Debate initiated by Jordy's Topic

[Treebeard13]

Hey Jerba,
We all do the same thing, myself included, we are sure we read or heard of some information and pass it along.  The point that I keep harping about, and perhaps belabor the point too much so that people will stop listening, is that we as citizens have a responsibility to demand real debate.  But that rarely occurs anymore.  The media rarely will truely and honestly present both sides of any issue, especially the television media.  There are a few shows that allow opposing views but the discussion is generally five to ten minutes on a complex issue and it generally is a shouting match with everyone trying to be heard and get in their sound bite or talking point.  Most of the other shows are so biased as to make me sick. But few Americans demand better.  Let's be honest, the majority of Americans don't really care, they are the sheep in the middle waiting to be herded.  Many of the remaining individuals, who generally consider themselves to be knowledgeable about the issues, have already made up their mind and will rarely question information if it supports their view and ignore the information if it is contrary.  For a Democracy to truely work requires effort.  

I also agree with you about the deficit.  It is sickening.  There was one spot in Michael Moore's Sicko movie that really stuck with me and it pretty much had little to do directly with health care.  I don't remember the exact comments but it was from an elderly English man.  His comments were basically along the lines that since Americans as individuals were so in debt that they have lost a lot of barganing power with employers and the govenment.  This effects the middle class most.  If you have a huge house loan and car loan and credit card debt you are very much less likely to make significant demands.  You can't afford to loose your job.  So again - have we ended up with what we deserve? - a government that is also not very fiscally responsible.

One final point.  I've been working for thirty years since graduating from college - yes I am that freaking old - and fortunately I've had many more ups than downs.  But it has been my doing, more than anything the government has ever done. I don't know that I've ever met a LOTR TCG player who wasn't above average intelligence.  So while I would not want to trade places with those of you who are in your twenties, I do believe you will probably do well in spite of our government.

Chuck