National debt Crisis

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But education is an industry where we measure performance backwards: We gauge school performance not by outputs, but by inputs. If quality falls, we say we didn't pay teachers enough or we need smaller class sizes or newer schools. If education had undergone the same productivity revolution that manufacturing has, we would have half as many educators, smaller school budgets, and higher graduation rates and test scores.

Agreed, the solution to the education problem is lower wage jobs and more kids per class. Where has this soothsayer been?

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Don't expect a reversal of this trend anytime soon. Surveys of college graduates are finding that more and more of our top minds want to work for the government. Why? Because in recent years only government agencies have been hiring, and because the offer of near lifetime security is highly valued in these times of economic turbulence. When 23-year-olds aren't willing to take career risks, we have a real problem on our hands. Sadly, we could end up with a generation of Americans who want to work at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Every college kid should set their goal toward working for industries that aren't hiring. Again, profound.

2009 National employment stats by industry ... roughly ("occupation groups")
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm

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Originally Posted by Fool

Agreed, the solution to the education problem is lower wage jobs and more kids per class. Where has this soothsayer been?

Every college kid should set their goal toward working for industries that aren't hiring. Again, profound.

Is that whats he's advocating there? I missed that part.

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We have moved decisively from a nation of makers to a nation of takers. Nearly half of the $2.2 trillion cost of state and local governments is the $1 trillion-a-year tab for pay and benefits of state and local employees. Is it any wonder that so many states and cities cannot pay their bills?

Labor runs in that 50% ballpark for most businesses. Is there a reason to expect state and local governments to be dramatically different?

And its not like there is NOTHING that comes from state and federal workers.

Its just that gov't don't have to run things like a business. They don't have to be concerned about balancing a budget or making a profit. Gov't are blind to all that. All they do is get the job done(extremely inefficiently in most cases), say this is how much it costs and raise taxes if they need more money to do it.

Then theres the 'programs' and 'departments' that don't even need to exist.

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Originally Posted by Tahoe

Is that whats he's advocating there? I missed that part.

Here, I put it in bold for you.

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If education had undergone the same productivity revolution that manufacturing has

Thanks, bro.

At least it looks like Obama realizes there is a debt problem. He's coming around to what the Repubs and Tea Party have been telling him. And what last years Nov election told him.

It won't be easy getting there with a Socialist for a Prez, but hopefully the Repubs and Tea Party will keep him in line.

Also, its amazing how Barry can make the 47% of the country who pay no federal taxes, out to be patriotic and kind people and vilify the top earners as unamerican and mean people.

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Originally Posted by Tahoe

Also, its amazing how Barry can make the 47% of the country who pay no federal taxes, out to be patriotic and kind people and vilify the top earners as unamerican and mean people.

I'm pretty sure he's attacking the 47% who are stupid enough to want the top earners to keep all the money that used to belong to the 47%.