How to make the world a better place?

[Ak47]

I'm doing some personal research on this subject for a personal project. This question is pretty open ended. Truly, i'm trying to get ideas related to making the US a better place, not the world. So, i'm not as interested in ways to fix 3rd world countries, etc since they don't pertain to the US directly.

I'm not looking for individual ways to make a difference, but rather major things that could be changed to make things better for everyone such as economy, education, poverty rates, government, etc. Both broad and specific answers and ideas are welcomed. Thanks!

[Ak47]

looking for both problems and solutions. also partial solutions. thanks.

[JimOfferman]

• Countries accepting and respecting the sovereignty of other countries
• Religious factions -including the current US government- accepting and respecting the existence of other religions
• The West recognizing that forcing democracy on everyone does not make the world a better place
• The US recognizing that their War On Terror is giving terrorist more -not less- reasons to keep up their terrible practices.

All those things are beyond my power or ability to change, but I can make a difference by treating all the people I come across with respect and dignity (even if they do not treat me the same).

[theknightwhosaysni-NI]

Personnally I have difficulties to find a major thing that could make things better for everyone, especially if this major thing is coming from the "top". (I mean the political power in its actual state)

Countries accepting and respecting the sovereignty of other countries

For instance, this is controversial because it means that if authorities in a country decide to make dreadful acts like mass killings in their own country, the international community should not interfere in the name of sovereignty.

# The US recognizing that their War On Terror is giving terrorist more -not less- reasons to keep up their terrible practices.

Honestly I think that the US power is already aware that it's war on terror is not efficient and produces more terror than peace. It's obvious to me that there is some hidden agenda here, probably not something complicated but just that they're more interested in power than peace.
Those who are not aware of this agenda in my opinion are the controled minds of the population of voters. The voters are individuals. If you get free and conscious individuals, you don't get dishonest leaders.

That's a reason why I believe much more in the addition of individual efforts to make the world better. Consequently, I like everything that motivates people to reconnect with their freedom and evolve as individuals towards a more peaceful, responsible, courageaous and loving lifestye.
Sure motivating individuals to live a better life brings results only on the long term. It's not a quick fix coming from a new reform by politicians in power. However it's the best solution I see.

[Ak47]

individuality - well noted. it's okay if it's a long process, anything that could have signifigant change within the course of say 150 years is up for grabs here.

[ogrekilleat]

I vote for better public transportation. Make it easier for people without cars to travel, and encourage people to cut down on using cars in favor of pleasant, efficient, and cost-effective transportation. Good for the environment, good for people.

[monicadennis]

It can be done by love.Love can bring the peace to world......

Marriage makes relation .So we have to take marriage between countries,states ,religious and caste.........

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Thanks.....

[Nicketas]

Originally Posted by Ak47

I'm doing some personal research on this subject for a personal project. This question is pretty open ended. Truly, i'm trying to get ideas related to making the US a better place, not the world. So, i'm not as interested in ways to fix 3rd world countries, etc since they don't pertain to the US directly.

I'm not looking for individual ways to make a difference, but rather major things that could be changed to make things better for everyone such as economy, education, poverty rates, government, etc. Both broad and specific answers and ideas are welcomed. Thanks!

Study psychopathy, the true root of most evils.

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by Ak47

I'm doing some personal research on this subject for a personal project. This question is pretty open ended. Truly, i'm trying to get ideas related to making the US a better place, not the world. So, i'm not as interested in ways to fix 3rd world countries, etc since they don't pertain to the US directly.

Health: Slap a tax on the fat content of junk food and use the revenue to feed the starving.

Education: Teach people to speak properly and politely and to start saying ‘Please, may I have’, instead of ‘Gimme’ and ‘I wanna’.

Ban all violent computer games and television shows.

[Barcs]

Ban all violent computer games and television shows.

I couldn't disagree more with that more. Freedom of speech/expression/art should not be supressed. The main reason that there is so much violence in video games and in the movies is because it is a reflection of reality (not the other way around). The world is a violent place, and unfortunately it sells. If you want to push for less violence in multimedia, then the best thing you can do is not buy the products. You can't just ban them all because one kid out of tens of millions, flips out and shoots up his school. That kind of thing is actually pretty rare, and is usually the fault of mental problems. I think that if we focus on a more peaceful world, it will eventually refelect in our games and entertainment.

[Paul C]

Originally Posted by Cantando

Ban all violent computer games and television shows.

I also disagree with this one. Violence in video games can sometimes be portrayed in an insightful way, besides being used as an entertainment element. The Half-life series, for example, is rather violent at times (it is a First Person Shooter, after all) yet still touches on many areas relating to mortality and humanity in general.

That's not to say there aren't video games and television shows out there which promote violence, ill behavior, etc.

Originally Posted by Barcs

The main reason that there is so much violence in video games and in the movies is because it is a reflection of reality (not the other way around).

Indeed, this explains it rather well. And yes, freedom of expression is important.

[coLLege kid07]

Originally Posted by ogrekilleat

I vote for better public transportation. Make it easier for people without cars to travel, and encourage people to cut down on using cars in favor of pleasant, efficient, and cost-effective transportation. Good for the environment, good for people.

Promoting the use of environment friendly cars and products. (solar powered/electric powered machines) This would greatly help not only the U.S. but the whole world.

[fwellers]

The UN Millenium Development Goals.
Goal number 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!


Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty
Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education

Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality

Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by Barcs

The main reason that there is so much violence in video games and in the movies is because it is a reflection of reality (not the other way around). The world is a violent place, and unfortunately it sells.

What you focus on is what you get (LoA). Violence begets violence.
TV shows and video games are getting more and more graphic and explicit, with increasing sexual content. We are becoming hardened to it. Think about what your children are doing - wouldn't you prefer them to be doing something a bit more healthy, instead of interacting with this kind of rubbish?

[Barcs]

What you focus on is what you get (LoA). Violence begets violence.
TV shows and video games are getting more and more graphic and explicit, with increasing sexual content. We are becoming hardened to it.

This may be true, but it is reality. Personally I'd rather know what reality is, than pretend to live in some happy go lucky bubble. You can say that violence causes violence, but that is irrelevent because TV is fake violence. Does fake violence cause real violence? I don't think it does. 99% of people who play video games do not actually take those actions outside of the game and can tell the difference between fake and real. If anything it's the other way around.

Think about what your children are doing - wouldn't you prefer them to be doing something a bit more healthy, instead of interacting with this kind of rubbish?

Yes obviously, which is why, as a parent, it is vital to get your child involved with physical activities and other healthy activities (mentally as well as physically), instead of buying them violent video games. Violent games and the likes are for older kids/adults. This is why regular cable TV censors all of this and you have to pay extra to actually watch a movie in its original state. I can't stand watching good movies when they are butchered by censors. It ruins the art. Art imitates reality and that's all it is. Banning art is a facist way of "improving" things, IMO, and it would not improve any of the real violence in the world (ie terrorism, iraq, gang violence, etc).

Also I'm not so sure if TV has really gotten any more violent. I mean back in the 80s we had Freddy, Jason and all kinds of horror/dismemberment films. Not much has changed with that besides improving the video quality. Video games were only 8 bit graphics back then, so real violence was hard to depict. The FCC has gotten WAY more strict in the past 5 years alone.

[Brutha]

wouldn't you prefer them to be doing something a bit more healthy, instead of interacting with this kind of rubbish?

That isn't the question.
Do we value our right to free speech enough to prevent some people to make negative videos or games or is it that bad that our children are influenced by virtual violence that we have to cut back on basic civil rights.

Do you want a government that cuts back on civil rights when a bit could be improved by restricting civil rights?
Maybe Bush sees documentaries that show how children starve in africa has negative. It could really depress some people to see those poor children.
What about a documentary about civil war in Iraq? If you forbid all violence in TV people in power could use the ban to silence the documentary.

When you start to ban cultural content you should be very very careful. Even if I would agree that it would be better if there was less violence in TV, I think that banning it would be bad public policy.

[fwellers]

Originally Posted by Brutha

That isn't the question.
Do we value our right to free speech enough to prevent some people to make negative videos or games or is it that bad that our children are influenced by virtual violence that we have to cut back on basic civil rights.

Do you want a government that cuts back on civil rights when a bit could be improved by restricting civil rights?
Maybe Bush sees documentaries that show how children starve in africa has negative. It could really depress some people to see those poor children.
What about a documentary about civil war in Iraq? If you forbid all violence in TV people in power could use the ban to silence the documentary.

When you start to ban cultural content you should be very very careful. Even if I would agree that it would be better if there was less violence in TV, I think that banning it would be bad public policy.

Here here. I am a hundred percent behind that. I hate censorship.

[Barcs]

Reality shows are far worse than violent TV, if you ask me. Ban those first. :P

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by Barcs

I can't stand watching good movies when they are butchered by censors. It ruins the art. Art imitates reality and that's all it is. Banning art is a facist way of "improving" things, IMO, and it would not improve any of the real violence in the world (ie terrorism, iraq, gang violence, etc).

Displaying gratuitous violence is not art. And it is not all a one way flow - like there is this 'reality' out there, so we have to imitate it in the name of art.

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Maybe Bush sees documentaries that show how children starve in africa has negative. It could really depress some people to see those poor children.
What about a documentary about civil war in Iraq? If you forbid all violence in TV people in power could use the ban to silence the documentary.

When you start to ban cultural content you should be very very careful. Even if I would agree that it would be better if there was less violence in TV, I think that banning it would be bad public policy.

When I said ban all violent TV shows and computer games, I meant those that sell because of their high violence content - where the violence contained begins to have a morbid attraction for viewers. In most cases, the graphic display of violence is not integral to the plot, if the work has any artistic value.

[Marth]

help Americans overcome fear, isolation, materialism & patriotism

long term-promote wind energy, join pro peace groups, hang wit me

[Brutha]

When I said ban all violent TV shows and computer games, I meant those that sell because of their high violence content - where the violence contained begins to have a morbid attraction for viewers.

Once you have a law that bans something you aren't the person that determines how the law gets applied.
Your intentions of banning only the "bad things" don't matter that much, because other people find other things "bad".
Civil rights also apply to people who say things (or make art/movies about them) that you don't like.
If you take those civil rights away from those people, they get also damaged in other areas.

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Once you have a law that bans something you aren