American teens are being misled and no one will take us in the right direction.

I'm talking about the future. Our future. The country's future.

America has been dirtied, and someday we'll have to clean it. Are we prepared for the overhaul needed to preserve our failing democracy?

In the nation we will inherit, the economic structure embraces gross inequities that go overlooked.

The minimum wage has been $5.15/hr for five years. However, during that sane time billions of dollars were gained (and lost) in an economic boom. The ratio of the average C.E.O's salary to the minimum wage is approximately 420 to 1. We will never see that kind of money. Even worse: executives' money rests in stocks they can sell for millions and leave their employees pennniless, all without discretion. This constitutes a plutocracy, not the "democracy" that so many Americans put hope into, only to see it pillaged by the upper class and government.

The next generation needs to prioritize the need of the citizens over the greed of the top 10 percent.

In the nation we will inherit, the educational system feeds into a heavily unbalanced class system.

Legislatures always cut education once a "budget shortfall" (i.e. bullshit cuts) hits the fan. Even when the government throws money at our schools, they fail to help the actual students. And as long as private schools fare better than public education, the country cannot masquerade as a democracy. A democracy is a people's system, where public trusts should be fruitful enough to provide. When schools that cost money beat out a free, democratic education, it benefits the upper class that can easily afford it. The only way to build a better society is to educate the masses well. If the privileged are the only ones receiving a good education, then a similar society will develop.

Good education is the key to success, and our free schools must reflect that ideal.

In the nation we will inherit, publicity rules and the television is king.

Television is the most efficient way to reach the public, and it warps our view of the world. Marketing grew because of TV, and now it runs the airwaves and America. Madison Avenue peddles blissfully while CNN airs Wall Street's commercials, occasionally interrupting with stock updates or the latest sensationalistic story. Moral hawks decry the sex and violence that seemingly takes the youth --us-- hostage. But while they're out "fighting the good fight," the kids have sex and get wasted. Our generation is subject to the most effective propaganda in modern history, and we have to stop it.

Corporate cant runs our lives. Get it out of the airwaves, and the immoral will follow.

In the nation we will inherit, the lowest voter turnouts of any democracy stand as a testament to the spoiled system.

100 million eligable voters did not vote in 2000, 50 percent of the voting base. Campaigns are benign because candidates rely on big money for the expensive road to office. The airwaves, a public resource, are in the hands of conglomerates. In effect, campaign coverage (and any news) is usually limited to 10-second clips followed by a brief summary and a few commercials. So, every 2 years, candidates pollute the airwaves with campaign "promises,"falsities thrown out once elected. In our democracy, a senate seat can cost $60 million. The presidency: $300 million for both major candidates in 2000. 30-second commercials can range from $10,000 to $1 million for one spot.

A wise bumper sticker reads, "An election for sale is never free." Corporate sponsorship is the backbone of a system designed to advertise rather than inform. Those 100 million people either know that the system is corrupt or are too hypnotized by it to care. Either way, we have to fix it.

At present, American society is a system designed to stunt intellectual growth. Even though Jefferson wrote that the people should topple the old if it reverts to tyranny, we're forced to live the same sub-standard lives and ignore any push for reform. We are being sedated. Neutralized. The status quo is safe; those who challenge are labeled as outcasts. We can challenge this, but as long as we are disallowed to educate ourselves, life will never improve.

The majority of us will work a steady job and "live the American dream" because we think it's required. But in reality, the American dream isn't stuff, status, or even money. It's freedom, it's liberty, and it's disappearing.

Ralph Nader said, "Democracy is not a specator sport." Refuse to sit in the stands any longer. We're getting a wonderful stadium. Let's all play ball.