Things like this is what I was afraid of during the last election:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11079935/

Did we hear anything about that during the last election? Not really. The only issues that we kept hearing about where mainly centered around the Iraq war and insurgency. So I'll ask another question: who decides what the issues are come election time? In my observations the things that should be considered important like the environment, civil liberties, advancing education (especially for those of us who can't spell :P) and technology for a better future get forgotten. Instead issues like abortion make front page news. Our world is going to hell in a handbasket and the country is consumed with abortion.... Seems to me like abortion could be a mute point if we don't start taking a hard look at reality...SOON! Yet scientific studies seem to give results leaning towards what the sponsors of the studies wanted.

But alas I hate it when people offer only criticism without any thoughts of what could be done, so here goes: 1st every american citizen needs to sit through a government class and must pass with a 90% or better. The class should only consist of current events and the way different things are covered (or justified) by the constitution. In lui of the government class citizens can ENLIST in military branch of choice for a minimum of 5 years (might take 7 years to drive the point home to some). Hopefully the result would be a better informed and more active american society. I mean really, it seams Paris Hilton gets as much attention as current events. Hey wait, what if Paris ENLISTED?? Hmmm. ::) On that note I'll pass the soap box back to the next distingushed v20 member! ;D