Third Saturday Seminar 2004-2005 – We Dig Deeper Yet – The Challenges of Being Human” – Third Meeting

Bob Berge & Curt Gibby – “What Do You want your government to work on the next four years?”

9:30 am – 12:00 noon, Room B-102, Montgomery College, 3200 College Park Drive, Conroe, TX 77384. See links to maps at bottom of this email.

Well this time, following the excellent suggestion of Bob Berge that we, in effect poll ourselves to see what most of our group feel is important for our “new government” to tackle in the coming term. and maybe give some suggestions on how issues should be handled. In fact our hypothesis is that on most important issues we think that most of us, say 70-80 will be in general agreement if not on all the specifics. We will find out.

Our planned method is to acquaint the seminar members with what are the most likely issues that will be tackled by the administration. To do this we will use a November 3, 2004 Associated press article that I found on the FoxNews.com. You can “read ahead” by going to: http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,137492,00.html. You will find 15 items (actually 17) which the Associated Press reporters feel will be on the administration “punch list”. The fact that FoxNews, which closely follows and supports the administration agenda, chose the article adds to its authenticity in my estimation. You won’t find many or even any surprises in the list or the accompanying comments. But when you see them all together, they make an impressive list and you wonder how all they can be handled competently in four years.

We will review the list. We will ask if there are real needs that are not addressed in the article. If there is enough interest we will then add the the list. We will then choose the top five issues to work on. And come up with what we hope will be consensus options to relay to our representatives.

Just to refresh you memory, remember Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America (Some Say “Contract on America”)? You can find it here: http://www.house.gov/house/Contract/CONTRACT.html

This is neither required reading nor are you limited to the the suggested links. The main attraction of a seminar is that people get together periodically and share what they have observed and learned.

When you see something in this email in a different color, usually blue, and underlined, it is usually a hyper-link. When you click on it, your browser will take you to that web location. Hit the “BACK” button to return to this email.

Current Events: (We always

It’s 18 days past the election. Our lives will return to normal, or will they? What about Iraq, Medical Coverage, Employment, Inflation, Terrorism, etc. etc. Is everybody happy?

We went back to finish the job in Faluga, and what do you know? Many of The insurgents stayed but a lot left and the lived to fight in another city. The poppy crop is doing well in Afghanistan.

Big changes in the Cabinet. Some people want to run Arnold for Prez. Little matter of the Constitution, though…

Be sure to bring a current event or two that you’d like to share.

If you have a good cartoon sent it to me on email and I’ll project it on the screen.

You may still want to use some of these links:

More good useful stuff – Work histories of candidates
Project Vote Smart http://www.vote-smart.org

Follow the money in national politics
Opensecrets.org http://www.opensecrets.org/ (formerly the Committee for Responsive Politics, CRP)

Follow the Money — most complete resource for information of money in state politics
http://www.followthemoney.org/

All candidates and their surrogates twist the truth till it’s a lie; but you have factcheck.org:
http://www.factcheck.org/ to help you separate the wheat from the chaff.

The Center for Public Integrity : Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest: http://www.publicintegrity.org/default.aspx

Natural Resources Defense Council – Many of the fallen regulations effect the planet and it’s resources . This may be a challenge because many of these are a matter of personal opinion, The science involved is often disputed. http://www.nrdc.org/bushrecord/default.asp

DemocracyNow.org Amy Goodman. A national asset. I may not always agree with her, but I have tremendous respect for her as a persistent seeker of the truth and a tremendously able, courageous and energetic journalist. Listen to her daily at 9:00 am on KPFT FM 90.1 and catch streaming video and listen to archives or read transcripts at http:www.democracynow.org

For some of the best, timely, pertinent information for today’s world, watch Bill Moyer’s NOW on PBS at 9:00 pm on Fridays and if you miss it go to: http://www.pbs.org/now/ for discussion topics, transcripts, enrichment materials. Bill Moyers will leave the show after the election.

And if you really want to get your mind opened or sharpened try The Daily Show on Comedy Central. (Ch 59 on my cable) the current day’s show comes on at 10:00 pm and is usually replayed at 6:00 pm the following day. Sometimes a little bit of irreverence will help bring home the significance of an issue or person. http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_shows/thedailyshowwithjonstewart/

About The Third Saturday Seminar

Started in January 2000, The Third Saturday Seminar is now sponsored by the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) Program at Montgomery College. More on the ALL program at: http://www.montgomery-college.com/all/

For information about Montgomery College: http://wwwmc.nhmccd.edu

Parking: May I suggest that you park in the “West Parking Area” , as that parking area is closer to Building B. Ignore the “Instructors Only” signs on the parking, That only applies on week days.

Maps of MC Campus and directions http://wwwmc.nhmccd.edu/students/campus/maps.html

Bob and I are looking forward to seeing you there. (And please let me know if anything in this announcement doesn’t make sense.)

Best regards,

Curt Gibby
Spring, TX
gcgconsult (at) n-star.com

http://www.northstarinst.org/TSS