Technology’s Talent Crisis: A 30-Year Veteran’s Call for Liberty and Critical Thinking in Education
As a 30-year veteran of the technical space, serving as a Technology Solutions Architect, I’ve seen the evolution of the tech industry firsthand—from the early days of dial-up internet to the rise of AI and cloud computing. But what I see on a regular basis now alarms me: many technical professionals entering the field lack the skills to succeed. Critical thinking is glaringly absent, independent decision-making is stunted, and the ability to work collaboratively while thinking for oneself is a rare commodity. I’m Jerry Odom, and I’m here to sound the alarm: South Dakota’s education system must change to produce independent thinkers who can thrive in any career, ensuring maximum liberty and success for our kids—because the only true blocker is themselves, and the sky is the limit.
The Tech Talent Gap: A Lack of Critical Thinking
In my 30 years in tech, I’ve worked with some of the brightest minds—engineers who could solve complex problems on the fly, architects who could design scalable systems under pressure, and teams who balanced independent decision-making with collaboration. But today, I regularly encounter young professionals who struggle to think critically. They can follow a script—run a script, deploy a cloud instance, debug a basic error—but when faced with a novel problem, they freeze. I’ve seen junior developers unable to troubleshoot a network outage because they couldn’t independently analyze the root cause, relying instead on step-by-step guides. I’ve watched teams fail to innovate because they couldn’t make decisions without constant oversight, paralyzed by a lack of confidence in their own judgment.
This isn’t their fault—it’s a failure of our education system. A 2023 study from the National Association of Scholars found that 60% of U.S. high school curricula focus on standardized test preparation, reducing time for inquiry-based learning by 40% since 2000. This overemphasis on rote memorization has contributed to a national IQ drop since 2010, particularly in verbal, matrix, and numerical reasoning—skills essential for tech (Northwestern Now, 2023). In South Dakota, where only 43% of students are proficient in math and 51% in reading (Ballotpedia, 2022), the problem is acute. We’re not teaching kids to think for themselves, to make decisions independently, or to collaborate effectively while maintaining their own judgment—skills that are non-negotiable in tech and, frankly, in life.
Liberty and Independence: The Key to Success
All kids, regardless of their chosen career path—whether they become engineers, teachers, or ranchers—should be able to think for themselves, make decisions for themselves, and reach a point where their independence maximizes their liberty and success. Liberty means freedom from external control, and in education, that starts with empowering students to be self-reliant thinkers. As I’ve said, it was once said that the only blocker one truly has is themselves—the sky is the limit if you choose to see it that way. Or, to quote the Mandalorian, “This is the way.” Another gem from Star Wars, courtesy of Yoda: “There is no try, there is only do.” These philosophies, whether from a movie or not, should be core in the minds of kids as they grow up. They teach resilience, determination, and the belief that you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it—values that align with the liberty to chart your own path.
In my career, I’ve seen how these principles play out. The best tech professionals I’ve worked with weren’t just skilled—they were independent thinkers who could make decisions under pressure, collaborate as a team, and still hold their own. They didn’t wait for a manager to spoon-feed solutions; they analyzed, innovated, and acted. That’s the kind of mindset we need to instill in South Dakota’s kids—because liberty knows no limits when you’re free to think and act for yourself.
The Power of Inspiration: From Star Trek to STEM
Pop culture has long inspired kids to dream big—look at Star Trek. In the 1960s and 1970s, it captivated a generation with its vision of the future, inspiring countless kids to pursue engineering and science. That inspiration helped break barriers: today, women make up 34% of the STEM workforce, up from just 8% in 1970 (American Association of University Women, 2023). I’ve worked with brilliant female engineers who cite Star Trek as their spark—and it’s not about feminism, it’s about liberty. The best person for the job is the best person for the job, regardless of gender. South Dakota needs to harness that same inspiration, using technology and storytelling to ignite a passion for STEM in our kids—because the future of robotics, coding, and innovation demands it.
A Plan to Fix South Dakota’s Education: Liberty and Critical Thinking First
South Dakota’s education system must prioritize liberty and critical thinking to produce the next generation of tech innovators. Here’s how we’ll do it, without federal overreach:
- Constitutional Studies: Teach kids the principles of liberty—starting with the Declaration of Independence in elementary school and progressing to the Federalist Papers in high school. They’ll learn to question government control and defend their freedoms, fostering independent thought.
- Financial Literacy: Equip students with real-world skills—budgeting, investing, and understanding taxes—from middle school. High schoolers will manage mock portfolios, learning to make financial decisions independently, preparing them for a life of self-reliance.
- Critical Thinking Revival: Bring back Socratic questioning, logic, and problem-solving. Weekly seminars will have students debate real issues—like “Should the government control tech innovation?”—teaching them to think, not just memorize. High schoolers will tackle case studies, analyzing historical events like the Constitutional Convention to draw their own conclusions.
- STEM with a Future Focus: Prioritize engineering, math, and sciences with hands-on projects—building circuits, designing bridges, and conducting experiments. Introduce robotics and coding early—Scratch in elementary, Python in high school—preparing kids for tech careers while teaching logical thinking.
- No CRT or DEI: Reject divisive ideologies that stifle independent thought. Focus on merit, not identity—liberty knows no gender, race, or class. The best person for the job wins, period.
This state-based plan, free from federal interference, will empower South Dakota’s kids to think for themselves, make decisions, and collaborate—skills I’ve seen lacking in today’s tech talent. We’ll produce Einstein-level thinkers who can lead the world, not follow it. Share if you’re ready to see South Dakota’s kids soar! #OdomForLiberty #SouthDakotaStrong #TrumpTough #MAGA2026 #EducationFreedom #FreedomFirst #CriticalThinkingMatters #TechForLiberty