Issues → September/October 2007 → Interact → Web Exclusives →

Speaking My Mind: What do you think is the most significant problem of the 21st century?

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M. Monette -- The Bush Administration.... I won't lay it all on just one person. It's the actions of a privileged group dismantling the Constitution at the expense of the people.

Robin Martin -- I think the biggest problem is the over spending on everything. There is no balance. We have bridges falling apart. Schools are failing our kids even though the spending percentage is more than ever before in history and billions of American dollars are going to other militaristic governments or funding a war in the Middle East that we may never get out of. I don't have the answers, but it's a grim picture.

Michael Moen -- The biggest problem is the lack of concern for other people. The focus is to much on self, not family, future generations, the world, people in other countries. We need to leave the attitude of what can I get for me now, who cares how and at what cost, and become more caring, kind and honest. Myself included.

JC Nowlin -- Radicalism on both sides...too much hate and not enough people remembering that we are all Americans. And if I had my druthers someone would let the dopes in Washington know this is an English speaking country. And that it's ok to believe in God. Sure I feel sorry for the folks who don't speak English but can you imagine them going to France and demanding that they change their schools and include Spanish or Lithuianian or Polish or Italian as a separate language? If you live here you need to learn to speak English period.

Susan Bass -- If we don't get a handle on global warming, there won't be anywhere on earth that man can go to get out of the way of Mother Earth. We are only stewards of this earth and we are not doing our part in preserving it for future generations. We all need to conserve, conserve, conserve, or ELSE!!!

Anne Welch -- Liberal politics...Letting the terrorists that want to kill us get away with all they could during the Clinton administration.

No name given -- I guess I am looking at a more simplistic nature when I present my answer.....an increase in rudeness and disrespect from individuals towards others. And this includes children! I was amazed at a recent trip into the City of Boston. So many people pushed past us (we weren't doing a thing wrong, we were just in "their way") bumped into us, grabbed at something beyond us, all with out an "excuse me" or even a "move"! Children were just set loose (at the Aquarium) and one little girl about 10 or 12 yrs old knocked me out of the way because she wanted to walk where I was walking. What has happened to basic interactions and respect. So often in grocery stores and other places of service (restaurants, gas stations, etc) there is no eye contact from clerks, no smiles in those "Happy Place(s)," items are just tossed into bags, and heaven forbid if you ask a question, you are interrupting their "gossip" time. It truly is sad. What future does this country have, what type of leaders will our intelligent children become if they cannot understand and practice simple acts of decency towards other human beings. This all makes me feel old, and I try very hard not to say "in my day....." (gosh, I'm only 50) but I find myself doing just that, and becoming infuriated while my groceries are smushed together in a bag while the cashier is busy chatting with another one about what she said and he did the other night. I am on my own little mission. I say Thank you. I let someone know if they have been kind or helpful or have made a difference in a simple way. And I remember to smile. No matter how many wrinkles I may show, I smile. Would be a sad world if that is a forgotten, lost "art".