The problem is, there are a lot of factions from other countries that are bent on bringing the US down to their standards back at home, using our dimes.
"No child left behind"
>implying 75% of silicon valley engineers aren't either Chinese or Indian Americans.
The student population chosen is usually very selective, depending on the country.
The problem isn't the schools, its the parents and the culture and it hasn't really declined at all. The idea that America was anywhere near the top in education is laughable. As is ripping on the federal education system when every single one of those countries has a federal education system.
Put 100% of those kids in a position that demands critical thinking, and watch 100% of those kids fail.
The United States may be struggling right now, but China has significant, major challenges they need to address before they can continue to to grow.
For one, China's production of food is not sustainable given their massive population. There has already been widespread reports of overtaxing of aquifers, and there's undeniable evidence already of the rapid expansion of the Gobi Desert as a result of overgrazing, deforestation, and other human impact. That's not to say that the United States hasn't significantly impacted the environment of our own lands, but the simple fact remains that, as 1.3 billion people become more prosperous, so too does their energy expenditure increase.
For second, let's not beat around the bush here. China is hiding some major debt problems of their own. When the world economy hit the shitter in 2008, China, like the United States, bailed itself out. But imagine if we spent $4 trillion bailing ourselves out, and that's essentially what China did if you compare it to a percentage of their GDP. Unless China makes significant reduction in its overall debt levels, their economy will go the way Japan's did; level off.
For third, the United States had an overabundance of one specific resource that played an extremely strong contributing role to the overall economic prosperity of our nation during the 20th century; oil. China, unfortunately, will not have this [cheap] luxury during their rise in the 21st century (a luxury that isn't cheap for us anymore either).
And that leads me to this; to think that the United State is simply going to crash and burn only to be a page in the world history book, is kinda silly. Great Britain was once a world superpower. France was once a world superpower. Russia was just recently a world superpower. Sure, they may not enjoy that status like they once did, but that doesn't mean their land a smoking ruin of has-been's. The term "superpower" is simply a relative term. China, if they're able to work beyond their challenges, may supersede the United States as the world's leading economic superpower, and maybe if they steal enough of our shit, a military superpower as well, but that doesn't mean our nation is in decline.
The 21st century will be the defining moment for mankind as we begin to deplete our more easily accessible natural resources. No nation, not China, not the United States, not Russia, and not South Africa, will be free of the challenges we'll all eventually face. But the United States has weathered through far worse crises, and I'm sure our nation of intelligent people will be just fine once the "Carbon Era" of mankind is over.
Lastly, you can't directly compare test scores between nations with differing education policies. Asian nations typically employ more rote-based education systems, whereas European and American education focuses more critical thinking. Rote educated nations do typically test more favorably than those in the west, but they're still 100 years behind us to walk on the moon.
This is why we should just disband the damned socialized public school system instead of just mercifully slashing and slashing their budgets. Socialism is no good and making me pay just so someones kid can get an education is getting in the way of tax cuts. (Gov Christie knows this all too well but not even he can stand up to that godless muslim socialist guy) Poor kids like their poor parents lack our superior values, that is why they're poor. Why the hell should I have to pay just so they can get an education? They should just get working class jobs to support our country and leave us to our private school institutions.
At the very least, make everything a la carte so only those with the values/wealth to send their kids to school can have a proper education. Giving everybody schooling and knowledge just makes them more difficult to control and subvert. Worse, they could riot against us. Do you seriously want that to happen? Freakin' Socialists.
Hmm. Why are taxes too high now, compared to the 50s and 60s when they were much higher, but our country was certainly doing tremendously better then vs. now. Look at the tax rates under Eisenhower for example.
Yes, we are slowly dying. Liberals and democrats have turned us into a welfare country where everyone expects things to be given to them and they don't expect to have to work for it.
It will only get worse after Obama wins his re-election.
Soon the founding fathers will be rolling in their graves if they aren't already.
No one is forcing anyone to buy luxury items,
Originally Posted by Fritzo
I found a receipt from Kroger a couple of months back dated Oct 2005 (they're a national supermarket chain) and it had things like:
1 gallon milk: $1.69
bread: $.89
eggs: $.79
cheese: $2.00
14 oz. potato chips: $1.50
etc
Today, these same items are:
1 gallon milk: $3.69
bread: $2.89
eggs: $1.79
cheese: $4.00
12 oz. potato chips: $4.00
That's more than double the cost in just 6 years.
Luxury items not found except maybe the potato chips.
I don't think the US has a rights problem. We have a "corporations making it seem like luxury items are an essential part of life, so take out massive lines of credit to and be indebted for the rest of your life" problem.
I love how you even edit quotes from posters here like you do for your 'news reporting'.
You left out this part from the OP you quoted:
Would vinegar be a luxury item or necessity? Would the paperwork required to buy it be different depending on that first choice?
Who is buying $4 bags of potato chips and then complaining about it?
Originally Posted by Fritzo
I found a receipt from Kroger a couple of months back dated Oct 2005 (they're a national supermarket chain) and it had things like:
1 gallon milk: $1.69
bread: $.89
eggs: $.79
cheese: $2.00
14 oz. potato chips: $1.50
etc
Today, these same items are:
1 gallon milk: $3.69
bread: $2.89
eggs: $1.79
cheese: $4.00
12 oz. potato chips: $4.00
That's more than double the cost in just 6 years.
Luxury items not found except maybe the potato chips.
maybe because kroger sucks? or your shopping skills suck? i regularly buy those items from walmart for:
1 gallon milk: $2.40
bread: $1.50
eggs: $1.59
cheese: $1.99
12 oz. potato chips: $1.99
I was referring to things like iPads, new cars, and smartphones there, not food items.
To think a 30" CRT HDTV cost $1000 back in 2005 and would break your back to carry but today you can get a 32" flat panel HDTV for $250-300. Because everything that happens in costs and prices over the past decade can be directly attributed to Obama, can we then make the argument that Obama is the man giving the gift of high definition to the masses?
Ohhhhhh...that's it. My shopping skills suck. America is in great shape. It was all me. Sorry everybody.