Smelling The Coffee: 2010

Many of you have heard the phrase, Wake Up And Smell The Coffee! This topic is about focusing a discussion on news, trends, and patterns that we as a nation and as individuals need to become aware of as we enter the new year, 2010. Specifically, what are some of the events happening throughout the world that we would do well to pay close attention to? What are some of the domestic problems that if left unsolved will only get worse and, in time, do as much as bring the country down?I shall get the conversation started.

The National Debt. A few years ago, I had around five credit cards and found them creeping steadily higher. On paper, I had the ability and the means to continue paying them, but did not pay attention to the larger and larger percentage of interest and smaller and smaller percentage of principal that was getting paid. Soon, they overwhelmed me. The same will happen, I fear, with our national debt. Will the day come when every penny of taxes collected by the U.S. be used to pay only the interest payment on the growing debt? Will we as a country default?

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The demographics of many Third World impoverished nations shows 50% of the population under the age of 16. Knowledge is increasing globally, and with knowledge comes a natural hunger and desperation to succeed. In contrast, the demographic population of the Western Nations is getting older, even as we struggle with higher and higher debt repayments. Will there be a tipping point? Will the monopoly of power that the Western Nations hold come tumbling down? Will terrorism ever go away? In order to fix the problem, must we be the ones to fix it? Can we fix it, given our own challenges?

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Education is a necessity. Will we be able to convince the population that education...unbiased, logical and scientific education...is the only thing that will save our nation?

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Edited by Phat, : dropped global warming. Other threads address it already

Does anyone else have any predictions for what challenges we as a nation may face within the next ten years?

I think that religious fundamentalism is one of the chief reasons for international terrorism. And the only challenge regarding tackling problems on an international level is consensus. Is it possible?

So in a few sentences, explain the difference between secular education and christian education.I agree with those who say that education is not based on belief but on logic, reason, and reality. Am I wrong?

Lets assume for a moment you are right. If so, what do you propose be done? Kill all the rats? The problem is that foreign folks tend to look upon this whole thing as a David versus Goliath battle...problem being WE are Goliath.