Take a stand and protect our future
Recently in my AP Government class at Stevenson High School, we were asked to complete a budget simulation at the website of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (crfb.org). The simulation requires that some tough choices be made in order to bring the national debt below 60 percent of GDP by 2021. Some choices we had to make dealt with eligibility for Social Security and Medicare, taxation and defense.
In addition to learning about the messy decisions our representatives must make, it struck me that if this problem is not avoided, it will be my generation that will inherit the debt. This leaves us two reasonable options. Either young adults like me can hope for the best, or we can prepare for the burden that could be placed upon us.
If we expect to prepare for it, we must learn about the problem first. I call upon my peers to do all they can to research and take a stand on the fiscal state of the nation. Students, if you are reading this, you may have already taken the first step. Parents, start a conversation with your kids. Teachers, bring this into the classroom. This issue is above party lines; it is our future.
Sam Adler
Buffalo Grove