Opinion

As long as I can remember there were socks without mates in my home as a child. Mom always had the latest one from the wash to use for the “line rag”. She wiped down the clothes lines before she hung the clean clothes out to dry.

Why is this important? Let’s begin this series with some facts. The United States ranks 14th in the world in financial literacy.

Finding anything that is humorous or laughable, this time of year is pretty darn hard. Gloomy days make people want to hibernate.

“Improving financial education at the elementary and secondary school level is essential to providing a foundation for financial literacy that can help prevent younger people from making poor financial decisions that can take years to overcome.”

January means colder weather which means we get to set things on fire! Okay. Best fire practices include a fire pit or, in my case, a fire place. Otherwise, it’s arson. Which is bad. Unless you’re an arsonist. Then, I hear, it’s like, better than drugs good. Still illegal. But I guess some people can’t help themselves. Hence, prisons.

My friend was visiting a small city when she found herself waiting to turn left at a busy intersection without the benefit of a traffic light. Time passed. The driver behind her grew restless and decided to help by nudging her car’s bumper with his truck’s bumper. How thoughtful.

Winter Sunday afternoons are usually weekend chores, TV and a wild card, so to speak. The wild card usually says personal choice.

I’m awakened at 4 a.m. by the guest in the hotel room next to mine.

Never in recent history has a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the income and lives of so many individuals, families, and small businesses in America. Clearly, it has pointed out the need, importance of, and the urgency to implement financial education and literacy curriculums in our schools, K–12, and can no longer be ignored. Not having a foundation in financial and literacy skills has contributed to the mental, financial, and physical stress for those without a safety net (at least six months of income set aside) to cover emergencies, layoffs, medical expenses, and a full pantry. Add insufficient cash reserves and income to pay utilities, mortgages, rental expenses, along with auto, credit card, payroll, and student loan debt, and this enhances the makings of a devastating personal and family event. Why? Because too many parents, educators, and politicians have ignored, sidestepped, or refused to require in K–12 school curriculums specific life skills and practices needed to succeed in today’s society with its occasional setbacks and crises along with its opportunities. Financial literacy is imperative, crucial, and critical to the future of our country. Allowing or permitting ignorance of money matters to reign and be ignored by parents, educators, and politicians across all class lines is criminal, a great disservice to our young adults and future leaders. This must change. Additionally, the wealth and poverty gaps cannot be narrowed equitably through legislation, only through financial education, strongly supported with life skills, especially reading and math. The goal is to build self-reliance and motivational traits within students, traits to help them succeed and from which this country evolved. To legislate income equality without financial literacy curriculums to support it will continue to erode the economy, individual self-reliance, the family unit, and American liberties. Let’s not forget a desired outcome of financial edu

Football is just a game in my book. I watch the Chiefs.