Are Our Kids Doomed?

A recent study published in the November issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine says that nearly half of the nation's children, and nearly 90% of black children will be on food stamps at some period in their lives. The estimate comes from an analysis of 30 years of national data and, according to an AP story, "seems consistent with other recent research suggesting that more than 40 percent of U.S. children will live in poverty or near-poverty by age 17; and that half will live at some point in a single-parent family."

This analysis, in conjunction with another recently released statistic from the Department of Defense that 75% of military-age youth are ineligible to join the military because they are overweight, fail to graduate high school or have a criminal record, thus, creating a potential national security threat bolsters concerns that many of America's youth may be at economic risk and makes you wonder how we're preparing the next generation to succeed in this country.

While I have my doubts about the accuracy of the numbers from both the fit for military duty and food stamp studies, you have to admit there is something happening with our youth and these statistics paint a grim picture of their future. It makes me wonder are we leaving behind a huge segment of the next generation while failing to preparing yet another segment to take on the challenges of the future.

Now let me be clear, I know there are plenty of hard working youth, and I'm always cautious about how I talk about the current generation of youth. After all, it seems every generation talks about the one after it as if they are somehow going to destroy the country or aren't doing enough. But, we have to admit this generation has a lot of challenges facing it that others haven't from the enormous deficits being created, to the huge number of children being raised in poverty to the obesity issue and the educational system that is leaving far too many children behind.

When I think about this, I am reminded of a phrase that a good friend of mine says of his generation: "we're the generation with the most doing the least." It makes you wonder for all of our wealth, technology and so called civilization why we're raising a generation ill-equipped to lead tomorrow. It also makes me wonder why as a society we haven't chosen to modernize and prioritize education and healthcare: two things that certainly could give our youth a fighting chance.

In the end, it seems unless things turnaround, our kids' generation may be the first generation relegated to third world status before it can marshal its resources and the American spirit to prevent that from happening.

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