This is my dream

[TlalocW]

For after all the shit going on has settled

A resurgence in science education similar to the rejiggering of the education system in the 50s when Sputnik scared the crap out of us, and we realized that a grounding in math and science was probably a good idea.

More scientifically minded people elected to office. I'm an atheist so I have no problem saying I'm sick of the thoughts and prayers crowd. I like to day-dream too, but folding your hands together in supplication doesn't get the work done. Throw in some actually serious economics people. Drive out the bad lawyer types and the business owners who think running the government like a business is a good idea.

An awakening on how truly crappy our healthcare system is - the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals right now are true heroes, but everyone needs access to them. We need to move toward Medicare for all or single payer or whatever.

Internet as a public utility.

No more tax breaks for the uber-wealthy. In fact start taxing them more. I saw a post somewhere on the internet that said something like, "No more billionaires. One you reach $999 million, anything past that goes to taxes; you get a nice trophy that says, "I Won Capitalism," and a dog-park named after you. Maybe not that radical, but tax those suckas.

If we're having to go through this shitstorm, I would hope people would get their eyes opened to some hard truths of how we got fucked over this time.

TlalocW

[fierywoman]

1. May I add to your wonderful list:

--major infrastructure projects
--serious money to public education -- an education that teaches how to think and reason, not how to take tests.
--paper ballots, hand counted. So what if we have to wait until the weekend to find out who won?

[Freddie]

2. FMLA on steroids

Paid sick pay and medical leave for all.
Raise the minimum wage!! Grocery store workers etc are among the real heroes now. I’ll happily pay more for restaurant food.

[Sherman A1]

4. +1000

My heart aches for my friends in the grocery business right now.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. I'd be satisfied with a resurgence in critical thinking abilities. . . . nt

[yankeepants]

5. +1000

[EarthFirst]

6. This world you envision is possible when we VOTE!

SSIA

[brewens]

7. What the RW is really afraid of is seeing their entire belief system taken down over this.

Everything they have done to ruthlessly loot the country for the last 40 years. Call it wealth reredistribution.

[BSdetect]

8. Auto voter registration, national holiday for Federal elections

and compulsory voting

Postal voting

Polling booths more available

[Locrian]

9. I think thats an awesome list...

But we're going to have to fight like hell for it, and realize the psychological tricks that will be played on us.

Right now - I'm SURE the other side is making their own list on how to use this as a way to take even more of everything. Disaster Capitalism on steroids. You can already see where their heads are with stimulus, no talk of healthcare reform, etc.

It will be the entire (with *few* exceptions) business world, wallstreet, rich 1%, cable media, etc ALL united to continue the same old ways of fragile economy rigged for the wealthy.

[mtngirl47]

10. Take the money out of politics, end Citizens United.

[Martin Eden]

11. That's a wonderful dream, to which I would add

Another awakening in which more people come to realize the existential necessity of taking better care of the precious lifeboat known as planet Earth.

The best economic experts would focus on long term sustainability in addressing climate change, finite resources, and ecosystems including our oceans.

Societal and personal values would shift more towards the qualities of life which make it worth living, and away from the wasteful consumerism of material possessions quickly discarded for the next shiny toy.

A renewed embrace of life would include the marvelous plants and animals in their natural environments which make planet Earth an even more precious gem to treasure and preserve.

If we truly love our children this legacy will be among our highest priorities along with giving all children the opportunity to realize their full potential, not just as successful cogs in an economic machine but as well rounded human beings with critical thinking skills and values to carry human civilization into a more enlightened future.

Let's make our best dreams come true.

[Karadeniz]

14. I was going to add an awakening of compassion, but I think you've covered it!

[McKim]

12. Yes!!!! A Resurgence of The Enlightenment

Yes, a resurgence of The Enlightenment would be so good for the world. We need to get back to the 18th Century thinking of our founders. Science and Reason and Liberte Egalite and Fraternite were all good things for the world. There is my hope. Loved this post because it points a way to something positive. At this time when we have more leisure we can focus on great thoughts, great ideas and a better future. Don’t let cynicism rule your life now in these difficult times.

[forgotmylogin]

13. I'm hoping the silver lining is this gets us to the Star Trek place with telecommunication.

Everyone on video screens, less commuting, more working from home if physical presence isn't necessary.

I'm fortunate that I've been work-at-home for a few years now. My current project cratered (eyecare customer service - nobody is getting their eyes checked at the moment and they've cut my hours in the past weeks) but since I'm established, my company can quickly switch me to another project. I'm supposed to train for another program phone-assisting medical providers next week if all goes well!

[The Wizard]

15. Sputnik changed everything

We started sending more people to college and they learned critical thinking skills. They learned to question everything. In the 60s the colleges were hotbeds for challenging a war that was unjustified. Blind faith in going to war to protect us from communists that wanted to imprison us and have us speaking Russian in the morning wavered.
There was a breakdown in the status quo. Conscription to feed the military industrial complex of which Eisenhower warned came to an end. It was a tumultuous time and a time for self examination and scrutiny of decisions made by political leaders.
But along came Reagan and the pendulum started swinging back to the values of the 1950s. And now we are engaged in foreign military adventures with science and education being rejected by the majority of a major political party that gamed a flawed electoral system that has foisted minority rule on us. Two of the last three presidents represent the minority. Gerrymandering and voter suppression have given control of Congress and the Supreme Court to the minority. Our system is on the ropes and we have a political movement that wants to destroy the system from within just like Khrushchev said would happen. It was Khrushchev at the helm of the Soviet Union that launched Sputnik.
And now we have a creeping deadly contagion attacking the nation because the former KGB officer now running Russia put a total incompetent in the Oval Office. It was the only way he could get payback on the loans he made to "you know who," the leader of the anti American, anti science, anti education movement that is a malignant tumor on our country.
Maybe the contagion will open enough eyes and people will employ logic and compassion toward their fellow Americans again.
Until we excise the cult and restore the values of the Enlightenment that made this nation the shining city on the hill that Reagan romanticized, we will be subject to more contagions.
In the meantime, stay home as much as possible and heed the recommendations of the scientists and doctors.

[BobTheSubgenius]

16. Even just a good, all-round general education would be a vast improvement.

I haven't taken a course in geography or history in 5 decades, math or economics in over 4...and my overall knowledge of the world and how it works is still much better than almost anyone I meet that's 10 years or more my junior, it seems. I could be wrong about that, and maybe there are knowledgeable people around somewhere, but just not around me.

A few years ago, I was at a July 4th backyard party at the house of friends of my elder step-daughter - a crowd of people from children, through the main body of the crowd, which was 20- and 30-somethings, and a few of us parents. The hostess had a trivia contest for small prizes, like a paperback novel, or a 4-pack of Smirnoff Ice...that kind of thing. Unsurprisingly, it had a strong theme of "America".

I answered the first 3 questions, at which point, the hostess said "I hope you all realize that the person answering all these is a Canadian."

I was a bit embarrassed and dummied up after that, but it really made me wonder what schools and students are doing with their time. I mean....not knowing the 3 branches of US federal govt? REALLY???