5 Things America Needs to Do to Stay Great
We all know that democracy is under attack. But while many of us are working hard to defend the rights we’ve always had, it’s also important to discuss what should be done in order for our country to stay competitive in the global economy. The future of democracies around the world is being shaped by the decisions being made today. So, what does America need to do?
The American education system needs to be improved
The American education system is falling behind many other countries. According to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which ranks student performance in more than 70 countries, the US ranks 17th among the 34 OECD countries in math, 23rd in science, and 25th in reading. Starting Even USA can do better! Why not apply our unique educational advantage? American high schools are failing in comparison to what other countries are teaching their kids.
This doesn’t mean that American kids don’t deserve a high level of education; it means that our poor leadership is the main reason behind their world-class failure. Can you blame them? We made the car industry the main villain, and our lack of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs leads to poor banking practices that eroded our economy. Even our technological sector is notable for its “losers.” Our reliance on the automobile industry (cars, technology, technology) and manufacturing is a case in point. But most of our high schools don’t offer a world-class education—that is the job of our American democratic system.
What we need to do is start educating children in both discipline and love. It’s amazing what could come from a well-rounded education system that teaches empathy between children and their parents and masters critical thinking. This advice is also backed by research studies that show great leadership requires better management skills, something our US education system has historically neglected. In Singapore, every 10th and 12th grader in the world reports having spoken online with the prime minister or senior government officials. Our children should be asked to engage with our global leaders, especially when it comes to matters of national security.
America must invest in innovation if it wants to remain competitive
America has always been a leader in innovation, but in recent years, other countries have started to catch up. A big reason for this is that America has stopped investing in innovation. According to the U.S. Census, total research and development spending has dropped by nearly three percent in the past decade, and America accounted for only 11.9 percent of all international R&D spending in 2011. We’re facing a new reality where it is increasingly hard for a marketer to compete internationally. What exactly is that “lack of investment”? According to the report from the World Economic Forum, America lagged behind other countries in the world in a range of categories from innovation and business environment to information technology. It was the lowest ranking U.S. market in terms of “innovation” at #143 in the world.
Only two other countries cracked the top 100, each in the top 20. But interestingly, the highest-ranked market among Western nations is Japan, at #36. Similar findings were published by the Adam Smith Institute (HII). By comparison, the U.S. was ranked 38 in terms of “business environment,” dead last in the world. Only two other countries cracked the top 30, both in the top 10. How can a marketer compete in a democracy? For a start, it isn’t enough to just try to copy the strategies used by other countries.
Surveying
At my company, we’ve surveyed our clients to find out what exactly is needed in order to win. The truth is that America has always been an innovator, but in recent years, other economies have started to catch up and surpass us. This is a good time to go back to basics and remember why innovation is important in the first place. What Does Innovation Mean? As humans, we like things to be simple. Thinking of innovation is easier and more streamlined when we can understand a simplified narrative. Part of what makes things simpler is the idea that human minds are hardwired for simplicity. In 2007, the psychologist’s Daniel Kahneman and Dan Ariely wrote a book called Thinking Fast and Slow.
The government should stop fighting against itself and work together
The government is made up of many different branches, including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This separation of power is meant to protect the people from the government. However, there are cases where the people would benefit from the government working together. For example, the government should stop fighting against itself over different gun control laws. It should work with the government on a bipartisan basis so that taxes, regulations, and funding are all on the same page.
Limiting each individual’s power gives the people a voice in the policies that are put into place. Our government has historically been good at listening to the people and providing the common good. But government actions should be guided by a clear set of principles that are based on common sense and have been tested in the real world. The American people will decide which direction the nation goes. Today, I am going to share with you what they should decide.
The 2nd Amendment: What It Means and How to Use It
People have very legitimate reasons for owning guns. They can protect themselves (particularly if they live in a gun-friendly state like the United States). However, gun control laws should not trump these legitimate uses of a gun. Let’s take a peek at U.S. Const. amend. 2. The 2nd Amendment states, “A well-regulated Militia being necessary for the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” In order to understand the meaning, let’s examine some well-known gun control laws. National Firearms Act (NFA)
Before 1996, the NFA banned many types of guns, including any that were self-loading or Magazine-fed. Self-loading and Magazine-fed guns fired one bullet per action and had no safety built-in for the trigger finger. This meant the guns were considered automatic and illegal to own or even to use in interstate commerce (meaning they could not be brought into the United States from other states without prior federal approval).
