The Knowledge Gap...Widening or Closing Up?

And don't kid yourself. You might think that this is only true of third world countries. No sir! The United States is lagging behind in K-12 education. And what is sad is that many in developed countries like the United States don't realize how far behind they are. They don't realize they will end up in $12 an hour jobs while their counterparts in other countries will sit in $50 an hour jobs. Recruitment is international now and countries are prepared to take in and compete for highly skilled people. It is happening now and it is happening fast. We used to steal the bright kids from the rest of the world...OK, OK, we still do...but the balance is shifting. The knowledge wars have just begun and we are shorter and shorter of foot soldiers!

A company in Singapore for instance will be prepared to hire a skilled applicant from the Philippines or India because they are willing to take less than $2000 per month and no American will take that. Companies are now moving base operations to countries with skilled labor....or should we say skilled talent....and are willing to work for less. The competition is stiff.

Institutes in Taiwan create partnerships and alliances with research institutes all over the world and translate books into their own language and disseminate these to their people to make them more competitive. In the United States, money for education change is being swallowed by some very ugly unions and a great deal of research that we used to own is being shipped to the talent....India and China. They are creating facilities and centers equal to that of the United States in key areas that link to their core competencies.

Countries are taking effective action to change the buffet of learning opportunities. But what about you....are you gradually sliding off the edge of the flat world like I was? You are what you know. You are not privileged as an economic player because you are a citizen of your country. That is no longer a guarantee. The Qataris complain that in Qatar, foreigners are getting the jobs. The Qataris are not. They have become the minority in their country and they complain that these foreigners do not teach them anything.

You are what you know. The barriers have gone that protected you and the jobs you have in your own country. Other people from other countries compete for those jobs. Companies move where they can get the best advantage for their shareholders and governments compete to welcome them with incentives. Some governments have become aware of the need to invest in knowledge. Singapore encourages even their older retired people to get into the internet. But other governments have lagged behind in providing skills for their people and families have backed away from helping young folk make good learning decisions. Thus, the reliance on foreign labour and expertise.

The gap is there and it will create other economic and social problems. Work needs to be done to bridge the gap in the areas that are essential to the quality of lives of people. The gap needs to be bridged in the basic knowledge essentials. Before we become overwhelmed by the social and economic problems that ensue, the challenge needs to be faced now. It must be faced by YOU.

Bridging the gap? How? Go on strike? Companies will just move on or out....hey Boeing...Welcome to the South east! Well done machinists in the Nort West. Only ashes left to eat.They will continue to do assembly in your country but outsource the parts somewhere else....hey Volkswagen....how come everything comes from Mexico? Well done the Euro entitled worker!

Managing prisons or fighting in the Middle East seem to be the main jobs that are sure to remain in country. You are no longer protected. Government regulations will not work as we tear down tarrif walls with WTO and NAFTA.. You have to compete. And what you have are your skills, your knowledge, your ability to apply such and innovate from it. The gap is there. You want to be in the leadership side of the gap not part of the whining stragglers blaming everyone else. The entitlements in this area ARE ALL GONE...OK, OK, OK ...except for some groups (???) who are absolutely professional whiners with way too much political leverage in many developed countries.