An Objective Analysis of the Arbitrary Nature of Opinions and Mores is Essential to Your Success

What are perceived as "standards" or "the way things are done" is oftentimes set arbitrarily based only on that which benefits the individual or group who sets them. And equally as often, they are set to perpetuate the individual's / group's weaknesses and fears.

What does that mean?

For a few examples, let's go back in time.

At the founding of this country, certain groups of people were seen as savage, weak, untrustworthy, childish, and so forth. And they were relegated to second class status or lower. Just as in some cultures, Hindu for example, certain worth is arbitrarily assigned. If you were born to a wealthy mother and father, you were seen superior to everyone else, even if you were the nastiest person on earth. Conversely, you could be a virtual saint, the nicest person ever to live, but if you were poor your life was seen as holding little value.

And at times, these arbitrary standards or beliefs can be seen getting shot out of the water by great events, maybe a lesson from a greater power? For example, as I alluded to above, during the early years of this country, people felt blacks we're inferior, for all the reasons mentioned above. And that's why when they finally we're able to fight in the Civil War, more officers we're assigned to black regiments than to white. White officers felt that the black soldiers needed more supervision because they were more like children than men.

However, a strange thing happened and actually contributed to the war coming to an end. As black soldiers fought, white soldiers stood in amazement-especially Southern whites-as blacks not only fought with intelligence but bravery and honor. Southern whites began to see their "arbitrary" perception of blacks come crumbling down about their collective heads. Many Southerners began to loose faith in the cause. It was their fear and weakness that caused them to perceive blacks incorrectly that which could no longer stand in the light of the reality of war.

For another example, consider that prior to the late 1800s in the United States, women were seen as chattel or property of the man. There was even one case where a woman shot a policeman who came to her door and the husband took the blame because women weren't seen as creatures that could think for themselves. Since the husband told his wife to shoot anyone who came to the door while he was away, her shooting the policeman was found not to be her fault. Besides, at that time women we're not asked to make any decisions beyond that of what to cook and clean on any given day. Once again, "arbitrary" standards put forth by a group that merely magnifies weakness and fear.

Little has changed today. The issues may have changed, but to a great degree, arbitrary opinion and mores rule the day.

Case in point, a phrase from yesteryear that is still thrown around today: "a penny saved is a penny earned." Is it? Should we all be saving? Today, some say savers are losers because the gold standard hasn't been used since 1971, thus, the value of the dollar has declined considerably. If you look at what it takes to afford the essentials today (home, car(s), insurances, etc.) the truth of this point becomes evident. Also consider that the savings rate has dropped from as high as 11 to 12 percent in the mid-eighties to an average of 1 percent since 2000.

Then there's the myth of education, my last example. Here we hear such phrases as "No child left behind," "Education leads to a better world," "Education provides the American dream." And so forth and so on. But an education does not ensure employment, a sufficient wage to capture the American dream, guarantee intelligence, or an individual who thinks logically, critically, moral, or just. Many an educated person has proven to be unjust and poor in his / her thinking. But there's more.

Today, what is not being told to our incoming college freshmen is that there's a change in the weather. Along with the economic changes mentioned above, companies outsourcing, downsizing, the greater globalization of world markets--as well as other factors--are not being explained to college students who seek careers, careers that many believe will provide more for them than just the great struggle that is certainly ahead.

But these lies or mis-truths and omissions are being perpetuated by the few who benefit, those who are not adversely affected, so why should they care? Because of this they are not talking and too many students, young people, walk into traps that take them years if not a decade or more to recover from.

But bottom line is that in order to be successful, first, you have to go deep to see what is really there. Do your homework. Don't rely on existing popular notions, especially in rapidly changing world.

Many may say about education "If it ain't broke, why fix it?" But that's not the issue. What they mean to say is "Why fix it if in revealing the truth it will not line my pockets?" In most cases, if it's not a money maker there's no impetus for change. And education is not a big money maker. It's more of a money drainer. Even though many pay lip service to it, going back 20 years of more (Bush Sr. the "education president"), if America wants to get it done, it gets it done. Little has been done regarding education reform.

So what are the issues that may not be fixed or spoken of that will trip you up? Here's a few.

Few speak to the outmoded nature of colleges and universities-cumbersome vehicles that aren't designed to keep up with the need to rapidly train a workforce made of individuals who may have three to five and as many as ten career changes; or to the misguided notion that teachers are greatly responsible for educating our youth while the brunt of the work should fall on the parent's shoulders (specifically in secondary schools); that very few students entering colleges or job factories understand the dire need to think as entrepreneurs in a day n age of downsizing, outsourcing, temps and contractors, and a rapidly changing global job market; that once enough experience is gained our college grads must increase their financial IQ to move into being business owners (1 in 6 Americans now are) and active investors as insurance against dying pensions and social security fund. And so much more.

These are only a few issues that are not being taught, that is not common knowledge that could result in years of lost time and money left on the table. Many of the establishment have opinions about these issues that no longer hold true, not updating notions that may have been valid twenty years ago or more, but do not hold true today. They hold onto failed thinking like a child to his mother his first day at school.

More than ever before, we as individuals are responsible for ensuring that we are adaptable, flexible, and informed when it come to our educational, financial, social and political welfare. No longer can we rely on institutions-schools, colleges, government, employers-to provide. As the title of Alan Greenspan's new book states, we are in The Age of Turbulence. And there is much work to be done.