Comments on: Closing the American dream http://sherrychandler.com/2008/09/14/closing-the-american-dream/ "On the last day of the world I would want to plant a tree.” — W.S. Merwin Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:29:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: sherry http://sherrychandler.com/2008/09/14/closing-the-american-dream/comment-page-1/#comment-50916 sherry Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:19:09 +0000 http://sherrychandler.com/?p=3997#comment-50916 Thank you, Jessie. I see the trend in my own family. My parents both stopped their formal education at the 8th grade. In their time, going to high school was a matter of paying tuition and even room and board. Nevertheless, they made a good living. In my generation, every one graduated high school but I was the first member of my family to graduate college. Among our children and grandchildren, however, there is a much more general assumption that the kids will go to college. The problem is that, even with outsourcing, you can't have a whole society of professionals. It's like some science fiction story when you think about it -- say, <i>The Time Machine</i>. Thank you, Jessie. I see the trend in my own family. My parents both stopped their formal education at the 8th grade. In their time, going to high school was a matter of paying tuition and even room and board. Nevertheless, they made a good living. In my generation, every one graduated high school but I was the first member of my family to graduate college. Among our children and grandchildren, however, there is a much more general assumption that the kids will go to college. The problem is that, even with outsourcing, you can’t have a whole society of professionals. It’s like some science fiction story when you think about it — say, The Time Machine.

]]> By: Jessie Carty http://sherrychandler.com/2008/09/14/closing-the-american-dream/comment-page-1/#comment-50909 Jessie Carty Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:37:49 +0000 http://sherrychandler.com/?p=3997#comment-50909 A great set of posts, as always Sherry :) I think a lot of the divide comes from the fact that the world, in general, is moving more towards intellectual work versus physical labor. And in doing so there is just that labor and "intellectual" jobs with little to no focus on that middle ground of jobs that are a mix of both. It also falls a lot with our "American" dream that parents want something better for their children so they push more education etc. There was no question when I was growing up that the children in our household would go to college. I'm not saying college is a bad thing but it isn't for everyone and it would be nice if all types of "education" (real world and in class room) were treated with the same amount of respect. Keep up the great posts :) A great set of posts, as always Sherry :)

I think a lot of the divide comes from the fact that the world, in general, is moving more towards intellectual work versus physical labor. And in doing so there is just that labor and “intellectual” jobs with little to no focus on that middle ground of jobs that are a mix of both.

It also falls a lot with our “American” dream that parents want something better for their children so they push more education etc. There was no question when I was growing up that the children in our household would go to college. I’m not saying college is a bad thing but it isn’t for everyone and it would be nice if all types of “education” (real world and in class room) were treated with the same amount of respect.

Keep up the great posts :)

]]> By: sherry http://sherrychandler.com/2008/09/14/closing-the-american-dream/comment-page-1/#comment-50905 sherry Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:04:54 +0000 http://sherrychandler.com/?p=3997#comment-50905 Thank you, Jeff. I know you don't say things like this lightly and so I give your praise weight. Credit for the thinking, though, goes to Aziz Rana. I think we need both youth-and-speed and maturity-and-wisdom. The problem with the U.S. is that we always skew toward thinking newer is better. I say "we" because I'll admit to a faith in technology to save us from ourselves. Though it may just help us dig our hole faster. Kingsolver is one of our wise heads. Thank you, Jeff. I know you don’t say things like this lightly and so I give your praise weight.

Credit for the thinking, though, goes to Aziz Rana. I think we need both youth-and-speed and maturity-and-wisdom. The problem with the U.S. is that we always skew toward thinking newer is better. I say “we” because I’ll admit to a faith in technology to save us from ourselves. Though it may just help us dig our hole faster.

Kingsolver is one of our wise heads.

]]> By: Jeff Hess http://sherrychandler.com/2008/09/14/closing-the-american-dream/comment-page-1/#comment-50900 Jeff Hess Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:41:17 +0000 http://sherrychandler.com/?p=3997#comment-50900 Shalom Sherry, Easily the best post you've ever written and solid proof why maturity and wisdom trumps youth and speed. I'm reading Barbara Kingsolver's <em>Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life</em> and I was struck in the first chapter how she articulates this same message as it pertains to farmers and our food chain. B'shalom, Jeff Shalom Sherry,

Easily the best post you’ve ever written and solid proof why maturity and wisdom trumps youth and speed.

I’m reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life and I was struck in the first chapter how she articulates this same message as it pertains to farmers and our food chain.

B’shalom,

Jeff

]]> By: sherry http://sherrychandler.com/2008/09/14/closing-the-american-dream/comment-page-1/#comment-50898 sherry Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:46:05 +0000 http://sherrychandler.com/?p=3997#comment-50898 Odd you should say that about training, JimT. Just this morning I heard the McCain campaign on NPR saying that "eduction is the answer" to job loss and our economic woes. But I think the loss of cheap transportation and our failing economy will bring change with or without political will. The question is one of how our government meets the changes and it doesn't look good. I don't have much faith in the Democratic party any more. I don't know how we got to a place where the Bush administration can't be held accountable for anything because once upon a time the Republicans impeached Bill Clinton on trumped up charges. Odd you should say that about training, JimT. Just this morning I heard the McCain campaign on NPR saying that “eduction is the answer” to job loss and our economic woes.

But I think the loss of cheap transportation and our failing economy will bring change with or without political will. The question is one of how our government meets the changes and it doesn’t look good.

I don’t have much faith in the Democratic party any more. I don’t know how we got to a place where the Bush administration can’t be held accountable for anything because once upon a time the Republicans impeached Bill Clinton on trumped up charges.

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