Congress may actually pass an economic stimulus bill this week, which is good news for the short-term needs of the country. There is no question the economy is tottering, and could easily tip over from recession to depression, so a bill that focuses on saving jobs and creating jobs is desperately needed. The good news is that the bill will definitely help achieve some of those aims. The bad news is that it will lay a crushing debt burden on taxpayers for the future, which can only be addressed if government becomes far more efficient in the use of tax dollars than it has in the past. That could very well force, down the road, what many of us have wanted for years, a smaller, more efficient government. But somehow, that doesn't seem likely. Because Congress hasn't figured out that the model for government is, and should be, changing. And the best example is the stimulus package. Despite billions of dollars in cuts, it still contains way too much pork. And some of the cuts (to make way for that pork) seem to make no sense, such as dropping $40 billion to help keep schools from having to fire teachers. That's counter-productive. The bill is supposed to save or create jobs, not leave them threatened. Both sides of the aisle bear the blame. The Democratic leadership rolled over on way too many pet projects among its members, losing sight of the long-term goal of the bill. And Republicans kept insisting on sticking to the same failed policies of the past, and playing the same old games where personal and party political power carried more weight than the needs of the nation. One GOP leader actually admitted his goal for the bill, and the amendments he introduced, were designed to divide the Democrats and make them look bad. So much for caring about the people of this country. Both parties should be ashamed. It is time for Congress to look up from its myopic and petty party power games, and its proclivity for pork, and look at the desperate state of the nation, focusing solely on programs that stand a good chance of meeting the goal of keeping people working. Making things work should be a bipartisan issue. This bill should be about America, not the Republican or Democratic parties. -- Kelly Everitt

Grad education must go on

Posted Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at 9:01 AM

This week, students at Mountain Home High School and Richard McKenna Charter High School will don caps and gowns, march across a stage to receive their diplomas and graduate into the real world.

It's a short walk but a big step. From that stage they will move on to a full measure of independence -- and responsibility. They will find jobs and create families that will produce the graduates of the future. They will, each in their own way, and to greater or lesser degrees, create that future, beginning now.

It used to be that a high school diploma was a basic requirement for entering the workforce. But in today's world, it really isn't enough. Increasingly, employers are seeking workers with more advanced training. That means more schooling. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, graduating from high school is not the end of your schooling, or even the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning. Graduates -- you've just gotten started. You're at the bottom of the learning curve.

For some graduates, college is the appropriate avenue to achieve success. Although it's never guaranteed, it improves the odds a lot. For others, some form of additional vocational training will give them the technical skills to create the careers of their personal visions.

It's not easy to get a job in today's world. Although there are jobs out there, the competition can be fierce and those who have shown the ability and inclination to get additional training and education will be seen by employers as much brighter prospects than those who think a high school diploma is enough.

Therefore, we urge every graduate to seek additional education at this point. It will make a huge difference in your success in life.

-- Kelly Everitt

Comments

View 1 comment

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

I'm on board with what you're saying Kelly. There's boundless irrefutable proof additional education beyond high school improves people not only on a monetary level, but also on a social/maturity level as well. How does that mix with Idaho's current economy though? Idaho has one of the largest service industry growth rates in our nation, due to the lack of professional positions in the workforce. Our educated young people are leaving and being replaced by retirees. No fault to the retirees of course, but it seems like Idaho isn't 'growing its own.' We're growing them, and they're leaving.

http://stateimpact.npr.org/idaho/2013/05/17/idahos-labor-force-drops-to-two-year...

Since service industry jobs traditionally don't require any/much education beyond high school, I feel like it's a tough sell to those youth that don't want to leave the community or state. They could spend tens of thousands on an education and leave the state, or they could get a job with benefits and stay close to their hometown. Seeing as most choose the path of least resistance, suggesting the prior is pretty tough. But despite all that, again I agree...high school isn't enough. Go to [more] school. And if there's no local jobs, be adventurous!

-- Posted by Darksc8p on Sun, May 26, 2013, at 3:13 PM

Respond to this blog

Posting a comment requires free registration:

If you already have an account, follow this link to login
Otherwise, follow this link to register