Tag: monetarily sovereign nation

–Salary for attending school, III

The debt hawks are to economics as the creationists are to biology.

The following article reinforces the posts, Salary for attending school and Salary for attending school, 2nd paper:
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U.S. goes from leading to lagging in young college graduates

By Daniel de Vise
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 22, 2010; 6:07 AM

The United States has fallen from first to 12th in the share of adults ages 25 to 34 with postsecondary degrees, according to a new report from the College Board.

Canada is now the global leader in higher education among young adults, with 55.8 percent of that population holding an associate degree or better as of 2007, the year of the latest international ranking. The United States sits 11 places back, with 40.4 percent of young adults holding postsecondary credentials.

The report, to be presented Thursday to Capitol Hill policymakers, is backed by a commission of highly placed educators who have set a goal for the United States to reclaim world leadership in college completion — and attain a 55 percent completion rate — by 2025.

The campaign mirrors President Obama’s quest to reclaim world leadership in college graduates by 2020, although it gives the country five more years to get there. The Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education set its goal in December 2008, seven months before Obama’s American Graduation Initiative.

“I don’t think what we’re saying and what the president’s saying are that different,” said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board, the New York nonprofit agency responsible for the SAT and AP tests.

The United States ranks somewhat higher, sixth, among all nations when older adults are added to the equation, according to the report, which Caperton said would be the first of many annual reports charting progress toward the 2025 goal.

But the report focuses more heavily on younger adults, who are feared to be the first generation in the modern era that will be less well-educated than their parents.
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Educational attainment has risen gradually among 25- to 34-year-olds in recent years, according to census data, with the share holding associate degrees or better rising from 38.1 percent in 2000 to 41.6 percent in 2008, the latest figure available.

The report is tailored to state leaders and ranks states by college completion among young adults. The District of Columbia ranks higher than any state, with 62.2 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds holding postsecondary degrees. Maryland ranks 12th among states, with a 38.6 percent completion rate; Virginia ranks 17th, with a 36.5 percent rate.

The commission is urging state and national leaders to pursue a 10-part “action agenda,” which recommends such initiatives as universal pre-kindergarten for low-income families, better college counseling and dropout prevention, and streamlined college admissions, all of which might raise college completion rates. The group is led by William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

“We have a real, objective way every year to look at every state and see how they’re doing,” Caperton said, “and we’re doing this with legislators all over the country.”

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
http://www.rodgermitchell.com

No nation can tax itself into prosperity

–Salary for attending school: 2nd paper

The debt hawks are to economics as the creationists are to biology.

In the post, Salary for attending school I suggested and discussed paying all students — elementary school, high school and college — a salary. Warren Mosler wrote to me, suggesting that a combination of salary and high school vouchers might be appropriate. Salary offers several advantages, which the earlier post described.

Additionally, vouchers might help make an otherwise unaffordable school, affordable. Beyond cost savings, the voucher adds a new dimension to school attendance. Depending on the size of the voucher, it can create competition among schools. Public high schools, being free, do not require a voucher . So would giving someone a school voucher encourage that person to select a private high school over a free public school? Does this “coupon” have the same psychological function as a retail coupon? (People are reluctant to “waste” a coupon).

And if a voucher does encourage private high school attendance, is this bad? What effect does this have on public schools? These questions have been debated for years, and I’m not sure if there has been resolution. Teachers’ unions oppose vouchers, but that is not a good measure, since teachers unions tend to oppose anything that hints of teacher evaluations. (Parents could use the vouchers to vote with their feet, regarding school quality.) “Cream skimming” is said to be a significant high school voucher problem, though that is said about any system allowing students to choose schools.

One thing I like about high school federal vouchers: The federal government, which never is cash strapped, would take some of the educational cost burden off state and local governments, which always are cash strapped. While I have questions about high school vouchers, I do propose federal funding of all elementary and high schools, with a continuation of local supervision.

This brings us to the possibility of college vouchers. For reasons clouded by history, elementary and high school education is free; college is not. There are state colleges, supported by tuition and state taxes, and private colleges, supported by tuition and donations. The federal colleges are military, i.e. West Point, and are funded by the federal government, with no tuition.

What, I wonder, would be the effect of federally funded, free colleges, comparable to the free elementary and high schools and comparable to the military colleges? What is the unique characteristic of the 12th grade, that makes it the last free grade? Why should the military schools be the only federally funded colleges? Why not continue to provide free public schooling through the 16th grade and beyond?

Again, I question vouchers, but instead I suggest federal funding of free universities, as one step toward providing additional advanced education to economic growth.

Many people claim U.S. education is in something of a crisis. New ideas are needed. My suggestions:
1. Pay a salary to all students (Salary for attending school)
2. Federal government support for elementary and high schools.
3. Federal government support of colleges.

What are your thoughts?

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
http://www.rodgermitchell.com

No nation can tax itself into prosperity

–$1,000 reward

The debt hawks are to economics as the creationists are to biology.

Politicians continue to worry about the size of the federal debt:

“The president knows that Republicans support extending unemployment insurance, and doing it in a fiscally responsible way by cutting spending elsewhere in the $3 trillion federal budget,” said Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio. “At what point do we pivot and start being concerned about our children and our grandchildren?” said Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

I will pay $1,000 to the first person (including you, Representative Boehner) who can demonstrate why the U.S. federal government will be unable to service its debts.

Wait, I’ll make it even easier. I’ll pay $1,000 to the first person (including you, Senator McConnell) who can demonstrate why the U.S. federal government will be unable to pay its debts, even if all taxes and all federal T-securities were eliminated. And I’ll throw in an extra $1,000 if you can show how the U.S. taxpayer and/or taxpayers’ grandchildren owe the federal debt.

Readers, please feel free to pass this on to your political representatives. I have my checkbook in hand.

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
http://www.rodgermitchell.com

No nation can tax itself into prosperity

–How President Obama’s National bipartisan Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform could destroy America

The debt hawks are to economics as the creationists are to biology.

Parade Magazine, in its 7/4/10 “Intelligence Report”, printed an interview by Steven Beschloss and Janet Kinosian titled, “Can These Men Fix the Deficit?” The men are Erskine Bowles, a former White House chief of staff, and Alan Simpson, a former Republican Senate whip. Today, Messrs. Bowles and Simpson are co-chairs of President Obama’s National bipartisan Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

Here, with my comments, are what they said:

BOWLES: “If we don’t solve the (federal) debt problem, we will be paying $1 trillion in interest in 2020. That’s money we can’t spend on Social Security, Medicare, education, infrastructure or innovation to make sure America is competitive in a global economy.”

RMM: “Of course, he’s dead wrong. America is a monetarily sovereign nation. Future spending is restricted neither by past spending, by debt, by deficits nor by tax collections. That $1 trillion in interest will function as an economic stimulus. This is classic cognitive inconsistency. Mr. Bowles believes the government cannot do what he sees with his own eyes, the government actually doing, i.e spending trillions on stimulus plans, despite debt that has grown more than 1,500% in only 30 years. In addition to cognitive inconsistency, he suffers from anthropomorphic economic disease – the mistaken belief that the government’s finances are like yours and mine.

BOWLES: “We’re looking at how we can reduce discretionary spending – things like education, transportation, the military, homeland security – and mandatory spending which includes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. We also need to raise revenue.”

RMM: He believes that cutting back on education, transportation, the military, homeland security, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, while raising taxes, will “make sure America is competitive in a global economy.” The notion would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous.

SIMPSON: “We’re not going to cut Social Security – we’re going to stabilize it. None of the ideas that have been presented will affect anyone over the age of 58.”

RMM: “Stabilize” is political double talk for, “We are going to cut Social Security for everyone 58 and younger.”

SIMPSON: “As it is, it (Social Security) can’t sustain itself.”

RMM: Ah, the old (and false) “unsustainable” claim.

BOWLES: “We’re going to work our hearts out succeed.”

RMM: In their world, “Fiscal Responsibility and Reform” are code words for austerity, which always causes recessions and depressions. Heaven help us from those who have power, yet cannot learn.

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
http://www.rodgermitchell.com

No nation can tax itself into prosperity