MSNBC's 'Gut Check America'

I was browsing www.reddit.com this morning and found a story linking to MSNBC's "Gut Check America" section. Here MSNBC wants you, yea you, to have a say in the debate. They want to hear what issues really, "gnaws at you," how it affects you, and even what you would do to address it. I'll be copying their questions and my answers at the end of this paragraph. They are very broad and not organized because I did this quick, but I was thinking a coordinated netroots campaign with sync'd issues might be a tool the liberal bloggers should look at. Think of the responses they would get if The Daily Kos or MyDD or both organized on this. Who knows if the news execs will even be loyal to the gut check suggestions but can you image if they are? Ok, so here's my submission. I hope it formats decently.

MSNBC-What issue facing our country today is most important to you or has the greatest impact on you, your family and neighbors? (3000 chars)

ME-There are of course the platform issues of the election; Iraq, Healthcare, Global Warming, Energy Dependence, and Education. But I personally feel that to truly deal with these problems and future issues we need to address the bigger problems of our political system and the media. I would probably run through the streets with joy if MSNBC, especially Olberman, would make media reform and reform of our political system a number one priority. We need a push for a near complete revamping of our political system. Our Single Member District/Winner Take All electoral sham process needs to be addressed first, in order to make the government again an effective arm of the people. I don't claim to have the best reform plan, but a healthy debate led in the mainstream media could polish one out. How about elections are paid holidays, giving re-integrated felons the right to vote, proportional representation, National Initiative for Democracy, verifiable paper ballots, publicly financed elections, reestablish The Fairness Doctrine. How about the mainstream media stops entertaining and opinionating and instead educates and regulates the debate. How about going after the Military Industrial Complex, why do we spend as much as all the other nations of the world combined on defense? Increase powers of the Freedom of Information Act? Basically MSNBC, I think Keith Olberman does the best job out of anybody on TV in talking about the real issues and challenging the system. I think that should be the mantra of MSNBC. Please lead a Neo-Muckraker Revolution we direly need one.

MSNBC-How does it affect you, your friends or loved ones? We're looking for specific stories and examples we can report on, not just your opinions on the topic you've chosen:

Me-I'm 21 years old and live in Lincoln, NE. I stopped going to school at UNL for Political Science because of the money. I don't have health insurance. Wages can hardly keep up with inflation of food, housing, and energy expenses. I'm targeted by unfair lenders. I have been harassed by most likely the FBI and DHS for my political activism. I went to a High School where the ratio of Hispanic students increased by the day, and I am still pro-Hispanic. In my lifetime in the Midwest it has always been drought conditions. I can go on and on and on too. And what is sad is this could be a statement from anyone from my age group.

MSNBC-What do you think should be done to "fix" this problem?

ME-It is time to take the gloves off if we really want to not only fix our current problems, but set forth a system of government that can better deal with issues as they arise for future generations. Our democracy needs to be renewed as our Founding Fathers said it would be from time to time. A massive first step towards fixing these problems would be if the Mainstream Media (MSNBC) were to wake up, maybe do a quick refresher on the history of the role of news media prior to say 1980, and digg in, take a stand. Nothing should be a nonstarter and everything should be on the table.