economicmultipliers_10

Economic Multipliers (10)

Do you know what these are?

Again: These determine whether we CREATE wealth in systems.

Time and energy are economic multipliers (if they ARE and CAN BE used well).

This is a call to the youth of this nation:

The law enforcement agencies need your help!

Let's start here: Any social problem that is created when you are young, you will have to pay for in time, energy and dollars when you older. Do you want to pay for a lot of PREVENTABLE social problems?

Let's go here: Technology and the Internet have made it a LOT easier to create a LOT of social problems.

Let's stop here: If the youth of this nation (who tend to be the highest percentage of technology users) do not start thinking about creative ways that they can help law enforcement agencies prevent social problems, the nation as a whole (and the future you could envision) is in a LOT of trouble.

Social Problem No. 1 (Note that I'm going to do a few pieces on social problems and have NOT prioritized on time, energy or dollars or what I think are the greatest problems. I have a sneaking suspicion that YOU know a LOT more about the priorities, problems and impacts than I do — which is why THIS is a 'call' to YOU) re. the changing drug scene.

Internet and Prescription Drugs

I'm a realist. If you're taking the time to read a page on economic multipliers, I suspect that you're the one who would be shown a large attic full of people sniffing cocaine and think:

• • What am I doing here?

  • Why is this person showing me this?

  • I shouldn't be hanging out with this person.

This was one of my 'youthful' experiences and in keeping with being a very 'unfun' person, we left the party shortly afterward.

I only experienced this once. I don't like to get people in trouble and never called the police to report anything. I always wonder whether I should have and also wonder what happened to all the people who were in the attic that night. This piece would be much more interesting if I could say that society has spent an extra 8.5 million in tax dollars dealing with all their problems. For all I know, they all could have turned into respectable people who have been paying taxes for years, have kids (maybe you) and no longer do drugs.

Today, because of the Internet, drugs are much more accessible and they are potentially much more toxic: Few people who attend parties can verify a drug's original source. The only thing you CAN VERIFY if someone encourages you to try drugs, take drugs or buy drugs is this:

This person offered me drugs: THEY WANT TO HARM ME by getting me to harm myself.

It's not possible for any single person to say that they wouldn't be the person who is predisposed to getting addicted to a drug. Some people are much more predisposed to becoming addicted than others. If you are the person (among your group of friends) who is predisposed to becoming addicted, I guarantee that they will not be your friends for long.

You already know that drugs can:

• • kill or disable you (you just can't know)

  • limit your LONGTERM ability to think clearly and stay focused on tasks (pretty critical if you want a good job)

  • ruin your balance (both physical and mental)

  • create a dependency you may never be able to overcome (you just can't know)

Now, schools have had drinking and drug programs for years and I suspect that most law enforcement agencies would say they can't keep up.

I believe kids like to test boundaries when they are young and like to do things that people tell them not to do (wouldn't it be great if you could tell a kid NOT to study and they'd do it as an act of defiance?!). Older people tend to hone in on risky activities that create a lot of social problems which for many kids is almost an invitation to engage in all sorts of risky activities and create all sorts of social problems.

That's why law enforcement agencies need your help. If technology is making it TOO EASY to create social problems, do young people have ideas as to HOW to help make it harder for kids to get access to drugs? Would they be willing to help the law enforcement agencies out just by placing a call or sending a text message if they believe there is a problem (or they have a solution)?

If young people NEED to engage in risky activities as a 'right of passage,' what risky activities would kids be willing to substitute for drugs? Do communities need 'scaling walls?,' parachuting classes?, 'drag strips' where races could be held once a month?, weekend workshops that offer an opportunity to build those fighter robots? If you look around you, you will probably notice open gyms at schools and events throughout your community which cost YOU little or no money that people are already paying for in terms of time and energy (and money and resources).

As a result, when you're thinking of ideas, say to yourself: this costs money. Who would pay for this? Ask yourself, as a current or future taxpayer: Is this something I'd be willing to spend money on if I was not going to be participating in it? Is this something that I would be willing to commit time and energy to if someone wanted to set this up?

NOTHING is ever free: Everything takes time and energy (and usually money and resources).

Your community is spending money on and for you to hopefully help PREVENT future problems that you will have to help pay for in current and future taxes (if they are not prevented): Is there any way that YOU can help THEM out?