Why is it always young men? Is testosterone poisoning a problem?

[earthside]

60. Which leads to other uncomfortable phenomena.

First, of course, are the economic stresses that the emergence of a plutocracy in the United States has created for poor, working and middle class folks.

Liberals are sometimes uncomfortable addressing these social issues, but let's face it, the divorce rate certainly hurts children tremendously.

The pervasiveness of advertising has surely lead to a higher degree of the acceptance of materialism than any other pervious generation have ever known. There is a lot of cultural pressure on parents to never say 'no' to whatever video game or clothing fashion or music download that kids want.

Despite what the education establishment says, the truth also is that parental involvement in the schools is discouraged -- except when it comes to fundraising and tax hike elections -- otherwise butt-out (I don't know any parents who advocate for high stakes testing).

My last child has just graduated from high school and I am so glad she is out of public schools (and for the record I opted her out of ALL the high stakes NCLB testing -- usually the only parent in the school to do so).

I have a lot of sympathy for parents these days; I'm an older parent and I think the pressures from the corporate, consumer culture is truly not resistible.

I would like to see the tragic Aurora event lead to a discussion about our corporate, consumer, materialistic culture and how it affects us -- instead of another argument about gun control that we all know is going to go nowhere.