Month: May 2018

Happiness

Posted on by armenhov

Happiness is a natural human condition, we all feel it when we stop worrying.

So, as ridiculously cliché as it sounds, the phrase: “Don’t worry, be happy” has a bit of beautiful wisdom in it, though, of course, what I’m saying is not a prescription, but an observation. True: most of our worries are irrational and counterproductive, but some are useful, like those that force us to take actions preventing even worse worries down the line. Fixing a roof that is about to leak comes to mind… So, yeah, go ahead fix that roof of yours and you may feel a bit happier, albeit with less money in your pockets.

Disclaimer: I’m not fixing roofs, and I’m not associated with anybody (as far as I know) who may profit from your maintenance projects. Here, I said it, one less thing to worry about.

Social Security

Posted on by armenhov

This is a development of the original idea suggested by my friend Greg Shirakyan (who has since moved on to building Photographer Robots) on a fair and self-sufficient system of social security, and it gives investing in one’s children a whole new meaning. I have thought of many details of this system that would make it more acceptable for more egalitarian part of the society, but describing it here would take too much space; so, here’s the gist of it:

A certain percentage of person’s income goes to his/her parents’ retirement fund (I have some ideas on how to deal with divorced/widowed parents, more than two parents participating in child’s bringing up, etc.). If a person doesn’t have parents, her/his contributions go to the social security fund from which all retired people get their benefits, just like it is today, but in significantly reduced amounts. Childless people will have to rely on that minimal payment, which I consider fair as they invested less in their children and had the opportunity to save more into their retirement accounts, their own careers, etc. Same goes for the parents whose neglectful upbringing resulted in children who do not generate enough income to provide significant additional funds for their parents’ retirement. Children who care more about their parents (as a direct result of parents caring about their children) may make additional tax-exempt contributions. A part of the fund can go to an insurance fund for parents who lost their children to death or work-impairing disability.

Gifted Programs

Posted on by armenhov

I think US gets the gifted/advanced school programs wrong: instead of selecting students from ‘regular’ classes according to some, arbitrary, method, the right thing to do would be to start from the most advanced and challenging program for all (or, at least, for all who desires), then, gradually, move students who can’t keep up with the program to easier levels, with slower pace, leaving the option of going back up anytime (after all, it’s their choice, if they want to get bad grades). This will ensure all kids get the chance to shine, the average education level and expected standard will be higher (US regular school program is ridiculously retarded, that’s why we keep importing engineers and scientists from abroad), in addition, with this approach, the students will strive not to be considered “less smart” and will try to keep up with the “new normal” standard.