Idea Generation:

1. What do you believe is the biggest problem facing…

            …this country? I believe the biggest problems facing our country are political divide, global warming, national healthcare/unaffordable healthcare. 

            …your local community? I believe the things that affect the country also affect our local community however overpopulation, homeless populations, lack of affordable housing are also big issues that need discussion.

            …people your age? The big things that affect people my age are affordable housing, unaffordable healthcare, higher education expenses, and global warming.

           …the next generation? Things that will affect the next generation are global warming, overpopulation, war and peace, debt, etc. 

           …you on a daily basis? The big things that affect me on a daily basis are affordable housing, unaffordable healthcare, higher education expenses, and global warming.

            …your grandparents? Things that affected my grandparents were similar issues, they were unable to afford many things in their life due to the great depression and the wars that set their generations back for a long time. Now it is unaffordable healthcare, global warming, and political divide that splits the entire country that affects them the most.

           …pick a group of your choosing? The Peace Corps The things that affect the peace corps are funding aka political divide, war and peace throughout the world, and safe healthcare for them as volunteers and around the world.

What is something you are genuinely curious about? A phenomenon that you simply do not understand – even if it’s been explained to you? National Healthcare and why it is such an issue in America that we cannot come together and support one another.

2. If you could only have two TV channels, what would they be? What do you think is the smartest show on television, and what kinds of questions do they ask – and answer? This is interesting, I would choose the BBC because they not only provide a semi-unbiased approach to global news but they also find it important to spread awareness on hot button topics. Such topics as global warming through showing programs such as blue planet and planet earth. I would also choose a TV show rather than a station as my second one because this show allows viewers to have an interesting view of the white house and how it is meant to run. The program I am talking about is the West Wing. The dialog in the show (however old) is still relevant to today's issues that this country faces. It is fast paced and talks about hot button topics from every angle giving you a unique perspective on things you might not understand previously.
3. When you listen/watch/read the news, what sorts of stories draw you in? (This may be when you read CNN online, listen to or overhear NPR, watch The Daily Show, etc.) When do you stop and turn up the radio, or click the link on your Google homepage to read more? Weather stories draw me in because they are "easy" to hear about and aren't extremely depressing like the state of this country and the news that they normally tell. I also am interested in political news sometimes because I think it is important to educate yourself on politics in general but especially when an election is coming up. I click on links only when something traumatic has happened such as a mass shooting.
4. Imagine that tomorrow, you have the chance to bring a topic into the national conversation. This means that you get to take five minutes and explain that this SPECIFIC issue has not received enough attention – what topic would you pick? I would either pick big corporation funding in politics (such as the NRA) and how this corruption makes it so our representatives cannot talk about the important issues. I would also think about talking about national healthcare and how incredibly important it is.
5. If you could write one specific law – without concern for how it would be funded – what would it be? If you could change one existing law – think specific – what would that be? This is difficult, as in the last question I have two things that I am passionate about and believe need a lot of attention at the current moment. I would probably write a law however about big corporation funding in politics and outlawing it so that we as a country can talk about other issues.
6. Fill in the following blanks:

1. Over the years, corporation and lobbyist funding political campaigns have become increasingly popular/trendy/omnipresent. My family and friends all think grassroots campaigns are great, as do others. But I’m not sure that grassroots campaigns are really a good thing because they require a lot of volunteer work and dedication.
2. When I was young, I really wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. Though my interested changed, I’m still interested in making the world a better place. What drew me away from this profession was the lack of money, which makes me ask: Why do the people who educate the next generation not get enough recognition and money?