What would you change?

[ks8829]

I would change how we spend so much money on the war and redirect the money to the people in American that need the funding for schools, shelter, food, health care and jobs.


What would you change?

[Franco!]

My underwear.
I wouldn't change anything.
Everything happens for a reason
Cliché, I know.

[ks8829]

I tell my son he can wear his under for 4 days, front, back, inside out front and back.

[FlopShotArtist]

My underwear.

To be honest, I agree. Everything happens for a reason. If something needs changing, it will change.

[NorCalGolfer]

Gas prices. I'm not a big fan of offshore drilling, but this is getting out of hand. I understand inflation and how this was inevitable, but it's coming way too fast. But at least it's mellowed out a bit the last couple weeks.

[GaijinGolfer]

Sustained mobility. Oil shortages and our lack of soutions to our energy needs are a much bigger threat to our way of life than any terrorist network or Mid-East dictator.

[Fraser]

Socialised medicine.

Having lived in the UK for the first 21yrs of my life I find it mind boggling that people can be in so in debt just trying to provide themselves with overpriced medications. Like education I don't see healthcare as being something that should be privatised for the overwhelming majority.

The NHS isn't that bad...frankly it couldn't be any worse than my experiences of the US system. Jesus.

[CG031]

I would change how we spend so much money on the war and redirect the money to the people in American that need the funding for schools, shelter, food, health care and jobs.

Totally agreed. I think we need a better health care system.

[Surefire]

I don't want this to come out the wrong way, but what about the people who have even less?

Some people in Africa can would love to worry about gas prices as it would mean they had a car! Most of these people don't have any kind of health or education system, not even a crappy one.

I know they say take care of number one, but maybe we should look at the bigger picture.

[GaijinGolfer]

I don't want this to come out the wrong way, but what about the people who have even less?

Im all for that, but I also think that charity starts at home. Before we go into other countries offering aid, I think we should help out people in our own countries who are in need.

I dont know about in England, but here in America we have a considerable number of homeless people and Id like to see us help those people get back on their feet before we worry about Africa.

[JYB]

i just wrote a post about how much i have and how little i appreciate it. i'd like to change that.

[Surefire]

Im all for that, but I also think that charity starts at home. Before we go into other countries offering aid, I think we should help out people in our own countries who are in need.

Its the same here, and yes there is nothing wrong with helping the people that want to be helped at home, before looking abroad. I fully agree.

Its the next bit that I was really getting at, such as cheaper gas. Is being able to have a big thirsty SUV more important than feeding someone in another country? Again I wasn't having a dig at anyone, so I hope no one takes it the wrong way. I was just kind of putting things in perspective.

[ks8829]

I would like to change the relationship I have with my 13 year old son so that we can play golf together and become even closer.

[CosmosMpower]

I would make people walk everywhere that was less than 15 mins walking distance. That would help dramatically with polution, gas, obesity, health care. Americans are fat because they eat crap food and then get in their car and drive everywhere and then complain if they have to walk 50 feet from their car in the parking lot to the door of the mall.

[CosmosMpower]

Totally agreed. I think we need a better health care system.

I'm sure the majority of the people on this board with white collar 8-5 jobs are the exception not the rule but it seems like if you can find a decent full time job at a stable company you should be able to afford health care co-pays, deductibles etc. I work for a small/medium size company and when I go see a doctor or even a specialist it's $15 out of my pocket and $8 for most medications. I'm single and fairly young and I pay about 60 a month for health, medical and vision combined. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me. I can see how it could be terrible out of pocket though as some generic prescriptions that cost almost nothing with insurance can cost 150 bucks without.

[GaijinGolfer]

Its the next bit that I was really getting at, such as cheaper gas. Is being able to have a big thirsty SUV more important than feeding someone in another country?

No, it isnt. You cant blame people for being upset when gas is so expensive, to the point where some families are barely getting by, yet the oil companies are raking in record profits.

Yet, at the same time, they tell our government that they still need tax breaks. To me, thats just plain greedy. If they are making record profits, I think they can stand to lower the price that they sell gas to gas stations for and in turn, those gas stations would charge less for a gallon of gas. So, its not so much that driving a big SUV is more important than feeding starving people in Africa, its that oil companies are getting rich at the expense of working-class families. For upper and upper-middle class families, the increase in gas prices isnt as big of a deal because they have more disposable income. However, working class families are often on a pretty tight budget, so when the price of gas doubles, it puts a real strain on the family budget. It makes it really difficult to be motivated to get up and go to work every day when all you can do is drive to work, drive home and sit and do nothing because gas is so expensive.

[Surefire]

the oil companies are raking in record profits.

I guess its greedy, but isn't the point of a company to make as much money as possible for the shareholders?

Unless you are going to nationalise the oil industry, why should an oil company sell you gas cheaper, when it knows you will buy its product anyway? You could flip it the other way round and say maybe people are greedy for thinking they can have cheap oil forever, they have got used to this, and now its not the case its hurting them. This applies in 2 ways; first off the choice of cars people make, and secondly the way infrastructure has been set up to rely on oil. I can see how looking at it with sentiment you can come to your conclusion, but looking at it from outside I can see it differently. I already pay about $8 a gallon here, so I actually think you guys are very lucky.