Welcome to Gaia! ::

*sits down in one of the chairs and places his cane on the small wooden table next to it*

I agree. The time is ripe for change, something must be done and soon; and only by combining all our ideas and stratagems can we bring about it. ...Say, you wouldn't happen to have any whiskey around here?

Of course.

Gentleman Jack, or Johnny Walker Blue?

*brings some tumblers*

I honestly think the greatest problems facing my nation's just governance are the twin evils of apathy and ignorance.

Apathy, for ever since the Watergate scandal, the people of my nation have lost faith in their political system, with good reason...
Voter turn out has slumped, and people generally have a feeling of impotence in national affairs.

Ignorance, for most people see only what is shown to them, and trust the News over-much... they don't se the lies being fed them, and due to the aforementioned apathy, don't care to seek out the truth... Also, the public education offered most Americans is pathetic, and inconsistant. The propaganda isn't as bad as say... North Korea... but it is fairly pervasive.

What else do you see as a contributing factor?

The question though is how to affect this change. We know our ends but we have no means. That is what we are here for.

*stubs a dying cigarette out in an overflowing ashtray set on the ottoman next to his chair*

I am convinced that the main avenue of change must be through education of our nation's youth. There must be sweeping changes to the very basis of the education system.

And, given the traditionally de-centralized system of education in this country, can the local school districts be convinced to relinquish control, or would the federalization of schools be a wrenching, suicidal piece of legislation pushed through Congress by a the majority party at the time? Moreover, could that be achieved via legislation alone or would it have to be done through a constitutional amendment? If the answer is the latter, then the endeavor would almost certainly be doomed, especially in states with particularly... autonomous... school systems, such as Kansas, Texas, etc.

But perhaps we could put the No Child Left Behind Act (by which I mean a heavily modified version of that piece of junk legislation) to good use (at last) and use it to enforce a de facto standardized curriculum using the proper reward-punishment dynamic with the states.

I believe that a good first step would be to increase teaching salaries. If we pay teachers more, then they might be motivated to try and reach some of these apathetic kids.

Also, I think we need to reallocate more funds to the schools. My state (Tennessee) spends more per prisoner than they do per student by a wide margin, which really should tell you about the educational system here.

Alright, we know that the education system needs to be over-hauled.
Katane does hit on the very valid point of student apathy... and the consequence free environment that some schools support... this sets a bad example.

Example: My friends Mother was fired from her job teaching at a Junior High (middle school) for failing some of her students, not because she was a bad teacher, nor because her curiculum was too hard, but rather, because students who failed her tests and didn't turn in their assignments got Fs... the parents complained about how their children's feeling would be hurt, and how it made them depressed...
scream
The Society of Victims we live in today is pathetic... people are always whining because something is too difficult, and they are somehow being held back. It's in vogue to be the victim, because then everyone must feel sorry for you, rather than chastising you, for failing at a simple task rolleyes

But this is focussing on a symptom... what is the cause of this persecution complex, that has become such a pathogen in recent years?
Or is it even recent?

*grabs a chocolate from a bowl on a nearby table, barely chewing it before swallowing*

*Chases it with a strong pull of whiskey*