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Jessica Alba

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It's Our Time to Invest in Our Youth

Posted: 06/29/2012 11:27 am

Like all parents, I want my girls to grow up in a world where they can pursue their dreams, build the career they imagine and ultimately have more opportunities to succeed than generations past. But with today's economic climate, I see the challenges young Americans currently face -- mounting student loan debt, underemployment and even unemployment. I think about what this could mean for all our children, and I know I want them to have a better, brighter future.

This is why I've joined forces with OUR TIME, an organization that advocates for the rights of young Americans, and ServeNext.org to push for one million new national service jobs. While creating these opportunities is not the only answer to the social problems we face and it might not be the perfect solution, I do think it is one step we can take together to improve these frustrating statistics. And I believe supporting additional AmeriCorps educational, environmental, health, and economic development efforts will positively impact our country not just today but when our children are in our shoes.

By investing now in the training, personal development and productivity of our youth, we're also helping future generations who would otherwise be burdened by our choices and instead are paving the way for them to truly make meaningful contributions to their communities. That's why I have launched this video in support of OUR TIME and their one million new jobs initiative.

 

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Like all parents, I want my girls to grow up in a world where they can pursue their dreams, build the career they imagine and ultimately have more opportunities to succeed than generations past. But w...
Like all parents, I want my girls to grow up in a world where they can pursue their dreams, build the career they imagine and ultimately have more opportunities to succeed than generations past. But w...
 
 
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10:28 PM on 07/02/2012
Steer your daughters into the financial sector for job security in a can't lose environment.
03:52 PM on 07/02/2012
There is no difference between Republicans and Democrats so it's time to lay off the political rhetoric.

I can tell you one thing though... the answer to the economic woes facing our youth will not be solved by offering a million government jobs and increasing spending.
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11:15 AM on 07/06/2012
Increasing spending will help solve young people's economic woes. Money from a government job is still money that will be spent on food, rent, and discretionary purchases which will boost the economy.
Maybe some time in the future this will be a problem, where millions get government jobs and than the government goes bankrupt and unemployment balloons but this is not an immediate concern. On the day after US credit was downgraded by 1 agency treasuries sales surged and our borrowing cost fell. US credit is still considered a safe haven asset so it seems foolish to me to cut spending (hurting money being put into the economy) when we can still borrow at good rates. Let's cut spending when the economy is booming, lets cut it a lot. But when the economy is hurting it doesn't make any sense to quickly put less and less money into the economy.
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s3dg
03:37 AM on 07/02/2012
friggin' patriarchy.
11:48 PM on 07/01/2012
People that hate change are mostly Republicans. We need to move forward.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
psnyder325
Yep, I'm a Socialist. Deal.
08:20 PM on 07/01/2012
If you want this to happen, vote AGAINST Republicans everywhere you can. Try putting Progressives (not DINOs or just Democrats, but PROGRESSIVES) in office for once. And watch our country turn around.
02:33 PM on 07/01/2012
is the best
get worse

Typing Fast and Furious, Forgive Me! :)
02:31 PM on 07/01/2012
I understand now, but I still say we all.........................ALL............................Need Help!

Please people vote to heal, not to hurt Nov 6 we need freedom of choice and free living, I know who the best for that, I hope you do. Sometimes change is good, we can't worse, we are almost in a second recession.

Think!
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brettrobbins
12:08 PM on 07/01/2012
that scene from Sin City
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sabrinamatias
bribe the public with the public's money
10:56 AM on 07/01/2012
Why should we pay any attention to actresses for policy advice?
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11:30 AM on 07/01/2012
It's people like you who bring all suggested advancements to a screeching halt. What about her proposal offends you? Please be specific. Otherwise you're just blowing smoke....
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psnyder325
Yep, I'm a Socialist. Deal.
08:21 PM on 07/01/2012
He or she is a Republican and, so, definitely blowing something.
11:45 AM on 07/01/2012
because she just got your attention? we should pay attention to u instead?
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yintwin
03:12 AM on 07/01/2012
I would agree that our youth need investing in. But I don't see anything clearly defined here. Education is supposed to prepare the next generation for the world they are emerging into. If we take a look at the world and its current path, we will see that the type of education our kids need will be totally different. We've entered the global era, where its becoming more apparent to what extent our actions affect the greater whole. Take the economy as an example of this - where economic ties are so intricate, if one country stumbles it affects the whole world.
We need to prepare the next generation for this level of interconnection. Essentially humanity is traveling down a new road, and beyond knowledge, education must cultivate a 'new human being' so to speak. One who is aware of him/herself and the world he/she is going to live in. One who is capable of creating healthy interactions with others. And one who is capable of conducting one's life as part of an interconnected system of which we are all members, rather than a separated individual focusing on personal survival.
To offer our kids and the next generation the best chance to survive and thrive and repair the extensive damage that we have done, it is time for us to learn and teach them about mutual responsibility. www.mutualresponsibility.org
02:20 AM on 07/01/2012
wish the investment in my youth hadn't been "No Child Left Behind" followed by the greatest financial collapse since the great depression.

should have taken acting lessons!
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shrlnb
01:46 AM on 07/01/2012
Everyone uses "children" in their cause to keep it away from criticism. I do not want to have to pay for someone's college loans because they got a worthless degree and felt they were too good to take a minimum wage job. It is already common knowledge that college degrees are worthless so why not take a job instead and reduce the need for immigration?
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psnyder325
Yep, I'm a Socialist. Deal.
08:25 PM on 07/01/2012
Well, if we got rid of all uncompassionate and hard hearted Republicans like you, there would be plenty of jobs. There ARE no $8 an hour jobs for them to TAKE out there. There are 10 - 15 applicants for each available job. What don't you people GET about this???
03:39 PM on 07/02/2012
10-15 yeah. for the wrong type of applicant. And I don't have an 8 an hour job ~ never have.
It can be done. but handing you a great paying job is not going to happen. you want that? then seek it out, earn it.
01:31 AM on 07/01/2012
Just end work visas. Why in the world is the federal government importing foreigners to take jobs in the US?!

H-1b fraud is real. So why do Democrats support H-1b? And why haven't we ended normalized trade with slave labor communist China? Why haven't we ended NAFTA? Obama instead just signed three more free trade deals.

Finally look at illegal labor. Why hasn't Obama called for prison time for employers of illegals? Instead Obama is working amnesty for illegals.

How bad does poverty have to be in the US before DC's war on US workers is taken seriously?!
10:47 AM on 07/01/2012
because all the polititions have their hands out for the cash and it doesn't matter who they take it from. Both sides are crooked to the core..
nschomer
Scientifically Progressive Libertarian Socialist
12:53 PM on 07/01/2012
I agree, but neither of the two major parties gives a s**t, and none of the potential third parties is taken seriously by the media. Last time I joined a protest for greater representation of ideas in the presidential race (trying to get more than two voices at the 2000 Bush v. Gore debates), I got a nightstick to the kneecaps, and a bloodied American flag (we were holding up an American flag, the police were beating us through it). So good luck.
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12:59 AM on 07/01/2012
i totally agree with her. we have to provide our youth, with the best education, and the best opportunities, but we'll never get that under republican control....theirplans, cutting billions from educational funding, while they give their corporate pals, billions in tax credits. as far as opportunities, the republicans stood by, while their billionaire corporate pals, re-located operations to foreign countries, outsourced american jobs... r-money and his Bain Capital coherts, invested in companies that specialized in outsourcing american jobs. while governor, this guy outsources state jobs to India.... they talk about wasteful spending, but are all for a never-ending war, and spending five times the amount on defense, than china spends. generations will be paying for their unwarranted wars....we all want our youth to have a better, brighter future, but that will never happen if the repubs have control... keep them out...OBAMA 2012
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05:56 AM on 07/01/2012
http://www.skymachines.com/US-National-Debt-Per-Capita-Percent-of-GDP-and-by-Presidental-Term.htm

As of 12/31/00 (Clinton admin) national per capita Debt was $20,067
As of 12/31/08 (Bush admin) national per capita Debt was $35,153
That's an avg. increase of $1885.75 per capita annually during the Bush administration.
As of 12/31/11 (Obama admin) national per capita Debt was $48,358
That's an avg. increase of $4401.66 per capita annually during this administration.
At that rate, by the end of an 8-yr term per capita debt will be $70,366
National insolvency is not exactly the legacy that I'd like my children to inherit.
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11:15 AM on 07/01/2012
well of course, the two unwarranted wars, created by goeorge and dick, that collin Powell claims were unjustified and unwarranted. generations to come, will be paying for these two wars, price tag, in the mega trillions. isn't it ironic, hilaburton recieved most government contracts, i wonder how much they profited of the two wars. i wonder how they got all the contracts???
macchugsid
Conservative Progressive: Hey, it could work.
01:17 PM on 07/01/2012
If you include the 2 off the books wars in the Bush numbers he would be the highest per capita increase.
12:30 AM on 07/01/2012
Believe me, I've invested plenty in my kids.