We need to do a better job of teaching our children in school about proper money management.

That's your problem. You want schools to be a substitute for what parents should be doing instead. Depending more on government and social institutions to do what's right is not the answer. Why would any parent depend on a stranger to instill proper values in their child is not only stupid, it's immoral. Past history and the present are proof. Kids popping out kids is a great example of this. Parents need to take responsibility for their children's future and well being and that doesn't mean just putting them on a bus to school. Having them goes way beyond just feeding and putting roofs over their heads.

I see that you are part of your family business. Were you schooled privately too? Not everyone has the opportunities that you have had and so they may not have the necessary tools to teach their children money management and/or they may be among the many employed who do not make enough income to cover all normal bills (I am speaking of the usual such as rent/mortgage, utilities, food ).

There may also be plenty of adults who came from such situations yet managed to obtain better jobs yet they still did not have the opportunity to learn money management skills. I would venture to say that many college educated have not necessarily been taught money management skills either. Should this be a reason to deny money management skills to the current youth of today? I think not.

I like you grew up in a family business and was taught money management by my parents yet I would never assume that all children had those opportunities or that their parents were lazy simply because they had not been taught such skills.

When parents are not able to give these children necessary life tools that will help their children to make it in this world better than they did schools should be doing more to help prepare these children to be better adults.

We, as parents expect schools to be providing our children with the necessary tools to survive that will enhance the tools that we give our children daily such as respect for others, morals, etc.

I feel that you have missed out on some important tools in life.

I'm so glad my parents gave me the tools to understand all people's needs and not just those that pleased me.

You should think instead of feel and that's your problem. You can't feel your way through life.

So in your mind that means that we shouldn't hold people up to be responsible citizens?

To produce offspring only when they are capable of raising them properly? Sure toss that to the state as well.

My gawd, a society full of people shirking their duties to their children. And the downward spiral continues.

If you do not have feeling for what the problems are then how can you effectively change them? It takes more than brains to make things work out Jim.

If you want to see irresponsibility run amok then look no farther than our own government leaders these past 8 years.

The facts are that they are here now and we need to be able to teach them better tools so that society does not continue to disintegrate.

You seem to have no problems with the leadership today that have wasted trillions of dollars on unnecessary and immoral warsI guess flying jets into the twin towers was moral? You seem to have no problem with the CEO's who have bilked billions in unearned bonuses and raises when their companies have indeed failed. I'm sorry but you do not give failing companies pats on the back and bailouts (corporate welfare). You give them the boot!!!!

The problems stem from a society that thinks that schools are there to teach kids morals and values and to get them ready for life's ups and downs. No, school is there to give kids knowledge to function. Parents need to teach their kids about responsibility to thrive.

That's even more of reason to not hand government more control over your children's fate.

I guess flying jets into the twin towers was moral?

What does this have to do with parents raising their kids properly?

If schools are mandatory then they should be teaching children life skills that are necessary to survive.

And you believe everything media spouts off about I guess? Forget the twin towers for a moment Jim and realize that millions of people have been killed. Don't you think we have gotten enough revenge by now?

Someone raised those men and women, didn't they.

Past history and the present are proof.

How about the people who just blow their money be the ones that suffer instead of us who saved and used our heads?

Can we start with the big three auto makers, go to the huge banking corporatons? I fail to see how bailing out the above will help? The big three are already asking for more? Why not give them a shot of tough love & cutting them off financially?

Sorry I dont want to drive a Toyota or a Chinese car...ever.
They are part of American culture.
Its Ford or Gm or a Euro car for me.[/quote}

The only problem with that being that many of the American made cars have foreign parts, just as many American made products as made out of our country now. Does that change the fact that they are pushing for more money although they've already gone through how many millions?

Then, we blame common people for not understanding and being irresponsible with their credit cards.

Greed always wins !!