Case Analysis: The Pennsylvania State University

Below is a (small)organizational case analysis on Penn State I wrote for the first semester of my MBA, which so interestingly coincided with the major scandal within the organization. I am attempting in the most unbiased manner I can write with, which is an almost impossible thing if you speak to anyone who attended the university, to asses the institution as a whole. This is not a paper centered around the football program, and to my dismay, I was unable to put much about the program into the paper at all. My focus was the organization as a whole, which contrary to the popular opinion, or at least as ESPN would spin it, is centered and solely around education.



Case Analysis: The Pennsylvania State University


 
Strategic Profile and Case Analysis Purpose

Despite their current negative media reputation and apparent lack of institutional control, one would assume the Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, is in a positive financial position and has the ability to, as an institution of people, to correct and move forward from any situation, even the very worst, which they are left with. Focusing on Penn State as purely an academic institution, not primarily on the athletics, namely the football team, which can be seen as the reason for the current issues, but also as a large, very profitable division of the institution. This organizational analysis will aim to show whether the actions, and inactions, of several, powerful individuals, encompass an organization in its entirety. Articles such as "Educating for Democracy: Penn State and Division l Education(Shatzky, 2011)" and "At Penn State, football is more important than morality and the law(Riden, 2011)" both aim to discredit the organization and state in basic terms, football is more important than education. Are they reporting the correct state of the university? On the inverse, a recent publication of the Sporting News stated that Penn State was tops in the graduation rates of the students that comprise the football team as compared to all Top 25 football programs with a rate of 87%, which also ties for 10th in all 120 FBS schools ("Penn State, Stanford", 2011). While athletics, and the football program will not specifically be discussed in detail as this only comprises a small part of the larger educational institution, the educational system and culture will be analyzed. Is the Pennsylvania State University an educational institution that meets its organizational mission statement or is this another institution that forgoes ethics and ignores academia and its purpose as a system of secondary education?

This analysis will determine the organizational position of this educational system as compared to the Penn State mission statement. Their mission statement, from 2006, states 'Penn State is a multicampus public research university that educates students from Pennsylvania, the nation and the world, and improves the well being and health of individuals and communities through integrated programs of teaching, research, and service.' This very basic goal of education is the top organizational goal, which would be the assumption of any university or educational institution; this goal is incorporated in the programs offered, including 'undergraduate, graduate, professional, and continuing education' which are programs that 'are enriched by the cutting edge knowledge, diversity, and creativity of our faculty, students, and staff '(Penn State's Mission, 2006).



Situation Analysis

General Environment Analysis

The general environment that Penn State operates in is very diverse and spans across the globe. Internal stakeholders include faculty and current students, while external stakeholders include the local and national government, the companies and organizations with financial and organizational ties to the university, and even, prospective students. This analysis of the general environment will start with the effects of globalization, which are very evident when speaking of a prominent educational system. The effects of technology and how this technology is utilized by the university will be discussed, along with demographic trends surround the Pennsylvania State University. Finally, overall economic trends and the political and legal environment will be the focus as both of these are integrally tied to the university as it is a public institution.

Globalization is very visible in the educational system at Penn State in its educational programs and classes offered and the international student presence. The number of international students that attend the Pennsylvania State University has risen by over 1,000 students in just 4 years; in 2006, there was an annual enrollment of 3,482 international students throughout all Penn State campuses, while in 2010 that number had risen to 4,985 students(Riden, 2011). This very visible statistic shows that Penn State is creating an international presence as a prestigious educational institution. This statistic also shows that globalization has opened a new market for prospective students along with a world-wide respect for the university and the degrees offered. At Global Penn State, the university's guide to global programs and initiatives, they state that this division of the university is there to promote 'Global Citizenship and Global Leadership'. The university acknowledges the globalization trend, and 'is committed to partnering with institutions around the world to help find answers to major global challenges such as poverty, environmental sustainability, food security, health, climate change, energy security, and social justice '. (Global Penn State, 2011)

The effects of technology and globalization go hand in hand as the university now has access to a wide range of resources to draw course material from, along with academia to collaborate with in all fields. Online programs and distance education are becoming the norm in secondary education. According to "Going the Distance: Online Education in the United States, 2011", 6.1 million students are taking at least one online course. The graph below from this study shows the increase in student enrollment for online courses and the exponential rise in the necessity of educational programs to include these courses that utilize the technological landscape . Their study also indicated that there has been a significant increase in the institutional strategy of learning organizations and their outlook on the necessity of online education. This has increased from under 50% of institutions believed in this necessary strategy in 2002, while currently, over 65% of learning institutions agree for the necessity of online education. In addition to organizations recognizing this new trend, student enrollment has also recognized this; there has been a 10% growth in online enrollment, while there has only a been a 1% growth in enrollment of higher education. (Allen & Seaman, 2011)

Penn State's online program, Penn State World Campus, is one such program which has recognized this need and has far reaching capabilities to all student's desiring to earn a Penn State degree. This program, which was the number 1 in the 'Top 25 Online College and University' according to Best Colleges offers the same degree as on campus students would pursue("Penn State University World Campus", 2011). Penn State also has a lesser known affiliate, which operates as a technical school, another increasing trend in the educational structure; the Pennsylvania College of Technology, founded in 1989, applies technology to the workforce as is any technical school's goal. This direct application of technology and the need for skilled workers has grown into the second largest enrollment of any Penn State campus and shows the increased technological landscape of the general environment the university operates in. (Pennsylvania College of Technology, 2011)

As stated previously from the study of online education, the demographic trend of student's shows a 1% increase in the enrollment of higher educational programs. Also stated previously, a demographic trend is being seen in the rising number of international students. The overall demographic in our society is also becoming more and more diverse, along with international students, students of all races comprise those in need for secondary education. In a report by the University Budget Office, just over 90% of all students in 1990 throughout all Penn State locations were white, as opposed to today's 74%. This shows a significant increase in the diversity of the Penn State population and confirms the ongoing trend that education is available to a larger audience due to an increase in technology and necessity for secondary education in today's economy. Diversity is a direct indication of the lessening of the technology gap in this world, along with a significant enrollment in overall student population. Also, from the University Budget Office's statistics on the current student population, student enrollment has increased by almost 25% throughout all Penn State programs in the last 10 years; in 2000, the enrollment was 81,270 as opposed to today's enrollment of 96,519 students. This significant increase is due to all the factors above and shows a demographic trend that education is necessary for success in a very competitive workforce.(Penn State University Budget Office, 2011)

The economic, political, and legal environment creates many challenges for all secondary education systems, including the Pennsylvania State University. Since the economy is slowly still recovering from a recession, the economic, political and legal environment that Penn State operates in as a public university has seen increased regulation and decreased funding. 'Devastating appropriation cut advanced for Penn State', an article from the Penn State affiliated site, Penn State Live, states that 'Penn State and other Pennsylvania public universities are slated for the most dramatic appropriation cut in the history of American higher education '(Powers, 2011). This reduction in state funding is evident of the poor economic conditions and continuing political budget cuts seen throughout all industries. The graph below from the University Budget Office shows the significant decrease in state funding for what is considered a "state" school. Also illustrated is the significant rise in tuition and fees due to an increase in expenditures and student populations, which rise annually.
(Penn State University Budget Office, 2011)



Industry Analysis

The service industry that is secondary education, and the other educational and research oriented services provided by Penn State diversely encompass all fields of study . Analyzing the wider range of educational organizations that comprise the industry can be done in a similar manner that one would analyze a typical manufacturing industry where products are bought and sold. However, analysis of a service industry with a very technical and vast environment is a much longer and arduous process. The industry analysis will focus on Porter's five force model: supplier power, buyer power, potential entrants, substitute products, and rivalry among competitors.

In terms of education, supplier power is not the most obvious force to recognize, especially when compared to the manufacturing/retail industry. The suppliers can be considered the materials and resources of scholars worldwide, the students themselves, as they are also the most visible end product as well, and the general standards and guidelines created by governments and other regulatory agencies. Since all of these are at an all time high due to demand for a quality education and increase in the technological environment, the suppliers to secondary educational systems have a competitive, yet fruitful environment. It should also be noted that there is a large reputational risk within supplier and buyer power. In an event similar to that of Penn State's current situation, this negative reputational risk will cause the supplier and buyer power to fall, creating a less efficient organization. The loss in reputation will cause student's, the supplier and product, to create less of a demand for the product that is a Penn State degree.

The next 3 forces in this model are potential entrants, substitute products, and rivalry among competitors. Potential entrants are innumerable, including other schools, online and physical. There are numerous substitute products for education, as most education is to find employment; there are trade unions, blue collar positions that do not require an education, and even self study, which has no cost to the consumer. Finally, rivalry among competitors can be seen throughout the industry as education is a profitable, necessary, and growing business; the most competitive educational institutes are those that have the best reputation and rank highest in all levels of accreditation and industry surveys, including the Best Colleges survey previously discussed.
Competitive Environmental Analysis

The competitive environment has expanded exponentially since Penn State's founding in 1855 as there are numerous universities and colleges in the northeastern United States, which can be considered the university's target market. However, with the inception of programs like the Penn State World Campus, this market has expanded worldwide and creates many more competitors to a Penn State education. Since education is a very broad but basic product, competitor's all have similar strategies, strategic intent, and strategic missions. Strategic capabilities, core competencies, and competitive responses are all based on the size of the organization, as seen in Penn State, which operates as a large, competitive university in many categories.
Internal Analysis

An internal analysis of The Pennsylvania State University would include analyzing the internal operations of all departments, the educational faculty, the administrative faculty, the athletic department, and the Board of Trustees and President of the University. A very extensive case analysis should examine all areas for strengths and weaknesses and key areas to improve, however this organizational and internal analysis will be very broad due to the nature and size of Penn State. There have been many facts previously stated about the Pennsylvania State University that have shown some key strengths and weaknesses of the school. To briefly analyze the University, an analysis of how the organization compares to the industry and the specific environment along with current financials and how they have grown and fallen.

The Pennsylvania State University operates as a public research university as it is funded, what used to be a much larger percentage, by the Pennsylvania government; the research end refers to the continuing research done by faculty and students alike. The below financials will outline that a majority of expenditures are placed within agricultural and medical research. A leader in research and education, the University Park campus is a top 15 public universities (US News: Top Public Schools, 2011) and also one of America's top Public Ivy universities, which are non-Ivy league schools that operate with the same prestige and educational level as an Ivy league school (Wikipedia, 2011). Penn State's main programs include business and engineering; specifically the Supply Chain Management program ranks 3rd nationally and the undergraduate engineering programs is tied for 17th nationally(Where We Stand: Current Rankings, 2011).



Identification of Environmental Opportunities and Threats and Firm Strengths and Weaknesses


A significant strength within the organization is application of technology within its structure; this growing area of opportunity in the environment must continually be emphasized within their organizational goals. Another strength is their educational product in key areas of business and engineering; the Smeal College of Business ranks 25th among Undergraduate business programs(Lavelle, 2011), and respectively, the College of Engineering ranks 25th among engineering schools(US News: Best Engineering Schools, 2011). This along with many other of their over 160 majors, according to the Office of the University Registrar, show a strong sense of academics as a key strength(Office of the University Registrar, 2011).

Currently, what was once considered a core strength within the organization can now be considered one of the significant weaknesses. Their current reputation due to the recent sex scandal has the potential of lowering student attendance and reducing organizational profitability. However, there does not appear to be a lack of interest in the university as a respected educational institution. According to a New Jersey article, a state that provides the most out of state students to Penn State, applications are up, at a current level of over 5,600 students. Anne Louise Rohrbach, director of undergraduate admissions states that in response to the demand of admissions and their standards, 'The applicant pool is strong. We're not going to lower our profile at University Park just to fill our spaces'(O'Brien, 2011). This article also states that the demand is such that only 55% of students are accepted into the university(O'Brien, 2011). So, one would assume this may not affect the university from a reputational standpoint as far as admissions, but should be something that the university addresses and works to resolve any gaps in organizational culture and infrastructure.

This loss of reputational status also presents another current weakness within the program. There was an apparent lack of organizational control which needs to be evaluated as just several months ago, the president of the program, Graham Spanier was replaced Rodney Erickson, along with several other key leaders within the institution. Such an abrupt change of leadership, without knowledge of the current case, shows there was certainly lack or organizational control. The leadership of an organization should represent the values and standards of the mission of that organization. The president should steer the organization on its planned course and advert any organizational disasters in an ethical and lawful manner.

A final major weakness can be seen in the funding of the university; since this is a public university, a portion of the budget depends on the state's ability to fund educational systems. Specifically, Penn State's operating budget supported by government appropriations is 6.6% of the total university's budget in 2011-12, while only 9 years ago, in 2002-03 these funds were almost 3 times the percentage of the university's budget. When shown as a percentage of only the Penn State University, excluding Penn College and the College of Medicine and the Medical Center, and also the university's law school in the 02-03 numbers, the significant impact of reductions is seen more clearly. On the 2002-03 budget, state appropriation was over 28% of the budget with a significant decrease to just over 14% of the current budget(Penn State University Budget Office, 2011). The graphs below illustrate this weakness in the organization, which creates uncertainty from year to year whether Penn State will be able to support its budget.



Strategy Formulation

Strategic Alternatives

To determine the alternative that would provide the most benefit to the university, very detailed studies must be done and plans must be formulated in a meticulous manner to successfully enhance the university's competitiveness. The 3 alternatives will be based on the 3 weaknesses listed in the brief SWOT analysis: reputational risk, lack of organizational control, and under-funding. To negate reputational loss Penn State should continue to operate in a ethical manner and evaluate the areas that have not acted ethically. They should also create positive reputational gain through philanthropic endeavors such as their commitment of $1.5 million of their share of their share of Big Ten bowl proceeds to charities that work to eliminate sexual violence(Boren, 2011).

To mitigate operational risk from the leaders of the university at all levels, the current systems should be evaluated and modified to ensure there are minimal risks allowed within the organizational structure. Also, strong leadership is necessary to move ahead in such a large case of how the lack of organizational control can hurt an organization that is as large as Penn State. The final alternative would be to create a successful budget that ensures the operational success of the university given decreases in state funding. Alternative sources of funding can be researched, including alumni, corporate sponsorship, and federally funded programs.

Alternative Evaluation

Eliminating reputational risk is a difficult task as this is externally controlled, however, if the ethical framework is in place within the university, the positive feedback will be given by the public. The university will be able to maneuver from any negative reputational loss in that the overall goals and culture of the school will still be in place. Any instances that would create a reputational risk will be dealt with in a determined manner that is within the legal guidelines in place. These instances will show any gaps in organizational control, which is the next alternative, and plans and procedures to move ahead and to close these gaps will be enacted. Lack of organizational control can be controlled and decreased by strong leadership along with a strong system of regulations and guidelines that give the most effective system of internal controls. Finally, underfunding can be mitigated by the plan above and is necessary to evaluate as the college has significant expenditures and must meet all debts in the time manner they have been allotted.

Alternative Choice

Since all 3 plans deal with 3 separate issues, the choice on selecting one should be based on the alternative that would show the most immediate and overall gain. The second alternative to evaluate the lack or organizational control would be the most effective, since the framework of this mechanistic organization operates around the top-down hierarchy of the President of the University and Board of Trustees. If a solid structure and strong leadership, that is held ethically accountable, were put into place, the reputation of the university would be restored and the most operationally effective budget would be utilized. Correcting the lack of control within Penn State, and enacting strong leadership, would have far reaching benefits that include managing these 3 weaknesses, but many other weaknesses in the organization as well.



Strategic Alternative Implementation

Action Items

The action items in the case of organizational control would be first, enacting new, effective leadership, which the university immediately responded to by hiring interim President Rodney Erickson. The next necessary action item would be evaluating the internal controls surrounding the office of the president and those of other leaders in the university.
Action Plan

Since Penn State is a very complex, established organization, they have already recognized the need for this action plan in their organization if they wish to remain a respected part of the educational and athletic community. The action plan outlined below, from President of the University, Rodney Erickson's website, is his promise to the Penn State Community:

1. I will reinforce to the entire Penn State community the moral imperative of doing the right thing – the first time, every time.
o We will revisit all standards, policies, and programs to ensure they meet not only the law, but Penn State’s standard. To oversee this effort, I will appoint an Ethics Officer who will report directly to me.
o I ask for the support of the entire Penn State community to work together to reorient our culture. Never again should anyone at Penn State feel scared to do the right thing. My door will always be open.

2. As I lead by example, I will expect no less of others.
o I will ensure proper governance and oversight exists across the entire University, including Intercollegiate Athletics.

3. Penn State is committed to transparency to the fullest extent possible, given the ongoing investigations.
o I encourage dialog with students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the Penn State community.

4. We will be respectful and sensitive to the victims and their families. We will seek appropriate ways to foster healing and raise broader awareness of the issue of sexual abuse.

5. My administration will provide whatever resources, access, and information that are needed to support the Special Committee’s investigation. I pledge to take immediate action based on its findings.

(Erickson, 2011)




Bibliography

Allen, E., & Seaman, J. (2011, November). Going the distance: Online education in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/goingthedistance.pdf

Boren, C. (2011,December 1). Penn State pledges $1.5M in bowl revenue to advocacy groups. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/post/penn-state-pledges-15-in-bowl-revenue-to-advocacy-groups/2011/12/01/gIQAL73dHO_blog.html

Erickson, R. (2011) President Erickson’s Promise to the Penn State Community. Retrieved from http://president.psu.edu/promise.html

Global Penn State. (2011). Retrieved from http://global.psu.edu/global/
Heller, K. (2011, November 9). At Penn State, football is more important than morality and the law. Retrieved from http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-09/news/30378141_1_joe-paterno-tim-curley-jerry-sandusky

Lavelle, L.(2011, February 27).Best Undergraduate Business Schools, 2011. Retrieved from http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/20110227/best-undergraduate-business-schools-2011/

O'Brien, K. (2011, December 13). College applicants look past scandal at Penn State. Retrieved from http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/applicants_look_past_scandal_a.html

Office of the University Registrar: Programs and Majors.(2011, November 1). Retrieved from http://www.registrar.psu.edu/programs_majors/programs_majors_index.cfm

Penn State's Mission and Public Character. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.psu.edu/ur/about/mission.html

Penn State, Stanford lead top 25 programs in graduation rate. (2011, November 3). Retrieved from http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-11-03/penn-state-stanford-lead-top-25-programs-in-graduation-rate

Penn State University World Campus. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.thebestcolleges.org/schools/online/penn-state-university-world-campus/

Penn State University Budget Office. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.budget.psu.edu

Pennsylvania College of Technology: About Us. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.pct.edu/about/

Powers, L. (2011, March 8). Devastating appropriation cut advanced for Penn State. Retrieved from http://live.psu.edu/story/51840

Riden, E . (2011 September 22). Number of international students attending Penn State on the rise. Retrieved from http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2011/09/22/Increased_international_ students.aspx

Shatzky, J. (2011, November 28). Educating for democracy: Penn State and Division l education . Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joel-shatzky/educating-for-democracy-p_2_b_1109188.html

US News: Top Public Schools.(2011). Retrieved from http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public

US News: Best Engineering Schools.(2011). Retrieved from http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings

Where We Stand: Current Rankings.(2011, September). Retrieved from http://www.psu.edu/ur/rankings/index.html

Wikipedia. (2011, December 8). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_State

IUP

In my application for graduate school, I must submit a 1 - 3 page paper outlining my goals. I assume this is solely to test my aptitude and writing ability, however, as no specific formats given, how and with what am I to proceed? Now a work friend was assigned, for his graduate program that he is actually accepted into, to write a 27 page paper on the next 7 years of his life, which is a similar topic but mine being not quite as daunting of a task, I'd say rather obviously.

Now to make a list of goals, I'd assume we'd first have to define a goal. I would define a goal as a target for one to acquire, loosely and poorly, the definition that is. Now next would be the background of said goal. Well, being brought up in a lower middle class system, you observe the many mistakes and perils of this life. And one way we can change our stars, if you will, is an education.
So, that would be the basis for my first goal. To always, with the exception of needed breaks, participate in some form of educational environment. I have had several years neglecting this truth and have obviously suffered. However, in the beginning isn't a new job, and for that matter, career, sufficient time is certainly needed for focusing on the growth of knowledge relating to that specific position. So I have not fully succumb to this poison that holds most back, which is inactivity.
Becoming a graduate in an MBA program is the first step in the fulfillment of this goal. Throughout this education process, i would like to also gain the knowledge and qualities it takes to prosper in any type of educational environment. With this knowledge acquired, I plan on continuing my post graduate degree with a masters of accounting.
This was my original plan with majoring in the Accounting field, however, I have unfortunately strayed from the path that would have led to being a CPA, also my original intention. Although, I feel that with several post graduate degrees and my knowledge of accounting, I could veer back to that path and be a part of a localized accounting firm.
In addition, to an education in business and accounting, I would like to continue learning Spanish, and cater to a multilingual community. This desire was brought on by a semester abroad in Costa Rica and a high interest in international business. This is obviously more of a dream, however I am conversationally fluent in Spanish as my stay was 4 months.

Golf

I have taken up a new addiction. Golf.

So, enough for the long, boring ride that is the reason where I must golf every weekend, sometimes twice a weekend, from March to November, which considering the area, Pittsburgh, is a feat(minus the golf game I've come to perfect).

My brother and I visited a course we played several times last year. Nothing fancy, a mere $30 18, but as we found the previous year, not too crowded. Well, that was last year; this year, which I assume since it is prime golfing season, there were non-stop groups playing. So, we had the pleasure of being paired with an older couple.

And ever since we left after the 11 hole(which I didn't finish, making it the 5 whole of that nature), because I want to be a better, different, and all around more God-fearing person. However, at this old age of 27(which I still contend I haven't aged in my mind since I was around 16), me and my brother didn't combine for even one of this older couples years on this earth.
They were very nice, respectful and all around non-nonchalant towards the fact that they were just paired up with 2 of the worst golfers that ever touched a green, even if that means shooting double par.

So, ever since our departure, I have been wrestling with the idea that it was alright to pair two 20 somethin's from Penn Hills(ie a step up from the hood) with 2 60 somethin's(I dont think its called that at that age...oh yeah, that's called old) from Hampton, the area of the golf course, and the park, and all the happy people that run and bike everywhere(try doin' that in Penn Hills, just bring a gun).

Excuse me for being facetious(I just learned to spell that), or downright ridiculous but I see nothing that can be in common there. And if there judge of me and who I am is my golf game, which what else is there on a golf course, I'm pretty sure they're hoping they never see us, in any manner.

Again, you must excuse me, my golf game is this bad. That I must run home and blog about it.

Plague

I was going to name this blog Content(with much consideration, I do not believe I need to make this point, as it is point-less and would infer that I keep up with this blog as I should and I write insightful things that more than myself would want to listen to, and I'm starting to count myself out of that one.

But, Content. There are too many of us who are content with the regular day and the constant motion of nothing in our lives. Thus, there is a plague of content(adv)(not noun). We are content to be whatever we want to be while just doing the same thing thats been done before. So, a constant repitition of nothing, just movement, in no direction and for no motive. Well, there's always a motive, but there is always a greater motive to act on a bigger dream/want/even need.

I don't write much at the times I start to be satified by the things around me, or too tired from them. Rethinging that thought, I actually can list millions of reasons why I don't write, or for that matter, don't do much that is productive outsiding of work(which is highly unfulfilling for any of my needs), and providing the basic needs of life. An even bigger contribution to my lack in writing, is I feel my ability is a downfall, thus I'd rather only produce a good product. This goes along with guitar, spanish, working out, continuing my education, even starting my cpa, everything(well, all that I would like to accomplish, hopefully we can bring it down to my personal level for a second)

We want to exist in a society that moves us forward, not us moving forward, but our enviroment is the one acting upon us. Granted, as I generalize, which I do, and in my naivity, also produce a lower grade product, I believe these words, or at least think them. But as I generalize, this does not apply to all, actually I run across many people who break my assumption everyday, but I am in the white collar working class, the bottom, yes, but I'm there, for better or worse(and most days its the latter, but thats to be expected, we're animals doing the jobs of the neurons in our brains(what?)).

Well, unfortunately, we live in the world, and the world has a poverty rate of some
percentage that CNN might tell me that would cause me to instantly cry. But this world, and our society, reflects this a hundred fold, as there is such a misguided balance of wealth(and power). (please don't read this and point wealth and all of my references to cash related items as purely that, but the lifestyle and the means ones are given.) This inbalance, is due to many factors as well, but one fact(or crazy opinion made up in my lost little head) is that most do not have the work ethic to strive to not be content with the whole, their life, their livelihood, and theirs and the people's around them's wellbeing. However, just to throw in a counter, or more of a justification, most have many societal, relational, and personal influences that affect their outcome, beliefs and motivations.

The inbalance in economy and status is due to most's lack of effort to create something better, which cannot just come in one aspect of one's life, but once a specific part is worked on(if the motivation is there, and the plague has not grabbed hold of them(I don't believe it's that serious, actually, it is)), work on the next.

We are in constant motion, i.e. time is in constant motion, so our lives should be as well. So, to be content, is not a motion but a lack of motion, or more so, a lack of productive motion. A friend of mine once put it right, 'Be happy with what you have, but never be content'.

Unemployment

As I stated in the title of this page, due to the education, as fine or invaluable as it may be, I am indebted to a large entity far more powerful than myself. No, not God (but Him too), the banks, i.e. the corporations of America (or of capitalism). This amount is obviously over six figures, and does many things to effect one's mental well being, their moods, their livelihood, but most obvious and important, one's finances.

This debt is a bit over whelming, but when compared with society and most of those living paycheck to paycheck, which per another blog that I guess I'm a member to, or whatever phrase is popular here, this amounts to 77% of all Americans. I pay my debt to my country(school) as a hard(I try) working bank employee; no, not bank is a personal consumer standpoint, an large asset servicing and holding institution(you can't even imagine the overdrafts we charge, so go to your local National City(:O).)

But, looking around at the world I live in, I should be very grateful to those banks that believed in my brain, to the school that charged me an audacious sum of money for some knowledge, and the cosigners that thought I'd make enough someday to pay off a mid-size house mortgage. Either way, all of my complaining does not amount to those who are suffering due to job loss, job insecurity, and an overall underpaid economy. My position isn't easy and its very unfulfilling emotional and soul-lessly, but it pays me an income that I can come home and be minorly comfortable.

There are so many that can barely find a bad paying job, who've also invested many thousands of dollars into their degrees, and continue to search for work, whatever is available. My significant other is in search of work after paying 20K plus(no blog though) on a tech school; my mother is desperately searching for a position with just 5 measly working years ahead of her until retirement(something she should be very thankful for, that and a pension, if that's still there) due to layoffs of a large hospital downsize. My father spent many years on unemployment and disability after being cut from the workplace; he died an over-tipped, well under-paid front desk attendant with 3 degrees. My girl friend's uncle spent the better part of 2 years on unemployment due to laying off by a large oil company that decided to go in a different direction. My own colleagues see layoffs in every area of our business as Indians are smarter, harder working, and better able to pronounce R's.

It's everywhere; so, should we be thankful of those government safety nets, however meaningless and unfulfilling they are. Yes, but at those points, the hope for a better day, at least a more prosperous one, is gone.

There's jobs. But there's also unemployment.

Motivation and Clearing the Air

I'm not for putting God into my writing because I feel that's one very sacred subject, that I keep close and personal to myself, but one I should share. I just have my doubts in my ability to arrange my thoughts in a manner that would not appear blaspheming. I do not wish to spread any unclear thoughts into this world that would be incorrect as the Bible has laid out.

I also come across this same fear when dealing with a word such as slaves. As I do feel our society has made the working middle (and lower) class slaves here and abroad, I do not want to exaggerate or offend those who have strong views against slavery. We are not slaves in a sense of any inhuman or abused nature, but in nature.

So, to just spread more confusion into my writings, I put those fore warnings, that I am not here to offend or blaspheme, but to inform and discover, personal and societal.

To keep the motivation that I long to always come to this point and express my views and opinions is not an easy task, but is anything in this world? So, to sit here and complain about motivation and the like, is unnecessary and unproductive. I simply feel that desperate situations, i.e. 100K plus, do not agree with a lifestyle of motivation and hope. As all have a breaking point and most just are here to live. I'd rather prosper, but wouldn't we all. But even more so, I'd rather contribute. So here I lay, working my mind to put the nonsense that I believe and have been taught into words, ideas, and possible even a well-conceived blog.

Socialism and Social Activistists

Now, to think that I could sit here and elaborate on such a broad topic as I have chosen for this title is giving myself way too much credit and not understanding that broad topics are infinite in matter. We ALL believe different things and think differently.

To think socialism is all wrong is either ignorant or arrogant. But most in a middle class society and higher have chosen to take such views that were hand fed by propaganda, whether government or corporation or other interest based. There is nothing wrong with everyone in a society not living under a set of standards, and to disagree is inhuman, but in America, widely accepted. We already have many systems set up to assist the poor and diseased in this society, so how far are we from a socialist world in America can we say we have become. At least in socialism there is an all encompassing work force, which, yes, there would be the non-workers, as there are now. But at least there are the positions, jobs, to accommodate the many that are job-less. Workers would feel slighted, as they do now, that about at the very least 30% of a taxed position is to feed those who don't feel like working. Obviously, there is some sarcasm, as there are the lazy, but there are also the less fortunate.

Well, we (I) can bitch all I want, but that will do none the less to add to the trillions of words that are spoken/written/and thought on the subject of personal macroeconomics. We(most of us, as 1% have 95% of the wealth in our world) are born as slaves. And I hate to add that as most in America put the connotation of slavery as in African American slaves, but what is failed to point out because there were many problems in the founding of this country that were very race related, is that white Europeans held the wealth, so they held the power, and the ease to enslave.

But I put slavery in a more broad sense, not a racist or derogatory terming, but we are no more paid workers than we are slaves. We, with the exception of those who cheat and live under the system, but we are slaves that decide to work with the system. Slaves that do have a higher standard of living, a guarantee for food and shelter, and the like. But slaves as there is no choice, we must work and after our education is complete, we must spend a majority of our waking moments at positions that are not pleasing nor fulfilling. Not the American dream that was the fiction we were so happily told. Slaves to a system, slaves to a government.

So, here is where I have turned my head in past writings, for hopes that I may be some famous published (secular) writer, that God has called us to this world, which He knew was broken. So, we as people, Christian and non-believer alike, are called here to be slaves. And luckily in America, you can chose a lower standard of living and not work as you were intended too, which obviously hurts your being, but also harms the whole in which we all reside. But God has called us to be His slaves, and to be the world's slaves.

So, I do not know where my writings head, but I pray and hope, I can write with more heavenly influence, that I may not perpetuate a system that I can neither buy out of or demolish, but unearth some Godly ideas for a broken system.

We are social, so to put negative connotations on a system such as socialism is entirely contradictory and blasphemy on our very nature. But it is also America, because we, downwards and upwards of the economy, are mainly a prideful greedy and self serving community.

So, how is this a community? It is not, it is a broken community, because self-serving and community are entirely contradictory and incorrect in manner. But nevertheless, that is what we are and have become.

So, where does this end? In education, in activism, in charity, in us.