The past two days were quite interesting to me because of comments made by two quite disparate people. One was Jeffrey M. Lacker, a renown economist and president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Virginia, the other was John Ratzenberger, best known as Cliff Clavin the mailman on Cheers!
When interviewed on CNBC's Squawk Box this morning and asked about his thoughts on high unemployment, President Lacker said that over the past ten years job requirements have changed significantly in the U.S. Businesses, he said, have utilized significant technological advances to streamline their operations allowing them to increase production and efficiency while requiring employment of fewer people.
At the same time, he believes the work force itself hasn't kept pace with the skills required to operate, maintain or otherwise work with the continual streamlining of workplaces and equipment, primarily because the subjects aren't being widely taught. In conclusion, he suggested that perhaps the statistics on how full employment is gauged ought to be re-thought because, economically the nation's doing much better than the out-dated numbers suggest.
Lastly, he also noted that bank credit itself also isn't as dismal as many suggest, it's just that lenders are being more careful today, as they should be. Which translates into the fact that well-rated borrowers have access to all the loans they need at very attractive rates, and its only questionable accounts that are having problems finding lenders. In fact, he stated, to that extent, it's bankers whom are frustrated because they can't find enough worthy prospects.
Now, along the same lines, I came across an interview of John Ratzenberger on Fox's morning news show where he was approaching the same subject as Fed president Lacker, but from a different direction. Because, while Ratzenbrger also believes there are plenty of jobs in the nation, and knows that there's lack of qualified folks to fill them, he's now focused on providing the severely needed education through a program called M.O.S.T.
M.O.S.T. teaches skills in a wide-range of front line production jobs including: Machine Operation, Shop Math, Blueprint Reading, Metrology, Lean to Green Manufacturing, CNC Operation, Welding and others.
So here we have two front-line opinions, observations and suggested solutions for core problems in the nation's business environment from informed, hands-on people who are trying to help the recovery. However, what their findings and ideas point out most specifically to me is the reinforcement of the fact that our educational system not only completely misses the boat, it doesn't even see the water.
As for myself, I'm not at all surprised that we have a system which knows nothing about the ramifications or needs brought about by changing technologies, systems and required skills because it's been many, many years since government or unions had any concern about any kind of education. Today their focus is all about how little can be done to receive the most money and benefits for the least amount of hours spent dong practically nothing. So, once again, the problem has nothing to do with the subject itself, education, it comes down to the self-serving bureaucrats and politicians caring about nothing but themselves.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
When interviewed on CNBC's Squawk Box this morning and asked about his thoughts on high unemployment, President Lacker said that over the past ten years job requirements have changed significantly in the U.S. Businesses, he said, have utilized significant technological advances to streamline their operations allowing them to increase production and efficiency while requiring employment of fewer people.
At the same time, he believes the work force itself hasn't kept pace with the skills required to operate, maintain or otherwise work with the continual streamlining of workplaces and equipment, primarily because the subjects aren't being widely taught. In conclusion, he suggested that perhaps the statistics on how full employment is gauged ought to be re-thought because, economically the nation's doing much better than the out-dated numbers suggest.
Lastly, he also noted that bank credit itself also isn't as dismal as many suggest, it's just that lenders are being more careful today, as they should be. Which translates into the fact that well-rated borrowers have access to all the loans they need at very attractive rates, and its only questionable accounts that are having problems finding lenders. In fact, he stated, to that extent, it's bankers whom are frustrated because they can't find enough worthy prospects.
Now, along the same lines, I came across an interview of John Ratzenberger on Fox's morning news show where he was approaching the same subject as Fed president Lacker, but from a different direction. Because, while Ratzenbrger also believes there are plenty of jobs in the nation, and knows that there's lack of qualified folks to fill them, he's now focused on providing the severely needed education through a program called M.O.S.T.
M.O.S.T. teaches skills in a wide-range of front line production jobs including: Machine Operation, Shop Math, Blueprint Reading, Metrology, Lean to Green Manufacturing, CNC Operation, Welding and others.
So here we have two front-line opinions, observations and suggested solutions for core problems in the nation's business environment from informed, hands-on people who are trying to help the recovery. However, what their findings and ideas point out most specifically to me is the reinforcement of the fact that our educational system not only completely misses the boat, it doesn't even see the water.
As for myself, I'm not at all surprised that we have a system which knows nothing about the ramifications or needs brought about by changing technologies, systems and required skills because it's been many, many years since government or unions had any concern about any kind of education. Today their focus is all about how little can be done to receive the most money and benefits for the least amount of hours spent dong practically nothing. So, once again, the problem has nothing to do with the subject itself, education, it comes down to the self-serving bureaucrats and politicians caring about nothing but themselves.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
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