NEW COLUMN: “IF I WERE A PRESIDENT”

Everyone says that everything “new” is actually a well-forgotten “old.” We therefore decided to offer our readers an old/new newspaper column, “If I Were a President.” We are appealing to our young readers to check up on a once - hyperpopular Soviet “Literary Paper” of the 1970s and its publications titled “If I Were a Director”; our older readers already know what this title refers to. We wanted to update this theme by offering a different title and theme in order to talk about what is most pressing at the moment.

We hereby offer the following theme: “If I Were a President.” We are asking our readers for a concise (maximum three paragraphs) statement on the most crucial issues they would take up if they were a President of the United States. This would offer concerned citizens from all walks of life a voice and a belief that our country- and the world at large- can and should be changed for the better.

We are asking for one more condition, besides the concise delivery of the ideas – all responders must be U.S. Citizens or those with a legal right to reside in America. We want to direct all others interested in this idea to various Internet forums that offer similar-style discussions.

MediaGroup “Kontinent” wants to thank in advance all those who wish to participate in this new venue. The most interesting responses will be published, while others will be analyzed by the publication. We will also direct these responses to various Presidential Election Committees to the attention of the 2008 Presidential candidates.

We would like to direct attention of our readers to first responses received by MediaGroup “Kontinent” survey question. We further, convincingly ask you to provide the following information with your response: name (or initials), profession, sex and age.

We welcome responses both in English or Russian. We will accept responses both via email kontinentmedia@gmail.com (Subject: If I would be a president) or via mail to Kontinent Media Group, 1580 S. Milwaukee Ave., Suite 208, Libertyville, IL 60049 or via fax 847-680-9717.

Our foreign readers – including former compatriots currently living in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Germany, Canada and other states – can offer us suggestions that apply to their states, and “Kontinent” will be ready to showcase such responses to our large international readership.

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1. First thing that comes to mind is absolute need for health care reform. In a country that offers wealth of options health care or need for insurance health care reform seems to be trailing behind. A need for sponsored and or universal health care seems to linger.

2. Second but equally important concern is our failing education. It is imperative to provide our teachers with more rigid certification-training program that would avail them to prepare our youth to stand side-by-side with the world’s youth.

3. Although at a first glance there seems to be adequate defense for ethnic minority, but by looking deeper inside it becomes abundantly clear that ethnic minority is powerless when it comes to consumer defense or otherwise, even legal defense. A need for change is beginning to happen.

LIM, manager, male, 29

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1. Increase the budgeting of education.

2. Try to stop wars, and solve matters diplomatically.

3. Try to disarm nuclear weaponry around the world and in my country.

M.A., student, male, 19