The next several years will determine the future direction of our beloved nation. Change in direction is necessary in the following:
Dependency — Our forebears set up a limited government that protected the freedom of the individual. This unique government led in a mere 200 years to be the most prosperous, innovative and enviable country in the history of mankind. Unfortunately today, many people believe that our government owes them a way of life complete with equal health care, education, pay, and any number of other “outcomes”.
No longer do we champion hard-working, self-reliant people. Today we mark our success in how many people depend on government. In the last six years, the number of people on food stamps has doubled. In that same time frame, the number of individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits has also doubled. Without question, government should provide a safety net, but not a blanket that destroys incentive.
The dependency culture has given rise to increased drug abuse, single-parent families, and generational poverty. It has been a long time in the making and it will not be solved quickly. However, consistent effort to change from dependency on big government to reliance on self, family, and community is needed.
Education — This topic is perhaps the most important that must be dealt with now. First, Common Core must be eliminated from our culture. It is not an improvement in educational standards. In fact, it lowers students into a class of mediocrity. Second, it is essential, that African/ American and Hispanics minorities stay in school and become a functioning and productive segment of our society. Far too many of this group currently drop out of school in the 9th and 10th grades and doom themselves to the dependency category or to careers in crime.
Strong consistent efforts should be exercised in all states to push for more technical schools that will be a pathway to a broad number of good paying jobs. This is particularly important when you consider the high cost of college education. For the years of 2012-13, the average tuition in state colleges was $8,655 for in-state students; this prevents many from attending college.
Costs continue to escalate due to the salary levels of professors. The national average salary for professors in all universities is $98,978, for associate professors are $69,911. Continued escalation must be curbed. Another factor is that 7 of 9 professors are liberal for each of any other persuasion. Unless this strong tilt to the left is not brought into a more balanced situation, the thought process of the student will not receive the full understanding of life in the real world and our country will falter in the complex economy that exists today.
I firmly believe, if concentrated efforts are made by a combination of business and government, which includes both sides of the political aisle, to address the issues noted above as well as the ones noted last week, our country will be back on the right track for all of our citizens.
Dolcater of Rockport is a member of a group of concerned Midcoast citizens who meet to discuss issues of public interest. Their weekly column has been awarded by the Maine Press Association.
