Do you speak Chinese?

In the year 2011, this is a serious question that most Americans need to think about. This month, the World Bank organization released the estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for over 200 nations and in 2010, China passed Japan to become the second largest economy in the World. China generated over Five Trillion dollars slightly passing Japan by one or two hundred billion dollars. Although the USA is still number one and is two and one-half the size of China’s GDP at over fourteen trillion dollars, China is predicted to pass the USA in fifteen years. China has achieved an incredible growth these past ten years. In 2000, with a GDP of 1.2 Trillion, China passed Italy to become 6th. In 2005, China’s GDP nearly doubled to 2.3 Trillion to pass France and become 5th. In 2006, It passed the United Kingdom and become 4th – remember China was once a British colony. In 2007, It pass Germany to become 3rd. Now some might not be as impressed because China has a population of 1.3 billion people and the average income in 2010 is only $4,300. In the USA, the average income is $47,100 and Japan is $42,500. But the government of China has two Trillion dollars in USA government securities; so it clearly has money to spend. With the USA economy still mired in recession, terribly high unemployment, the largest untapped potential is in China. Do you speak Chinese?

Sources:

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/17/china-is-richer-but-most-chinese-are-still-poor/

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/09/our-dollar-chinas-2-trillion-problem/

Most NY students aren't college ready

For this week’s blog, my focus is on the New York Times February 7th 2011 article titled “Most New York Students Are Not College-Ready” by Sharon Otterman. Her article is based upon the recently released New York State “College and Career Ready” Graduation Rate Data. I applaud Ms. Otterman for vividly and candidly describing the situation. New York State defines college ready as a High School graduate who scored at least 80 on the math Regents exam and 75 or better on the English Regents examination. Using this criteria, only 22.8% - slightly less than 1 in 4 of the NYC graduating class of 2009 achieved the “college-ready” status. NYC reported graduation rate was 64.5% and so not even half of those who graduate are college ready. In upstate New York regions such as Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, the picture is even worse. In Buffalo, only 15.6% are college ready and it only has a 60.7% graduation rate. In Syracuse, only 14.7% are college ready and it only has a 49.5% graduation rate. In Rochester, the worst city in New York state, only 5.1% are college ready and a 46.6% graduation rate. What I like most about the article, is that Ms. Otterman doesn’t try to offer any solutions; she merely describes the problem. Too often, when a writer offers a solution and if the reading public doesn’t agree with the solution, they dismiss the problem. In start contrast and entirely opposite is the insulting situational spin given by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Feb 9th press release titled “NJ Students Most Prepared for College, Yet Achievement Gap Remains for Minorities 7th Annual AP Report to the Nation Shows” In New Jersey, unlike New York where all students are required to take 5 regents exams; he bases his findings on the AP exam in which only 25% of New Jersey Students take. To quote the press release “Wealthier New Jersey students are among the best prepared in the nation to succeed in college, according to the College Board’s 7th Annual Report to the Nation released today. But low-income and minority students don’t take as many advanced-level courses and are not as ready for higher education, further demonstrating the need to implement Governor Christie’s education reform agenda.” I am completely appalled by this biased, non-inclusive report. The goal of the AP exam people is to persuade more states to expand the usage of their test. New Jersey students are not more ready than New York students!

Sources:
http://www.nj.gov/education/news/2011/0209ap.htm

http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/115703004_N_J__students_score__resounding_success.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/nyregion/08regents.html

Mubarak vs the People and the Domino Theory

In my blog for this week, I am curious about the current crisis in Egypt. I haven’t been following the politics in depth and so I hope to gain a small amount of insight into the current situation. For now, I do not have a strong view and I’m not yet ready to take a side. I have read a few articles and have watched many news video clips online. I heard that the origin of the protest begin just in December 2010 when a street vendor in Tunisia publicly committed suicide, by setting himself on fire to protest government corruption. I cannot imagine such incredible martyrdom. Is it a pyrrhic victory? This act united many young people to take to the streets to protest rampant unemployment, police brutality, high food prices and a dictatorship style government led by President Hosni Mubarak. I read that the average Egyptian earns less than $4 a day. So why are these developments important to us in the United States? I mean there are so many injustices currently active in many parts of the world and they don’t get the coverage that Egypt gets today. From what I can gather, it’s because Egypt is the only Arabic state to official have a peace deal with Israel. So the thought and concern is that if a new radical Islamic regime takes hold in Egypt; conflict will ensue and incite other Arabic states. Should the Egyptian people have the right to overthrow their Government? Should President Mubarak be allowed to use the military to maintain power and continue his thirty year reign? In a developing country and a developing economy, regardless who’s in charge, the masses are going to suffer and have a tough time. Even if or when Mubarak steps down and the masses choose new leadership, there’s no way to know the likelihood of the successor’s success. I will pray for the Egyptian masses because I have a feeling that President Mubarak and his clique will be ok regardless of what happens.

Sources:

Q&A Crisis in Egypt by Chicago Sun Times Jan 28, 2011
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/3548174-418/egypt-middle-repressive-state-access.html

Egypt Unrest: Pressure on mounts on Hosni Mubarak by BBC news Feb 2, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12342215