Okay, at the advice of , RubyPitbull I have started a new thread. A new discussion.

Sort of talking out what we feel is wrong with this world - or our country. What we can do to fix it or make it better.

What tops your list as the most important issue?

There are lots to choose from

How we handle our criminals - is it fair or right that a non violent criminal gets 20 years for not paying his taxes and the guy he shares his cell with killed a child, but will get out in 7 with good behavior? Am I the only one that finds that disturbing?
(I guess that is what gets me going)

Or how about the war? How much longer do our guys have to fight and die? When can they come home? What is the war really about anyway?

What makes you angry? How would you change it if you could?

So here is my post - I hope you find it thought provoking.

Okay the one thing that really upsets me is that we are spending billions over in Iraq, when we should be fighting the war here at home, Homlessness,drugs,abuse on children. Those are things that we should be focusig on. Don't get me wrong I am grateful for what the soldiers are doing, I just think that the money could be better spent.
Another thing that really irks my chain is when children are victimized and the preditor only gets a short sentence. What is this saying to our children? Arghhhhhhh Sorry I didn't mean to go off... its just I am very passionate about children being protected... thats is probably why I am in school to become a CPS worker.
Geat Topic to post NowWhat!

Ignorance, intolerance and racism top my list of annoyances!

It seems the majority of our problems (and I'm talking worldwide here!) stem from people just not 'getting' other people's culture, or refusing to accept them!

The 'lets bomb that country because they're doing something we do, but differently' or 'let's fly a plane into their buildings because it'll show them the error of their ways'

It's just so FRUSTRATING! We're all different, we look different and we believe in different things, ACCEPT IT!

The climate change thing is pretty scary too, 5 years ago when they were saying 'In 100 years the World is going to end unless we change' I though 'Sod it, I'll be dead!'

Now they're saying 'In 30 years the World is going to end, and there's nothing we can do about it' it's making me twitch a little!

And what's with all these black kids stabbing and shooting each other in London? What's so bad that you need to do that!

/rant

I think crimes against children are awful. We live in a small town and have about 6 predators around us. A few years back, a man got out of jail after serving a 2 year sentence for molesting his 2 young daughters. TWO YEARS. Where is the justice in that? A year for each. Now he is free to hurt others. And that guy in Florida that killed Jessica Lunsford. He may be to insane to get the death penalty. What does that mean?? Yeah he's insane - what sane person buries a 9 year old alive?
But, again, don't pay your taxes and your looking at 20 years? What the heck is going on?

On one hand, I think that our society is intolerant - on the other, I think we are to tolerant. Don't do this because it make this guy unhappy - even if what he is unhappy about is wrong. But, then look at us crosseyed and we are going to blow you up. There is no balance.

I agree completely with you. I can't believe that people that hurt children get away with a short sentence. They talk about how the prisons are overpopulated... well then don't put people that don't deseve to be there in there. Like your example about someone evading taxes. I think that the court system has a lot of work that needs to be done. I am so sorry for hearing about that man... that is disgusting. I kind of have a story about that. I too live in a small town and I was at the grocery store with my son who is two. This man bent down and was helping him pick out a treat. I was right there watching, well this woman informed me that this man was a sex offender. I was so upset. I keep a copy of the sex offenders so that I can keep my child away from them. But this guy didn't have to register as an offender, because he was never convicted. It just really upsets me that we let society and the court system not take child abuse of any kind seriously.

See, here in the UK they're piloting a scheme to tell people how many sex offenders live in different areas. (So you could ask how many live near you, or on a certain route) but no details like names or addresses of these people.

But I don't understand why, or how it's going to help anyone with anything?

Surely as a parent, you should always be on the guard for these sorts of people, surely teaching kids about these situations and keeping them out of harm is a much better strategy!

When I was a kid, a cartoon cat called Charlie taught me about 'Stranger Danger' and the like and I think even today that's the way to go!

Surely there can't be have been a MASSIVE increase in these offences over such a short period?

I think to help with the over population in prisons - those on death row should have their sentence carried out. They sit there for years on end - living better than some of us that are "free".
You never know who you are going to be faced with. Sometimes, my husband thinks I am over-protective of our 6 year old. Then I put it in prospective. Kids get snatched up a stores all the time and they are easy targets for predators. I don't have a problem making her hold my hand through the duration of a trip to walmart. Yeah, she is six and can walk on her own - but our rule is she has a hand AT ALL TIMES. People look at kids as second class citizens.
What do we do to change that? I have driven down the road before and saw a ugly sign in someone's window that said "My neighbor is a sex offender" with a directional arrow. Visually, it was ugly - But the message wasn't. We need to know who we are dealing with and who our kids interact with.

But there has to be... what... millions of undiscovered or unprosecuted sex offenders on this earth.

What about them?

A friend of mine got his 15 year old girlfriend pregnant (idiot!) and was put on the sex offender's register because of it.

Are you seriously suggesting that he's more dangerous than a real sex offender that no-one knows about?

I agree with you. My whole family thinks that I am overprotective... but I myself was victimized and I won't let it happen to my son. I think that those on death row sentences should be carried out also.
They are thinking of making sex offenders have different license plates... I think that is a wonderful idea... we need to start taking action to stop children from being victimized. They can't protect themselves so its our job. I think like huntersbar said that we should have children learn about stranger danger.

I was reading in another post about the Don Imus situation. And it looks as though his fate is going to be determined by money. He is starting to lose advertisers.
And someone said that is the way the U.S. works.
I have to say that makes me sad. I know it is true. We have given so much power to the "almighty dollar". Why? Yes, money is nice if you have it. It makes things easier. But, really, is it the most important thing?
The most treasured things in my life you could not buy in any store.
We spout all these things about family values and blah blah blah - but do we say that because it is the "right" thing to say?
How do we go about making things right in this world? We can talk all day long about what is wrong - but what do we DO to make it right?

You are right in the fact that money dosen't make the world go around. I am trying to make the children protection happen by becoming a CPS worker. I think that we need to start taking action on things that matter.

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Originally Posted by iAMfromHuntersBar

But there has to be ... what ... millions of undiscovered or unprosecuted sex offenders on this earth.

What about them?

A friend of mine got his 15 year old girlfriend pregnant (idiot!) and was put on the sex offender's register because of it.

Are you seriously suggesting that he's more dangerous than a real sex offender that no-one knows about?!

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Yes, our system is flawed. In our state, they list the offenders on a scale. Depending on the crime - some are just listed as offenders then you have predators. They also list what the violation was - like if was against a child under a certain age.

I think that a system has to be in place. It has to! People are going to fall through the cracks, yes, but what would happen if there was nothing?

I think personal accountability should be the main thing fixed.

People should not be able to sue someone because they themselves did something stupid. Spilling hot coffee, sueing the family of a criminal for killing their child, sueing because their apartment building lost power for 2 hours, etc etc etc.

GROW UP! The world isn't always fair, it's not always nice, and take some action for yourself! Protect your kids, teach them about dangers and how to handle them (including dangers about teen sex, bouncing checks, living with credit cards, etc) rather than just trying to protect them from the big, bad world.

YES, bad things happen to good people, but people should be held accountable for their OWN actions. You have kids? Then FEED THEM YOURSELF! If you can't feed your own child (or get help from your family) then DON'T HAVE SEX! Or place your child for adoption! You can't afford food? Then you shouldn't have cable TV!

I'm tired of paying for people to have better lives that could just learn to do without such "luxuries" as cable TV, cell phones, televisions, computers, etc.

I know someone who had to go to the Salvation Army for Christmas for their kids. They had a better Christmas than I did! They got a DVD player (brand new) with 12 new movies, new clothes all around (which is great ! That's a necessity!), new blankets, pillows, pots, pans, an electric mixer, plus things to make their Christmas dinner (the turkey, trimmings, potatoes, food for 20 for a week). At my house, we had 2 gifts each, and chipped in to make the family's large meal (for extended family--$10 per adult, $4 per kid, and that got everything).

I live in a building that sponsers Section 8 housing. I think section 8 is GREAT! Way to help families do something better than hovels or scummy landlords! BUT... I live in a luxury apartment. I pay heavily for the privilege of living in this building... nearly $1000 per month (which is high, for my area). It drives me nuts that Section 8 isn't just decent housing, but LUXURY housing!

I have sympathy for my fellow man. I know that some people hit hard times, and just need a litle help to get through... but some people make it a lifestyle, and THAT is what irks me.

Accountability!

Synnen - I give you a 100% approval for that post.
Well said.

Synnen, I totally agree!

This is something I am guilty of - I am passionate about what I believe in and can pick out errors of the way we live or what is wrong in the world.
But, I honestly have no idea of how to make a difference. I have charities that I support - like Breast Cancer Awareness - and I do the Walk for a cure - I am helping. But, to change some of the big things - I do not know how to do it.
Can you imagine just me standing outside the white house with a picket sign? Not much is going to happen.

I agree that there should be a list, but only for job checks and things like that.

I don't see the point in a publicly viewable list, I think it just sparks vigilantyism!

My point is this; shouldn't you be protecting your children in general, instead of specific situations and if you are, what is the point in a list?

First off, do you have children?

Nope

Okay, Well then,
Let me tell you, I have a 6 year old daughter. She is not emotionally capable to understand what would happen to her if she was raped. She would pay a price for the loss of her innocence for the rest of her life.
I can not look in my daughters eyes and know that if I don't do EVERYTHING to protect her - I have failed.
I want to know what my dangers are. What I am fighting. If I live 2 doors down from a man that got out of jail for a sexual offense and he has a thing for very young girls - I might know better how to instruct my daughter. If I let it be a silent killer - How do I protect against that? Ignorance is not bliss.

Let me ask this - Would you knowingly buy a home next to a mass murderer? One that the only reason he is not in jail is due to a technicality?
I wouldn't. If you are informed - you can make better choices. That is why a list is in place.

Yes, but you don't seem to understand what I'm saying!

You may well have a convicted peadophile living 2 doors down from you that you know about, but what about the peadophile who's living NEXT door to you that no-one knows about?

Are you going to be more happy to let your 6 year old into certain situations with your next-door neighbour more because you don't know his past?

Surely not, surely your protection and teaching is going to be the same for both situations?

What if there's a mix-up and someone gets on the 'list' by mistake, that's a life needlessly ruined! I just think it's a very bad idea!

And I don't think I'D be emotionally capable of understanding what happened to ME if I was raped.

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Originally Posted by NowWhat

Would you knowingly buy a home next to a mass murderer? One that the only reason he is not in jail is due to a technicality?

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Sorry, I think that's a ridiculous analagy and a loaded question, no-one would answer 'yes' to that!

For me, I don't really let my daughter play at houses that I don't know the people.
If she wants to play with friends, they typically come here.
My analogy is - would you put yourself in harms way knowingly? No you would not.
So, this list helps us protect our children more.
Have you ever watched "to catch a predator" on nbc? Week after week after week - the men just keep pouring in thinking they are going to have sex with a young teen.
A list of this nature - arms us with knowledge.
And you know the list isn't just for parents. It is for everybody. You aren't listed as an offender if your crime is just against child - you can rape an 80 year old woman and be on the list. (obviously)
I would want to know if the person that just moved in is a convicted rapist. It kind of goes back to the sentencing of our criminals. He raped someone and he is out in 5 years. Back to do it again. Wouldn't you want to know?

And you said you couldn't understand being raped - I don't think anyone could - but as adults, we have an idea of how the world works, children don't. My daughter still believes that daddy can get the monsters out from under her bed.

Well, I have a list of my very own of things that make me upset –

On a much smaller scale, but perhaps if we fix things on a smaller scale, it will have a positive effect on our bigger issues.

1) Jealousy. Really, really really really dislike jealousy. If someone has a nice house, being jealous of them IS NOT going to get you a nice house. If you want to be blond, for God sake, go and be blond, don’t be all hateful of the pretty blond (pretty red head, pretty brunette, etc etc etc) you see or have to work with. Take care of yourself and be happy with the beautiful blessings that make you, uniquely you :)

2) Why? Why is it viewed to be okay to say whatever you want about America and/or Americans and you AIN’T from here and have no intentions of coming here and for sure for sure no dreams of becoming a citizen?? Why? This really p’s me off and I feel bad about it, but it still p’s me off. Why does it p me off? Because, personally, I find it to be disrespectful. Sorry, but I do.

I agree, I don't think we americans are bad people at all. And if you don't like it, leave.

If a person has served time for their crime, should they go on being punished by society for the rest of their lives? If so, then why not just kill them straight out? Most people who are against the death penalty are ALSO against having "criminals" in their neighborhood.

How do you protect your daughter? You teach her that certain kinds of touching are BAD, no matter WHO they come from. You teach her not to talk to or go with strangers, no matter what they tell her. Statistically, children are more likely to be molested by a family member than a stranger or a neighbor, anyway.

Knowing that the guy down the street is a registered sex offender should just mean that you don't leave your kid alone with him, and you don't ask him (or her! ) to babysit. It doesn't mean that they shouldn't be able to go to church, or mow their lawn, or that you have the right to egg their house because they *gasp* have the AUDACITY to live in your neighborhood. If you don't like it, then MOVE.

As it has been stated, some of those "sex offenders" just made the bad choice to have sex with a willing 15 year old when they (the offender) were 18. Yeah... that's a HORRIBLE sex offender. My PARENTS had that age gap too. Does that make my dad a sex offender?

Common sense, people.

And no... I don't have kids. I have nieces and nephews that I love very much though, and have recently had to deal with the oldest telling me that his DAD is making him uncomfortable. Isn't that worse than the guy down the street? How do you protect a kid from his own parent? Shouldn't it just be blanket teachings about what's bad, not "that person right there is bad"?

I agree 100% that you should teach your child about what is appropriate and what is not.
Of course - you have to teach them. That way when they leave the nest, they can protect themselves.
But look at these kids that are snatched from their yard or even their beds. The safety of their own homes - what do you do? I don't think a person ever pays for his crime. Maybe in the eyes of the law. But, tell that to the person that was violated and has to deal with the effects of the other person's crime for the rest of their lives. It is never over for them. Why should the criminal get the luxury of a clean slate?

That's what I'm saying---they DON'T get a clean slate.

But... You or I don't have the right to determine who can live in our neighborhoods, or who can go to our churches, or who can shop in our stores.

If you don't like it, then move. Seriously. You have the right to KNOW that he's there, but not the right to do anything about it other than to inform your kids not to have anything to do with him.

You also have the right to change churches if you don't like who attends yours. You have the right to shop ina different store, or get a different job, or whatever.

The kind of actions you're wanting to take are the same as people did in the last century to blacks in their neighborhood, or more recently, for homosexuals living in the neighborhood or going to church or whatever.

Personal accountability means this: We don't have to like someone or something, but we only have the right determine how WE react to it. We don't have the right to hold someone else accountable for our own actions.

I agree that the knowledge that a criminal (of ANY kind) living in your neighborhood is good; I disagree that you can drive that criminal out simply because you don't like it.

I am not saying drive them out. I don't think I have said that in my posts. I am saying that we should be armed with knowledge. Armed with the knowledge of where these people are. This way we can protect ourselves and our children.

I guess the thing that bothers me is that sex offenders (some of which, remember, just chose the wrong willing person to have sex with) are treated differently than any other violent criminal.

There's no list telling me whether the guy down the street served time for manslaughter because he killed a kid when he was drunk driving. There's no list telling me that the woman upstairs has had 3 drug convictions, all for crystal meth.

I just think that if you're going to hang out ONE kind of dirty laundry, you should hang it ALL out.

I agree. Where I live, you can go to a website and find criminal records of those other offenders. It is all public record. So, essentially there is a list for all criminals.

Okay, we have been talking about sexual offenders and criminals.
What do you guys think about topics like religion, welfare, taxes, the war, immigration. How about disease research, gas prices, various charities?

How about the population and its expotential growth rate. To feed and house the coming population we will have to cut the remaining new growth forests for homes and farm land. That will cause more of the same problems that are killing us now. The Ozone is already damaged and first the frogs mutated and now the honey bees are experiancing mass die offs. Einstein said that if the honey bees died off, we would have roughly four years before we started to starve and die off. I agree with that. The only way to restore the earth or at least stop further damage is if 2/3 of the worlds population would just disappear.
We have done a poor job of keeping Mother Earth healthy because we thought the resources were infinite. That just isn't the case. You can blame certain people or you can blame greed in general but really, we are all to blame. We feel that reproduction is our most dear, basic right, so I don't see anyone curbing the population growth on their own.
No one is willing to initiate self depravation to stop the problem as I see only more cars, trucks and ATVs running about. More trees being cut to build more Hummer homes and more yards to water with our fresh drinking water.
I say we are driving ninety miles an hour into the brick wall of our destiny. I say we are on the dogs back the red indians speak of and that dog is ready for a big shake to expel the fleas. We, after all, are the biggest parasite on the planet.

I agree. If there isn't a planet anymore - we are all dead and the other stuff doesn't matter.

Where my parents/family live - they have to do water bans. Most of the summer - yards can not be watered. There is never enough rain fall and they are always in a drought. It has been that way for as long as I can remember.

So, for those of you that know about our environment and the problems, etc. What can we do to help? I have always heard about airsols. Like you should use a pump hairspray instead because of the ozone. That sounds easy enough - is there more things like that out there, that maybe the average person who does not follow global warming, might not know about?

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Originally Posted by Allheart

2) Why? Why is it viewed to be okay to say whatever you want about America and/or Americans and you AIN’T from here and have no intentions of coming here and for sure for sure no dreams of becoming a citizen??? Why? This really p’s me off and I feel bad about it, but it still p’s me off. Why does it p me off? Because, personally, I find it to be disrespectful. Sorry, but I do.

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Great post Allheart. I like your thinking about us all fixing the smaller issues we all face. The big ones will filter on from there hopefully.

As far as the comment above though I just have to say that all people from all countries are subjected to this. Not just America and Americans. Sure it may seem like that because you live there and I'm sure you see a lot of it, but I think that is because you are such a big and powerful nation and whether you like it or not your government has made you the focus of the world. But this happens, as I said, to all countries and all kinds of people, just on a different scale because the countries are on a different scale.

Important issues? As a parent of a child with severe disabilities - yes, I have some important issues. The government would rather my child be placed in a group home, that would cost the government at least $4000.00 dollars a month but they cannot give the parents any kind of funding to help keep the child home. They would rather burn out the parents then extend a hand. There are very limited programs for home care, long waiting periods for the those programs and inadequate hours of contracted services.

Yes, I care about the long term viability of the Earth - I just do not see the Earth being able to sustain life as we know it. Too many people using precious non-renewable resources.

The jails and prisons are full beyond belief - why is that? Are there really more criminals or are there fewer alternatives to punishments?

Politicians make a pretty darn good career out of being in Washington and coming back only when they want the voter's vote. Why do we continue to allow career politicians? Serve two terms and then come and get a job that reflects the average citizen - lose the perks and the bonuses and the PAC's.

I have many more, but I will stop here.

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Originally Posted by Skell

Great post Allheart. I like your thinking about us all fixing the smaller issues we all face. The big ones will filter on from there hopefully.

As far as the comment above though i just have to say that all people from all countries are subjected to this. Not just America and Americans. Sure it may seem like that because you live there and i'm sure you see a lot of it, but i think that is because you are such a big and powerful nation and whether you like it or not your government has made you the focus of the world. But this happens, as i said, to all countries and all kinds of people, just on a a different scale because the countries are on a different scale.

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That does make sense Skell. It really does. I do try and look at it through another perspective. Sometimes it is hard though and to be honest, I don't really mind other peoples perspective, I actually welcome it, as long as I sense there is respect behind the words spoken.

Thanks Skell :D - Always great to hear from you :).

I agree Allheart. There has to be respect. Actually that would be high on the list of things I hate about this world. Respect and the lack thereof. To the elderly, to the disabled, to the young, to the black, to the white... There is a massive shortage of it. Almost as much as water...

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Originally Posted by Skell

I agree Allheart. There has to be respect. Actually that would be high on the list of things i hate about this world. Respect and the lack thereof. To the elderly, to the disabled, to the young, to the black, to the white... There is a massive shortage of it. Almost as much as water...

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So true Skell so very true. And to each other. In stores, on the road, on the phone, waiting in line. That, which you just hit on, probably is at the base of many of the problems that we discuss right here at AMHD.

Health care. Coverage for all not just poor and old.

Matt - Absolutely!! I couldn't agree more.