Ken Yu's John Deer Life

Shaochen Ken Yu is a senior at Drake University. He is a part time internal controller at John Deer. He would like to share a few snapshots of his farm life.

FEI Lecture

Drake University will host a forum featuring national experts who will discuss solutions to the United States' fiscal challenges. Former U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker and Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby will present the Fiscal Solutions Forum.

I would like to share some good points from the lecture, as a citizen of the biggest "debt holder" to US. (just joking)

Happy new fiscal year(Fiscal year of 2011 started at the second day of the presentation)!

There is no doubt that US now is in a bad position in many ways many people don’t want or would never expect to be. Huge amount of the deficit is a big reminding right here waiting for a solution.

Social security, Medicare and Medicaid, defense and Non-defense are the four components of the government outlays. In FY 2010, the number of the four are coincidentally to be an average of 700 billion dollars with a total of 3.49 trillion compared to 2.14 trillion in revenue which comes from different sources of taxes. As Percentage of U.S. Economy, the federal spending in 1800 was only 2%, while in 2009, the number is 24%, and we predict the number in 2040 to be 35%. Especially the interest which is part of the non-defense component is flying under the radar but maintains a big base and a high increase rate, which contributes a lot to the big federal spending but not causing enough attention.

“Since 1800, U.S. Debt Held by the Public has exceeded 60 percent of GDP (the maximum debt ceiling used by the European Monetary Union) only during World War II.” But US holds 40% of the world economy since then, the dollars are as good as gold. Then the government starts to rely on the big deficit. Let the foreign government to hold debt to the US is not necessary a bad thing, but we should consider the sustainability of the gap between spending and revenue and the percentage to the GDP. The average outlays as a percent of GDP is 21 while the revenue to be 18.3, which left a 3% gap in deficit in GDP which brings concerns whether the economy is sustainable  at such level. However some people argue that the GDP has an average growth rate of 3% every year, it should be OK and sustainable to the economy. But in a long-term structure stand point, we can see that is not working. “Without reforms, by 2022, future revenues will only cover Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and interest on the debt. By 2046, revenues won’t even cover interest costs.” And future U.S. Debt Held by the Public is projected to soar if current policies remain unchanged, which means in 2038, US government will hold almost 300% of the debt as a percentage of GDP, and 854% in 2080.

In another aspect, the Mandatory spending is consuming a growing share of the budget which means that the Congress will have less control of the budget. It will be a very negative impact on the wise spending the tax payers’ money.

In another inception, the Social Security program has experienced more surpluses than deficits. We expected in the future, persistent cash deficits are projected for Social Security.  Social security has current beneficiaries of 53 million dollars and Medicare has about 46 million but the trust fund will begin permanently operating with a negative cash sin 2015 for Social security and Medicare has already begun. The exhaustion year of those funds are not far away, respectively to be 2037 and 2029.

 We know the tax will increase. Total tax burdens are lower in the U.S. than many other industrial countries, 28% compared to Sweden 48%, France 43%. Individual income and payroll taxes comprise most of federal receipts  Main sources of growth in the Federal revenue over the next 30 years will be individual income taxes, about 6.5% which has to cover the 6.5% increase in Interest alone and almost 4% growth in Medicare and not to mention Medicaid and social security.

Thanksgiving 2010

The invitation said "Just some quick notes- my Grandma's house is pretty small, so you and me might be sleeping on the floor. (oh well : )  ) Typically, Des Moines to Aurora takes 4 hours; it is a very easy drive. My Grandma's town is not very exciting, but we will play lots of games, and you can meet all my extended family!"

That was very true, and we fulfilled all our targets and had great time in Aurora besides my speeding ticket, God!

 Say hello to Amber, I was told to avoid standing in the her back or I might be kicked. Good surviving  tip!

 I had a bucket list during my internship, the things I should done in America. Now check off one!

 This is always my favorite part of the family decoration... Nothing intentional, just place them there when time goes by, and someday, you smile in front of the fridge looking those photos...

  Nurst, best game ever, very competitive and exciting! It was the calmness before the storm.

Last year Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday since I have been in States.  No offense to the Christmas or Halloween, it is just that I had great time during this period of time consecutively for two year thanks to my room mate--Carly Hurley.

Last year, I was invited to her house in Denver. This year, I was invited to her grandma's house in Aurora, NE. I am a family guy(not that TV show), so family time are really attractive to me. I know most of the time are dull, but I just enjoy the relaxing and simple pleasure of sharing your time and things with the people you love which is so rare for international students.

Last year--Denver

 Staffing, topping were new terms to me in the table, they had to check the dictionary when I asked why staffing can be two things.

 Carly had to hold me the majority of the time, but finally I could stay still or move like ant on my own.

 It is a very nice town about an hour outside of Denver, great skiing place. I had the best sandwich ever!

 We were driving west to Omaha for cheaper flight. Was that beautiful! You have no idea how expensive the flight from Des Moines to everywhere.

Outside of the art museum of Denver

I was trapped deeply...


Denver is a bigger city, much cooler(not the weather) than Des Moines, great view of the mountains, and awesome places for shopping and entertainment. We enjoyed the great meal Carly's parents prepared, black Friday shopping, ice skating(first time)...

Late Halloween Post

Halloween here is so much fun. Last year, I was working during that night so I didn't enjoy the craziness. But this year I know why the news say that Halloween consumption is only second to Christmas.

I was Cleopatra!!!

Halloween here sometimes made me feel that people are mocking the death...which is definitely a good sign in China. We have certain days that the underground spirits come out for some fresh air... Party, big no! We are still in tribe level. We bring the sacrifice to calm the anger and bribe some peace...

Look familiar? You are right, that is the bribe... the money in the second photo values 1 million under earth... impressive!

Money is not the only sacrifice, people are creative and considerate concerning the families' spirits

Besides the living necessity house, car, clothing, even certain special pharmacy product, mistress, in a odd way it reflects the society's twisted greed towards wealth, sex and other taboo... They burn all those sacrifice in front of their graves or the street corner. There is nothing fun, just dirt and creepy wind... 

What's loneliness?

How you know you fell alone? You pull out of you phone without a reason, and find out you spend 90% of your minutes talking to customer service from India or who knows which country... you take a lot of photos of yourself...you eat alone...you study alone...you listen to your favorite shows while browsing websites without a purpose...