Social problems and education… have two areas ever been more linked than today? It seems America is dividing on drastic lines not seen before in my life time. Don’t get me wrong, we have come a long way since the civil rights movement but, in my opinion, if we don’t change course soon the social problems and education problems of today are going to seem like the good old days of tomorrow.

The first point goes to accountability and ethics. For many years I lived in Asia. Although, I loved my experience living there, let me tell you something I observed. The president of that country took government land and built 3 golf courses and proceeded to give them to his wife. The Premiere sold public land in the city to his family and built condos on what used to be a park. He became a billionaire. Everyone knew it and expected it. What kind of social problems and education problems do you think this had on the population? Let me tell you how it trickles down. I was importing mattresses and pillows there. If I didn’t kick back money to the customs guy, they would either steal stuff wholesale or they would make me wait an extra 90 days to get my stuff out of customs to sell.

Why I bring this up is, the thing I was most proud of America was that although I knew there was corruption, it wasn’t pervasive like that country. In that country, everyone knew to get ahead you had to pay someone. Teachers got gifts from parents for good grades and recommendations. You literally had to put in your budget extra money for payoffs. What role do you think this plays in social problems and education in that country? Let me tell you. That country was Taiwan. I was there during the first ever democratic elections in that country. China didn’t want us to have elections so during the election they start shooting missiles within 5 miles of our shore. The atmosphere in Taiwan was very tense. What happened next was one of my proudest moments as an American. America sent its fleet into the Taiwan Strait right to where the missiles were landing stopping China in its tracts. China proceeded to take away 10 billion dollars of contracts with , Chrysler, DuPont and other companies and gave them to the Europeans. Here’s where the social problems and education problems come in. Shortly after this time I had many discussions with very bright, wealthy and educated Taiwanese about this event. Their perspective, unanimously, was the U.S. only did it for business. Even though, I told them about how much business the U.S. lost they couldn’t believe the U.S. could do it for the right reasons. They said no government does things like that. Ethics and integrity of that country had fallen so far that there is no belief in hope or doing good for goodness sake.

Please read part 2 of social problems and education in America.

Dr. Robert Bocknek is the problem solving expert for parents and families. See him at his website, TakeBackthehome.com , or Keyboardculture.com, or email him directly at Bocknek@takebackthehome.com.

     

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