Divining the true nature of Qi

Moving to a true post-industrial America

To preface my essay here I’d just like to say, to those who don’t already know, I’m from Michigan. When people talk about economic well-being and job increases, I know they aren’t talking about my state which has lost 308,900 jobs between 2000 and 2005 and an overall loss of 25% of our manufacturing work-force (source). The aforementioned source also predicts the state hitting 7.9% unemployment by the end of this year, our highest since 1992.

Many individuals would like to blame our Mayor, Jennifer Granholm. While I don’t think she’s entirely innocent, I tend to believe economists who say that this country is shifting to a “post-industrial society”. If you don’t want to click the link, let me summarize: The shift from an industrial based economy to a post-industrial economy is simply a shift from a manufacturing base to one of service and technology. This means, essentially, that we’re going to lose a good deal of our manufacturing jobs, which means that states like Michigan are going to take a tremendous job hit at the outset (and so far as we can see, run at a 50% higher unemployment rate than the country’s average). The question is then, what can we do about it? This question pre-supposes that it will be necessary to do something about it, that we will have to plot a course rather than let the economic shift have free-reign.

In that spirit, let me explain why I feel it is utterly imperative that we chart a course for the future, not only for Michigan but for the country. Let me ask two questions, two questions that shape the basis for my argument. 1. Where are the manufacturing jobs going? 2. Where are the I.T. jobs going? We all know that since the passage of NAFTA and CAFTA that our manufacturing jobs and have been moving down to Mexico and now further south. As to our I.T. jobs, I’m sure I’m not the only one who has talked to an Indian when looking for some computer help. Now let’s put two and two together folks, if we’re out-sourcing both our past base (manufacturing) and what we’re being told is a large portion of our future base (technology) then what the hell is it exactly that we’re supposed to do here in America? Have a Wal-Mart based economy?

I sure hope not. In this post industrial economy education is more important than ever. Most service professions (in name, not actual persons filling those jobs) require some form of schooling. Teachers, lawyers, social workers, and even clergy require at least a 4-year degree and post-secondary education is becoming more expensive by the minute and presently many of our states are near the breaking point just trying to pay for No Child Left Behind. You see my concern? We can barely pay to get our kids through grade 12 when in all reality, unless they want to live the Wal-Mart life (a respectable choice, I guess, but not one we dream of when we imagine our children’s future I suspect), they’ll need at least 4 additional years of schooling. The average 4-year public school in the ’06-’07 school year charged approximately $5,800 per year in between tuition and fees (I suspect “and fees” here refers to textbooks, meals plans and housing) which adds up to $23,200 over the course of 4 years just in “Tuition and fees” and utterly ignoring the cost of living those 4 years (source). Most of this our new graduates will start out with this in brand new shiny debt upon graduation. If our new graduate opts to get a teaching job in Michigan he or she can expect to earn a salary of $35,557 the first year (source).

What’s my point? With the increasing cost and importance of education it’s time the government took it in hand. This is our country’s future and it’s crazy that the average graduate should start with debt just $200 shy of the 2006 poverty line for a family of 5 (source). The cost is too prohibitive for many families and there are simply too few options for other gainful employment in my opinion.