by Tom Hinton
www.tomhinton.com If you’ve been reading the newspapers and watching the local and regional newscasts these past few weeks, you might have the mis-impression that what California consumers care about are the growing number of Nigerian letter email scams and being ripped off by used car salesmen. Certainly, these are nuisance issues, but let’s get serious for a moment. I’ve been traveling our Golden State for the past few months and talking with ordinary people about what’s on their minds. Here’s what California consumers really care about.
1. Will we be able to make our Mortgage Payments?
This economy is a slippery slope. You have nearly five million California wage-earners who are living from paycheck to paycheck; and, despite the upbeat economic performance in certain industries, most CaliforniaCalifornia consumers have lost their enthusiasm to spend money and they are deeply troubled by the economic uncertainty. Frankly, Californians don’t expect much positive news for another 12-24 months. consumers are troubled by the uncertainty that lies ahead. This is especially true in terms of the housing market which is the “alternative retirement savings system” for most Californians. The downturn in home values is a serious concern for Californians. It’s also the reason why Californians have cut back on major purchases such as automobiles, furniture, appliances, and holiday vacations and are waiting on the sidelines to see what happens. Most
2. When will America End the War in Iraq?
That was a nice gesture by our governor to send 3,000 cigars to the Californian troops serving in Iraq. But, the harsh reality is this. Will our troops live long enough to smoke them? Californians (along with the rest of the nation) are fed-up with the mismanaged war in Iraq. Democrats and Republicans alike are tired of reading about the sacrifices our troops and civilians are making day-after-day in this “no-win” situation. And where is all that oil going from the pipelines in Iraq? Who’s reaping the profits from the Iraqi pipelines? Nobody seems to be talking about issue that anymore. Americans support our military and we also love a good fight. But, nobody likes a bad game plan. Frankly, the Iraqi conflict is depressing to our national spirit. Until a new president and Congress --yes, the 110th Congress now shares the blame because they’ve not honored their campaign promises from 2006 to end the war -- assume power in Washington, DC and set a specific timeline to end our involvement in Iraq, the enthusiasm consumers should have in good times will remain flat.
3. When will the Price of Gasoline Drop?
California consumers don’t like paying high, inflated gasoline prices at the pump. We haven’t got used to the idea of $2.80 per gallon and we’re very upset with the outrageous profits major oil companies are posting each quarter as a result of their unfair gasoline prices. Californians want some relief! But, we also know our elected officials at the state and national level have been bought and paid for by Big Oil’s campaign contributions… which brings us back to Issue #2.
4. When will the Golden Gate Bridge Collapse?
California consumers are troubled by the decaying infrastructure of our roads, bridges and reservoirs. The governor is on top of this issue and wants to build more reservoirs, but he faces an uphill fight with small-mind special interest groups that oppose their construction. Hopefully, the governor will prevail. The bigger issue, however, is that California’s roads and bridges need a facelift. We need to appropriate the necessary moneys to rebuild and upgrade our statewide infrastructure before a Minneapolis nightmare occurs in our state.
5. Are my Kids Safe at School?
California consumers don’t like unsafe schools. School districts and university regents need to get off their seats and ensure our schools and college campuses are safe. Certainly, no one can predict a madman’s erratic behavior. But, we should have in place strategic plans that can intercept and prevent another Columbine or Virginia Tech tragedy.
And, while we’re on the subject, why have we reduced our teachers to professional babysitters? Let’s face it. School is not for everyone. Why is it that we force juvenile delinquents -- to attend school and ruin the experience for everyone else? There are some kids who just don’t want to learn. Schools should have the right (without jumping through twenty legal hoops) to expel such misfits. These kids would be better served by attending vocational training or getting a real job. I’m not suggesting society give up on them. But instead of forcing them into a structured educational environment, we need to find alternative outlets that challenge them and encourage them to move in that direction. Granted, the social misfits represent a very small percentage, but this small percentage is actually costing schools in terms of time, attention, and valuable resources. It’s grossly unfair to the 99% of students who want to learn and get ahead in life. Let’s wake up and stop asking our teachers to double as babysitters for these misfits.
It’s not a question of “leaving no child behind.” It’s a matter of moving the rest of the class ahead! Most teachers and school administrators can tell the difference between a student and a juvenile delinquent. Let’s allow our teachers to teach and stop babysitting the trouble-makers.
About the Author:
Tom Hinton is a California Consumer. He is a popular business author and speaker who frequently writes for publications on consumer issues and business trends. He can be reached at tom@tomhinton.com
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