Biggest problem

[Al Khalifah]

A vote for other then.
I don't believe that America is the root cause of evil in the world, but I do think that many of its actions are setting about chains of events that could lead to bad things happening. I was merely trying to point out that for many of the poll choices, the US can be blamed.
It's a point of view not a goad.

[KukriKhan]

I also picked "other". The other 19 problems definitely merit attention, but my choice for overall problem that could be solved this generation:

Illiteracy.

If we could get all humans, male and female, young and old, able to read at least at an elementary level, and provide universal access to material - hardcopy or electronic, we would be well on the way to solving many of the other 19 problems. Readers are more likely to be better informed about their own and other's situations and pasts; and more likely to actively participate in solutions to problems, in my opinion.

[Devastatin Dave]

I voted other...
That other would be LIBERALS!!!

[Byzantine Prince]

Good post Al Khalifah. You could have added a hole lot more, hell one can write a whole book about the abuses of the US.

Well it's poverty IMO. Poverty will drag the world straight into hell if we don't make economic plans to reverse it.

[Redleg]

A vote for other then.
I don't believe that America is the root cause of evil in the world, but I do think that many of its actions are setting about chains of events that could lead to bad things happening. I was merely trying to point out that for many of the poll choices, the US can be blamed.
It's a point of view not a goad.

And one can do that for almost every nation on the planet. That you chose to single out the United States shows how much influence the country has on the world - and something else also.

Should I do the same for China, Russia, England, France, Iran, and a few others to prove a point.

KukriKhan hit the main problem that faces the world today. Illiteracy.

Think about it for just a minute or two - how many of the mentioned areas can be reduced in impact by improving the overal literacy rate of the world.

[Byzantine Prince]

And one can do that for almost every nation on the planet. That you chose to single out the United States shows how much influence the country has on the world - and something else also.

Should I do the same for China, Russia, England, France, Iran, and a few others to prove a point.

Do Liechtenstein. I'de like to hear this. You said you could do every nation, right? Do Greece, probably the most influential nation on earth.

KukriKhan hit the main problem that faces the world today. Illiteracy.

Lot's of countries have full literacy and are not going anywhere economically. South America has pretty adequate literacy rates and yet their countries are mostly dirt poor.

[KukriKhan]

I should have provided something to look at, besides my own opinion:

2001 worldwide literacy rates (global color-graph), showing BP isn't entirely wrong about S.Am:
http://www.uis.unesco.org/ev.php?ID=...1&ID2=DO_TOPIC

Long discussion of functional literacy, and some conclusions to be drawn for the near future:
http://warriorlibrarian.com/CURRICUL..._literacy.html

Extract:

"...One issue can not be ignored: Is there a relationship between illiteracy and income? Some of the figures at the extremes in the rates of literacy compared to the range of GNP per capita could suggest that there is a correlation.

Literacy rate Per capita income
below 40% less than $600
above 98% more than $12,000

In the comparison of these figures, as the literacy rate doubles, so doubles the per capita income. The message here, at least in individual economic terms, is that literacy has payoffs and is a worthwhile investment—so it seems..."

[Byzantine Prince]

Kukhri, I think you are misinterpreting data. Low education levels are a result of poor economies, not the the other way around.

Literacy rates mean little in developed countries as well, considering tow things. 80% of the population on average(in the developed world) are manual workers, and the fact is that most of them don't need to read anything. So compare that with obsenely undedeveloped countries in Africa where literacy is completely useless for 90% of the population that would never get manual work that is in the sevices industry(which traditionally requires reading and wrinting skills).

Unless you haev anything better to add, I'll stick to my guns.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I voted other. The other is.................*drumroll*..................you didn't include a GAH! option!

[Redleg]

Do Liechtenstein. I'de like to hear this. You said you could do every nation, right? Do Greece, probably the most influential nation on earth.

I stated almost every - not all countries, there are a few exceptions to the rule as there is always. Liechtenstein might be just one - however thanks for proving a point.

That some are only viewing the United States as the problem without looking in depth into the jest of the poll or the areas that the author mentioned.

Now Greece wouldn't be all that hard considering some of the views expressed by several posters in this forum who claim to be greek or from Greece. Nationalism, Proverty, Fundmentalism and several other issues would be very easy for Greece. But you have already proven that point with your statement.

[Papewaio]

Biggest Problem: Fundamentalist 'Absolute' Knowledge/Education

Biggest Solution: Education.

With that you fight overpopulation as the more educated a person is particularly the women the less children they have.

Also with more educated individuals you get a larger set of people able to solve problems while diminishing the number who cannot solve issues for themselves.

Poverty is linked directly to education levels of a country the only exceptions are those with massive mineral wealth. Even then the education is rarely evenly dispersed throughout society.

Democracies work better with better informed citizens. Education is a key part in learning how to interpret information.

Fundamentalists, whatever their powerbase be: KKK, Catholic, Nazis, Apartheid South Africans, Neo-Nazis, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish etc all thrive on having absolute knowledge and answers. They do not thrive particularly well in an educated democracy with good social services. Education gives a broader view and too much grey scale for most fundies.

Countries that invest in education have over time seen their economies perform better. Ireland with its emphasis on education and IT have shown how a knowledge economy can help resolve problems in one of the poorest western european nations. Singapore operates on a similar methodology. New Zealand has a very strong education system and does well economically considering its more of a primary producer and tourist destination then a manufacturing base.

[Byzantine Prince]

Pape, not everyone needs to be an engineer, and scientist. We need 80% of people to be plain workers until machines can totally tak that over as well, in which case we'll need 80% of the population with really low college education.

[Papewaio]

Pape, not everyone needs to be an engineer, and scientist. We need 80% of people to be plain workers until machines can totally tak that over as well, in which case we'll need 80% of the population with really low college education.

I did not say that only engineers and scientist are educated (I would hate to bring that point up with my wife who has a degree in Politcal Economics and Management).

I am talking about all education from pre-school to university and trades. Arts, languages, chefs, philosophers etc are all included in education.

[Franconicus]

Biggest Problem: Fundamentalist 'Absolute' Knowledge/Education

Biggest Solution: Education.

With that you fight overpopulation as the more educated a person is particularly the women the less children they have.

Also with more educated individuals you get a larger set of people able to solve problems while diminishing the number who cannot solve issues for themselves.

Poverty is linked directly to education levels of a country the only exceptions are those with massive mineral wealth. Even then the education is rarely evenly dispersed throughout society.

Democracies work better with better informed citizens. Education is a key part in learning how to interpret information.

Fundamentalists, whatever their powerbase be: KKK, Catholic, Nazis, Apartheid South Africans, Neo-Nazis, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish etc all thrive on having absolute knowledge and answers. They do not thrive particularly well in an educated democracy with good social services. Education gives a broader view and too much grey scale for most fundies.

Countries that invest in education have over time seen their economies perform better. Ireland with its emphasis on education and IT have shown how a knowledge economy can help resolve problems in one of the poorest western european nations. Singapore operates on a similar methodology. New Zealand has a very strong education system and does well economically considering its more of a primary producer and tourist destination then a manufacturing base.

Papewaio,
I do not think that it is as simple as that. People who can write and esp. so called intellectual people also tend to fundamentalism. Look at the Nazis in Germanyin the 30ies. Germany was a democracy and most people could read.

[Al Khalifah]

Al Khalifah, please confirm that you are in fact a muslim.

I want to make sure before I list what muslims like in government and social issues.

No I'm not. I'm a Christian. I still don't like the slandering of religions that share my God, but many of the points hit the nail on the head about those who abuse the words and teachings of a religion to further their own aim. There are plenty of Christians who do the same.

Maybe the biggest threat facing humanity is the conflict of value systems and interests between the fundamentalists and the strong secular powers - although the two can often work together in tandem. Many western democracies are also quite happy to leave oppressive Islamic fundamentalist regimes in power because they can operate a far more efficient and cost-effective oil production cycle than a more humanitarian democracy ever could. The fundamentalists are also happy to accept money from the western heathen that they condem.

[Tribesman]

Biggest problem ..... Humans .

[ichi]

Religious fundamentalism.

or maybe that asteroid

ichi

[Laridus Konivaich]

War. It depletes resources/money and does not provide any benefits to the average person involved.

[Byzantine Prince]

War. It depletes resources/money and does not provide any benefits to the average person involved.

Except for great games.

[bmolsson]

Violation of human rights.

This is a no-brainer. If we can guarantee everyone on earth human rights, most of the other listed problems will vanish, except the evils of US and Liechtenstein of course.....

[PanzerJaeger]

Al Khalifah, please confirm that you are in fact a muslim.

I want to make sure before I list what muslims like in government and social issues.

[Papewaio]

Turkey and Indonesia are both democracies while Pakistan was as well.

Malaysia is kind of a democracy just don't expect any other party to be voted in...

[PanzerJaeger]

On further thought its rude to ask someone about their religion, so scratch that - it wouldn't change my answer anyway.

The biggest problem plaguing the world is the arab street.

Arab muslim "sensibility" and the countries that support it like:

Terrorism - they foster and support killers by telling them its what Allah wants and then when they get too powerful the muslim authorities tell the their plight is all the US fault.

Totalitarianism - Muslims seem to like oppressive regimes. More than 90% of the many muslim countries aren't bothered by living in such an environment.

Poverty - While sitting on some of the worlds richest resources, being dirt poor is cool!

Oppression of Women - Could there be any better symbol of this than the burka? "Hey Akbar - your wife just got raped, when are we going to string her up?"

Hunger - That goes with being poor as shit while also living on a sea of oil.

Hatred In All Forms - Arab muslims seem to hate everyone! Americans, Jews, Hindus, and so many more! Is it jealousy?

Violence - Wherever they go they seem to cause trouble no? India, Africa, Europe and America haven't escaped their rage.

Fundamentalism - Did Allah tell them they'd get 40 virgins in heaven.

Capitalism - 5% of the people control 95% of the wealth.

Backasswardness - They stone rape victims for fun! Need I say more?


Now in all seriousness, Arab muslims seem to be causing much of the world's problems today. They have untold amounts of wealth at their disposal yet they live in trash and export their jealous rage toward other peoples.

[Papewaio]

On further thought its rude to ask someone about their religion, so scratch that - it wouldn't change my answer anyway.

The biggest problem plaguing the world is the arab street.

Arab muslim "sensibility" and the countries that support it like:

Terrorism - they foster and support killers by telling them its what Allah wants and then when they get too powerful the muslim authorities tell the their plight is all the US fault.
:

Really all muslim authorities support terrorism?

Totalitarianism - Muslims seem to like oppressive regimes. More than 90% of the many muslim countries aren't bothered by living in such an environment.
:

Indonesia and Turkey combined have a population of about 300 million, they are democracies that are getting more demcratic as time progresses. If they represent 10% of muslim population you are saying that their is 3 billion muslims in the world.

Poverty - While sitting on some of the worlds richest resources, being dirt poor is cool!
:

The richest resources would probably be South Africa and PNG. Indonesia is pretty well off to, but the people where screwed over by their secular government dictator(s) supported/appeased by Australia and USA.

Oppression of Women - Could there be any better symbol of this than the burka? "Hey Akbar - your wife just got raped, when are we going to string her up?"
:

Not all muslim countries make women wear burkhas and in some countries burkhas are banned in some occupations. Turkey is fairly strong in that one, while in Indonesia I cannot remember seeing many burkhas. On the other hand a lot of Hindu indians where similar garb. Overall they tend to be worn in countries with stronger sunlight more then being worn in more fundamentalist areas.

Hunger - That goes with being poor as shit while also living on a sea of oil.
:

Yes, unfair distribution of oil wealth is not limited to muslim nations. South America for starters and the former USSR are two good examples of this.

Hatred In All Forms - Arab muslims seem to hate everyone! Americans, Jews, Hindus, and so many more! Is it jealousy?
:

It also seems that some people hate all Arab muslims and group them altogether as terrorists.

Violence - Wherever they go they seem to cause trouble no? India, Africa, Europe and America haven't escaped their rage.
:

I wonder what the Aztecs and Incas would say. As well as the rest of the worlds EU colonies...

Fundamentalism - Did Allah tell them they'd get 40 virgins in heaven.
:

I wonder what the KKK, Nazis and IRA were told?

Capitalism - 5% of the people control 95% of the wealth.
:

Are we arguing the first world vs the rest of the world or the muslim world?

Backasswardness - They stone rape victims for fun! Need I say more?
:

I think all countries that have the death penalty is backwards. Do more modern methods make it more moral?

Now in all seriousness, Arab muslims seem to be causing much of the world's problems today. They have untold amounts of wealth at their disposal yet they live in trash and export their jealous rage toward other peoples.

Now in all seriousness, American fundamentalists seem to be causing much of the world's problems today. They have untold amounts of wealth at their disposal yet they live in trash and export their jealous rage toward other peoples.

Just flipping the statement... it is a bitter pill to swallow even if you know it isn't true and it definitly doesn't open up dialogue.