Another example of whats wrong in America today....

I was talking to my 13 year old cousin this evening via instant messenger because she has been having some issues with her laptop. It has been making this high pitched whirring sound that I am not entirely sure what to think of.

I personally don't buy into the laptop hype. I love the portability idea behind them but I just think it is a way for computer manufacturers to rake in more money by marketing and providing product that will at some point be damaged and need to be replaced more frequently than a desktop computer.

With a desktop, I don't have to worry about dropping it or leaving it on an airplane. I think I have made my case.

Anyway, we were discussing what could possibly be the reasoning behind this strange noise emanating from her laptop when we got a bit off subject and began talking about school.

She made mention of how anytime she hears about a new computer virus she immediately comes home and researches it and checks to see if it may affect her computer  in any way. I thought this was some pretty admirable initiative from a thirteen year old. Pretty responsible behavior for a kid who is in seventh grade, if I do say so myself. I was impressed!

So I said to her "It sounds to me like you might have a knack for computers or something in the technology field young lady. Do you think that might be something you would be interested in pursuing as a career in the future?"

She responded to me with something like this..." Well I don't know for sure what I want to do yet. They don't focus so much on the state tests anymore; they are always telling us how they want us to focus on our career. I just want to try out for the band when I get to college, that's all I really know right now."

I told her to not worry so much about a career right now. I told her that I had put myself through a tremendous amount of grief in my life trying to decide on what to do with myself after school. It eventually led me down the path of alcohol abuse and poor decisions and I don't want any child in my family to go down that same path. I told her to just keep active in what she finds interesting and it will eventually come to her in time.

I cannot even begin to fathom the idea of considering a career at 13!

I really don't think I ever even entertained the word career in my vocabulary at that age!

I mean I had to write an essay about what I wanted to be when I grew up, every kid does that, but no one was throwing the word career at me in the seventh grade!

It seems to me that we put way too much pressure on today's youth in public school settings. Are we seriously trying to have them prepare for a career choice in seventh grade now? What the hell happened to being a kid and having fun?

I'll tell you what has happened...

 We have fucked up our country so badly that we don't allow our children the opportunity to enjoy the carefree days leading up to the daily grind we all have to face for the next 50 years.

 Our government wants us to rush them out into the workforce so they can bleed them of all their tax dollars just like they have done to us. Schools are nothing more than a money factory to them. That's why they all lobby for education reform and bigger budgets when they need your votes, but then are the first ones to cut spending for music and art programs in our kid's schools all over the country.

Have we fallen so far as a society that we now are hurrying our children through their most formative years so that the corrupt government in this country can greedily suck them dry as well?

Not on my watch.

 I know when my kid comes home to me and asks me in seventh grade what their career options are...

 ...I will be marching my ass right on down to the next Harper Valley PTA meeting and making my voice heard so they know that is not acceptable education practice. A child should not be bearing the burden or worry of a career move at age 13.

Dammit America! When are we going to go back to morals and values and get rid of this self righteous bullshit and bureaucracy that is destroying this great land of ours?

Now they aren't even satisfied with just ruining our economy or our lives...they have moved on to our children. In the very place where we send them each day to learn how to be citizens of a once great nation. A once mighty and united nation of God fearing, hard working, and value oriented individuals who stood up for right and wrong. People who didn't cower and turn their backs on each other because it was easier that way.

When are we going to realize that we are not making the right choices anymore for what we all value most....?

Our Children...

Our Families...

Our Great Nation...