May 2018
I write you now from Singapore, but before we get there, let’s talk about by brief stint in Europe.
On the way to Germany, to store luggage at the school where I will be teaching, I had a 9 hour layover in London. This worked out splendidly, because Mom was in London and I was able to take a train from the airport to her hotel. Mom is staying at a wonderful hotel called The Goring. The doorman, George, was kind enough to provide me a tour while I waited for Mom to return from touring The Royal Carages. (Photo credit Mom)
The Goring is quite a magnificent hotel, with unique hand painted wallpaper in every room and a plush cozy meeting area. It has a fascinating history as well. Built in 1910 by Otto Goring, it was the first hotel in the world to have central heating in every room and is the only hotel in London to still be owned by the family that built it. (FYI, if you would like to be an owner, or part owner, of a hotel, I can help you do that.) The Goring stayed open during both World Wars, and became US Army headquarters in London in 1917. It is also where Winston Churchill’s Mother stayed during WW1. On a more positive note, Kate Middleton, and her family, stayed there before the Royal Wedding in 2011.
Mom and I had a nice lunch, including surprisingly delicious duck liver, though I did not feel bold enough for the spotted dick. Then we went for a nice stroll to Buckingham Palace, where we could see preparations being made for the upcoming Royal Wedding. The grand scale of the architecture is most impressive and I felt a sense of pride in that this country served as the founder of our own.
During my brief travels in Europe, I found a great appreciation for their design. For example, I was moving through the airports with over 150 pounds of luggage and needed to rent carts. In America these carts cost $5 to rent for a few minutes. In England and Germany, I was able to get these carts for free. The European system is brilliant! You put in 1 euro and it unlocks the cart. When you return the cart you get your euro back. This also incentives you to return your cart instead of leaving it lying around the airport.
It got me thinking how the European model is designed for people, while the American model is designed for profit. America is the best place in the world for you to make it big, but we need to make it a better place for the average person.
In America we are fortunate to have higher earning potential. We pay much lower taxes and face fewer hurdles in running a business. This is great, and we should acknowledge how the European system provides many advantages for the average person. Such as; low cost, or free, advanced education and health care.
Despite record low unemployment, over 40% of Americans struggle to pay for their basic needs and 66% of Americans make less then $20 per hour. America is one of many great countries and we would do well to learn from the strengths of others.
As a healthy 26 year old with no medical issues, I pay over $460 per month for health insurance. The average cost of a college education in America is over $150,000 and we currently have over $1,300,000,000,000 (that is $1.3 trillion, in case you have difficulty counting all of the zeros) in student debt. We can do better and we need to do better. For it is healthy, educated, and happy people that allows a group to thrive.
Consider this, when you trade goods, each party gains something, but sacrifices something to get it. When you share ideas, both parties now benefit from that information. The great thing about sharing information and ideas is that it yields a net benefit with no losses.
It is important that the world remains open to the trading of goods and information for us to continue to improve our beautiful world. Despite all the bad new we hear on a daily basis, the truth is the world is a better place now then it ever has been, and we are continuing to improve. Every day we have the opportunity to improve ourself and the well-being of others.
What positive difference do you want to make in the world?
Think about it, then act on it.