HETTY

Category: Government

  • College instead of Military

    What could you do differently?

    This is the choice I had as a senior in high school back in 1991, about to graduate and make my own way in the world. My dad died when I was 11, so my mother worked a lot trying to support my 2 brothers and I. Since it was a struggle to support the family on a single income, my mother gave me the choice of either joining the military, where I could learn a job skill or several through apprenticeships, or stay with my mom and brothers, and go to college for a formal education while she paid for my tuition and books. Maybe I could work a job to help with the fees.

    I had my reasons to join the military after high school graduation, one of them being that I didn’t want to burden my mother with the extra expenses of school. Learning a job skill, seeing the world, maybe toughening up some since I was a gawky nerd while in public school. I was very green, naive, and sheltered. But I would qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill, if I joined the military. I could go to college later, if I chose so. (I did, 10 years later.)

    Was the Air Force a good experience? Yes, and no. I met some good people, did go to different parts of the US and some other countries, learned how to be a professional military cook and basic service specialist, learned some military culture and lingo, and didn’t screw up so much that I was able to get an honorable discharge after 2 terms of service. It was sometimes stressful, sometimes loud enough that I developed tinnitus from the noise of war machinery, and I had to cope with the politics (workplace and geopolitical). I also developed habits like smoking and the occasional binge drinking, and I became more jaded and vigilant. I wasn’t burned out yet, but I lost a spark I had at 18.

    I started to go college when I was 27, sometimes older than the other students. While I did study and did well enough in some courses, there was some other courses I couldn’t keep up with, or in some cases was completely lost. Astrophysics 2 showed that I’m terrible in advanced math, and intermediate algebra seems to be my limit.

    I got so burnt out from reading college textbooks that I don’t have the attention span for reading books anymore. I’ll read online summaries or specific quotes or facts about a topic instead. I ended up dropping out of getting a bachelors degree partly cuz my grades weren’t good enough (with autistic spikes), and I couldn’t afford to finish college.

    So why would I chose college over the military after highschool? Money, time, and energy. I was more energetic, healthy, and idealistic at 17-18 years old than I was at 27-28, college was cheaper (yet still costly), and I would spend more time with my family. I would probably have a better formal education than I do now, maybe working as an engineer or professional writer. I also probably wouldn’t have developed the wanderlust I have for travel if I just stayed in my hometown, instead of the 7 countries I was able to visit while in the military.

    I’m not sure if it was a better choice, but maybe I would have chosen a different fork in the road knowing what I know now.

  • US Assets and Forms of Value

    US Assets and Forms of Value

    In the United States, value can be represented in various forms, and assets are items or resources owned by individuals or entities that hold economic value. Here’s an overview:



    ### Forms of Value in the U.S.
    1. **Currency**
    – Physical cash (coins and banknotes)
    – Digital currency (balances in bank accounts)


    2. **Financial Instruments**
    – Stocks
    – Bonds
    – Mutual funds
    – Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
    – Certificates of Deposit (CDs)


    3. **Real Estate**
    – Residential properties
    – Commercial properties
    – Land


    4. **Commodities**
    – Precious metals (gold, silver)
    – Oil
    – Agricultural products


    5. **Cryptocurrencies**
    – Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital tokens


    6. **Intangible Assets**
    – Intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights)
    – Goodwill
    – Brand recognition


    7. **Other Forms**
    – Collectibles (art, antiques, rare coins)
    – Business equity or ownership shares



    ### What Can Be Considered Assets?
    Assets encompass anything of value that can be owned or controlled to produce positive economic value. Common categories include:

    – **Current Assets**
    – Cash and cash equivalents
    – Accounts receivable
    – Inventory
    – Short-term investments


    – **Fixed Assets**
    – Property, plant, and equipment
    – Vehicles
    – Machinery and tools


    – **Financial Assets**
    – Stocks and bonds
    – Retirement accounts (401(k), IRAs)
    – Savings accounts


    – **Intangible Assets**
    – Intellectual property rights
    – Trademarks, patents, copyrights
    – Goodwill from business acquisitions


    – **Other Assets**
    – Real estate holdings
    – Collectibles and valuables
    – Cryptocurrency holdings

    This broad spectrum reflects how value and assets can take many forms, from tangible physical items to intangible rights and financial instruments.

  • Effective Social Programs

    Here’s an overview of key government programs that assist low-income individuals and families, both in the United States and internationally:

    –Special Note: Due to the US Federal Shutdown and cuts and/or defunding of certain government agencies, the functioning of some of these government programs may be more limited in 2025


    **United States Government Programs:**

    – **Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):** Provides food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income people.


    – **Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF):** Offers financial assistance and support services to needy families.


    – **Medicaid:** Provides health coverage to eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.


    – **Supplemental Security Income (SSI):** Offers cash assistance to elderly, blind, or disabled individuals with little or no income.


    – **Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) Helps very low-income families afford safe and decent housing.


    – **Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP):** Helps eligible households with their heating and cooling energy costs.

    – **Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC):** A tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families.


    **International Government Programs:**

    – **Brazil’s Bolsa Família:** A conditional cash transfer program providing financial aid to poor families, requiring school attendance and vaccinations.


    – **India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA):** Guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households.


    – **South Africa’s Child Support Grant:** Provides financial support to caregivers of children in low-income households.


    – **Mexico’s Prospera (formerly Oportunidades):** Conditional cash transfers aimed at improving education, health, and nutrition in poor families.


    – **United Kingdom’s Universal Credit:** Consolidates multiple benefits into a single payment to support low-income individuals and families.

    – **Canada Child Benefit (Canada):** Provides tax-free monthly payments to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children.


    – **Public Distribution System (India):** Supplies subsidized food grains and essentials to low-income families.


    – **Social Protection Floor Initiative (United Nations):** Encourages countries to guarantee basic social security and essential services to all citizens.

    – **Kenya’s Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children:** Provides financial support to households caring for vulnerable children.


    – **Conditional Cash Transfer Programs (various countries):** Many countries including Mexico (Prospera), South Africa (Child Support Grant), and Indonesia have programs providing financial support to poor families, often tied to health and education requirements.


    These programs are designed to alleviate poverty, improve health and education outcomes, and provide social safety nets for vulnerable populations.