It's only my opinion, but the state of the current economy is a result of short-sightedness and the inconsistent way that individuals are taught financial math.

The short-sightedness has to do with the issue of instant gratification. This is not the forum for it so I am not going to get into it. However, the method by which people are taught financial math is for this forum. Here I am going to give you my opinion. Take it or leave it, it is only my opinion.

Too often the math for money is too basic. It's goal is to answer the basic of questions. How many pennies, nickels, quarters, and dimes make a dollar? How to calculate sales tax? How to calculate interest? So may think that is enough, but there is a lot that is missed.
People need to understand what to do with this math that they are taught and that goes well beyond the basic information that they are taught. Some teachers try to give projects to their students that will get them to apply what they have learned, and I applaud the effort. But more is needed.

How much more can be done? I have a few ideas but I don't want to get into them right now, but the key one is that financial math courses should be mandatory in high school. By the time a child leaves elementary school they should already know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, decimals, percents, and fractions. I did and I am from a middle to low income school district, so the school budget is not as relavant to the math department. In middle school (junior high for some) the students should be learning algebra, if they don't know enough to do algebra then they shouldn't be there. Hold them back! In senior high students should be given accounting and practical math courses.

What about advance math courses? If they want to learn calculus then they can take it as an elective. The majority of students are not going to become scientists or engineers no matter how hard you push them. It is not what they want. Maybe a psychological career placement test should be given to place them on the righ high school career path so that they will learn what they need to learn to get the career they want. Hmm, just a thought.

Well that is enough ranting for today. Tomorrow...stock picks and exit strategies according to my opinion.

Monday, the 23rd of February, in the stock market the Dow lost 250.89 points to arrive at 7114.78, a low not seen since 1997. As for the NASDAQ and the S&P, the NASDAQ lost 53.51 points to 1387.72, and the S&P lost 26.72 points to 743.33. Maybe tomorrow will be better. Probably not much, if any, until unemployment figures show a significant slow down.