Now i know most of the ideas that i post here are too unrealistic or just too complicated or too stupid or whatever. Some get through, like the polling forum, some don't. The reason why i make suggestions, good or bad, is to try and help out where i can. Try to help move this organization move forward is some way and to show appreciation for what the people running this place do. With that said, i want to propose a new idea. One that i think is good and could be fun. On the front page there are essays written by political analyst but that makes me think: There are a lot of people here with a strong knowledge of politics, why shouldn't they get a chance to get what they have written on the front page as well? So, here is what i propose. We hold a contest, maybe for one month, where we submit our own essays in a special thread. Then, POAC or who ever, chooses the best and puts it on the front page. Fairly simple idea, one that won't take very much work by anyone and something that we could really enjoy.

better get somebody besides POAC to do the judging, doubt he wants to be in the position of pissing everybody off!!! LOL

could vote, for that matter-

it think it is a great idea- and its a way to get free articles!

article contest, not essay contest- but i like it

-t-

OK, but Seamus has to be disqualified. Otherwise, the contest is over before it starts.

You guys could hold a poll and vote.

Post any and all essays.
I think which to take further will be self evident!.

Don't simply use the best one,
use all of the best!

I have in mind an essay on my big picture view that I've developed and would like to share in some way. I should start work on it somewhere in these forums, the question being, where would be the appropriate place to do so?

I like the idea of working on such an essay in the forums, letting it's points be debated and revised accordingly by other members, then putting the final version on the front page once it's been polished. After all, that's one of the key advantages of the Internet, enabling collaborative effort!

My central thesis for my big picture view is, that the main purpose of the current conflict is control of the earth's finite resources in order for the few to profit off them, rather than a concerted effort to move to renewable resources that will benefit everyone. Everything going on, the wars, the politics, the trade treaties, all support this idea - grab as much as possible while we still can, then make as much money off it as possible.

It seems to me this is the greatest crime against humanity ever. Instead of ensuring long term and sustainable human survival by building a renewable infrastructure and adopting appropriate lifestyles, the trend continues ever onward to keep people dependant on things that will eventually run out. This is capitalism at it's most irresponsible.

While we still have time and high-energy resources, I advocate some sort of Manhattan Project crash course that would give the entire world a renewable energy infrastructure. Note that I say give, not sell, this sort of thing should be a gift to the world. The profit motive is exactly what keeps the situation what it is today, renewable energy does not benefit corporate interests to the extent that non-renewable energy does, and therefore any notion of profit must be removed from the equation. It's socialism, of course, but that's how I think it must be for it to work.

Just think, if that 188 billion and counting spent on this single war in Iraq was spent on solar farms, windmills, electric transportation, energy efficiency, and propaganda aimed at the overly-consumptive public that their McMansions and SUVs will do them no good when they have no electricty or gas and their food is 1,000 miles away and their Wal-Marts are empty.

So, that's the framework for the essay I'd like to write. Where should I get started?

My personal opinion?

I'd like it in one go!
What you teased with in your description suits me very well.
I like it and agree 110%

Post the complete essay here, on this string.
Unless you're talking a couple hundred pages,
in which case you might wanna make it a downloadable pdf file.

Just my ideas.
I expect you to do what you think best.

There should probably be some guide lines, such as a certain number of words or something. Hell, i don't know, i don't run this site. Some guy in Hicksville, Iowa does.


On a side note, a very side note, i may not be here for the next day or two as school starts on monday and i gots to get my shit settled.