Why is it that when a US President commits crimes, he is not impeached?
What would it take to restore US government to a representative government?
In what countries is universal healthcare practiced and the success and failure of each?
What is the reality of sex offenders being cured of their predation? What is the reality of imprisoning each offender upon first offense for their lifetimes?
What is the reality of an armageddon considering how global warming is presently ravaging our environments?
Does Ted ever read these post? If so, why doesn't he select some of the issues that are affecting the common folks in this country. Hey, I have an Idea...a Real, Reality Show...Perhaps have a series of programs that allow for a debate between a cross section of CITIZENS in different sections our Nation. The program could focus on principle topics like Health care..jobs, wages, benifits..education..personal financial matters..Politics and how it is harming our nation, Immigration, foriegn affairs, ( War, the Global economy and it's effect on our domestic economy), to name a few. The same topics could be discussed in several sections of the country with ideas for solutions brought forward. At the end of each program the participants could reflect, and select in the order of importance, what is most challenging issues and what should be the course of action. Example: 6 sections of the country with both urban & rural views.. Cities that are racially & socially balanced, (if you can find one), and cities that are not..The NorthEast, the SouthEast, the SouthWest, the NorthWest, the MidWest, & the MidEast. In each section for instance, rural & urban in the NorthEast...Example.. New York City, New York..and Ashland, Maine..the SouthEast... Charlotte, North Carolina, & Wiggins, Mississippi. In each segment/program the same topics would be on the agenda & the participants would be selected at random say 5, or 7 on each side.. an odd number so at the end of the program a majority poll or consensus of views can be established from both sides. example..Universal health care..Bluecollar group 5 yes 0 no..White Collar 4 no 1 yes. Majority..6 yes..4 no.. etc, etc. Participants may be screened prior to the program not because of their views but qualified for their ability to verbally communicate. Biased opinions are ok but extreme biased views should be discouraged..a civil participation is necessary. Say at the end of the series perhaps 12 weeks. A non governmental review Panel made up of Bean Counters, Economist, Lawyers, Social Specialist, Academic Leaders, Industrialist, CEO's etc. the White collar Professionals group..and on the other side of the Isle the Blue Collar Group...Truckdrivers, Healthcare workers, farmers, small business owners, Waitresses, shipyard workers, Mill employees, etc. can be brought together for an exchange. The same issues that were examined in the 12 segment program can be reviewed, the professionals can explain why solutions can or can not be achieved, the Blue Collar Group Can challenge the explainations and offer up their own views and solutions. This of course would have to be moderated by a Person like you Ted that could keep the dialogue with in simple and non complicated common language. Taking out the Grey areas of discussion as much as possible. (leave out the fine print and confusing languge of the Professionals, commonly known as the B.S., and also keep the explitives and the tone of conversation civil from the Blue Collar Group, whom are usually very candid and speak in colorfull terms). Not only could this be a very productive dialogue but no doubt, very intertaining. Maybe Call it "In Search of Reality!" The outcome would be a step in the right direction to getting down to the real Pulse of the Social Health of our Nation..What unites us..what divides us.. what can we do to come together as a people..how can we fix a good system that has gone bad. A summit of the American people. The results of this summit could be an elixir to eliminating bad leadership by sending a message to the Leaders of our country. If we, as citizens, can come together and examine issues and find solutions through simple dialogue....then what do we need you for? Perhaps a summit like this could take place a year before each election to provide instructions to the potential leaders on what will be required of them during their leadership terms. I think politics has become a game..the winners are the Politicians, the lobbiest & their cronies..the losers are the American Citizens. It's time we reverse this! I'm sure smarter minds than my own could create such a program. Now that's what I would call a.."REAL".. Reality Show. Come on, Ted ..We, the People, need a program with something that has substance in it that is a reflection of each and everyone of us. We are tired of the fiction, tired of the manufactured Drama, tired of hearing all of the experts,(some of them are barely out of their teens), telling us the same old same old, that produces nothing but the same old, same old. Cookie Cutter Commentary has become sooo Boring. Everyone is an expert and is hawking their new book. Lets get Farmer Dave in his Dickie Overalls to Talk with "The Donald" dressed in his $3000 Suit, or Paper Mill worker & consumer Jim "Bob" Smith, to speak with The CEO of Ford Motor Co. Or the Ceo Of Countrywide Mortgage Co...( Both companies are in financial trouble)..maybe they can learn something from each other. Jim Bob can explain to them that he can't afford to buy a new car or truck or a house with the wages he erns trying to raise a family, buy groceries, keep the lights on, pay for medical bills that he can not afford..on his earnings that is not keeping up with the cost of living. Like the more you cut wages and benefits..the less we have to spend on Cars and Homes. perhaps that is why Ford motor co. is suffering and Countrywide is seeing record forclosures..Maybe..Just Maybe, The light will come on & some Common Sense will surface. Common Sense that may well be the key to solving most of the problems that are taking place in our country today. Remember..absolutely..NO POLITICIANS, LOBBIEST, MYOPIC WALL STREET GURUS ALLOWED..we don't want to contaminate the reality of the program. In closing.. My wife thinks that my interest in beating a drum for change and reform is a waste of time and redundant. She says It's too late..There are no issues..thats just the way it is now and it will only get worst. I guess she is more of a realist than I am. I tell her listen..there is something extremely wrong with our society and culture when people like ourselves work and we can't afford to provide dental care and health care for our kids, have trouble keeping the lights on, buying groceries paying for required insurance to drive, can't afford to buy clothes, can't afford to send our kids to college, occaisionally have to pawn items for the unexpected, make payday loans so our kids can pay for school pictures or play on the baseball team. We don't drink alcohol, don't do drugs, never eat out, havn't had a vacation in 12 years. At the same time we are constantly being bombarded by informercials, hip hop millionairs selling scum, corruption in government, Wall Street Investors that celebrate the loss of jobs within a Corporation that results higher profit margins. What a collosel mess..It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this kind of social behavior will bring about DOOM to this nation. I said to her if that kind culture continues ..what's next.. Uthanasia.. now that would solve the Social Security & Medicare problems now wouldn't it? Where are we heading..it's time to stop this out of control, unbridled Capitalism runaway Express that only the Rich and powerfull are riding in. We have to Speak up in Numbers and say STOP!! Enough is enough!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: koonism,
Do a complete series on the legal system, judicial system, and prison system in America.
Show alternatives to incarceration.
America has become afraid of itself and has turned against itself. There is a vicious cycle of fear spread by the media, the politicians and the prosecutors. Ordinary citizens buy into it as long as they think they cannot be touched. As long as it is not them carted off to prison.
As a society, America has become more and more punitive. People need to be treated fairly and justly. They need opportunities.
Compare the prison system in the U.S.A. with other countries that treat prisoners as people. Compare the legal system in the U.S.A. with other countries that actually treat defendents fairly.
