What Do You Like About Us?

The News
In 2000, did you assume the Constitution would always be more ore less upheld? Did you assume that the government would not be trying to control the media? Did you think "due process" was safe? Did you assume that Congress would impeach a president that lied about sex or worse, committed treason? Did you assume that the lake you swam in would always be as clean as when you swam in it?

It's easy to take things for granted. The news usually focuses on the bad things that happen and more and more bad things seem to be happening.

The economic crisis has Americans freaking out.

Where did all the money go? or What is a Ponzi scheme? or the Global Financial Pyramid Scheme explained.

Taypayers could end up giving $4,000,000,000,000.00 ($4,000,000 M or $4T) to failing banks.

Exxon Mobil reported the largest annual profit in U.S. history Friday



Biden to lead middle-class task force

Korea Gov Seizes Stock Exchange

Former U.S. Congressman Wester Cooley charged with $10M scam


Reactions::
"We have a three party system. Hard core Democrats. Hard core Republicans. And the swing vote or Independent. I don't have the numbers but I would guess over 90% of hard core voters voted for "their" party. What you saw were the Independents swinging from voting Republican in 2004 to voting Democrat in 2008. The Independent voters were disgruntled with Clinton in 2000 and guided by fear in 2004. In 2008 they saw the light of hope." (John Danley)

Your Job:
What do you like about the nation? Let's identify what is good about our nation, protect it, leverage it, expand it, rally around it, make it better and learn from it.

Here are a few things I like, to get us started:

It's geography and environment -- the mountains, beaches, oceans, rivers, trees and lakes.

The transition of power -- you could argue that the democrats and republicans are very similar, but no matter how nasty an election gets, power transitions smoothly.

Our system of government and the balance of power in government, though the Bush administration proved how that has weakened.

That there were good people in all agencies, particularly intelligence, in the Bush administration trying to stop them and "the crazies" from doing crazy stuff.

Silicon valley

Great cities, including but not limited to: SF, Portland, Oakland, NYC, LA, Lincoln, Minneapolis, Chicago, Madison, etc.

American music

The "melting pot"

Freedom of speech -- it's not gone yet!

And of course, my family and friends :)