As the country figures out what the 2012 elections mean for certain policies and issues ranging from taxes, wars and the future of healthcare and education in America, I propose that we focus on the youth in America because as they go so does the rest of the nation. I do believe that if we don’t start seriously taking a look at the problems and issues facing young America all of our problems will become exponentially worse as the years pass by.

For example, let’s talk education. I don’t think any of the forefathers of public education envisioned a system that under-taught generations of citizens for decades and refused to reform itself. We must reform the American education system. Every reform effort is not perfect; however, neither is the current system, and we know what doing more of the same will result in — America sinking steadily in international rankings of math and science. It will take level heads at he table and compromise in order to save the younger Americans from growing up in a global society where they cannot compete.

Another issue that will transform itself into other problems if not tackled is childhood obesity. I don’t mean we should remove items from menus and limit the size of soft drinks, but I do think we must begin to get the average American youth active again, or we will face an ultra-obese majority of our population that will result in reduced productivity and increased healthcare costs, neither of which America can afford.

In addition to health and education, we must build an economy that can support a growing population and continue to provide opportunity. There has been an entire generation that has grown up in a slowing, receding or depressed American economy. We must embrace entrepreneurship and the ability of the private sector to create the “next” industry that doesn’t exist at the moment but has the potential to create tremendous wealth and employment opportunities.

We can either choose to give the youth of America an economy filled with promise and opportunity or the members of that generation will be left with no other choice than to be involved in criminal activity to gain income. The answer to America’s crime problem is not more prisons but better education and more opportunity. An educated, employed member of society is less likely to participate in violent crime.

Fix young America, and we will work ourselves out of the current mess we find ourselves in. It will take innovation, compromise and most importantly a united effort to provide the youth of America a fighting chance.

The last bite….

Courtney and I recently celebrated our six-year anniversary by having a night to ourselves over dinner and drinks. We went to Lilette on Magazine Street in New Orleans and enjoyed the entire meal from the homemade hogshead cheese to my braciola covered in parmesean and Italian red sauce. Nevertheless, the meal was completely over shadowed by Courtney’s dessert (I took a few bites) which was a warm almond tart topped with salt caramel ice cream! I give a meal enjoyed with the love of my life 5 out of 5 crumbs!

Buddy Boe, a resident of Garyville, owns a public relations and program management company and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears Wednesdays in L’Observateur.