling vehicles. The only brand General Motors has that is comparable or more expensive in price is their Corvette line.
The other commercials weren't much better. To GM's credit, they did advertise a 37 mpg Chevy Cobalt at the beginning of the Colts game but I don't recall seeing the commercial after that. The Cadillac commercials were approaching 12 advertising time slots when halftime approached the Steelers-Cowboys game. Cadillac also sponsored the Colts game.
Ford only advertised trucks (specifically their "new" F-150). The truck commercials proudly boasted having an astonishing 21 mpg while still increasing horsepower. Another truck commercial exclaimed about the new pull out step to reach your cargo hold, like having a boost is the rage for trucks all the sudden. I don't remember seeing any other car companies besides Ford and GM.
The point I'm trying to make is it looks like these companies are making no effort to save cash they so desperately need and are not changing the way they do business at all. I read an article just minutes before reading this about how backed up inventory for ALL automakers is here in America ( http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081207/us_nm/us_autos_ports). If your average American can't even afford a Corolla, Aveo, Cobalt, Civic, Fusion, or any other common Sedan, how the fuck are they going to be able to afford a Cadillac CTS or an ESCALADE? If someone doesn't have enough cash to drop on a new vehicle that costs less than $15,000 how will they have enough to buy one that costs $45,000 or MORE???
The best article I read by politicians is the one that Barack Obama and Chris Dodd (the guy I just got done blasting, I'll eat a plate of crow later if it proves I'm wrong about him) commented on the futures of executives of American automakers (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081207/ap_on_go_co/congress_autos).
Apparently there are plenty of people, even some who are rich and powerful, who think these people should lose their jobs and have little if any compensation if they lose them (why should someone be compensated for being fired anyway? When someone is fired at a restaurant, they don't compensate them a dime).
If these companies need cash so bad they would pull a lot of their advertising and save it there. I wouldn't give them any money at all if I were voting in Congress. Remember, Rick Wagoner and any of the other auto executives don't care if they go under. They already raped for their millions.
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
U.S. Automaker Crisis
One of the biggest concerns in Washington today and for the country nationwide is the purported collapse of the U.S. auto industry that is on the horizon. Reading some of the various press releases, there are some members of Congress who have the view on these companies absolutely correct. These industries haven't changed the way they do business so why should we help out companies that focus on horsepower and more ways to put emissions into the air instead of enviornmentally friendly and gas/money saving vehicles?
The answer is we shouldn't support these companies. Bankruptcy and new management would do wonders for U.S. automakers who have fallen behind the Japanese auto companies. Japanese companies focused on making fuel efficient vehicles that lasted while also offering the oversized, overpriced SUVs and trucks that Americans crave. Japanese companies were prepared to handle this kind of collapse. American automakers continued business as usual.
Granted, GM started offering the Chevy Cobalt and Aveo to take a stab a making fuel efficient vehicles but they were way behind. Has anyone ever taken a drive or ride in either of these vehicles? They sacrificed space, size, and efficiency for a rocky, cramped, and unpleasant experience. Chrysler offers the PT Cruiser but the vehicle's unique design and appeal from when it was first released has faded and the MPG could be better. Ford, surprisingly, has started offering Hybrids on a lot of its vehicles, most intriguingly, the Ford Escape. But the company forgot something that made it popular many years ago, a vehicle that was extremely fuel efficient and built to last...the Ford Escort. By the time the vehicle's production ceased, it wasn't nearly as popular. However, in the 80s and 90s, the vehicle was largely in demand in wake of all the truck and SUV commercials. Ford had the right idea and let it slip from their fingers. It wouldn't surprise me if Toyota and Honda noticed the popularity of these vehicles and capitalized.
I will give Ford credit where credit is due. They restructed their Volvo operation and sold off Jaguar and Land Rover brands for billions. This saved the company billions by restructuring and updating its cost efficiency. After all, how in demand are Land Rovers and Jaguars? GM could take notice and sell off its Hummer and Corvette divisions, saving them just as much money while restructuring to the demands of today's buyers.
Still, this all may be too little, too late. The heads of the Detroit Big 3 first arrived in Congress in private jets, costing the company hundreds of thousands had they simply been ridden coach or even a first class commercial flight. Today they arrived in vehicles. While the moves saved money, it proves they think they are still too good to associate with the common American. First class or coach? Who do you all think we are?
A couple of words come to mind. Ignorant, inefficient, slow, unadaptable, no accountability. What does the head of the company do that deserves millions in pay?
I know Democrats don't want an industry collapse to fall in their lap and possibly affect their political futures for decades. It's a precarious situation to be in for their party. They know the right thing to do is to let them go bankrupt and restructure accordingly. But they don't want millions and unemployed Americans to associate them with losing their jobs for the rest of their lives.
Of course, George Bush won't help the situation any either. Congress approved the $25 billion to come out of the $700 billion designated for the financial industry bailout but he won't approve those funds, designating them strictly for the financial industry. I'm not really sure what $700 billion buys that $675 billion won't but he must know something the rest of us don't (which is what his whole presidency is predicated on).
The worst thing about all of this is the auto industry pours millions into the pockets of both parties to get this kind of support. They help fund elections and consequently, it shouldn't be any surprise that the people in Washington who received a lot of those funds support this cause.
If anything, Chris Dodd should not be heading the committee to oversee these hearings. He's already decided he won't run for re-election in 2010 for the Senate (he's been there since 1980) so he'll pretty much do whatever he wants from here on out. However, this same guy thought Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were doing just fine before Congress bailed them out (guess who got the most funding from those two companies for re-elections and the like? Chris Dodd. He also got favorable mortgages from companies associated with these two also). Not exactly who needs to be judging whether or not someone is in trouble.
His own state (Connecticut) disapproves of his job performance more than they support it (48% disapprove-42% approve). He's been on the job a little too long.
The only viable solution is to let these companies face the music and deal with it themselves. It's a scary solution, mainly because the people in charge of these companies will be just fine if these companies collapse. If the government were to intervene it should only be to fire the board of the directors and CEOs of all these companies and replace them with people who give a shit. Business as usual has become too common of a term and problem for industries that are having financial trouble. The financial industry could be labeled the same way, I mean, really...how bad do you really have to be at your job to let your entire company collapse? Every company has losses at some point...but a complete collapse?
I wish there were a better solution and that giving these companies money would be the best solution. At some point you have to wonder if a move to socialism might be a real solution to these problems because, ultimately, all this corruption is killing the American economy and doesn't look like that will change anytime soon.
The answer is we shouldn't support these companies. Bankruptcy and new management would do wonders for U.S. automakers who have fallen behind the Japanese auto companies. Japanese companies focused on making fuel efficient vehicles that lasted while also offering the oversized, overpriced SUVs and trucks that Americans crave. Japanese companies were prepared to handle this kind of collapse. American automakers continued business as usual.
Granted, GM started offering the Chevy Cobalt and Aveo to take a stab a making fuel efficient vehicles but they were way behind. Has anyone ever taken a drive or ride in either of these vehicles? They sacrificed space, size, and efficiency for a rocky, cramped, and unpleasant experience. Chrysler offers the PT Cruiser but the vehicle's unique design and appeal from when it was first released has faded and the MPG could be better. Ford, surprisingly, has started offering Hybrids on a lot of its vehicles, most intriguingly, the Ford Escape. But the company forgot something that made it popular many years ago, a vehicle that was extremely fuel efficient and built to last...the Ford Escort. By the time the vehicle's production ceased, it wasn't nearly as popular. However, in the 80s and 90s, the vehicle was largely in demand in wake of all the truck and SUV commercials. Ford had the right idea and let it slip from their fingers. It wouldn't surprise me if Toyota and Honda noticed the popularity of these vehicles and capitalized.
I will give Ford credit where credit is due. They restructed their Volvo operation and sold off Jaguar and Land Rover brands for billions. This saved the company billions by restructuring and updating its cost efficiency. After all, how in demand are Land Rovers and Jaguars? GM could take notice and sell off its Hummer and Corvette divisions, saving them just as much money while restructuring to the demands of today's buyers.
Still, this all may be too little, too late. The heads of the Detroit Big 3 first arrived in Congress in private jets, costing the company hundreds of thousands had they simply been ridden coach or even a first class commercial flight. Today they arrived in vehicles. While the moves saved money, it proves they think they are still too good to associate with the common American. First class or coach? Who do you all think we are?
A couple of words come to mind. Ignorant, inefficient, slow, unadaptable, no accountability. What does the head of the company do that deserves millions in pay?
I know Democrats don't want an industry collapse to fall in their lap and possibly affect their political futures for decades. It's a precarious situation to be in for their party. They know the right thing to do is to let them go bankrupt and restructure accordingly. But they don't want millions and unemployed Americans to associate them with losing their jobs for the rest of their lives.
Of course, George Bush won't help the situation any either. Congress approved the $25 billion to come out of the $700 billion designated for the financial industry bailout but he won't approve those funds, designating them strictly for the financial industry. I'm not really sure what $700 billion buys that $675 billion won't but he must know something the rest of us don't (which is what his whole presidency is predicated on).
The worst thing about all of this is the auto industry pours millions into the pockets of both parties to get this kind of support. They help fund elections and consequently, it shouldn't be any surprise that the people in Washington who received a lot of those funds support this cause.
If anything, Chris Dodd should not be heading the committee to oversee these hearings. He's already decided he won't run for re-election in 2010 for the Senate (he's been there since 1980) so he'll pretty much do whatever he wants from here on out. However, this same guy thought Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were doing just fine before Congress bailed them out (guess who got the most funding from those two companies for re-elections and the like? Chris Dodd. He also got favorable mortgages from companies associated with these two also). Not exactly who needs to be judging whether or not someone is in trouble.
His own state (Connecticut) disapproves of his job performance more than they support it (48% disapprove-42% approve). He's been on the job a little too long.
The only viable solution is to let these companies face the music and deal with it themselves. It's a scary solution, mainly because the people in charge of these companies will be just fine if these companies collapse. If the government were to intervene it should only be to fire the board of the directors and CEOs of all these companies and replace them with people who give a shit. Business as usual has become too common of a term and problem for industries that are having financial trouble. The financial industry could be labeled the same way, I mean, really...how bad do you really have to be at your job to let your entire company collapse? Every company has losses at some point...but a complete collapse?
I wish there were a better solution and that giving these companies money would be the best solution. At some point you have to wonder if a move to socialism might be a real solution to these problems because, ultimately, all this corruption is killing the American economy and doesn't look like that will change anytime soon.
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Demise of the Economy and the American Dream
Has anyone ever considered that the political issues that tend to captivate the majority of our attention are only there to keep the middle and low classes' attention diverted? Two posts ago what I wrote concentrated on these issues (topics such as abortion, gun laws, homosexual marriage rights, stem cell research, and voter equality) that seem to really get the "average" American riled up. In that note I concluded that none of these issues really matter. Some of you may take great offense to that notion, such as those who feel all life is sacred and begins at conception, those of you who own many guns, etc. But did you really ask yourself the question? Do these issues really matter?
Our economic problems appear to trump all others at the moment but I think we all should've seen this coming long ago. No one had the foresight to do so, but once I explain the ultimate reason (and believe me, this will be controversial) why we are in this current economic peril, hopefully it will clear a lot of this up.
The blame is shouldered on several industries/entities: retail stores, chain restaurants, college universities (mainly their presidents and board of trustees), and the "average" man who made it to the top.
Retail stores and national chain restaurants caused much of the demise of our economy. They claim to have halos over their heads for offering America so many jobs and providing "opportunity" where there wouldn't be any if these places didn't exist. Disguised in that opportunity are low wages, unpleasant working conditions (i.e. standing up non-stop for hours), and the prohibition of unions. A number of other policies also spawned as a result such as "the customer is always right," "employment-at-will," and "quick advancement opportunities" that have furthered the demise of the American economy. These industries have taken advantage of the opportunity afforded to them and run with it. The owners had a vision of their "American Dream" and took every means to fulfill it. But somewhere along the line, their vision was lost and dollar signs became all they could see.
I know how this sounds, and you'll be asking the question 'So how did all this bring about the demise of the economy?' These places are all quick solutions for those who need to solve the "means to an end" that exists in all our lives. We all have to earn some kind of living or income or we'll be homeless/less entertained/"unhappy." These chains and industries slow the growth of our economy. The people who work these jobs make less than those who are college-educated or who have acquired a trade/skill to apply in an industry (such as auto repair). They give less to the economy because they have less to give. The "benefits" offered in some of these industries aren't sufficient either. Someone who barely takes enough home to get by will probably elect not to have health care coverage if it's deducted from their pay. But what if you have children? If you elect to receive those benefits and don't make enough, you'll either have to work more hours or take another job if your hours are maxed out (employers have formulated how to work around overtime now too). This means less time with those children and your family. Less time can have an effect on any number of issues: academics, athletics, health, and the development of personal responsibility/accountability.
Lost in all this is the effect retail/chain restaurant jobs have on the economy. People who work these jobs put less into the economy. They make less and yearn to have more (credit industry collapse?). I haven't even mentioned the factory industry. While the pay there is better, the debilitating effects on a person's health are well-documented. Will the money you make while your health holds up during the first 10-20 years be enough for you to get by on when you're a senior citizen at 40 years young? Ultimately, these employees are also employed "at-will" and their employment, along with their better pay and benefits, can end at anytime for no reason at all. What will someone do if at 50 they are let go by the auto manufacturer and have health defects now as a result? Jobs for those on disability or handicapped are very limited and often are humiliating (Wal-Mart greeters anyone?).
So where does this problem originate? Our education system. How often do you hear on the news that America has fallen behind other countries in math and science? This is a direct result of an underfunded, understaffed education system. It sounds bad, but after hearing the news I would venture most blow it off after a few minutes, maybe even have a brief conversation with someone about it, and then just let it go.
This attitude has to change. If we aren't educating our children to the maximum of their talents, we are handicapping our nation. Industries all over will fail to advance and maximize their efficiency and resources without having advanced minds. Look at the poorest nations in the world. Their education system is broken and consequently so is their country.
Our universities foster most of the blame for the demise of education. You may ask how that makes any sense but you must look outside the box. The rising costs of post-secondary education make a degree, especially an advanced degree (translation=anything above a Bachelor's), almost unaffordable. How do we allow these higher learning institutions to continue to increase the costs and halt the advancement of nearly everyone? I say everyone because universities get the most funding. Universities are like the retail industry; those in charge increasingly find ways to make more money and leave plenty of children behind. What I'm stressing here is the problem lies at the feet of the colleges themsevles. Anyone can go to college now; look at all the loans available. Some place the blame on the loan industry but they only tag along with the current college scam: The universities are setting the prices, and loan companies just provide the means if you don't have any of your own. Education is for the priveledged only or for those who are simply willing to accept the debt incurred and be a "step ahead" of the uneducated applying for jobs (although this could be disputed too, after all, if you're educated generally you start out making more money and business is all about cutting costs even at the expense of quality).
If such funding was channeled to our public school system first (private schools don't count here, they get their own funding from tuition), our children's talents and abilities would be maximized prior to considering post-secondary education. Is all of this starting to sound related?
In case you can't see what this is all leading, I will spell it out for everyone: The universities are connected to the retail and food chain industries. It may not be direct, but it is definitely a connection that affects everyone. If everyone had their talents maximized after high school graduation, how many would really resort to working at Steak N' Shake or Target? If everyone had their talents maximized, then when we left high school, we would have a general idea or direction of where we wanted to go in life or something to pursue. If we still weren't sure, a job at one of these retail stores/chain restaurants would be available to us while we transition into what we want to do with our lives. If we gained an advanced/higher position through that transition job while there, maybe that's what we would really like to do. But lets be honest here, NO ONE aspires to be a manager at McDonald's. It's a position acquired because you don't know what else to do or where to turn.
That's where the "quick advancement" tagline used by these industries originated. Think about it, a promotion makes everyone feel good regardless of the job. It makes you feel like you earned something and now this company has you in the palm of their hand, right where they need you. Mottos like "people work here from all walks of life" should be true but not to the extent that someone is in this position because they were ill-afforded a quality education that could maximize their potential. As a country we have seriously been taken advantage of on a monumental scale. The average salary in 1973 was $33,000...in 2005? $29,000 (source: "Free Lunch" by David C. Johnston). Should this be a surprise? The industries that have developed as a result of our current lack of concern with education have destroyed the "American Dream."
The lack of proper education extends to all walks of life. Outdated sex education has failed to advance our country to overcome and reduce the amount of STDs/STIs, unplanned pregnancies, and abortions. Investment has become a major industry yet personal finance classes prior to the college years are almost non-existent. Instead of focusing on advancing science, we focus on changing it (i.e., evolution v. creationism) and as a result, diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, most forms of cancer, and HIV still have no cures. Our knowledge of the brain is guesswork at best.
Money has become the focal point of everything and our shifted priorities are destroying our nation. What happens if we find a cure to breast cancer? Will there be no more pink ribbons or walks? What happens if we cure all our children? Will there be no more Riley's license plates? The amount of money poured into these funds still has yet to find cures. Our problems have become a business, their own industry in fact, and our lack of education has blinded us from knowing better.
Which brings me to the last measure that brought about the downfall of our economy. Mr. Average Joe who started at the bottom and worked his way to the top. My last job had that syndrome. The company president started as a salesman. He rose to the top and now he helps call the shots (at least, that's what he wants all of us to believe). This example is the detrimental hope that kills our motivation to do something we love instead of solidifying our means to an end. In fact, the means to an end has become irrelevant now, it has been superceded by a lust for money or what we all know as greed.
I bring Average Joe Company President up because he's the example cited to everyone that you'll be just like him someday. There's part of that statement left out though. You can be just like him someday if you start your own company and make it that successful. This story breathes hope to those who would normally not have the desire to stay in a job they really don't like. It strikes something inside all of us, you say to yourself, 'Wow, that could be me someday. I'd be in charge and making the big bucks. And of course, I'd do a much better job than anyone who had it previously.' You forget that you never thought of your current job at a retail store/chain restaurant as a career. Maybe when you applied you thought it was something you'd like to try out for a little while, but not have as a career. It starts out as a steady paycheck until you find something you would love to do.
All the industries that decided to use this story of "anyone can make it to the top" were a step ahead of everyone. It's not to say that one of us, someday, won't make it to that position, but the probability that this might actually happen is so slim we'd have the same odds that we have when picking our powerball numbers. Mr. Average Joe Company President is proud of his one-in-a-million accomplishment and reminds everyone all the time of his story of success. What he may not realize is that his story is giving false hope. And false hope is worse than no hope at all.
Maybe you can see, as I see now, how the retail and chain restaurant industires and how the universities all directly (yet separately) brought about the demise of the American Dream and the economy. Education is what we are lacking to overcome all of this. If you still don't believe me, consider this: How many college graduates do you know who work at Wal-Mart?
Our economic problems appear to trump all others at the moment but I think we all should've seen this coming long ago. No one had the foresight to do so, but once I explain the ultimate reason (and believe me, this will be controversial) why we are in this current economic peril, hopefully it will clear a lot of this up.
The blame is shouldered on several industries/entities: retail stores, chain restaurants, college universities (mainly their presidents and board of trustees), and the "average" man who made it to the top.
Retail stores and national chain restaurants caused much of the demise of our economy. They claim to have halos over their heads for offering America so many jobs and providing "opportunity" where there wouldn't be any if these places didn't exist. Disguised in that opportunity are low wages, unpleasant working conditions (i.e. standing up non-stop for hours), and the prohibition of unions. A number of other policies also spawned as a result such as "the customer is always right," "employment-at-will," and "quick advancement opportunities" that have furthered the demise of the American economy. These industries have taken advantage of the opportunity afforded to them and run with it. The owners had a vision of their "American Dream" and took every means to fulfill it. But somewhere along the line, their vision was lost and dollar signs became all they could see.
I know how this sounds, and you'll be asking the question 'So how did all this bring about the demise of the economy?' These places are all quick solutions for those who need to solve the "means to an end" that exists in all our lives. We all have to earn some kind of living or income or we'll be homeless/less entertained/"unhappy." These chains and industries slow the growth of our economy. The people who work these jobs make less than those who are college-educated or who have acquired a trade/skill to apply in an industry (such as auto repair). They give less to the economy because they have less to give. The "benefits" offered in some of these industries aren't sufficient either. Someone who barely takes enough home to get by will probably elect not to have health care coverage if it's deducted from their pay. But what if you have children? If you elect to receive those benefits and don't make enough, you'll either have to work more hours or take another job if your hours are maxed out (employers have formulated how to work around overtime now too). This means less time with those children and your family. Less time can have an effect on any number of issues: academics, athletics, health, and the development of personal responsibility/accountability.
Lost in all this is the effect retail/chain restaurant jobs have on the economy. People who work these jobs put less into the economy. They make less and yearn to have more (credit industry collapse?). I haven't even mentioned the factory industry. While the pay there is better, the debilitating effects on a person's health are well-documented. Will the money you make while your health holds up during the first 10-20 years be enough for you to get by on when you're a senior citizen at 40 years young? Ultimately, these employees are also employed "at-will" and their employment, along with their better pay and benefits, can end at anytime for no reason at all. What will someone do if at 50 they are let go by the auto manufacturer and have health defects now as a result? Jobs for those on disability or handicapped are very limited and often are humiliating (Wal-Mart greeters anyone?).
So where does this problem originate? Our education system. How often do you hear on the news that America has fallen behind other countries in math and science? This is a direct result of an underfunded, understaffed education system. It sounds bad, but after hearing the news I would venture most blow it off after a few minutes, maybe even have a brief conversation with someone about it, and then just let it go.
This attitude has to change. If we aren't educating our children to the maximum of their talents, we are handicapping our nation. Industries all over will fail to advance and maximize their efficiency and resources without having advanced minds. Look at the poorest nations in the world. Their education system is broken and consequently so is their country.
Our universities foster most of the blame for the demise of education. You may ask how that makes any sense but you must look outside the box. The rising costs of post-secondary education make a degree, especially an advanced degree (translation=anything above a Bachelor's), almost unaffordable. How do we allow these higher learning institutions to continue to increase the costs and halt the advancement of nearly everyone? I say everyone because universities get the most funding. Universities are like the retail industry; those in charge increasingly find ways to make more money and leave plenty of children behind. What I'm stressing here is the problem lies at the feet of the colleges themsevles. Anyone can go to college now; look at all the loans available. Some place the blame on the loan industry but they only tag along with the current college scam: The universities are setting the prices, and loan companies just provide the means if you don't have any of your own. Education is for the priveledged only or for those who are simply willing to accept the debt incurred and be a "step ahead" of the uneducated applying for jobs (although this could be disputed too, after all, if you're educated generally you start out making more money and business is all about cutting costs even at the expense of quality).
If such funding was channeled to our public school system first (private schools don't count here, they get their own funding from tuition), our children's talents and abilities would be maximized prior to considering post-secondary education. Is all of this starting to sound related?
In case you can't see what this is all leading, I will spell it out for everyone: The universities are connected to the retail and food chain industries. It may not be direct, but it is definitely a connection that affects everyone. If everyone had their talents maximized after high school graduation, how many would really resort to working at Steak N' Shake or Target? If everyone had their talents maximized, then when we left high school, we would have a general idea or direction of where we wanted to go in life or something to pursue. If we still weren't sure, a job at one of these retail stores/chain restaurants would be available to us while we transition into what we want to do with our lives. If we gained an advanced/higher position through that transition job while there, maybe that's what we would really like to do. But lets be honest here, NO ONE aspires to be a manager at McDonald's. It's a position acquired because you don't know what else to do or where to turn.
That's where the "quick advancement" tagline used by these industries originated. Think about it, a promotion makes everyone feel good regardless of the job. It makes you feel like you earned something and now this company has you in the palm of their hand, right where they need you. Mottos like "people work here from all walks of life" should be true but not to the extent that someone is in this position because they were ill-afforded a quality education that could maximize their potential. As a country we have seriously been taken advantage of on a monumental scale. The average salary in 1973 was $33,000...in 2005? $29,000 (source: "Free Lunch" by David C. Johnston). Should this be a surprise? The industries that have developed as a result of our current lack of concern with education have destroyed the "American Dream."
The lack of proper education extends to all walks of life. Outdated sex education has failed to advance our country to overcome and reduce the amount of STDs/STIs, unplanned pregnancies, and abortions. Investment has become a major industry yet personal finance classes prior to the college years are almost non-existent. Instead of focusing on advancing science, we focus on changing it (i.e., evolution v. creationism) and as a result, diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, most forms of cancer, and HIV still have no cures. Our knowledge of the brain is guesswork at best.
Money has become the focal point of everything and our shifted priorities are destroying our nation. What happens if we find a cure to breast cancer? Will there be no more pink ribbons or walks? What happens if we cure all our children? Will there be no more Riley's license plates? The amount of money poured into these funds still has yet to find cures. Our problems have become a business, their own industry in fact, and our lack of education has blinded us from knowing better.
Which brings me to the last measure that brought about the downfall of our economy. Mr. Average Joe who started at the bottom and worked his way to the top. My last job had that syndrome. The company president started as a salesman. He rose to the top and now he helps call the shots (at least, that's what he wants all of us to believe). This example is the detrimental hope that kills our motivation to do something we love instead of solidifying our means to an end. In fact, the means to an end has become irrelevant now, it has been superceded by a lust for money or what we all know as greed.
I bring Average Joe Company President up because he's the example cited to everyone that you'll be just like him someday. There's part of that statement left out though. You can be just like him someday if you start your own company and make it that successful. This story breathes hope to those who would normally not have the desire to stay in a job they really don't like. It strikes something inside all of us, you say to yourself, 'Wow, that could be me someday. I'd be in charge and making the big bucks. And of course, I'd do a much better job than anyone who had it previously.' You forget that you never thought of your current job at a retail store/chain restaurant as a career. Maybe when you applied you thought it was something you'd like to try out for a little while, but not have as a career. It starts out as a steady paycheck until you find something you would love to do.
All the industries that decided to use this story of "anyone can make it to the top" were a step ahead of everyone. It's not to say that one of us, someday, won't make it to that position, but the probability that this might actually happen is so slim we'd have the same odds that we have when picking our powerball numbers. Mr. Average Joe Company President is proud of his one-in-a-million accomplishment and reminds everyone all the time of his story of success. What he may not realize is that his story is giving false hope. And false hope is worse than no hope at all.
Maybe you can see, as I see now, how the retail and chain restaurant industires and how the universities all directly (yet separately) brought about the demise of the American Dream and the economy. Education is what we are lacking to overcome all of this. If you still don't believe me, consider this: How many college graduates do you know who work at Wal-Mart?
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