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[G-Flex]

I still feel like there are a couple factors you're neglecting here.

• Critical thinking and other basic skills in how to think and learn and judge the world around them, which I think should be taught at as early an age as possible.
• This is far more difficult to quantify, but motivation is a serious problem. What I mean by this is that school has a way of subverting children's intrinsic motivation to learn and progress by supplanting it with extrinsic motivation to get good grades/star stickers/a car from Dad/whatever. This is part of the reason, in my opinion, that children wind up jaded to education or not caring about learning, and why so many people just don't apply themselves.

[Truean]

I still feel like there are a couple factors you're neglecting here.

• Critical thinking and other basic skills in how to think and learn and judge the world around them, which I think should be taught at as early an age as possible.
• This is far more difficult to quantify, but motivation is a serious problem. What I mean by this is that school has a way of subverting children's intrinsic motivation to learn and progress by supplanting it with extrinsic motivation to get good grades/star stickers/a car from Dad/whatever. This is part of the reason, in my opinion, that children wind up jaded to education or not caring about learning, and why so many people just don't apply themselves.

You want more specifics? The exact ones are something the department of ed should come up with but I"d happlily help them.

Judgment Skills:
1.) Cause and effect, correlation (sometimes when this happens, that results) and causation and degrees of causation (different from correlation)
2.) Understanding stakes and consequences. (Including the consequences of not following rules, both immediate and long term)
3.) The nature of risk (also teaches percentages and estimations here)
4.) Evaluating rules as good or bad, effective or ineffective (with the caveat that you still have to follow it until and unless you manage to pursuade the proper authority to change it. )
5.) Application of rules to specific circumstances
6.) Reaching conclusions based upon that application
7.) Polite disagreement of opinion
8.) compromise and bargaining
9.) Motivation and the nature of reward (compared to risks)

I could go on but it would seriously be a book.... Shall I?

Motivation: Admittedly tougher.

This is a more philosophical discussion rooted in the humanities. It actually does center around the question "what makes me happy." We need to teach kids that material things don't. That $40 tee shirt from the gap won't cut it. Again teach them how to reach this decision and perhaps they will disagree with it but inform them of the consequences of a shallow life if they do....

Even if they are in a blue collar job, explain to them how their bosses will think. The reward will be that you can then influence how that boss thinks. Teach financial skills so that one day they can work less/hopefully not at all and do the things they enjoy.

[G-Flex]

I think we're enough on the same page, I guess. I would also stress the importance of evaluating what other people say (and what you read, etc.) as well. I know your other points are related to that, but I think it's important enough to focus some attention on specifically.

[Truean]

I think we're enough on the same page, I guess. I would also stress the importance of evaluating what other people say (and what you read, etc.) as well. I know your other points are related to that, but I think it's important enough to focus some attention on specifically.

Absolutely.

[G-Flex]

At any rate, regarding lobbyists:

Here's the problem with the plan, in general: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distribution_of_wealth#In_the_United_States

The top few percent (not to mention corporations, which may hold much of their value overseas that still goes towards this) own so much wealth that the rest of us, even if unified in our beliefs (which is far from the truth), could not compete.

The fact is that we can't fight this on their terms. Yeah, nonprofits and that sort of thing certainly can help, but for as long as lobbying is a problem, corporations and the wealthiest of the nation will have the upper hand, the middle class won't have much influence on the matter, and the bottom 40-50% won't have any influence at all, for the most part.

[Truean]

At any rate, regarding lobbyists:

Here's the problem with the plan, in general: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distribution_of_wealth#In_the_United_States

The top few percent (not to mention corporations, which may hold much of their value overseas that still goes towards this) own so much wealth that the rest of us, even if unified in our beliefs (which is far from the truth), could not compete.

The fact is that we can't fight this on their terms. Yeah, nonprofits and that sort of thing certainly can help, but for as long as lobbying is a problem, corporations and the wealthiest of the nation will have the upper hand, the middle class won't have much influence on the matter, and the bottom 40-50% won't have any influence at all, for the most part.

I respect your opinion.

[Truean]

Not sure about costs. Don't know.

[Taricus]

Hell I'd pay $100 a year just to spite those corps and I get a warm fuzzy feeling for helping too.

[Truean]

Hell I'd pay $100 a year just to spite those corps and I get a warm fuzzy feeling for helping too.

I need a few decent people like you. Heck I'd really start this if I knew it'd fly.

[Taricus]

The only problem I see is that I'm australian 

[Truean]

The only problem I see is that I'm australian 

That's awesome. lol.

Is it terrible that I'm considering if it'd be legal to take foreign funds? (joking).

[Tellemurius]

The only problem I see is that I'm australian 

That's awesome. lol.

Is it terrible that I'm considering if it'd be legal to take foreign funds? (joking).

wow then there goes even the point then

[Taricus]

What, funding a people's lobby. that just being altruistic.

[Truean]

I think it's very telling of the point when an Aussy will fight for an American's rights 10x more than An American is being asked to.

Meh, honestly, $10 a year isn't that much.

[Boksi]

Don't the American and Australian dollars have different exchange values, though?

I like your idea though. Of course, I'm just a poor unemployed high school student, so there's not much I can do to help.