Whats best for America? - Page 2 - Political Forum

NoCountry · #11 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 08:22 AM

1. Universal free education.
2. Universal free health care
3. Universal Military Service

Caltex · #12 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by presluc

All ideas are welcome on this post although I may not agree we are talking about what's best for America not what is agreeable with presluc,right?

The only question I have concening your post is about your statement on culture in America.
You state; America has a culture that does not value knowledge as much as it should.
Perhaps this is because they don't know knoledge as much as they could..
This is not to critisise your post sir, it is mearly an observation.

Well I didn't really speculate why so many elements of our culture are hostile to knowledge, and frankly, I don't think any of us know why that is.

We were a nation founded by the greatest intellectuals of the 18th century, and yet now, we refuse to elect them to represent us. Christian groups are openly hostile to intellectuals and scientists, the general American public prefers a President they could see as their drinking buddy, and overall refuse to elect someone who talks in an educated manner in which they cannot comprehend.

We dumb down our schools for the lowest common denominator and people still flunk out, Our politics is at the level of 5 year olds. Whereas European politicians discuss political theory, and the real issues, American politicians say lines like "The terrorists hate our freedom" and "Big Business needs to pay!". In debates it's all about who can say the most "patriotic" lines, and have the best one liners, no matter how retarded they are. Clearly their is a mind void in the American cultural and political system that is very worrisome.

Education is a cultural value instilled upon children by their parents. I do not know how this can change without Americans stepping up, and deciding to change their world view. No Government action can do this.

presluc · #13 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notahack

pres,great idea to look at it in the spirit you ask

I'm not even sure how to compartmentalize it as i see your post beleives in early intervention from the education standpoint.

Mine wishes we could do something about absentee daddies and "babies having babies" and the high divorce rate. It's as if asking someone to deal with hard times such as raising children or staying married is like asking them to swallow rat poison. I wonder if the abandonment of the nuclear family has anything to do with the state we are in today??????????

Sir I appreciate your post but THIS THREAD IS OPEN TO ALL IDEAS THAT IS BEST FOR AMERICA.
I appreciate your input on the education systeme,but I'm sure you have other issues other than education that you as a person would want improvement on.
As I said this thread is a collection of ideas on What is best for America.

presluc · #14 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Terrazzini

I agree that education would probably be the one singular thing that would have the biggest long term benefit.

However.

I would disagree that enginering, computers and hi technology should be the focus of that education.

Our technology has far exceeded our social and political structure. While the internet, super computers and space age technology have made life easier for many of earths inhabitants the larger percentage of the global community is still in abstract poverty. Untill we can solve world hunger, oppression and war whe have only done less than half the job. From a self centered point of view the worlds problems are our problems in that they drian our resources. From a more noble view as long as my brother or sister are in need then I am in need as well.

So instead of an education that is centered in science and technology I propose social and political science as our focus. I'm sure nay sayers would consider this a waste of time stating that man will always be at war and world peace is just a fantasy.

I say NO!

It is well within our capability to be sucessful in this area. We just need the "technology" to do it. Perhapse it is my belief in the good nature of man that helps me to hold this conviction but I dont see an option in this. It is our responsibility to leave our world better for our children and to teach our children to do the same.

Lets get our social and political "technology" up to speed with our computer science technology.

Go Team!

A good post,Joe perhaps when I stated "across the board" I should have been more soecific.

presluc · #15 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taliesin

The legalization of gay marriage in every US state is something that I believe could be of a great benefit to America without directly affecting me.

I think we will look back at today's America and wonder how people were such hipocrites. The Declaration of Rights says "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...". We choose to ignore this phrase when it suits us. First we argued that it did not apply to African-Americans, then we argued that it did not apply to women, now we argue that it does not apply to gays. I'll never understand how this decision became politicized. It is not the government's job to tell you who you can and cannot marriage. Regardless of whether someone believes that homosexuality is "right" or not, it is not our place to create legislation that infringes on civil rights. Equal rights means equal rights.

Although I myself am a hetrosexual male, it is my beleif that this "decision to become politized" comes from labels that Americans are stuck with.
Which is why I ask in a previous post that this is not about labels political or ethnic this thread is a collection of ideas on WHATS BEST FOR AMERICA.

presluc · #16 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeaSea

Presluc, I whole-heartedly agree with your idea.
Appx. one third of American h.s. students drop out. Another appx. 1/3 graduate but are not prepared for for either a good job or any form of college.
In the 12th grade, as compared to students of the rest of the industrialized world, U.S. students score near the very bottom.
Valuable innovations in alternative fuels, medicine, and technology of all kinds are less and less coming from our country, while increasingly coming from other parts of the world.
Our schools are obsolete.
We need, among other things, to have secondary school teachers of the same intellectual caliber as we expect of our physicians. We need a much longer school year and longer school days, with generous amounts of art, music, literature, science and technology.
IMO, this is top priority. Necessarily, a much higher priority than, for example, "fighting terrorism" (in quotes because I think the phrase is an oxymoron), because if you don't have enough people who can speak other languages and understand other cultures, how the hell can you diminish terrorism?

A good post TeaSea,

presluc · #17 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoCountry

1. Universal free education.
2. Universal free health care
3. Universal Military Service

Short and to the point, my compliments sir.

presluc · #18 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caltex

Well I didn't really speculate why so many elements of our culture are hostile to knowledge, and frankly, I don't think any of us know why that is.

We were a nation founded by the greatest intellectuals of the 18th century, and yet now, we refuse to elect them to represent us. Christian groups are openly hostile to intellectuals and scientists, the general American public prefers a President they could see as their drinking buddy, and overall refuse to elect someone who talks in an educated manner in which they cannot comprehend.

We dumb down our schools for the lowest common denominator and people still flunk out, Our politics is at the level of 5 year olds. Whereas European politicians discuss political theory, and the real issues, American politicians say lines like "The terrorists hate our freedom" and "Big Business needs to pay!". In debates it's all about who can say the most "patriotic" lines, and have the best one liners, no matter how retarded they are. Clearly their is a mind void in the American cultural and political system that is very worrisome.

Education is a cultural value instilled upon children by their parents. I do not know how this can change without Americans stepping up, and deciding to change their world view. No Government action can do this.

It is my beleif that while America concentrates on the parents of this generation a large attention is lost on this generation.

In every debate win or lose knowledge is there.
In todays soceity the youger generation are faceing many other situations,like peers,roll models,growing up with a single parent, latch key kids {I'm sure you know what that phrase means}, and other situations like raceism, bigotry, the fear of not fitting in.

I do not have the answers on how we can counter these problems and make knowledge more appealing and to have the few in this catagory to want more, but I beleive there is a way.

On the flip side this youger generation does have many that are thirsting for knowledge much like a person would thirst for water, but College tutions are too high and when they seek help from community colleges or trade colleges they run into a big wall of red tape.

The learning institutions of America need help we know that, this younger generation will become the new America wether their task is a leader or a janitor, or a farmer all will be needed by America, and the knowledge they carry will be past to the next generation.

In post#4 you stated "leave the slackers behind they hold up everyone else".
Yet the very fondation of America ,the history of America paints a differant picture.
The Bible "greater love hath no man that he would give up his life for a freind"
American military standards= LEAVE NO MAN BEHIND, IF WE LEFT THE WOUNDED ON EVERY BATTLEFEILD WHILE MAKING A RETREAT WHAT EXAMPLE WOULD THAT SET?
A majority of the congressional medal of honors given was because the miltary personal was saving others.
All the charities America gives to help other countries when disaster hits, all the dollars that are given willingly by Americans to help others from the Red Cross to Comic Releif.
The corporations that go to the government with their hand out when their company is going through a rough patch.
THESE ARE ALL HELPING PEOPLE PHYSICALLY ARE YOU SAYING LEAVE THE SLACKERS BEHIND EVEN THOUGH THEY NEED HELP MENTALLY?
IF THAT IS TRUE SIR, THEN PERHAPS AMERICA SHOULD LEAVE ALL SLACKERS BEHIND LIKE SAY BEAR STERNS?

Taliesin · #19 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by presluc

Although I myself am a hetrosexual male, it is my beleif that this "decision to become politized" comes from labels that Americans are stuck with.
Which is why I ask in a previous post that this is not about labels political or ethnic this thread is a collection of ideas on WHATS BEST FOR AMERICA.

>.< That's the exact point that I'm trying to make. I don't see this as a political decision. I think that all Americans in the future, regardless of political belief will wonder why we are so discriminatory today while we claim to be enlightened. I agree with the universal education and the draft, but those both help me and the question that the thread asked was to offer a change for what is best for America without directly affecting you.

presluc · #20 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 03:50 PM

I understand your point sir and it is a good idea.
The point I was attempting to make perhaps was worded wrong.

I shall try again,
Let's say a gay couple together discovered a cure for cancer.
Would American soceity see them as heros or a "gay"couple?
Would America remember them as a couple who discovered cancer or the GAY couple that discovered cancer.

In other words any benifit that is given to America should be recognized by the person not the label.
Just as any harm done to America by Americans should be recognized by the person and not the label.

In short it is my beleif that labels breed bigotry and raceism.