margodydek
Well-Known Member
Obviously. I'm just of the opinion that having a dad around is more important to a kid's education than a balanced breakfast.
Why do we restrict the voting rights of felons?
- Thread starter sirkickyass
- Start date
Obviously. I'm just of the opinion that having a dad around is more important to a kid's education than a balanced breakfast.
OH I would agree. No contest but every way that we can improve without sacrificing our freedom should be done.
margodydek
Well-Known Member
It's pretty clear we agree on this topic. It'd just be nice if we tried to tackle this problem by addressing the biggest factors first then working our way down rather than starting with the little factors and not even mentioning the biggest ones.
It would be nice but to be honest at this point I would take any improvement in any area.
margodydek
Well-Known Member
Ergonomic pencils. That should do the trick.
How does government or society make a dead-beat dad not dead-beat? Or an impoverished family less impoverished?
One of those can be answered to some degree. The other can't. Since the most important issue is something the rest of us can't touch, touching everything else is important.
One of those can be answered to some degree. The other can't. Since the most important issue is something the rest of us can't touch, touching everything else is important.
margodydek
Well-Known Member
I completely disagree. Things people have said to me (lessons learned from leaders - both secular and religious, family members, friends, etc.) I believe have helped me far more than any money that would have been thrown at me could.
I guess my point is that leaders should talk about this A LOT, instead of completely ignoring it.
Example: I think a stern talking to my bum of a brother-in-law who's drowning in debt, will be far more effective than throwing money at him.
I agree for the most part with this even though the way I say it you probably won't agree with, but the gist of it you should.
By quoting this I do not think we should stop helping people out of the "slums" or trying to change their environment, or behavior... but I do think the most effective way to help is to somehow help people on the inside... of who they are. It is the important issue but I don't think there is nothing we can do about it. It is hard, and we can try... but there is no 100% surefire thing we can do, it's still up to each individual to choose to change who they are inside, which will help affect change of environment, behavior, and all that.
I'm sure I didn't say this perfectly, but hopefully you get the gist.
I think we are saying similar, or the same things, but with different words and ways of thinking. For the most part- including Margo in this.
SaltyDawg
Well-Known Member
I agree that money can't fix all the problems. But this "money can't fix anything" attitude is nonsense.
A stern talking to may have helped you more than money would have, and I don't doubt you when you say that. But I'm sure the kids sleeping in the homeless shelter tonight would disagree. So would the kids who have moved 5 or 6 times every year because their parents keep getting evicted.
Surely you expect those kids to not do so well, regardless of whatever "stern talking to" they received from the "fly by night role model" who happened to be in their life that particular month.
What good does it do to turn our backs on root causes and instead blindly throw money at the easiest targets without regard to the self-reinforcing & spreading cycles? President Johnson's poverty fight with it's deeply racial undertones has done just that for the last 40-50 years. Throwing money at the problem feels good but it's a lazy way of avoiding the underlying causes while appeasing our conscience even though we are exacerbating the problem.
I don't believe in changing people like Spazz recommends either. I believe in harboring an environment where people change themselves. People are good and will do the right thing given a healthy, nourishing environment.
margodydek
Well-Known Member
It's not the kids who need to be talked to it's the parents. All I'm saying is completing avoiding, and not even mentioning, the real root of the problem - the lack of solid families - any attempt to fix our education problem will be like putting a band aid on 007's nuts at the end of Casino Royale.