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__**That Used to Be Us - Chapter 11**__


 * Please respond to each of the following as you would a virtual "gallery walk."**


 * Focus Areas:**


 * RD, RA: Bridges & Crazy Heart**


 * JS, CH: Brain Drain & Rules**


 * KA, DC: Million?... & Income Inequality**


 * CB, KM, AC: 2 + x = 4... & Chasing the Losers**

Q1: What is meant by the title of this chapter: "Terrible Twos?"

JS America is acting like a child going through a moody phase. KA: America is acting like a two yr old, in that the country is "thinking small and carrying a big ego..." Instead of one bad big decision, the country has made thousands of bad smalll ones... CB: America isn't capable of making rational decisions; without significant influences, America won't change or take any bounding leaps forward. RA: In the same way that a 2-yr old does not take care of herself, America has grown, but has not taken care of its infrastructure, economy, political system, et.al.

Q2: What examples do the authors use to support their thesis regarding the Terrible Twos?

JS Education has flat-lined. Infrastructure is falling apart. KA: Federal funding of research and development has declined 60% in the last 40 years. In 2009, consumers spent more on potato chips than the government devoted to energy R&D. CB: Uncle Sam Poster Analogy: 1st poster- "I WANT YOU." 2nd poster- "NO, WAIT. NOT YOU." 3rd poster- "WELL, OK, YOU." Final poster- "NO, WAIT..." Toddlers aren't capable of making an educated decision and sticking with that decision. RA: Condition and maintenance level of nation's infrastructure = D rating.

Q3: List two consequences the authors cite of how the Terrible Twos have had on the U.S., one of which is on the U.S. Educational System and one is not:

CB: A large number of high school graduates have low performance rates and aren't even eligible to enlist in the military. Today, eight other nations have surpassed us in college graduates, including South Korea. RA: It will now cost over $2.2 trillion to update America's infrastructure, whereas the cost would have been negligible had it been a priority to for us to maintain all along. As for education, the explosion of illiteracy rates will create an added burden on society.

Q4: Assuming you concur with the authors' thesis, what, in your opinion, are the implications of the Terrible Twos on policy at the Federal, State, and Local level, including here at TCEC? CB: The nation needs to step up expectations for the education system- something needs to change on all levels. The nation needs a wake-up call- a realization that we cannot maintain a steady line of barely passing. America will be overwhelmed and may possibly fail in the world without a collaborative change. RA: Just like a 2-yr. old has only a limited scope of reality, so too do policy makers as it comes to making real change. Thus far, their actions show us a continued unwillingness to really deal with what we are facing. They prefer to "kick the can down the road" in hopes there will always be road in front of the can. At TCEC, however, we can really affect change on this micro-level and hopefully we can "take the change to them" at least starting on a local level.