The English debate on The Theory of Everything by Thomas Friedman on Thursday, September 1, 2011, was a success in the NUCSI classroom. All five participants were actively debating each other and exposing their opinions on the article. Being the first meeting a success, all participants are looking forward for next Thursday’s meeting as we shall have new members participating and contributing for the growth of this activity.
Oligopoly – A market dominated by a few large suppliers or companies.
•The oligopoly in Israel is responsible for the protests and the expensive housing or rents.
•European unemployment of young people and income gaps (separation between rich and poor).
The common denominator in theses crisis is the inability of affording the “future” and what it has to offer. Friedman says the middle and lower-middle class across the world believe the future will not be accessible to them.
Globalization and advancement in information technology (I.T.) creates a gap between the middle class and lower classes. Friedman says “to get into the middle class now, you have to study harder, work smarter and adapt…”.
Keeping-up with technology
Today, in our classrooms, many students have laptops, cellphones with high-speed internet and iPads. Those that can afford these technologies are presently ahead of the lower classes. In the future, people will have to keep-up with the technological innovations or they will stay behind in their social class. But to keep-up with the technology, one must first afford it. And that is where the social-economic gap is created. Furthermore, to afford the future, one must have a higher education; and that alone is financially challenging.
Machines replacing manual labor
Another problem globalization and the advancement in I.T. is that robots, computers and machines are more than ever replacing manual labor and as a consequence, creating unemployment.
Future Jobs and more competition
Dozens of American colleges are occupied by Chinese students as half of them are getting perfect scores on math SATs and guaranteeing their spot in the future jobs and careers. As a result, to be qualified to work in the future, one must not only have a college degree but must be the best among the competitors as more knowledge and skills will be necessary guarantee a spot in the market.
"The future is closer than we think”
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