[Photo credit: Ev0luti0nary]
Well “Merica what’s got my boxer’s all in wad this time? Getting smartified, that’s what. That’s education. Or in the words of go ‘ol retired President Shrub, “edumacation.” That’s where young-uns go to the schoolhouse and learn to think and ask questions. When they get bigger and the zits go away, they’re off to the college place. Or so, it used to be.
So this legislated critter is asked by this young gal trying to finish that college thing, where she can get help paying the admission. Critter says, there ain’t no money and (drum roll please) “Welcome to life!” No kiddin’, plain as day there is just nothin’ faster than stupid.
That just gets me to thinkin’ and ya’ll know that's dangerous. Smoke rollin’ out my ears, Cooter headed for the doggy door as fast as his little paws can move. So, I says to myself, “Self, do you know anyone here in town that went to that big hifalutin college thing?” Turns out cousin BethAnn gave it a shot. OK, one ringy, dingy and BethAnn’s on the horn.
So BethAnn what did you learn? Not much that’s useful. I mean, like I can show up on time, can tell people what they want hear and I can write drivel real good. They told us to look way back in history and then do that all over again. I can make numbers say, whatever I want. But as far as something to help me get a J-O-B, squat, nada, zip diddly. It’s sort of like learning to ride a horse and then moving to the city where all they have are cars. But (and this is what’s got Daddy plum steamed) I owe a ton of money to some bank. Got to move back home, maybe work at the Dollar Store sweepin’ up. Don’t know how I’ll catch up. It’s plum ugly, Uncle Buford.”
I had to hang up it was so depressing. Yea, “Welcome to life.” Well, there you have it, dear hearts. The problem in a nutshell. Yakkity yak political whackdoddles talkin’ about the J-O-Bs problem. No damn wonder. Our smartification system is down right broke.
Old folks (like me and Maynard) are going away. Yup, usins’ who know how to get stuff done around here. And all the BethAnn’s comin’ up don’t know what to do and aren’t necessarily motivated. What’s to do? Well one old cranky coot down at the barbershop kind of put it together:
“A full frontal attack showing how the universities and schools are now inhabited by self-serving, clueless, irrelevant iconoclasts who are fraudulently misleading students and stealing their money would be FANTASTIC. This problem is becoming a national disaster despite what we spend on education and a huge need for properly skilled people.”
Can’t say it better than that. But here’s the dirty little secret. In spite of all this posturing and stupid, something is brewing under the our noses. Some places are startin’ to just give it away and others are building new systems.
Whole new ways of lookin’ at the world are being birthed. Maynard is running down the street to the bankster to get his wad ‘o cash out of those so-called “for profit universities.” This one is goin’ fall sure as the sun is goin’ to rise in the morning. You charge people a bunch of cash and give ‘em squat in return then they smartin' up real quick like.
So what’s a body to do? Well first, stop treatin’ these kids like idiots. Next make sure they get some good experience in “how to work.” I remember back when I learned more about workin’ from one old, nasty, crusty First Sergeant. We need more of those folk around to bring along our youngsters.
Next I’d be workin’ on common sense. We beat it out of ‘em and then say, “how come you keep messin’ up?" And while we are at it, what about some plain ol’ down home civility? Learn how to talk, ask questions and win people over to your way of thinkin’. Don’t stand there and holler. (Whoops, just had a flash back to the Unnamed Guvnor.)
Bottom line as those busyness folk would say, is that this one’s broke beyond repair. Time to step back and build a new one. Not a bad thing to do every thousand years or so. It’s been done before. Say good-bye to the machine mind.
And let’s help BethAnn figure out how to be what she wants to be.
Buford out………………….
