So where are we? (1 Viewer)

[Encumbrance]

America is so 20th century. Where are we now, in 2019? Passed by the China juggernaut in many ways. Embrace it, learn Mandarin. We’re done.

I kind of hope this is sarcasm. 

 

[Encumbrance]

Regardless of the reason, if they don't feel better off, they have no incentive to vote to keep the current administration

"Better off financially" sometimes comes with a gauche way of delivering, of representing one's self, and of general behavior that may be just too darn unfit to sit with. 

 

[pecorino]

I kind of hope this is sarcasm. 

I wish I could say it is sarcasm. But I believe this is the state of the world.

 

[tonydead]

I think its interesting that by and large, if you look at a person's opinion on any one of those issues its usually predictive of their views on the rest.  That's really bad.  Gun control, abortion, climate change and immigration policies are not connected in any way, but somehow how a person falls on one topic tends to inform on the others.  It seems rare to hold disparate (from a party standpoint) viewpoints on these topics.  It just firms up the belief that we've gone so tribal that I don't know where we go from here.  

Regarding the wheels of government moving along, it was designed to be a slow, laborious slog, so I'm not too concerned.  Of the issues @timschochet listed I'd say Climate Change and Immigration Reform are without a doubt the two biggest, most impactful and necessary policies that would need to be tackled.

For guns and border protection, actually I dont really care about guns.I just realize gun control isnt going to change anything. 

For climate and free abortions. 

 

[Encumbrance]

I wish I could say it is sarcasm. But I believe this is the state of the world.

Remember when they were talking about being a second world power in the '80s to the Japanese? I think misunderstanding and mischaracterization of Asian cultures hasn't left our journalism, and still won't despite how wrong it inherently seems to be. Admittedly, I'm a dilettante, but China has a command economy and authoritarian control of the populace, some of whom may not be so compliant in the future. 

I see huge economic and social potential for China, just not potential for the ruling party. Perhaps that is just democratic prejudice, but the past 300 years have given us democratic wins in all major wars; all major conflicts.  I don't see it ending. 

Oh, and a preemptive and off the cuff remark: Please don't quote Friedman from the NYT. He's a sinophile that's been banging this drum through and through.   

 

[lazyike]

Democrats have done a very poor job making the case that climate change is a major concern.  I just haven't read anything that proves it is an issue.

You ought to try farming in the Midwest where for 4 years straight we get so much rain we either can’t plant or harvest

 

[MAC_32]

You ought to try farming in the Midwest where for 4 years straight we get so much rain we either can’t plant or harvest

We get all that runoff in the Mississippi though. 

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Teaching calculus poorly is a waste. Teaching calculus well is at least as important as teaching poetry well. Not because they'll be practical or useful, but because they are beautiful.

I'd support a movement that favors teaching statistics instead of calculus in high school, but I'd support teaching either one over Mandarin.

(By the way, it's easier to learn statistics or calculus or linear algebra as an adult if you need them as a practical matter. I wouldn't worry too much about teaching practical stuff in high school. The emphasis should be in teaching interesting or beautiful stuff. Practical stuff can wait.)

 

[pecorino]

 I wouldn't worry too much about teaching practical stuff in high school. The emphasis should be in teaching interesting or beautiful stuff. Practical stuff can wait.

This is spot on. And it’s the opposite of what schools are doing. The emphasis has shifted to utility, preparing workers, outcomes. I think high school and college should be largely devoted to the search for truth and beauty. Our students think high school should 100% be about getting into college and college should 100% be about getting a good job.

 

[pecorino]

Remember when they were talking about being a second world power in the '80s to the Japanese? I think misunderstanding and mischaracterization of Asian cultures hasn't left our journalism, and still won't despite how wrong it inherently seems to be. Admittedly, I'm a dilettante, but China has a command economy and authoritarian control of the populace, some of whom may not be so compliant in the future. 

I see huge economic and social potential for China, just not potential for the ruling party. Perhaps that is just democratic prejudice, but the past 300 years have given us democratic wins in all major wars; all major conflicts.  I don't see it ending. 

Oh, and a preemptive and off the cuff remark: Please don't quote Friedman from the NYT. He's a sinophile that's been banging this drum through and through.   

The difference now is (to quote Friedman just to rile you up) that the world is flat. Borders are fuzzier, the exchange of Information is freed by orders of magnitude. The “threat” from China is able to be local more than ever. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s altogether a bad thing. If my international students want to do the work and be better than US kids, then become a doctor, I’m going to whoever does the best work. I’m a globalist. Anyway, due to technology and China’s population, we are being overtaken  more than during those fears in the mid 20th century.

 

[Encumbrance]

 I think high school and college should be largely devoted to the search for truth and beauty.

Sounds suspiciously cribbed from a famous libertarian, who I think used the epigram for one of his books, but I'll give it to you. 

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all. Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." - Keats

 

[Encumbrance]

The difference now is (to quote Friedman just to rile you up) that the world is flat. Borders are fuzzier, the exchange of Information is freed by orders of magnitude. The “threat” from China is able to be local more than ever. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s altogether a bad thing. If my international students want to do the work and be better than US kids, then become a doctor, I’m going to whoever does the best work. I’m a globalist. Anyway, due to technology and China’s population, we are being overtaken  more than during those fears in the mid 20th century.

Fair enough. I'd imagine one country buying another country's constant deficit and debt has to play somewhere down the line geopolitically. 

 

[JohnnyU]

This is spot on. And it’s the opposite of what schools are doing. The emphasis has shifted to utility, preparing workers, outcomes. I think high school and college should be largely devoted to the search for truth and beauty. Our students think high school should 100% be about getting into college and college should 100% be about getting a good job.

....and some wonder why they can't pay off their school debt