Question for the young folk. (21 and under)

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-02-16 12:04pm

I have so many concerns it is scary. Where to begin...

First, next year I have to figure out how to pay those nasty American tuition costs. I will be living at home, and saving 5-6k a year, but that still leaves tuition and books totaling around 10k for the next four years, plus my post-grad work. *shudder*

I aam also (somewhat overly) concerned with the advancement of science. maybe it is just my self-interest talking but I have a morbid facination with stem cell research and human cloning and view them as vitl to the betterment of humankind. Needless to say when Shrubby and congress pretty much banned both I was ranting and raving for hours.

Another chief concern is the erosion of our civil liberties. When I hear Pres Bush talking about things like the PATRIOT act I look right past his rhetoric and see the message fr what it is "I Love you and care about you, I want to protect you so give me emergency powers" Ring a bell anyone?

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-02-16 12:17pm

Yeah, I forgot about that one. Civil liberty stuff scares the hell out of me.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-02-16 12:26pm

To be honest, I think that a comparison to Hitleresque tactics on that front are valid. His message to the German people was rather similar after the Reichstag fire.

I am sorry, but I LIKE my right to be secure in my person and effects.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-02-16 12:32pm

Shinova wrote:The general public's ignorance on political and economical issues that really matter and will greatly affect their very future.

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Agreed. Most younger people have a complete apathy towards politics and things that REALLY affect the world.

That could be an interesting topic of discussion.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-02-16 12:36pm

Nathan F wrote:
Shinova wrote:The general public's ignorance on political and economical issues that really matter and will greatly affect their very future.

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
Agreed. Most younger people have a complete apathy towards politics and things that REALLY affect the world.

That could be an interesting topic of discussion.

Tell me about it. I actually try to get people in my Government/economics classes involved in such discussions, and they look at me like I am crazy/ with a look of hatred for making them think.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2004-02-16 12:38pm

Faram wrote:Well all education here is free, the only costs is that of living while geting the education and for some books.

Out of curisosity, what percentage do your citizens pay in taxes (fuel, grocery, service, income, etc.)? It is my experience that nothing is free -- someone pays for it...

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2004-02-16 12:39pm

jegs2 wrote:
Faram wrote:Well all education here is free, the only costs is that of living while geting the education and for some books.
Out of curisosity, what percentage do your citizens pay in taxes (fuel, grocery, service, income, etc.)? It is my experience that nothing is free -- someone pays for it...

Hmm my income tax is around 30%

And the sales tax is 25%

Taxed to death I guess.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-02-16 12:41pm

25% sales tax?!?!

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2004-02-16 12:42pm

Howedar wrote:25% sales tax?!?!

On everything exept food.

Food is lower but I can't remember what it was.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2004-02-16 12:44pm

Faram wrote:Hmm my tax is around 30%

Assuming that 30 percent is the average, then we should look at what those taxes fund. The assumption would be that the military receives much less, percentage-wise, than does the United States military. Perhaps the Swedish education and social services receive the lion's share of tax revenue. That being the case, then your people pay for the education collectively, deeming it more critical than national defense or other revenue-collecting entities...

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2004-02-16 12:45pm

jegs2 wrote:
Faram wrote:Hmm my tax is around 30%
Assuming that 30 percent is the average, then we should look at what those taxes fund. The assumption would be that the military receives much less, percentage-wise, than does the United States military. Perhaps the Swedish education and social services receive the lion's share of tax revenue. That being the case, then your people pay for the education collectively, deeming it more critical than national defense or other revenue-collecting entities...

Edited the info a bit.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-02-16 12:47pm

I hope to god they don't remove public funding to universities and colleges. I'm still in college and every time tuition comes around it cleans out my bank account already. What do you think is going to happen when they remove state funding? Colleges are going to shit bricks and hike up tuition worse than they are already doing now and it's going to kill those of us who can barely afford college now.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2004-02-16 09:48pm

Gandalf wrote:So for the young folk, what concerns you? Worries you? Makes you happy about the world?

The obvious one is apathy, I just can't be bothered to care about the problems we face. The second one is the future; I'm worried what will happen in years from now, but it's probably unjustified.

That's it (or as much as I'm prepared to reveal), very broad and general. Sorry.

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2004-02-16 10:00pm

Hmmmm, lets see, right now the big concern with me and my friends is a cheap way to get shit loads of beads before any sort of Spring Break price hike. Ofcourse me and my friends are a really bad example of teen thinking.

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2004-02-16 10:08pm

What concerns me? The future of human evolution. The lack of natural selection combined with the collective heel-dragging on genetic advances. But that's already been said.

What worries me? That we'll be too bogged down in politics to take space travel seriously. And we'll be a planet of bickering, fighting factions consuming and polluting until it's far too late.

As for what makes me happy, the small, simple things. Day-to-day mundane feel good things like games, books etc. And the rare triumphs over human stupidity that sometimes occur.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-02-16 10:16pm

Shallow, selfish concerns:

My GPA, not getting into UGA's Masters of Accountancy school next year (I'm really comfortable here and I don't want to have to move for only one more year of college), never passing Calculus (have tried and failed twice), the evil monkey that lives in my closet, dying alone, getting stuck in a shitty job, mediocrity, Georgia not going to the Orange Bowl next year, and wet socks.

Serious concerns:

The Social Security time bomb and politicians creating more handouts for the Gimme Generation to make it worse, Islamic terrorism and apathy about it, the AIDS problem in Africa and the utter futility of it all, religious groups exerting too much influence over the government, an increasingly inadequate education system, and Raoul Duke Jr.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2004-02-16 10:19pm

The job market worries me the most out of all other things. IT has gone straight to hell in America, but according to what I've read in SB it's almost the opposite

Worry about my life being so dull and whatnot, and making any progress in life

Quadlok · Post by **Quadlok** » 2004-02-16 10:33pm

What doesn't worry me would be a better question. Education in the US is completely in the toilet, and it seems that at least some of Europe, Britain in particular, is heading the same direction. Everyone is to concerned with terrorism to realize that Japan is finally starting to get over the whole pacifism thing and might end up in an arms race with China. The population of the developed world is largely beginning to stagnate, meaning we're going to have an even larger fraction of the global population living in poverty and ignorance. Pharmecuetical companies are allowing millions to die each year because they don't want to lower their prices. Nobody seems ready to admit that the oil is going to run out pretty soon. The county I live in, with all of 200,000 people and not much besides the state capital in it has a larger GDP than many third world countries. Everyone seems more concerned with Janet Jackson's tit than the reality that the Bush administration lied something serious. Space agencies the world over seem to be going at an almost glacial pace in getting a true human presence in the solar system. Corporations are getting to the point at which they are beholden to no one. Way to many people believe that 'because the Bible/Koran/Torah/etc said so' is a valid argument.

And most of all, the horrible quality of the spelling, grammar, and formatting endemic to the internet.

Oh, and I'm not getting any.

FaxModem1 · Post by **FaxModem1** » 2004-02-17 01:01am

What worries me...

That I will die alone and no one will love me romantically. That I won't get into the Air Force. That all my plans fell apart and now I have rethink it all over. That I ruined one of my best friendships by being honest and alienated someone I really care for. That Bush will turn us into a 1984ish state. That this nation will fall apart because of neglect and that I realize is that all life is a fight, one in which you can never win, only compromise.

What makes me happy...

Physical contact by other people onto me. Caring of others for others and me. Not being alone. hugs.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-02-17 01:07am

Currently I am worried by INS. Their current tough policy makes it difficult for me to travel US for college.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2004-02-17 01:48am

Political apathy.

Kids that aren't interested in intellectual pursuits or hobbies but prefer silly mindless things like popularity.

Homophobic talk as part of the vernacular, while racial talk would never stand.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-02-17 04:04am

Kids that aren't interested in intellectual pursuits or hobbies but prefer silly mindless things like popularity.

Hey there is nothing wrong with the pursuit for popularity. We all try to be as popular as we can.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2004-02-17 04:25am

I don't. Popularity is pointless. Pursuit of it is the pursuit of stupidity.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-02-17 05:52pm

I'm mainly concerned about things that will be affecting me in 20-30 years, such as whether or not I'll be able to get a good job, pay bills, afford a place to live, and retire. For now, it's political apathy among young people like me (I find it kind of ironic how some always say that they're going to make a difference, and then don't bother to vote), problems with the educational system, and affording college.

A much as I dislike religous fundamentalists, they're not a major concern for me. They're probably going to lose influence or become more tolerant over the next few decades, and if they don't, then what they do won't directly affect whether or not I can get a good job and succeed.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2004-02-17 06:03pm

Gandalf wrote:So for the young folk, what concerns you? Worries you? Makes you happy about the world?

If there's something which concerns me, it is that I've, after wandered from ideology to ideology, have come to the conclusion that none of the dominant political movements in this world impress me the slightest in other areas than their ability to either magnify problems they were supposed to solve, or replace existing problems with worse ones.

I know all too much to not care about the problems plaguing the world as it is today, but none of the dominant mindsets today seem to be able to offer solutions which amount to much.

Feel free to call me a nihilist, though that label would be somewhat erroneous...

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Question for the young folk. (21 and under)

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