Miserable Failure

[2fast4u]

well, consider this at least: if all people would think like you do, the western world you live in would not go in such easy circles where you can just grow old without a care about anything because someones gonna fix everything for you.

 

[2fast4u]

Education: Believe it or not, the US spends more money on education than any other country. The problem is usually at the local levels, where the state governments don't manage how effectively this money is being spent.

personally i was educated in the usa and germany whereas i found the us system way superior to the german one.

one major problem i see tho: us education is way too focused on the usa and leaves out the outside world. example: us history is a must, but world history is optional. its no wonder american kids largely know nothing about the rest of the world. (i was asked if there is running water and electricity in my country)

second problem: this is more a personal feeling of mine but i found my us school trying to teach me discipline, respect for the authority and compulsory patriotism (pledge of allegiance, etc. that is one thing that is hard to explain to a german citizen). also i do not approve of jrotc groups in schools because thats very militaristic. alpha will probably disagree with that point but thats just a different view of the world.

btw, regarding your last statement: its no use just throwing money at something and hope that something good comes out.

 

[Clements]

They should teach politics in schools. Currently here, they don't at least they didn't in my school, so maybe they should.

There are a lot of people like me in the UK, and if politicians want people to vote, they must educate us on the subject. I don't recall the percentage of people who didn't vote in the last election, but it was extremely high. I'm sure it's the same elsewhere. Something needs to be done... Compulsory voting? Well it's one idea.

 

[sytaylor]

I just see politicians as all deceitful and not to be trusted. Voting is for old people that have time to vote... All political parties are equally bad [Labour = Conservatives]

Classic misconception. Brandishing thousands of people with the same stick is for a start borderline professionalist (a bit like assuming someone smells because they collect trash). Not to mention extremley prejudice, and a very black and white way of looking at something far more complex than you have assumed.

Labour != Conservatives, Labour = Botched attempt at conservative economic drive coupled with the classic give everyone a hug polotics they used to be. Maybe one day something will affect you enough for you to care, and you will want to change it. You'll soon find someone agreeing and someone disagreeing with you, and that the issue is far bigger than you expected.

Personally I think not following world and local events its a tad sheltered, but everyone has their right to. I just think its unfair that all poloticians are brandished as inherantley bad when I have seen first hand on numerous occasions from various politicians working extremley hard for things they believe in and/or people they represent. Its not always the case, I admit, but still brandishing hem all as bad is wrong.

 

[sytaylor]

(i was asked if there is running water and electricity in my country)

<snip>

btw, regarding your last statement: its no use just throwing money at something and hope that something good comes out.

I once got asked if "they have pizza in england", but the classic was if i knew the queen. Throwing money at something and hoping somethign good comes out.. sounds like Britain's role in the EU (whoop ), or better yet blairs efforts at reforming public services (whoop te whoop)

 

[2fast4u]

but the classic was if i knew the queen

oh yeah those are the classics. there was a similar one when i got asked if knew [insert name here] who was from germany. i was like "uhh .. theres 85 million people in germany, so chances are i dont." .. :kenny:

 

[smegforbrain]

one major problem i see tho: us education is way too focused on the usa and leaves out the outside world. example: us history is a must, but world history is optional. its no wonder american kids largely know nothing about the rest of the world. (i was asked if there is running water and electricity in my country)

Ignorance is everwhere, but the problems you mention are there, and they certainly disturb me as well.

One thing to consider, however, is the fact that the US is one country that is far larger than all of Europe, which has more than a couple of dozen countries. It can make learning about your neighbors a lot easier and more important.

Granted, the history of Europe is much longer.

I recall in school having to study lots of history though.
About the only places we never really covered in any great detail were Canada (which, quite honestly, doesn't have a whole lot of history to cover), Africa, Australia, and South America (beyond the groups such as the Aztecs, etc.).

But then, I know Canadians who don't know a whole lot, geographically speaking about the US either.

 

[zAlbee]

But then, I know Canadians who don't know a whole lot, geographically speaking about the US either.

hey hey, technically i know equally little about the states as i do about the rest of the world's geography :chinese: but thats just me. i'll do the maths/sciences, let the artsy people worry about the rest

 

[2fast4u]

One thing to consider, however, is the fact that the US is one country that is far larger than all of Europe, which has more than a couple of dozen countries. It can make learning about your neighbors a lot easier and more important.

valid points indeed. also geographically the americas are sort of isolated from the rest of the world, plus if i drive from wichita, ks to kansas city i could get from stuttgart (germany) to paris (france) in the same time, thats a whole different scale.

 

[Matata]

hmmmm this is not funny, it´s kinda sad....