From some of the comments, there seems to exist an opinion that the government isn't responsible for educating its citizens or improving their health.
I'm not even addressing the fact that my teacher friends who work their butts off in high school are facing state and federal cuts so massive they have to work on their own time in such things as "book fairs" on weekends in order for surrounding schools in their area to simply have textbooks let alone the fact most textbooks are dated back to the late 90's (I was floored when a friend who teaches AP Chemistry showed the textbook for the class with a last revision from 1998, and so much has changed since). Let's forget all that, and blame the parents, who are working two jobs just to make ends meet in an economy that has shifted to higher home values, goods, and other necessary expenses such as power utilities, mortgages (and no, they did not buy into a mortgage above their means, and most of my late 30-something friends who have masters degrees and full time employment cannot afford a home in medium sized cities let alone children), and have been earning increasingly less over the past 30 years while the cost of living rises.
Born in '76, I grew up in a different time and with a "country club" mother in a single income family. I am from an affluent family, I am extremely thankful for what I have been given but do not take it for granted nor am I out of touch with the plight of the middle class that this - and many other first world nations - are struggling with today. Yet home values have become exorbitant, average family income is dismal, many aren't receiving enough education to become part of a skilled and proper global work force (we're 27 among other first world nations in quality of life, etc with basic skills far below average - that's pathetic), and insurance costs are astronomical. Having dual citizenship from being raised in London, I can go back to the U.K. and receive top medical care - no premiums, co-pays, network approvals. My friend Daphna married and she and her husband, being British, live in London, earn British Sterling Pounds, she earned a masters at the University of Bristol (or Brighton, I forget) after a BA from Syracuse University (only cost her £3000, nothing compared to the tens or hundreds of thousands for a BA), was able to get her ACL and knees fixed since she couldn't afford it in the U.S. and is running again (surgery, medications, therapy - even cab fare was covered), no insurance companies or third party administration costs (which are roughly 70% of our health insurance costs), and is loving life. She was in such disbelief being from the states, she ran the math, comparing healthcare costs and taxes in the U.S. versus those in the U.K., and was amazed she was paying more in sate and federal taxes in NY along with health insurance that covered basic care than what she is paying in the U.K.
My point in all this, if we do not have a healthy, well educated population, that effects ALL of us, collectively. As a nation, we are as strong as our weakest link. If we are ill equipped to compete in the global market, we will never improve as a nation. I find it amusing that people are forced to have car insurance, yet when health insurance comes up everyone loses their freaking minds. We have become a selfish nation, focusing on short term goals and missing the big picture. Couple this with our out of control military spending (we outspend China and N. Korea by 75:1 or great, that's insane) and privatization of homeland security, military and prisons (one of the reason California prisons are over crowded), we won't improve any time soon.
We need to realize both parties are in this mess together. Stop fighting each other, stop being selfish and assuming people are lazy or acting entitled because they want to work hard, educate themselves but can't afford it or public schools are severely underfunded. We have become a nation divided through political rhetoric and corporate owned "news" media that we're too busy believing the rhetoric and fighting each other instead of working through matters in a reasoned, educated and compassionate methodology. We're reactionaries, and most aren't educated enough to understand the system, thus creating an emotionally charged, ignorant, under paid and over worked nation with its finger on the trigger (how many shootings this year already? lost count).
So keep believing that education and health are a luxury and not a right. This will definitely produce a globally prepared work force and improve our economy.
