QuestionerDo you think that financial literacy should be a standard part of the curriculum in our nation's schools? And if so, how early do you think it should begin? And what do you think some of the most important learning goals would be?
WarrenWell, certainly the earlier, the better. I mean, habits are such a powerful force in everyone's life. And certainly good financial habits. You know, I see it all the time. I get letters every day from people that have committed some kind of financial lunacy or another, but they didn't know was lunacy and they never, you know, they didn't get taught that. Their parents didn't teach it to them. And digging yourself out of the holes that financial ill literacy can cause, you know, spend the rest of your lifetime doing it. And you want to talk to people at a very young age. Charlie and I were lucky. I mean, we got it in our families so that, you know, we were running at the dinner table when we were, before we knew what we were learning. And that happens in a lot of families and a lot of families. It doesn't happen. And of course, you mentioned about childhood financial literacy, there's a big problem with adulthood, adult financial literacy. And it's harder to be smarter or have better habits than your parents unless, you're the schools intercede or, or probably the, you know, the schools are your best bet, but it can be done on, a lot can be done on television either or through the internet, but, but, uh, it is really important to have good financial habits. And, uh, I think anything you can do very early through the school system, you know, would certainly have my vote. Charlie?
CharlieWell, I'm not sure the schools are at fault. I would place most of the fault with the parents. I think the most powerful example is the behavior of the parent, and so if you're...
WarrenI agree with the most important thing is the parents, but not everybody gets the right parents.
CharlieYeah, well, it's very hard to fix people who have the wrong parents.
QuestionerWell, let's just say you had the job of fixing people that have the wrong parents. What would you do about it?
CharlieWell, what's the, you had the job of living forever? What would you do about it? I mean, it gets to be so impractical. Who would ever believe that I would have any ability to fix all the people that have their own parents?