Leaderboard

The US literacy rate is very high. Meaning most citizens can read, write, speak and spell. Basic education serves its purpose in that regard. Advanced education is available to those who qualify. Studies beyond basic skills in reading, writing and arithmetic are provided to individuals with an aptitude for it. IMO, the *problem* with our educational system is that it's not refined enough. There should be learning tracks similar to career paths. After grade school, it should be easy to identify whether a child is STEM, arts, humanities, vocational, etc. Schools should be set up accordingly. It doesn't make sent to force a child into an education that's of little to no interest of use to their needs. It potentially frustrates everyone involved (child, parents, teachers, community). To be fair, the US educational system already has some semblance of it in the form of private, charter and magnet schools. Home-schooling isn't talked about much but many parents have taken the education and socialization of children into their own hands. The parents are deciding what their children should learn rather than subject them to a rote education in a setting that may not be conducive to their way of learning and/or interests. Of course, home-schooling has to meet certain guidelines in order for the child to receive a certificate of diploma as mandated by the system. As I mentioned above, the US will have to get back to vocational training and manufacturing jobs. There aren't enough cubicles and offices to supoort everybody. Some folks don't want to be confined to a box. They just might want to work with their hands and mind.😎

Cool. It was just an idea. I'm sure the folks at MTA know how to manage the bottom line.😎

The question becomes how MTA can afford to *lose* $300 million and keep running. The fares being collected must be enough to finance the whole operation and more. Raising the fare a bit will cover the *loss* without affecting the customers too much or ridership.😎

I’m not so sure the bus has the lowest fair evasion. I take the M60 from LaGuardia airport to my old neighborhood in Harlem several times a year and nobody pays to get on and I mean nobody. I know that’s just one bus line, but I also am aware that the drivers aren’t really enforcing payment of fairs. people get on the middle or the back of the bus and it’s all good. The problem is enforcement across-the-board. The MTA has set a standard that the penalty for evading payment of ones fare is nonexistent.

@umbrachist: I was more interested in your motivation than your physics lessons. What goes on inside a person's head is more interesting to me than someone losing sleep over a brick and mortar scenario. To spend 23 years wondering out loud why others don't acknowledge what is obvious to you, sounds like an obsession. I'm sure you can relate to my reaction since I suspect you and others feel the same way about my preoccupation with the occult. Kinda like ProfDs fixation on reparations and Pioneer's fanaticism about race. Whatever.