Four Major Problems in America: A Bit to Make You Think and Start Conversation

There are many different views on what's wrong in America today. From the perspective of an average American, here are four major problems in America:

The first problem I see in America has to do with the social welfare programs. There are both public and private programs designed to help the "under-privileged." I may be jaded by my encounters with those receiving assistance from some of these programs. One of the main problems I see with these programs is abuse. There is something seriously wrong when a two -income household can't get by yet, the "under-privileged" are not working but spend money as if they have it to burn. It angers me to see the under-privileged able to live a more comfortable life than some hard working families.

The reality is the lower-middle class families are being left to fend for themselves. They're stuck between not making enough to get by and making too much to qualify for any assistance. Maybe pride prevents them from being less productive and lowing their income to qualify. Good for them the world needs more of that but pride shouldn't cause a problem such as this.

To rub salt in the wound, the lower-middle class family that can't get by (or barely gets by) is paying for the "under-privileged." The rest of the country is paying more taxes (and for services) to accommodate or offset the cost of these programs.

The next problem is greatly linked to the first, organization of government and in some cases private companies. When job titles or brief job descriptions contain words like "coordinates," "orchestrates," "oversees," and "directs" there is likelihood, in my opinion, that the position involves a lot of planning to make plans and meeting to prepare for a meeting. Of course, in my opinion, the individuals in those positions are overpaid and their credentials are loosely related to the position.

In government, this translates to job responsibilities being too broad for an individual to manage. On the other hand, the responsibilities are so specific that problems or errors are missed because of narrow scope. In social welfare programs, this manifests itself in lack of consistency. At different times or in different regions, the same situation elicits conflicting outcomes simply because of the structure of the system. The more layers between the top and bottom of the ladder the greater the likelihood of failure.

Another problem that can be linked with the first is education. I don't have any research to say those "under-privileged" on average are less educated, but I do have my personal observation. Without doing research myself, I cannot say whether there is a causal relationship or even a correlation. There are a number of facets of this portion of the problem including family commitment, budgets, inequality in curriculum.

In my experience, those who are receiving assistance have not made the best out of their educational opportunities. There is only one explanation I can see is lacking family involvement/commitment. Kids are chronically truant to the extent of the involvement of the human service departments and courts. Some who do go to school may have other behavioral or academic problems that need to be addressed. All too often, these problems are not addressed by the family. Don't get me wrong, the educational system needs plenty of work. However, no amount of change will do anything if education is not made a priority.

There is a gap in what kids are learning from one school to another. The curriculum in schools is difficult for parents to access in clear terms.

Budgetary constraints contribute to the problems with education. Taxpayers vote down referendums conveying the message that increased tax, especially to put money into the same system that is not producing competent graduates, is not acceptable. Some districts waste money by spending astronomical amounts on things like informational studies. Yet teachers are not paid well, nor are they paid equally within the same districts. One has to wonder what the school boards and superintendents are using as measures of teaching effectiveness. Teachers are at the ground level of the system in as far as their direct contact with students. We trust our children with them, and yet they have no incentive to go the extra mile. There was a time when teachers supplemented classroom supplies on their own. I was one who benefited from at least one of these teachers. It is evident this teacher cared about our class and was invested in our future. The result can also be an increase in student's self-esteem.

Problems in the criminal justice system have multiple causes. Leading by example may be one of these causes. If a child is not educated and hasn't learned to be self-sufficient, whatever the reason, their options are severely limited. When presented with limited choices people naturally fall back on instinct, namely self-preservation. Self-preservation is not a bad thing, but when it becomes a way of life, it may influence and/or impair judgment. The inability to differentiate 'need' from 'want' is an example of this impairment. Often, I've heard children refer to needing the newest electronic game. Most adults realize this is not a need. However, those who lack of self-sufficiency and education may find it easier to justify satisfying their 'need' by engaging in criminal behavior.

Other problems exist within the criminal justice system as well. They include overcrowded jails, and public dissatisfaction with sentencing. The overcrowding needs to be addressed with prevention as for inmates it is too late. Early intervention and education of young offenders is a good prevention method. Intervention with these people may need to be ongoing and consistent. Consistency among all youth is very important to convey messages and get the desired result. The cost of working with these individuals at an early stage will pale compared to the cost of incarcerating them later.

One solution to address dissatisfaction with sentencing is to impose harsher punishment for first offenses especially those that if repeated could/would lead to worse crimes and incarceration. For example, impose a harsher punishment for the first drunk driving offense. Increasing fines and making them payable at the time of the offense is an immediate consequence that will affect the life of the offender. To help prevent repeat offenses, require proof of court mandated ignition lock installation be provided to the court or other law enforcement. This may not deter all offenders; no program will, but maybe it will decrease these offenses.

Maybe I have over simplified these problems and provided solutions that are not realistic, but it was not my intent to solve these problems. The intention of this article is to clarify, define, and offer ideas to counteract a few of America's problems. If I've made you think, I've succeeded, even if you think I don't know anything.