Government and the Economy

In the modern world, the governments and economies of nations are greatly linked. To explain one is to explain the other, in a sense. Nowhere is this more true than in the United States. The major divider between the Democrats and the Republicans is how the economy should be regulated. Democrats call for increased regulation, Republicans do not. Unfortunately, money is also the most powerful thing holding men and women to office. I hope that many conditions within our economy and government can be rectified.

Our economic system needs to have regulation from the government only so that it will respond to the threats of the time. Our electrical grids and computer, for example, our incredibly weak to terrorist attacks. If one intelligent man can sink the entire power supply, surely companies will respond. However, most companies would flat out refuse to update software, on the grounds that it would cost exorbitant amounts of money. This would cause a breach in national security. Therefore, government needs to take command of business when threats become certain.

However, though government should prevent business from causing crises, other than that it should leave business completely alone. If the banks know that the government can bail them out when their stock falls low, then they will continue use unethical processes. Businesses should know that government cannot form even a last case scenario.

Though I can easily criticize most of the economy, government works smoothly and effectively for the most part. The United States has excellent governmental procedure, in my opinion, though legislation should pass bills requiring less debate on vital issues (i.e. climate change, not health care). However, it appears that money has become a major stimulus in government, and not just in the form of bribery. Government officials should earn only meager salaries; though their work creates much stress in their lives, money would promote staying in office for the pay alone. Money breeds corruption, stupidity, and callousness in government, from my point of view. Furthermore, to open position in government to more people, the government should provide a budget for campaigning to anyone wishing to participate in an election and lower the voting age to fourteen. More common people could then participate in our republic.

I believe that many of our governmental and economical problems could be rectified if the Senate implicates these ideas. We must remove the oligarchal structure that forms our government and economy and remove corruption and motivation for self-gain alone.

The Environment

Almost every modern human understands that the ecosystem of our planet is in destruction. We have over taxed what our planet can hold since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. This status quo was determined by the ignorance of our forefathers, which must be solved today.

Unfortunately, it also seems that some people wish to put off solutions to my generation. In further misfortune, some people today offend all intelligent children of the world by stating that we are supposed to solve all the world's problems when we grow up. It is wrong to believe that corporate executives can relax because their children will clean up the environment. Action has to be taken now, before consequences render Earth uninhabitable. Wall-E is not where I personally want to end up.

However, some simply put aside environmental catastrophe as a myth. This is not money wasted stupidly. It's the complete and utter revitalization of a dying planet. I think a billion or two is worth the survival of the human race.

How can we stop the rage of global climate change and other stresses on the planet? We must outdate processes that are detrimental to the Earth's ecosystem. That means the complete shut down of coal and oil fired power plants. Instead, nuclear technology should be advanced. A single nuclear power plant can provide energy for aircraft carriers, which are akin to mobile towns. If nuclear power is used so widely in the military world, why not use it to energize the United States? If the obsession with nuclear safety causes fear, let the public know that only 8 accidents (including Chernobyl) have occurred in the history of the use of nuclear power. Therefore, nuclear power is a clean and safe alternative to coal and oil.

However, while the funds for nuclear power plants are assembled, humanity should hold itself over with sustainable technologies that fit the environment. Solar, wind, and tidal power should be used where each would be most efficient, and can be continued to be used in the case of a disappearance of uranium fuel.

For the modern era, hybrids should become the standard vehicle, until the further development of hydrogen fuel cell or nuclear powered vehicles. Eventually, nuclear fusion should replace fission reactors when technology becomes feasible.

However (and this may be the most un-environmental statement I make to fanatics), eco-activism is not a viable solution. Many of its quick-solving ideas fall apart under close examination. For example, plastic reusable containers require soap made from oil by-products, which can pollute the ocean. Therefore, using a reusable plastic container for lunch may have worse consequences than solutions. Advanced technology can remove these paradoxes. Therefore, governments must put aside large amounts of resources for the development of green technology.

Eco-activists do have a few things correct, however. Using fluorescent light bulbs and buying organic (not locally grown; local growing can cause paradoxes) food provide very intelligent solutions that should be implemented on a grander scale.

This article would be incomplete without an assessment of the recent disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. All I can say is that BP needs smarter engineers. A plug could seriously just be a concrete block pumped down in to the crack. We don't need massive, two-story, billion-dollar structures that don't end up working. As Albert Einstein stated, "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."

Education

If not for education, my blogs today may not sound nearly as intelligent as they are. I am grateful for my education, particularly because I go to an excellent school. However, the education system as a whole is horribly flawed in America, and most people know this. The faults lie in many places.

First of all, and most importantly, is the failure of the school system to attract those of the lower class. This creates the cycle of poverty that leads to the rise of gangs and other delinquent organizations. The overall mindset is that of short-term gratification: a lower-class adolescent can make $300 selling drugs, or can go to school and make nothing. However, this is not just the school system's fault. Because their parents are not around, these teenagers have no reason to see benefit in going to school. Thus, the cycle of poverty continues.

Secondly, several failed attempts have occurred in the school system to help those academically challenged.  The Bush Administration's No Child Left Behind Act is a colossal failure, as I have experienced. It is a meager attempt. Currently, teachers teach so as that students can complete standardized tests, work minimally, and be uncreative. This could only create a society of mechanical drones suitable for factory labor. I left the public school system because it had become so boring and dull that I could no longer be challenged. By leaving the intelligent as outcasts, the system promotes bullying and hostility towards those who excel in school. As stated, acts to solve education have been mammoth wastes of time and money.

Thirdly, parental interference has wrecked student performance. Because of so-called "helicopter parenting," students have become lazier while homework has increased. Many adults would remember obtaining jobs during high school, a feat that is now nearly impossible due to increased homework loads on the behalf of parents insisting that their children be prepared for college. Unfortunately, because these parents do their children's homework for them, students are still unprepared for college stresses. The government cannot solve this; it must be a general societal change. Parents must cease to "oversee" projects and "help" with homework just to see their children excel by way of an overall meaningless number. When parents help cheat, that is exactly what a grade means.

Finally, teachers as a whole are not as successful as they were before. In my opinion, this only means that teacher standards need to be adjusted to prevent student boredom. School should be interesting. Children hate school because it takes away time for them to do things they would rather do, especially by doling out homework. If a child hates school, then he or she probably will pay less attention and therefore suffer poorer grades. Capturing attention and causing interest should be one of the main things schools look for in teachers.

There are a few more things that I would like to say about the school system as a whole, but they may be  offensive to the few followers I have. If you would like to hear these caustic comments, I would like a general consensus from my followers. I will attach them to my next blog.

- The Inspective Nudibranch

P.S. My internet address is www.rawpoliticalscience.blogspot.com for anyone who wishes to share this blog. It's an old title I thought of using.

The Ominous Beginning

The world is a fairly troubled place right now. Terrorism, corrupt political states, and many other woes wrack the planet. But before we get to those troubles, let us examine what is good about the world.

1. Little Imperialism

The imperialistic age has pretty much ended. We find pride in our nations and may be nationalistic, but no nation (except, unfortunately, the U.S.) controls large portions of territory outside their own boundaries for large personal profit or the threatening of other nations.

2. Republics Rule!

The most powerful nations on the planet (e.g. the U.S., Germany, Great Britain, France, Russia) are all democratic republics. That means that most of the power on the planet is concentrated in states run by incorruptly elected officials. Hurray!

3. The System Works

Most of the world's systems (economic, educational, etc.) work fairly well. They need only slight tweaking.

4. People Care

Exactly what it means. There are people on earth who care about each other and society.

5. People Live

People have the longest life spans so far. That can only be expected to increase. We can cure almost any disease, and have the ability to inoculate ourselves against major diseases. No more polio, no more tetanus, no more hepatitis. All through one quick shot.

In short, the world's a better place to be than 150 years ago.

Over the course of this blog, I will examine many issues plaguing society. Comments are appreciated, hate mail is not. Criticism is appreciated, outright hate for my ideas because they go against political doctrines is not.

Also, this is not an "I hate America" thing. I don't hate America; there are problems that most politicians would agree need to be solved. Tying to that, many problems will be American based.

After I run out of things to rant on, I will open a forum to discussion and possibly bringing up other issues. Nothing that has only one side; things that have many different ways of solving. Thanks.

- The Inspective Nudibranch

(P.S. Those who know me will understand the name.)