Financial literacy could be taught during the mandatory military service. 

Posted by MikeT23 on 11/7/2014 4:05:00 PM (view original):
Financial literacy could be taught during the mandatory military service. 

Why not just teach it in high school?

Posted by moy23 on 11/7/2014 3:51:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 11/7/2014 2:36:00 PM (view original):

Posted by moy23 on 11/7/2014 2:27:00 PM (view original):

Posted by examinerebb on 11/7/2014 1:18:00 PM (view original):
Education is key, and not necessarily solely for the improvement of one's career path. Michael Robinson (former Seahawks fullback) was asked "who is the most successful person you know" by a reporter. His response was that it is his high school janitor. He worked until he was fully vested in his pension, has no consumer debt and owns his home free and clear because he aggressively paid down his mortgage. He now draws full retirement benefits with almost no bills. He didn't need to become an attorney to achieve success, he just used discipline and intelligence to do so in a job that many others see as a dead-end.

Completely agree. When it comes to financal literacy I have 15 years of 1st hand experiance - there are those that get it, those that are trying because they want to change their situation, and those that either just don't care or dont know any better when it comes to finances. Their are plenty of ways for those that want to educate themselves on finances - reading books, free outreach programs, even your local bank will help. You can't do anything for those that don't care. Which begs the question.... How do you reach out to those that don't even know where to start improving their financial situation, or that there is help out there?

Financial literacy can really be as simple as a basic budget and care using credit. But financial literacy does nothing if you don't make enough money to survive.

Really? I've personally helped 100's if not 1000's of people get out of that exact situation. Lots of successful people come from poverty... Opera is a great example. She used to get made fun of in school cause they were so poor she had to wear a burlap sack to school as a dress. J.K. Rowling was on welfare when she wrote her books. Suze Orman lived in her car. Chris Gardner "pursuit of happyness" was living in a public bathroom stall with his son.

It never hurts to arm yourself with the financial knowledge to help get yourself to financial freedom... And its so much more complex than just budgeting and fixing your credit.... Its a behavioral change and it takes time, support, and dedication.

But why bother if the federal government will just give me food and money and shelter and healthcare?!?

I would venture that some on the public dole have absolutely no desire to improve their situation.  It's easier to mooch off the feds than actually work.

Posted by MikeT23 on 11/7/2014 4:05:00 PM (view original):
Financial literacy could be taught during the mandatory military service. 

I've called for mandatory 4 year military service for years.

Posted by moy23 on 11/7/2014 6:54:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 11/7/2014 4:01:00 PM (view original):

Posted by moy23 on 11/7/2014 3:51:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 11/7/2014 2:36:00 PM (view original):

Posted by moy23 on 11/7/2014 2:27:00 PM (view original):

Posted by examinerebb on 11/7/2014 1:18:00 PM (view original):
Education is key, and not necessarily solely for the improvement of one's career path. Michael Robinson (former Seahawks fullback) was asked "who is the most successful person you know" by a reporter. His response was that it is his high school janitor. He worked until he was fully vested in his pension, has no consumer debt and owns his home free and clear because he aggressively paid down his mortgage. He now draws full retirement benefits with almost no bills. He didn't need to become an attorney to achieve success, he just used discipline and intelligence to do so in a job that many others see as a dead-end.

Completely agree. When it comes to financal literacy I have 15 years of 1st hand experiance - there are those that get it, those that are trying because they want to change their situation, and those that either just don't care or dont know any better when it comes to finances. Their are plenty of ways for those that want to educate themselves on finances - reading books, free outreach programs, even your local bank will help. You can't do anything for those that don't care. Which begs the question.... How do you reach out to those that don't even know where to start improving their financial situation, or that there is help out there?

Financial literacy can really be as simple as a basic budget and care using credit. But financial literacy does nothing if you don't make enough money to survive.

Really? I've personally helped 100's if not 1000's of people get out of that exact situation. Lots of successful people come from poverty... Opera is a great example. She used to get made fun of in school cause they were so poor she had to wear a burlap sack to school as a dress. J.K. Rowling was on welfare when she wrote her books. Suze Orman lived in her car. Chris Gardner "pursuit of happyness" was living in a public bathroom stall with his son.

It never hurts to arm yourself with the financial knowledge to help get yourself to financial freedom... And its so much more complex than just budgeting and fixing your credit.... Its a behavioral change and it takes time, support, and dedication.

Even if everyone had a basic financial education, people like Oprah and Rowling would be the exception, not the rule. 99.9% of people living in bathroom stalls are not becoming millionaires regardless of what you teach them.

Instead, we should look at normal people for examples. Lots of people get by just fine on meager salaries because they are disciplined and live within their means. On the other hand, there are plenty of people who are also disciplined in their spending and literally do everything they can but are still falling behind because they make such a small amount of money.

Those are 'normal people' - each of them were in poverty and did something about it. You can't just ignore their past because they are now famous. There are many more 'normal people' that you've never heard of.... For example many businesses have started up because a person got laid off and they spent every last penny on their business not knowing if it would be a success. They may not have to become millionaires but they are financially better off now than when they were completely broke. I personally worked 2 part time jobs, had credit card debt and student loans.... Lived in a place I couldn't afford, and had a car I was missing payments on. I finally had to suck it up and move home with my parents for almost 4 years until I could get my debt under control. I was 27 when I moved out of my parents and went right back in debt again before I became serious about 'learning' how to manage my finances. Am I not a normal person since I'm not poor anymore.

Bottom line - financial education will do wonders for anyone... Even the Elton Johns and Allan Iversons of the world. One really doesn't have a fighting chance w/o it.

They may be normal, but the results are, as the commercial says, not typical. If you tell people that you'll make them the next Oprah, they'll tune you out because it's so unlikely it's ridiculous.

You, on the other hand, are a very normal person with normal results. You work a white collar job, spent at least part of the day ******* around on the internet, and will never have your own wikipedia page.

Bottom line--regardless of your financial literacy, if you lack the ability or opportunity to make more than minimum-ish wages, you are going to have a hard time...unless you're privileged enough to live somewhere rent free for four years.

Posted by The Taint on 11/7/2014 6:25:00 PM (view original):

Posted by MikeT23 on 11/7/2014 4:05:00 PM (view original):
Financial literacy could be taught during the mandatory military service. 

I've called for mandatory 4 year military service for years.

I was thinking 2.    Essentially long enough for 18 y/o to recognize that life will not be handed to them.    That the decisions they make before they're 20 will effect them for much longer than the next day.  That they are responsible for their actions.    You can't do it until mommy/daddy aren't in the picture to make the bad things go away.

You guys got me thinking about Conscription in Israel.  I knew that all Israeli citizens once they turned 18 had to serve in the military - but I just now looked it up and read the following:

"Conscription exists in Israel for all Israeli citizens over the age of 18, although non-Druze Arab citizens of Israel are exempt; other exceptions are made on religious, physical or psychological grounds (see Profile 21). The normal length of compulsory service is currently three years for men and two years for women.

Despite a general impression that the majority of Israeli citizens are conscripted, only about 50% of potential conscripts actually serve in the military. Others do not serve for a variety of reasons, including religious study, minority community exemptions, refusal to serve, "low motivation", and a criminal record.^{[citation needed]}

The Defense Service Law (??? ????? ??????) regulates these duties and exceptions. According to the Defense Service Law, the enlistment to the Israeli Defense Forces is mandatory for all Israeli citizens who have turned 18 (with the above-mentioned exemptions enshrined in the Defense Service Law)."


The first thing that popped in my head when I thought about this was when my ship pulled into Haifa, Israel for liberty back in 1983 and 1984.  With conscription applying for females as well, you would not believe how many BEAUTIFUL female soldiers there were patrolling the streets in cammies.  Of course, the weapons they were carrying kind of made you think twice about even talking to them...lol.

 

Posted by moy23 on 11/7/2014 11:07:00 PM (view original):
back on topic for the thread - I thought Obama was going to get us out of Iraq... 6 years later and he's sending another 1500 troops and requesting another $5 Billion to fund it? Thats not Bush's fault - Thats all on Obama and his 'exit' strategy

More on Obama....

How come when the Democrats had control of the Senate there was little to NO effort by Obama to compromise?

Now not even 1 week after the elections and the Repubs will take control he calls a meeting to try to get everyone to start working together.
Yet he has the audacity to say if they don't he'll just continue to use his executive orders to do what he wants, especially on immigration.
If he had any common sense he'd know that he'd better NOT use any more Executive Orders or 2016 elections will be even worse for the Democrats.

No doubt, when it comes to working across party lines and compromising, he is the worst President EVER.

DUBYA
CARTER
RAYGUN
PAPPY BUSH
HOOVER
COOLIDGE