As Americans, we usually pride ourselves in being the best. We love being number one in the world—in the Olympics, in economics, in entertainment…you name it.
America is Number One Again… Unfortunately
According to Relevant magazine, the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed what America has long known to be true: America is indeed number one. Does it even matter in which category America is number one? It’s so obvious that it’s almost redundant to say it, but, in the interest of journalistic integrity, we’d best examine the details. When put up against Canada, Australia, Japan, Britain, France, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and eight other developed nations, America came in first for all kinds of stuff:
- Infant mortality
- Injury and homicide rates
- Teen pregnancy
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- AIDS
- Drug abuse
- Obesity and diabetes
- Heart disease, lung disease, and disabilities
And, obviously, America shows no signs of slowing down. “It’s a tragedy,” said Dr. Steven Woolf, who chaired the panel. “Our report found that an equally large, if not larger, disadvantage exists among younger Americans.” And that doesn’t even touch on violence, in which “Americans are seven times more likely to be murdered than people in the other countries, and 20 times more likely to be killed by a gun.”
According to a report by Wealthson, the U.S. also leads in unemployment when compared to ten top industrialized nations between 2009-2010. And youth unemployment is higher than any other demographic in the U.S.
So, here’s my question:
Is there any connection between being number one in categories like teen pregnancy, drug abuse, obesity and homicide rates and the fact that young adults are not working?
I think there is. When you study unemployment rates for young people and compare them to rates in these categories as well—you see a parallel. When youth are working they are generally engaged in something meaningful and don’t have time for these anti-social endeavors. I recognize this may seem overly simplistic, but it’s true. Work is not only about a paycheck, it’s about the development of a person, about the expression of one’s gifts, about contributing something valuable back to society. I know this sounds old-fashioned—but work is supposed to give meaning to our day-to-day lives. I am not saying it’s where we derive our identity, but it IS a place to express our identity.
I say let’s work to get young people back to work. Let’s get them ready for the workforce by equipping them with life skills. And, let’s tell them the truth about the importance of moving from a “consumer” to a “contributor” in this world.
I think they may just surprise us with what they can do, when they don’t have time to do the things they shouldn’t do.
