College Fiasco

College Fiasco

Of all the great schemes, robberies, and traps ever mangled together in the history of mankind, perhaps none is more devious than the American higher education system. It is a trap that holds the ambitious and the opportunity-seeker by the ears and curses many with a life-time of debt and mal-employment. While we could go on and on about the faults in education itself, from the debilitating political indoctrination to the net crammed up useless knowledge and lack of skills, I am here to talk about the mass theft in the system. Basically, the problem is a huge discrepancy between the value we give education and the quality we receive. In other words, as we all know, college is too darn expensive, without a bang for your buck. This problem is more and more relevant every day because, every moment, the price is climbing and education is seldom improving; and, most importantly, the job prospects are declining.

Although there are no breakthroughs in college education, the campuses are certainly improving—the new business buildings, dorms, stadiums, and higher salaries, more faculty, more administration. Colleges, like government, are a giant, inefficient, splurging, hungry mess. And the universities set the price because they can. We the consumers have so much power to incentivize colleges to improve and lower prices, but we don’t.

One word: hype. “Everyone should own a home.” It’s called a bubble—the housing bubble ignited the 2008 crash. And this is the education bubble. The government subsidizes demand (with loans and financial aid, which an astounding 75% of students receive), as do the people around us, especially our current educators, who insist college is the magical rainbow to happiness and success. This is not surprising. Over the past inflated booms, colleges produced banksters and bureaucrats that made good money in the burgeoning financial and government sectors, which now have to downsize, thus showing the consequence of having 350,000 business majors a year. Moreover, most high-achieving students are not willing to turn down an elite education, and frequently overlook the cost-benefit analysis. Not to mention, our favorite monopoly, College Board, has injected high schools with this SAT, AP, college preparation nicotine. (Non-profit? How amusing.) Lastly, there is a stigma with refraining from earning a degree. We all are guilty of looking down on the non-college-stamped and even on the people who go to trade schools to become, say, a welder, who ironically have a starting salary higher than many other grads. In fact, from what I recall, many successful entrepreneurs, i.e. Michael Dell and Bill Gates, did not get—or need—a bachelor’s degree.

So now we get the basic economic equation. Increased demand, without a substantial increase in supply (or innovation in the supply side) leads to, here’s the clincher: higher prices. This is perfect cover up for that new performing arts theatre at RPI or that huge real estate expansion at Columbia. 

Now this is key: the government cannot fix this. It needs to get its grimy paws out of this business. It is not here to rock us in our carriages and “educate” us up to our first salary. It is largely responsible for this fiasco in the first place (I did not even mention how pesky licensing has required unnecessary degrees). My prescription is to use your power as a consumer in the marketplace. Realize college is not a magic, safe investment like we’re told. First, ask yourself, do you really need it? Do you want to end up as a struggling, undergraduate bartender or a comfortably living hair stylist or entrepreneur? Do you want to live dependently on Mommy’s money, even beyond graduation when you move back with her? I’m not saying that not going to college is the answer. If you do feel college is what you need, be practical about it. Go to the cheaper school. Encourage competition. Take the scholarship. Demand Fancy Pants University lower prices its or it will lose customers. Stop feeding schools with loans and they will be forced to be held accountable. Colleges have too much power as it is determining high school resume standards (which we all hate), the labor force, and our political beliefs—another story.  Anyway, here’s the trick: innovation accompanies competition.

The Fall of America

The Fall of America

All great empires fall—the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the English Empire, Soviet Russia. The reasons are clear. Financial ruin, along with foreign  threats and internal revolutions, causes rulers to lose their prowess. These kingdom-crushers have one origin: immorality. From the start, all of these empires were based on the immoral greed and violence of the ruling classes. What kept these empires growing, perhaps, was the morality of a number of other individuals. The wisdom of philosophers, the benevolence of local leaders, the innovations of scientists, the creativity of artists, along with the hard work, modesty, and peacefulness of the majority of citizens, somehow kept a corrupt system going. Initially, the military might and vast riches of the rulers and plunderers made the empires seem strong. Ultimately, the reality of an immoral system not based on reason destroys the system. However, there are plenty of these systems and more that will follow. 

America is different because its formation was based on morality and reason. The Founders’ analysis of the Enlightenment thinkers made them reject a blind allegiance to an immoral self-serving system and instead favored a reasoned, balanced, and respectful system of government that created free men and a servant government. How successful it was, but is no longer. We saw a history of innovation and progress like no other. Despite the various backgrounds of the citizens, there was generally a moral trend. Self-reliance, personal responsibility, respect for property, tolerance of others, and dedication to family and career seem to have kept, and are still keeping to a certain degree, the system alive. Cooperation correlated to the general religiosity of the population—not necessarily the mystical part of religion, but the rigid social rules that came along. 

However, every system is inherently precarious. Ever since the twentieth century, the impending doom has accelerated. The Baby Boomers—the richest, best-educated, most spoiled generation the earth has ever seen—followed the generation that lived through the Great Depression and fought in the Great War. What was notable about this generation, however, was the significant abandonment of religion. That was a good thing. Religion had instilled fear of punishment and unnatural constraints on the self. However, when the moral system of religion collapsed, so did society’s morals. This generation did not seek reason to replace religious 

dogma; they took their new social freedom and “let loose.” Look at the sixties—drugs, sex, divorce—me, me, me; now, now, now. There was less and less saving and planning for the future. It was on a whim, self-indulgence: “screw the future.” 

This is evident politically. Nixon went off the gold standard (endless money!) and Johnson passed the Great Society (free goodies!). Debt was irrelevant: “just put it on the kids’ tabs.” Even worse, this generation adopted another kind of religion, “statism,” a worship of the State. The Boomer politicians championed an entitlement society. They got their votes from plundering and granting special favors. The political and media elite promoted the vision of a benevolent and omnipotent government, superior to community, family, and the individual. The political debates were not about reason or morals, but instead phony, superficial “compassion.” What exists today is merely an extension of this vision. “More money for Medicare!” “Protect teachers!” “More stimulus to boost the economy!” There is no reason or respect for people’s property, just theft – stealing from the workforce and future generations. The political issues today, especially those of the upcoming election, are mere antics when compared to the degradation of principles. 

Societies inescapably crumble because of the immorality and greed of the rulers. America is no different. Its rulers—its people—were bound to become greedy eventually. The Boomers ignited this downfall, with the combination of a rejection of religious and social principles, and acceptance of government control. It is up to our generation to decide, with reason, whether we can preserve the system or protect the torch of liberty. Who knows? What if we decide that we do not need these systems at all, that we do not need something to worship? Then again, isn’t this blasphemy? 

What Is the Worst Thing About Childhood?

What Is the Worst Thing About Childhood?

What is the worst thing about childhood?

Every single vacation, I swear, if I go remotely close to a railing bordering a body of water or cliff, my dad has a heart attack—as if I’m standing on top of the railing, with my body parallel to the ocean.  

As a child, I couldn’t have pinecone wars with my cousins. Couldn’t ride atop my younger siblings like horses. My generation was chained to the most bogus concept ever—safety. Helmets, science goggles, sunscreen, training wheels, life jackets, fire drills, and worst of all, those pesky assemblies on mental health (which I’m sure created even more mentally-unstable children). We’re told over and over: “Look both ways.” “Don’t talk to strangers.” “Stay away from squirrels.” Even some of our beloved playground equipment is deemed unsafe. (No wonder children are fatter.) And consumer products are now child-proof, non-toxic, BPA-free, fire resistant, etc.

            This issue of over-emphasized safety is becoming increasingly more significant for my generation. First of all, we have to pay for all these pesky regulations that “promise” safety. More importantly, not only do we lament the amount of youthful vitality robbed from us, but we also witness the younger generations subject to even stricter rules. These rules squeeze the curiosity and adventure out of us. They deprive us of a crucial part of our development. Giving us freedom lets us figure out we’re doing something unthinking through trial and error, instead of the hackneyed “because I said so.” It’s how we acquire reason, creativity, and confidence. Ultimately, this safety obsession stunts psychological and physical growth.  

            We’ve become like cattle, prodded along by authority figures. These “enlightened” adults—parents and teachers—seem intent on making life as soft as a pillow for kids. And we blindly follow them out of fear of punishment. Contrary to what our “wise” elders think, pain is healthy. In fact, pain is worth it. I’d rather get bruised from a pinecone bomb than play Flappy Bird on Grandma’s IPad.

It is curious how applicable this issue is to adulthood. The powers that be don’t only cushion the corner of tables for children. Banks, auto-industries, or simply financially-troubled individuals—all have guaranteed back-ups provided by society like dependent children. A brawl then erupts for the safety nets with different interest groups fighting over the rights of others, while inspecting and regulating anything that moves. In the end, we’re all robbed of our potential and dignity, all in the name of caution and comfort. I am reminded of Benjamin Franklin’s pertinent words: “Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.”

            Adults choke the vitality out of children—ostensibly “for their own good”. And we grow into adults who perpetrate the same injustices by suppressing each other. Do we pathetically clamor for more safety or face the thrill of risk and the challenge of responsibility? We must recognize that freedom to make choices is not only freedom to make mistakes—it is also freedom to succeed and to transcend oneself. 

Gods That Failed

Gods That Failed

An economic system labeled free market capitalism was never formally laid down in the Constitution. It did not need to be. This document generally prescribed self-government, or, to use an almost hackneyed term in political rhetoric, liberty. This condition logically only led to one conclusion, free market capitalism. More over, with that, decades of revolution, innovation, and prosperity launched America to the pinnacle of economic success, corresponding with social mobility.

 Yet, one fateful Friday, the fate of this god was officially sealed. Confusion and disorder, as always, lead to blame.Private Interests! Laissez-faire economics! Greed! Market failure! Who would stand up for Capitalism? Did Capitalism even deserve a defense? It was settled. The hungry watchdog government was ready to “rescue” the economy.

 However, free market capitalism could not be the culprit. Capitalism had left awhile ago! It had suffered through government meddling such as subsidization and commerce regulations, which already had punctured the competition system in Capitalism, allowing notorious “robber” barons to corner industries (which would never happen in a free market despite common teachings). The regressive, er, Progressive Era invasion also threatened it. In addition, by 1913, more importantly, the two most essential functions in a free economy, the money supply and interest rates, were dictated by an esoteric central bank, the Federal Reserve. In fact, it was the Federal Reserve policies of easy credit that actuallycreated the crash, and FDR’s Keynesian policies (massive government spending and intervention) that put the “great” in the Great Depression. As a result, a mixed economy—“free” markets and government planning together—set America’s economy on a downward spiral toward less freedom and more special interests.

 How did this god fail? This god that lifted millions out of poverty, fostered self-reliance, created wealth exponentially, revolutionized technology, promoted peaceful trade, and provided everyone with the opportunity to pursue individual aspirations? Of course, this god was not perfect in a sense that it created equality (of results), but all humans become capable of different things that have different values.

 Another god, Democracy, had always seemed much more glorious. Besides, it was only logical that political freedom complemented economic freedom. “Rule by and for the people.” Yet, the framers cringed at the thought of rampant Democracy. A Constitutional Republic, a representative democracy, would be the quasi-democracy that seemed to embody political liberty. It would capture the general desires of the majority, but would be directly carried out by competent statesman (look how that turned out), directly elected by the people. “Jacksonian Democracy” in the 1830s followed, erasing property qualifications, followed by Progressive Era legislation that, for example, made the Senate directly elected. Americans are still enamored by democracy.

 “Our government can do great things”, sealed the fate of freedom. “Our democracy.” Roads, schools, welfare! Rockets, environmental protection, the arts! Heck, we can even perfect the market economy! As long as people generally would like these things, then of course we should have them. Right and left, liberal and conservative, Americans treasure this system; all they need is to have their leaders in power, and anything’spossible.

 Pundits, progressives, and politicians all agree (sort of) that free markets and democracy go hand in hand—you can’t have one without the other. Well, I agree with the founders, but I’d go farther.

 Democracy and Capitalism are antithetical—polar opposites. Representative or not. Democracy is the force of the majority over everyone. Force. Collective dictatorship. Endless laws, diminishing freedom, rampant special interests, and voter manipulation—these are the ultimate results of democracy. Checks and balances in the three branches are ultimately powerless when the majority dominates, and when who controls the majority (i.e. the media and political allies) really dominates. That is why, regardless of our own personal beliefs or needs, we have to support wars, subsidized abortion, big banks, slavery (welfare), marriage restrictions, and countless other measures that rob and subjugate the population.

 Free market capitalism is the opposite. In such a system, you chose where you work, what to purchase, and which organizations to join. You don’t have to do anything—it’s all voluntary, and everything is solved voluntarily, i.e. through charity, individuals, and mutually beneficial exchanges. The only way to gain “power” is by doing something people want, doing something that creates value. Physical force is ineffectual and only leads to isolation. Capitalism protects the individual, the only entity that truly reasons and acts. Each owns himself and rules himself.

 There is no such thing as political liberty since it always entails power. Being able to choose who has power still involves coercion and tyranny, in any degree, especially over minorities, with the most specific being the individual. Property rights are the only freedom. In one sense, it is political freedom—the rulers being each person ruling over himself in an un-shackled market.

While the American experiment proved to arguably be the freest, most moral, and most prosperous society in human history, it still will and is in the process of voting away free market capitalism and freedom in exchange for majority manipulation. Just look at the Great Depression: the majority was fooled into thinking capitalism was severely flawed as portrayed.

 Free market capitalism and democracy are diametrically opposed. We only need to look at history. Democracy held the gun, while capitalism, the individual, was and is no god, but a delicate lamb. Thus, democracy, the majority, is just a tyrannical and greedy wolf. No gods. Just kings and servants.