Should economics be a required class in high school so that voters are not so easily deceived?

Question

So many factually inaccurate statements on here about the economy!

So many factually inaccurate statements on here about the economy!

In other questions people say things like "Bush has no control over gas prices" "the government has very little effect on the economy" "tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy create jobs and increase revenues". All these statements are factually false.

Answer 1

That and civics.
Voters THINK the government sets monetary policy...they don't the Federal Reserve does.
They throw around the term impeach when they have no idea what it means.
So many voters do not understand the separation of powers on even the most basic of terms.

A basic test on both economics and civics should be given when you register to vote. So we won't be ruled by the ignorant and apathetic...just the apathetic.

Answer 2

Of course not. Economics tells us NOTHING about the economy.Society is driven by the uncontrollable movements of wealth, and Economists claim to be able to predict, influence, and control this primal force to achieve certain goals.

However, the whole field is broken down into thousands of macro- and micro-economic sub fields. When governments and corporations make use of an Economist's services, they must provide that Economist with information produced by others of that profession, which in turn is based on other information provided to the economist by the sponsoring organization. Therefore, any given economist whose results were proven to be false can blame the data provided to him by the organization he is working for. Since all the data is held in this loop and the original source cannot be determined, the government or corporation must either accept the blame for the failure, resulting in the loss of position at the highest level, or carry on as though the economic findings were in fact correct. In all cases, the latter path is followed and the economist wins an academic prize.

Secondly, economists have created several systems of government and political parties around the world. This shifts blame away from economists and toward the political party, who will tell the electorate, and then a new party will reign until the economists kill them too. Sometimes, however, economists will call for a regime change. If their suggestions are followed, initial failures of economic predictions will be blamed on the newness of the new regime. Later failures are blamed on mismanagement by the existing regime, and economists will call for an election, invasion, revolution or other change. The cycle may then begin again. And all the economists win an academic prize.

Thirdly, their tenuous control over the flow of currency does allow economists to direct a large portion of the flow into their own bank accounts. This gives them power and leverage in many circumstances and has helped fund the international economic conspiracy.

THIS is what should be taught in schools.

Answer 3

It was required in every High School I have ever heard about.

Would not help though...the high school/freshman Economics classes are way too basic for the stuff that Politics gets into..they would still be confused

Answer 4

That would be up to Bush.

With the Bush "No Child left Behind"Laws only the answers to tests are taught in school.

I know it suggest a pattern learned in prep school ; but I'm not going there this time.

So Economics would only be taught as answers to test questions.

Would any actual knowledge of economics be exchanged.

Somehow even the school system is Bushwhacked.

Answer 5

I found economics to be very interesting, was an economics major in college. Most students would fail miserably, find it boring and uninteresting.

It does not help to force any subject on the uninterested, they will not pay any attention.

Which of us remembers what a gerund is?

Answer 6

Does saying something more than once make it more true?

Anyway, economics like most social sciences is more about opinion than actual qualified facts. If want to form a position on anything, I am sure you can find an economists that would support your position. Economics is not hard science and is filled with speculation and opinions. So...whose opinions do you disagree with?

Answer 7

Economics and how to balance a check book and you could even throw in how the credit card works.
It seems many do not understand any of those three topics.

Answer 8

Last I checked economics was a requirement, at least in NY it is.

How are they "factually false"? Supply and demand control prices.....free market society, government intervention in business is limited. Sorry to burst your bubble

Answer 9

I think each school district in America should have a year long required course in economics.

Answer 10

It was a required class in my high school...about 15 years ago. And yes...it still should be required!