Owensboro High School Reunion
June 18 & 19, 2010
Richard Anderson's speech titled THE FUTURE
I recently had an experience which stimulated some research leading to disclosure of certain facts with frightening potential consequence. Rather than reaching conclusions , I present facts for thinking people to consider & ask a few questions.
A young man responded to my ad for a maintenance man. I was impressed by him & offered a job at the same rate being paid to 3 other of my employees currently in the category. The applicant refused the offer, saying that " the offer is not sufficiently above what I am earning on unemployment". I asked how that was possible. He responded " While on unemp. , I can opt out of paying taxes, social sec, medicare , etc, but when I work for you , you must deduct all those things from my pay, leaving me net less". I said, you will have to wind up paying all those things . He said " no, I won't . I didn't last year". I asked how long he had been on unemployment?. He responded " a year". I asked what he was going to do when he ran out of unemployment? His response was " they just extended it another 22 weeks".
So I am paying the government unemployment insurance , so they can pay this person to enable him to refuse a job offer from me. What does this say about our society & how did it change from our youth?
During our era , 1933 to 2010, some of the greatest changes in the social structure of the world & of the USA have taken place.
The Neolithic period was the beginning of technology for mankind. That was 9500 BC .
The average lifespan at that time was 20yrs. By the Medieval Britain period ,1000 AD ,
10,500 yrs later the average lifespan had increased to 30 yrs. 10yrs gain in 10,500 yrs.
By 1933, the time of our birth, 933 yrs later the average lifespan had increased to 37 yrs. 7 yrs gain in 933 yrs.
Today , just 77 yrs later, the average lifespan in the USA is 77.5 yrs for men & 80yrs for women. More then double in 77 yrs!!
What does this fast doubling of age mean to population & our social structure? There were no unfunded liabilities when we were born. Social security was signed into law in 1935.
In 1933 the total national debt was $16,000,000,000. This was $133/person, or in todays dollars $2128/man, woman, & child.
Today the total nat'l debt ( incl. unfunded liab) is $120,000,000,000,000. This is $394,000 / person. DURING OUR LIFETIME: The average lifespan has more than doubled; The population of the US has increased 250%;
The National debt has grown 7500 times or 750,000%; Your, inflation adjusted , share has grown 200 times or 20,000%.
THERE WERE NO ENTITLEMENTS WHEN WE WERE BORN. NOW THEY ARE APPROACHING 50% OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE ENTITLEMENTS GO TO THE APPROX ONE HALF OF THE HOUSEHOLDS WHICH DO NOT PAY income TAXES.
EVEN WITH TWO WARS , DEFENSE IS ONLY 17% OF THE BUDGET.
HOW DO YOU SEE OUR TREND LINE vs ANCIENT ROME or MODERN GREECE??
You can influence the future!!