Hi Jared:

I think you are spot on with your statement about the need to clean slate ourselves and have a discussion about the key values we all hold to be true.

If we can have an honest conversation as a nation on what is working and what is broken I think we can start to make solid progress in key areas of shortcoming.

For instance: energy policy. We need to create a 10, 25 and 50 year plan for our national transition to clean energy. We need the buy in of fossil fuel vendors and environmentalists to craft the big and long term solutions we need to implement.

Healthcare: a basic right for all to achieve human potential. Remove profit and insurance companies from the mix and there are literally billions of dollars freed up to go to things like preventative care and mental health.

Military: part of the issue with the military is their funding is subject to the wims of the current administration and Congress. Let's create a 10 year plan and fund accordingly. Renewable every 10 years so the military doesn't have to spend thousands of hours reporting to Congress to substantiate purchases, weapons programs etc.

Infrastructure: let's centrally plan infrastructure projects nationally on a 10, 20, 25 year basis and ensure funding for maintenance for all projects on a ongoing basis.

Education: revamp education and pay families and kids to attend school.

They key to all of this and possible successes it could bring is to remove the shortsightedness that is rampant in our current situation. We need to bring long term planning and budgetary and fiscal responsibility into the picture.

We have the opportunity. All we need to do is get engaged.

Thanks for the provocative read!

Walter