Reading the introduction of Naked Economics, opened my mind to the importance of subject and how before now I had been dancing around in the land of pure idiocy when examining my future plans.
The idea that economics can cause the existence of entire countries to be nullified ["...why basic economics made the collapse of the Soviet Union inevitable (allocating resources without a price system is overwhelmingly difficult in the long run)"] or that my potential desire to procreate in the future may put my similarly important desire to have a career in jeopardy ["...why mandating more generous maternity leave benefits may actually be detrimental to women (employers may discriminate against young women when hiring)"] freaks me out. Wheelan states that "the vast majority" of students will not "stick with the discipline long enough to appreciate the 'big picture'". I do not want to be that kind of economics student.
When I leave high school and bound into that cold yet exciting adventure called "real life", I want to know exactly what in the heck I am doing. When I vote, I want to vote for someone who knows how to deal with the national debt and the cost of health care. When I apply for a job, I want to know the real cost of my benefits. I don't want to be "economically illiterate". I realize now more than ever that this course and this book will launch me into quite a different life than the one I was expecting for myself. I can't wait to delve into the "provocative, powerful and highly relevant" subject of economics and be able to emerge as a person who can contribute to future society instead of just floating along on the waves of ignorance that I had previously be surfing on.
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