loving art, science and creative kids
8/25/2018 3:34:00 PM
Search for Community
Acrylic on wide Canvas/ 16" x 20"/$ 495.00
Finding community within crowded cities is not always easy. However, there are many ways people reaching out to do just that.
Search for Community
Between 1870 and 1920, eleven million people migrated from rural to urban America. Today, only two percent live on farms or ranches. Due to industrialization, homogeneous towns disbanded and city dwellers had to find ways to connect. They joined churches and animal clubs like the Lions, Elks and Moose, and participated in business/charity associations like Rotary. The upper classes became members of exclusive clubs and joined Masons, Shriners and Junior Leagues.
My immigrant grandmother met women in a corner knit shop where needles clicked in time with their mouths as they shared local gossip. Krewes sponsored balls and floats in New Orleans and New Years Associations contributed to the Mummers Day Parade in Philadelphia. Youth organized themselves in social club or gangs which offered protection as well as a sense of belonging. Sports and Gentlemen’s clubs, those organized around nationality of origin, and unions made it tolerable to live next to strangers who traveled silently on subways and trolleys.
As years passed, many of the clubs lost their luster, finding it difficult to recruit young members. But though membership declined, the need for community hasn’t changed. Living in cities distant from relatives and childhood friends, electing not to be married, it is easy to feel lonely and isolated.
Most of us are aware of some of the ways internet brings people together. Sites like match.com promise love connections. LinkedIn allows participants to scan profiles and send “Connect with Me” notices. Tweets, Instagram feeds and Facebook are avenues for friends and acquaintances to stay in touch, share interests and seek advice. But, though friends spend hours communicating on-line, it cannot allow them to touch or look into eyes while sharing a meal. You cannot notice a person’s flush when they say something awkward or sexy. And a friend recuperating in a hospital can not be helped or comforted from a computer as they can from a warm bodied friend.
Face-to-face relationships are as important as they ever were. The way people form friendships and develop community today is a reflection of changes brought about by the economy and population growth interacting with the internet.
Snowbirds and Nomads: A growing number of retired people travel south for the winter and north in the summer. Wealthier snowbirds have condos in gated golf communities or travel in forty-foot RVs, camping seasonally at resorts or state parks. They party and join fellow campers who own dune buggies, horses and kayaks. Over several years deep friendships develop, forming community based on shared interests.
A burgeoning subset of seasonal travelers, are less affluent nomads living in second hand RVs, school busses, pickup trucks and sedans. They drive the highways for employment, responding to ads for seasonal work in mega-warehouses. “The Value of Friendship at CamperForce,” advertises Amazon who employs workers during the holidays for 8-10 hour boring, grueling shifts. Others land jobs as camp hosts in national parks, harvesting sugar beets, selling pumpkins or Christmas trees at roadside stands.
These wanderers are middle class Americans who do not have enough money to retire. The Great Recession of 2007 wiped out their savings. Though many are educated, they can only find employment in low paying jobs that demand long hours of physical labor that is not enough to sustain them. Eventually they sell their possessions and take to the roads. They sleep in parking lots, truck stops and public camping areas in warm weather and reach out to family and friends when it turns cold.
Their way of life is more freeing than expected when they first took to the road. Fellow nomads are friendly and helpful. They use the internet to stay in contact off-season, sharing advice about jobs and places to camp. They pass the hat when someone’s vehicle needs repair, help them if they are ill, share meals, play cards and socialize. As nomads, they stay off the grid, use solar power and participate in community. Rubber Tramp Rendezvous is one of several gathering spots where van dwellers take classes and network with others on a similar trajectory. As tribal gypsies, wanderers appreciate adventure and escape from social norms. Unfortunately, this lifestyle becomes more difficult when they can no longer lift 50 pound bags or stand on their feet 10 hours a day or become ill.
Makers - A diverse group of inventors are drawn into affinity groups around art, electronic music, science, and technology. Maker fairs, held in most states, feature inventions and activities that take place in garages, museums and homes. Open to the public, they are attended by NASA, MakerBot Industries, Shop Bot, 3D systems, Kickstarter, Autodesk, Instructables, universities, etc. 3 D printing is the latest explosion along with robotics, electronics, metal fabrication and computer controlled technology, though woodworking and aboriginal skills remain in the mix. Makezine.com is a good place to go to find out what’s happening.
Intel, General Electric, science centers and education institutions sponsor maker spaces. But a great many more are organized by individuals with a desire for community. Makers are more than hobbyists. They are multi-age inventors who enjoy the diversity of talents and skills gathered together to execute someone’s project. Maker spaces encourage grown-ups to play with leading edge technology. They construct everything from terrariums, music venues, computer designed knitted ski masks and t-shirts with electronic messages to mechanical-art sculptures. They allow those with unfulfilled potential (often college drop-outs) to show off and have a chance of attracting investors.
Habitat for Humanity is an organization that is built around community. Volunteers along with the future homeowner, lend expertise and muscles to construct affordable housing. Those who stay involved for years, going from project to project, form tight friendship groups. Building a habitat house reminds me of they way the Amish gather to raise a barn. It is a a joyful event with a tangible outcome that puts smiles on the new owner’s face.
Meetup.com—More than a web site, “meetup” it is a movement that connects like-minded people to small affinity communities. I belong to Nine Bridges, a writers group promoted on meetup.com. My group is one of hundreds over a five state region that meet weekly, giving twelve people the opportunity to read from their work and receive criticism.
Meetup categories range from outdoors & adventure, sports & fitness, photography, food & drink, music, film, LGBQ, Language & culture, Beliefs to Movements, Pets, Hobbies and Crafts, Fashion & Beauty. There are social and career & and business sites listed as well. Connecting is easy for those willing to leave their homes, computers and TVs to venture forth into the unknown.
Street Life - Homeless youth are also a communal lot, sharing much more than the sidewalk. They understand each other, for most left abusive home situations to seek safety and shelter on the streets. The young adults they meet are their friends, even if they only interact for only one day. Friends hang out, play games in parks and share survival skills. They couch surf at the homes of more those who have an apartment. They are loyal to a street code that prohibits tattling and promotes sharing. They lend money, food and drugs when they have them.
Older homeless denizens also share community, though members may be less healthy because of mental and physical illnesses developed from imbibing alcohol and drugs and living in inclement weather. They socialize on sidewalks, in parking lots and under freeways, sharing their stories and information about services and shelter. When given permanent lodging, they often miss their street buddies. I was on the board of a group called The Giving Tree that helped homeless people adapt to housing and saw first hand how depressed some become. While holding a weekly tea in a unit for elderly people, a woman jumped from a 6th story window. Suicide is not uncommon among the newly housed and insect infestations are rampant. To combat isolation we provided cooking, cleaning and art classes.
Social Clubs - Clubs pull young adults together for music, film, food and drinks. An example is the White Owl Social Club which features everything form live bands and comedy skits to movies shown with old fashioned projectors. Prices are moderate and stereo volume kept low to allow for conversation. Social clubs are more than a restaurant or bar. They are gathering sites for friends who share apartments and homes that are not large enough to accommodate a group. Pool and ping pong tables, bowling alleys and foosball provide a Chucky Cheese type experience for grown ups. Comfortable sofas, a fire pit, and laid back gathering areas make it easy to relax and deepen friendships.
Burners and Festivals- Many young adults spend summer months traveling from festival to festival engaged in a culture around music, art and community. Small Burning Man style festivals that operate throughout the world (China included) preach compassion and sharing over commercialism. Corporate logos are never displayed and money doesn’t change hands. People assist with the work of setting up, cleaning up and feeding attendees. Resources are willingly shared. One camp (a friendship group) might operate a misting tent, while others dispense food, provide entertainment, psychological advice, showers and off-beat clothing. Technology, art, bright lights and colors flash from bicycles, floats and sculptures. Dancers twirl fire while techno-music plays until dawn. What makes Burning Man unique is that the camps are composed of people who value creativity and the arts. Friends meet year round to work on festival projects.
My son occupies a transmission shop that he converted into living, office and shop spaces. Friends gather weekly to implement techno-art projects for festivals like Burning Man. They have fun while maintaining community. Festivals provide them with deadlines, goals and purpose. They think of themselves as family and support each other throughout the year.
Senior Centers - Day centers operating throughout America bring the elderly. into community. They provide information and connection to local health, housing and legal services, yet most are a great deal more than counseling centers. They offer recreational activities, classes, lectures and discussion groups and a place to lounge. Some operate in conjunction with service organizations like Meal on Wheels. The YMCA, Urban League, Native American Family Centers, Latino Networks and private non-profits are actively involved. Their goal is to kindle joy and make retirement purposeful. I’ve given talks at senior centers in wealthy suburbs and in poor neighborhoods. What I’ve witnessed in general, is that those who participate are active, age well and enjoy being with a community of peers.
There are many other ways people participate in community. Gangs, political organizations, veterans associations, food and craft groups, church committees, professional and exercise clubs, and shared office workspaces unite people by common activity, affinity and proximity. Co-housing is one I hope to explore another time
References:
Kahn Academy website (2018)America moves to the cityKahn Academy. References: retrieved from website. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/the-gilded-age/gilded-age/a/america-moves-to-the-city
Merchant,N. (2017) Feel like you don’t fit in? Here’s how to find where you truly belong. ideas.Ted.Com. retrieved from. https://ideas.ted.com/feel-like-you-dont-fit-in-heres-how-to-find-where-you-truly-belong/
Agrawal. M. (2018) Community is Everything: How to Build Your Tribe. Inc. retrieved from https://www.inc.com/miki-agrawal/community-is-everything.html
Bruder,J. Nomadland Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century (2017) W.W. Norton & Company, New York
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Art is always for sale. Contact me at [email protected].
8/17/2018 2:19:30 PM
The Orator
Acrylic on Canvas/ $325/ 18” x 22”
He stands on his box and complains to an audience of onlookers who egg him on. They applaud and laugh at the crazy way he rails against government, politicians, and select religions. It’s entertaining to watch him shout and rave about injustice. He isn’t take seriously, though, for he has few solutions tounite people for change.
Complainers
Complainers. You know them well, for they pop in from every direction. Some whine, others murmur, grumble or growl. They find fault easily and are dissatisfied with most things they come in contact with, commenting frequently on how much worse the world is today than it was when they were young.
In the company of a complainer, I often tune out. After hearing an injustice repeated multiple times, it is difficult to pay attention. Complaints about traffic jams, bicyclists, potholes and homeless people urinating on the street may need to be addressed, but complaining about them to me serves no purpose. I can’t do much more about the situation than you can. Complainers rarely view their observations as calls to action, but instead, wallow in misery, affecting the mood of those around them
Complainers come in a variety of packages. Some are jumpers. These people react quickly letting everyone know immediately how upset they are. Some jumpers become whiners who continue repeating their complaints. Once they start, they never let up. Comments such as, “he’ll never stop drinking. I don’t know why I stay married,“ or “all politicians are corrupt. You can’t trust any of them,” may echo for years.
Then there are the venters, the angry frustrated people who complain to solicit attention and sympathy. They speak in loud demanding voices, repeat themselves endlessly and consider their views to be so important that insist everyone stop what they are doing to hear them. Venters seek validation and want to be surrounded by yes sayers. They lack interest in problem solving discussions. When asked to share their views and contribute to finding a solution, they turn away, complaining that the situation is hopeless.
Venters can easily wear a listener down. “The bus is late. The doctors don’t know what they are doing. My neighbor is a jerk. The coffee XXX makes is crummy.” After putting so much attention on all that is bad, venters occasionally get fed up and decide to move to greener pastures only to find new reasons to complain. It is in their nature, until they willingly alter their outlook.
Perfectionists can also be complainers. When I ran Impression 5 Science Museum in Lansing, Michigan, I hired a woman to direct our education department. She focused so heavily on problems that she was unable to see the good she did. Her reaction to positive happenings was, “That’s nice, but look at this? It’s not up to par.” She was miserable much of the time, for she believed that her colleagues and the teachers she hired would never be able to live up to her expectations. She also made it clear to all on staff that she was better able to do their jobs. Perhaps she was, but she could not be everywhere at once. She had to delegate and was unhappy doing so. Education programs blossomed under her leadership, yet she was so dispirited that she resigned.
Let’s not forget the jokers who make light of their complaints. They use humor as a way of venting frustrations. They don’t want to appear selfish for not putting out effort to solve a problem, so they hide their displeasure by smothering it with jokes, especially with strangers. They pretend to be happy when they are not. Though they think they are communicating clearly, the person they are speaking to is often confused by the joking manner.
More cautious are the hesitaters. They wait until a mysterious threshold is reached before they begin to complain. Hesitaters tend to be more introverted than jumpers, whiners and venters. How much control they have over a situation determines how and when they will react. They wait to hear a variety of opinions, preferring to stay positive if at all possible. Hesitaters are good at listening to complaints before deciding if there is a legitimate point that requires further investigation. They realize the importance of not passing on unsubstantiated facts and gossip.
I’m an occasional hesitater. When my suitcase was misplaced on a flight to Morocco, I was upset but took my complaint to the airline counter. Hearing that my bag wouldn’t arrive until the next day, I bought a clean shirt, undies and toothbrush. My complaint worked to take care of the problem. Much of the time, complaints are ignored because the solution is not readily available. Focusing on such things as homeless people loitering the streets is fruitless. Instead of complaining that the city is going to pieces, homelessness is a call for attention—at least for me it is.
Complainers tend to be unhappy. They see problems wherever they go, and are convinced that they will never be solved. They spout their displeasure and let bad situations continue as a way of proving their point. They don’t believe it is their responsibility to do more. They’re convinced they deserve better, that the problem is not their fault and that they have the right to get more from life. They believe that if they were in charge, the world would be better, and they are determined that if they can’t be happy, then no one else should be.
Thankfully, there are also the good complainers—the doers. Their complaints identify problems which motivate them to action. In general, they are a happier bunch than the jumpers, winers, jokers and venters, because they have goals and strategically plan ways to meet them. Though their complaint may not get completely solved, they feel rewarded by taking baby steps in the right direction.
A way to be happier, is to limit making complaints as well as your exposure to complainers. Why dampen your mood and that of others with negativity? It is important not personalize the thoughts of chronic complainers, but to have empathy for their misery. They see the world through a reality that can affect their health, for there are physical side affects to complaining. Neck and shoulder muscles tighten, migraines occur and the heart can be affected.
Being around people who complain is exhausting, frustrating and unproductive. Unfortunately, there are times when you can not just ignore them, but have to decide to move on or your own health will suffer.
I agree with Anais Non who wrote,
“You are in charge of how you react to the people and events in your life. You can either give negativity power over your life or you can choose happiness instead. Take control and choose to focus on what is important in your life.”
My suggestions? Assess complaints for their opportunity. Identify problems that need attention and commitment and only complain when you think it will effect real, positive change. Choose one problem to work on and try to make a difference.
References:
Moodie, K .(2017) Here’s How Much Each Personality Type Complains.Personality Growth. retrieved from https://personalitygrowth.com/heres-how-much-each-personality-type-complains/
Biswas-Diener,r. (2017) The Three Types of Complaining. Psychology Today. retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/significant-results/201706/the-three-types-complaining
Herald, M. (2015) How to protect Yourself from Chronic Complainers. Emotionally Resilient Living. retrieved from https://www.emotionallyresilientliving.com/how-to-protect-yourself-from-chronic-complainers
Davis, A. (2017) 6 Reasons Why Complainers Are the Most Miserable People. HuffPost. retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-davis/6-reasons-why-complainers_b_9818706.html
Nin, A .(author) Herron, P. (Editor) (2015) The Quotable Anais Nin: 365 Quotations with Citations. Sky Blue Press
Do you know complainers? How do you reat in their presence. Plase coment.
Art is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineartcom
8/10/2018 6:21:02 PM
Rotterdam
High density housing? Is it a solution to Homelessness?
Acrylic on Canvas, Framed/ 30” x 24” / $495
One solution to lack of housing is to place people in high rise buildings. We’ve tried that solution in the projects of Chicago and New York and found that it doesn’t work. It promoted gang warfare, drugs and criminal activity.
The following article applies to a great many communities throughout the United States. . . .
Last week, I walked from a Portland parking garage to City Hall to attend a hearing for a building permit. During the session, a councilman told the disagreeing parties that if they could not compromise the council would act for them, for “they were used to making difficult decisions.” I must admit that his words were chilling. I am not too impressed with the council’s decision making skills, for our city is falling apart. Their inability to solve our homelessness situation does leave me impressed. Over the last five years, Portland has lost its luster. It was just removed from Britain’s Monocle Magazine’s list of 25 top livable cities around the world.
There are two entrances to City Hall, but when a friend and I went to one, a sign greeted us saying that they were on lock down. We were directed to a door on the opposite side of the building . After banging on the window, a security guard let us in. We were told that precautions had to be taken because of picketers protesting ICE.
Our walk, from the parking lot to City Hall, reminded me images showing poverty in Bangladesh. It was disgusting. I felt uncomfortable walking around groups sprawled on sidewalks and seeing individuals asleep in doorways. Tents under bridges, lining main streets and along trails have closed the option for me to take a downtown stroll.
The last time I dined in a center city restaurant, the stairwell in the parking garage reeked of pee. After dinner, to avoid unpleasant smells, my partner and I decided to use the elevator. The door opened exposing a vagrant man sprawled out sound asleep. I’ve observed derelicts defecating behind bushes and urinating in front of them. Needles and condoms are strewn in nooks and crannies throughout the city.
It is so very sad to see such deplorable conditions which makes me wonder why those in power do not use their positions to solve the problem.
I’ve spent the past four years studying homelessness and have written a book about youth homelessness that will be available this fall. The research I conducted for Over the Peanut Fence convinced me that there is hope, but it will need people in charge blending compassion with back bone to provide tough love. The homeless have rights, as do those who live in houses and use the streets.
By continuing on the path we are on, the city will look like Charles Dickens’ London. Loitering, trash, lack of toilets and substandard housing affect the health, safety and beauty of our community. Garbage brings vermin, needles and filth cause epidemics. The incidence of of Hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases is skyrocketing.
So, what do I mean by tough love? As my father used to say, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” Benefits to the homeless need to be matched with their willingness to work. It has to be a two way streak, a give and take, a tit for tat.
I suggest that the over 4,000 people camping, sleeping, and loitering on city streets and in parks be given a choice, either leave Portland or be escorted to a location outside of town, run like a conservation corps. It should be a place that provides shelter, food, transportation to worksites, social, psychological and educational counseling, security and health care. It must be safe, clean and patrolled.
Every person will have a job in exchange for services. “The City that Works” is plastered on trucks and cars throughout Portland. The interpretation needs to be broadened include everyone, even those with disabilities. There is much to do. Branches need to be trimmed from road signs, invasive species need to be removed from parks. A small farm can be set up to grow food for the residents. Day care for children, seniors, and those with disabilities will need volunteers. Meals will need to be prepared, trash collected and sidewalks washed. Work contributes to self-esteem and health. It combats depression by providing purpose and a sense of community. And work, whether volunteer or paid, can point the way to future employment.
There are many models for this type of operation. The military does it often. But this would not be a federal, military or police operation, and it would require compassionate, kind leaders rather than a dictators. Most people are homeless, not because they want to be, but because they have had a rough time making ends meet. They’ve been abused as children, are poorly educated, lost their job, or suffer from mental issues. Students with part time employment don’t make enough to pay for food, shelter, healthcare and tuition. Drugs and alcohol often come after a crisis as a way of self-medicating.
I’ve always considered myself a liberal, but I would not raise my children to think that they can get by without contributing to our family and community. Freedom its not synonymous to anarchy. There are always compromises that will have to be made.
You ask where is the money is going to come from? What do you think of a tri-county bond measure to establish a model homeless program for 4,000-5,000 people. I also suggest there be a one year hold on purchase of new vehicles, computers and other capital equipment. Sheltering the homeless should come first.
Though not an exact quote, councilwoman, Amanda Fritz said,“We are the city council and make the rules.” Please make effective rules and the citizens will follow. Get the show on the road.
References:
Singer,M.( 2018) Portland Is No Longer the Only Acceptable City in America, Says British Magazine. Willamette Week. retrieved from https://www.wweek.com/culture/2018/08/06/portland-is-no-longer-the-only-acceptable-city-in-america-says-british-magazine/
A-frame houses like these at OMSI’s Camp Hancock, were originally built to house hundreds of homeless people at the Rajneeshpuram in central Oregon. They have electricity, are heated and come in two sizes, to house two or four people. Communal restrooms are scattered throughout the camp.
Tiny houses developments are also springing up throughout the country to house the homeless. This one is in Community First Village in Texas. A communal garden, eating area, biking trails, and social areas round out the amenities. Villagers pay $ 35 a month. 
8/3/2018 6:26:29 PM
Fractured America
This picture is shared again because it depicts our fractured country.
There are many ways we are divided, but the one at the
top of my list is education.
Acrylic on wide canvas/ 24" by 24"/$ 450
Education in a Divided America
Last week, I had a conversation with an African-American man about problems facing the nation. As is commonly done, he stratified the population by economic divisions (lower, middle and upper class) and made suggestions accordingly.
There are many ways to look at our citizenry. I explored one method when writing about generational differences brought about by technological and economic change. Generational stratifications include 1901-1926), Mature/Silents; (1926-1945) Baby Boomers, Flower Children ; (1946-64) Generation X, Lost Generation; ( 1965-80); Xennials, Sandwich Generation; ( 1977- 1983) Millennials, Narcissistic Tech Gurus; (1984-2000) Generation Z, The Boomlets (2001 +) .This method does partial insight.
Divisions by race, religion, residence and culture also help us understand society. Each system presents a microcosm of the whole. Yet, all factors (which is difficult to do) must be taken into account when analyzing an individual. It is why I like Anatole Frances’ saying, ”Even a little dog is the center of his own universe.”
However, it is not possible to rule a country that appeals to each person's unique vision, so societies adopt systems for governing by way of democratic, autocratic, theocratic and consensus models. Economies are primarily traditional (close ties to farming), command (centralized power), market ( firms and households act in self-interest) and mixed systems (cross between command and market economy. The United States governs in a pluralist country with democratic intentions and a mixed economic system that leans toward a market economy.
But to rule well , another stratification has to be taken into account - that of education. An enlightened populace is imperative when governing a democratic country with a mixed economic system.
Unfortunately, most people are not well enough educated to understand the the ramifications of learning which is making a mockery of our country among other civilized nations. Academic achievement divides the United States in unsettling ways. People with stratified educational backgrounds are targeted through information delivery systems (CNN vs Fox), ways of communicating (authoritarian vs consensus) and methods of settling differences (arms vs. non-violence).
The Brooking Institute says that the United States is ruled by a power elite composed of approximately 250 people with military, business and congressional backgrounds. For the past forty years, they have followed directives of Think Tanks, which have become To Do tanks with political agendas. Though independent research organizations continue to operate, the new breed of Advocacy Think Yanks puts a spin on pure research. They are policy, partisan and ideological organizations that couple themselves with salesmanship. Their influence is massive, yet they remain hidden behind the doors of most minds.
A quote from a Brookings publication,The Fifth Estate ,“According to some scholars, right- wing think tanks have benefited strongly from a proactive approach to collectivizing and organizing their search for funding. Conversely, left - wing think tanks have suffered because, historically, progressive individuals and foundations have been more reluctant to provide financial support for policy research. Further, conservative donations have been more integrated than progressive donations, simultaneously supporting conservative think tanks, academic programs that sponsor conservative thinkers, conservative-friendly media, powerful lobbies, and a strong Republican Party. These various elements work together successfully to implement conservative policy.”
People are commonly divided by academic achievement. We speak of the uneducated, poorly educated, well educated, and those with advanced learning. In addition the being able to read and write, a schooled individual hopefully gains a grasp of social, spiritual, sanitary and behavioral customs. In addition, he or she will acquire workplace skills. Think tanks are staffed by those with advanced degrees. Partisan organizations influence their research in order to target and manipulate people by how well educated they are.
In the United States, 32 million illiterate people (over 720 million worldwide) remain at the bottom of the economic and social ladder with limited employment opportunity. Illiteracy costs the global economy about $ 1.19 trillion a year and plays havoc in democratic societies. The poorly educated are easily controlled by dictators and fear mongers.
In 2016, Donald Trump told supporters in Nevada that he credited his poorly educated supporters as part of the reason he won. Spoken by a man with a college degree and a 158 IQ (according to Reuters), he said, ”I love the poorly educated.”
Why would that be? The President describes the highly educated as the smartest people and the poorly schooled as the most loyal. According to Trumpism, the poorly educated are willing followers and not snooty. By telling less informed people that they are valued, he let them know that their votes count. All they had to do is believe in his wisdom. What Trump did so brilliantly, was develop a way to reach less informed people through plainspoken, short Twitter feeds. He calls on their trust rather than their understanding. Those who follow his dictates have no need to fact-check, analyze data or delve into complex issues. His is a faith based rule.
In the last election, education, not income was the best predictor of who would win. Of the 981 U.S. counties with 50,000 or more people, Hillary Clinton ’s margin surged over Obama’s wins in the 50 most-educated counties. These counties were otherwise economically and socially diverse. Trump won in the 50 least-educated counties. Though there was a small correlation between income and education, in general, the amount of money a person has was not the determining factor. Education was. To check these statistics go to Silver’s article mentioned in the reference section.
In 2015, 88 percent of the U.S. population had attained a high school diploma or GED. 33 percent held a bachelor’s degree, and 12 percent an advanced degree. Within these categories are variations by race, age, sex, disability and country of origin. But overall, what does it mean?
The political cleavage caused by education is so significant that unless concerned politicians find ways to speak to less informed voters and bring more of them into the educated category, they will not win in large swarths of the country. Without realizing that they have been taken advantage of, under-educated people will continue to lose their rights to the power elite. They blindly vote against their best interests by remaining ignorant of the interplay of economic and environmental factors in global affairs.
No longer is the United States a lone player separated by oceans. We are tied to the rest of the world by high speed internet and the ease of travel. Decisions depend on a deep understanding of issues. Democracy and a mixed economic economy depend on enlightened, informed voters.
There have always been greedy people with personal agendas. This is why we have to pay attention to knowledge brokers. Politicians need non-biased information to rule. Concerns of social and physical scientists with advanced learning should be intelligently examined and questioned. Motivation must be taken into consideration. We can not trust the media or politicians to do our job for us. I am uncomfortable with ignorant people going to to poles to decide my fate. Aren't you?
References:
Novak,J. (2018) The Six Living Generations in America. University of Phoenix, Texas A & M University. retrieved from http://www.marketingteacher.com/the-six-living-generations-in-america/
Reynolds,H.(2097)The Power Elite. University of Delaware. American Political Systems.https://www1.udel.edu/htr/Psc105/Texts/power.html
Ranney, M. (2015) 8 startling facts about illiteracy you might not know. Mashable.retrieved information from World Literacy foundation, 2015 at https://mashable.com/2015/09/08/project-literacy-makeathon/#CkPTiAfEcaqA
Hafner,J. (2016) Donald Trump loves the 'poorly educated' — and they love him. USA Today. retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/02/24/donald-trump-nevada-poorly-educated/80860078/
Silver,N. (2016) Education, Not Income, Predicted Who Would Vote For Trump. FiveThirtyEight.retrieved from https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/education-not-income-predicted-who-would-vote-for-trump/
Galston,W & Hendrickson,C. (2016)The Educational rift in the 2016 election. Brookings institute. retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2016/11/18/educational-rift-in-2016-election/
Wiarada,H. Think Tanks and Governance in the United States. Brookings Institute. retrievedfromy https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/chapter-one_-the-fifth-estate.pdf
Agarwal,P, (2017) The Four Types of Economics. Intelligent Economics, retrieve from https://www.intelligenteconomist.com/types-of-economies/
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