We all know that to get rid of gun violence, all that we need to do is make guns illegal. We all know that the problem with schools is that teachers aren't paid enough, and we don't spend enough on education. Here's a problem that's near and dear to my heart; the huge national debt. The government is not making enough money (through taxes) to pay its bills. The solution just has to be to raise taxes, right?
But, of course, we all really know it isn't that simple. So, why do so many politicians try to solve problems by looking at the surface (the symptoms) and taking the simplest route to correcting them? Worse yet, why do so many people keep letting them get away with it. Year after year we approach the same problems in the same ways and...Mystery of mysteries...we get the same results. Maybe we should throw caution to the wind and consider some less conventional solutions. After all, conventional wisdom has not proven to be so wise.
Let's take guns, for instance. For years the government has tried to prevent gun violence with laws that, in essence, prevent guns. What lawmakers neglect is the fact that (in general), people who commit acts of violence with guns (or bats, or knives, etc.) are law breakers. Think about this. The laws written to stop gun violence are made to stop people who do not follow the...wait for it... Law!
Schools have a similar dilemma. Year after year America's students fall farther and farther behind much of the industrialized world. Paying the teachers more might help inspire them to do a better job, right? Except we've tried that. We've all seen the results. Maybe, since the teachers know that, thanks to the teacher's unions, it is nearly impossible to fire them for incompetence (not to mention malfeasance) and that they are guaranteed a raise every year regardless of performance, they realize that they don't have to try harder.
What if we introduce something that works in every other facet of American life? The solution is a little theory of incentive known as competition. Let's say that your boss tells you that if you don't start doing a better job by your next review, you won't get a raise, and if you don't improve after that you'll lose your job altogether.
Remember, there are lots of other people who would like a job, and are willing to do a good job for what you are paid. Maybe it's time to "buckle down", try harder. It works from the other end too.
You can go to your boss and say "I work hard, I do a good job, and I'm dependable. For the work I do, other businesses would pay me more. I want a raise." Why wouldn't this apply to teachers?
Let's open the educational market to competition. Instead of spending tax money on the “public” school monopoly, let's give parents a 100% tax write off for the cost of sending their child to any school of their choice. All of a sudden, “public” school teachers realize that if they don't do a good job, the will lose students. If they lose too many students, then they will no longer be needed. You can't teach an empty classroom.
The solution to the tax issue is deceptively easy. The solution doesn't even have to be political. We all, for the most part, pay taxes. We all have bills, and wants and needs. If we were to pretend that the federal government didn't waste any money, every penny that is spent has to be spent; we still have the same solution. It goes like this: Higher taxes equal lower federal revenues; lower taxes equal higher federal revenues. "How could that be?" you ask me. Well, I'm glad that you asked. It's quite simple; the more money (the average) American has, the more that they will spend.
We all know that to get rid of gun violence, all that we need to do is make guns illegal. We all know that the problem with schools is that teachers aren't paid enough, and we don't spend enough on education. Here's a problem that's near and dear to my heart; the huge national debt. The government is not making enough money (through taxes) to pay its bills. The solution just has to be to raise taxes, right?
But, of course, we all really know it isn't that simple. So, why do so many politicians try to solve problems by looking at the surface (the symptoms) and taking the simplest route to correcting them? Worse yet, why do so many people keep letting them get away with it. Year after year we approach the same problems in the same ways and...Mystery of mysteries...we get the same results. Maybe we should throw caution to the wind and consider some less conventional solutions. After all, conventional wisdom has not proven to be so wise.
Whew, after solving three of the most pressing issues of the day, I am parched. It's Miller time.
