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> the next minute he talks about how the funding of public schools in the US is organized. It's really not that different. The inequality in conditions betwee

by danans 8y ago

> the next minute he talks about how the funding of public schools in the US is organized. It's really not that different. The inequality in conditions between poor public schools and wealthier schools (public and private) is dangerous for the future of American productivity, causing gainful participation in the economy to become ever more correlated with prior socioeconomic privilege. If that productivity growth runs out, and the relative conditions worsen for non-wealthy people in the US, there will be no more helping Africa, due to economic decline, or domestic political instability. Basically, these aren't independent problems. Increasing inequality at home makes it harder to help people elsewhere. Spiraling poverty elsewhere results in conflicts in those places, and we eventually experience the effects of those conflicts one way or another.

arendtio 8y ago
While I agree that there is a connection, those are extremely different issues. Not having food or water is entirely different from having a low-level education and being discriminated. I don't think that the current system of funding public schools in the US is good. The opposite is the case. Yes, I do believe that education is a critical instrument to fight inequality and racism and that every human should have free access to high-quality education (which is not that difficult to achieve with modern technologies). By the way, your argument is missing a decisive point: The help for Africa is done by the elite, not by the broad population. Therefore, even if the inequality in the US would rise, it would take a while before there would be 'no help for Africa' anymore (until it would be politically problematic).
- danans 8y ago
  > Therefore, even if the inequality in the US would rise, it would take a while before there would be 'no help for Africa' anymore (until it would be politically problematic). Given the speed of information dispersal, it might become politically problematic quickly, especially once a narrative is established. However, due to the length of election cycles, it may not be an electoral issue as quickly.

by danans 8y ago

arendtio 8y ago

While I agree that there is a connection, those are extremely different issues. Not having food or water is entirely different from having a low-level education and being discriminated. I don't think that the current system of funding public schools in the US is good. The opposite is the case. Yes, I do believe that education is a critical instrument to fight inequality and racism and that every human should have free access to high-quality education (which is not that difficult to achieve with modern technologies). By the way, your argument is missing a decisive point: The help for Africa is done by the elite, not by the broad population. Therefore, even if the inequality in the US would rise, it would take a while before there would be 'no help for Africa' anymore (until it would be politically problematic).

danans 8y ago
> Therefore, even if the inequality in the US would rise, it would take a while before there would be 'no help for Africa' anymore (until it would be politically problematic). Given the speed of information dispersal, it might become politically problematic quickly, especially once a narrative is established. However, due to the length of election cycles, it may not be an electoral issue as quickly.