Compartmentalized solutions: I agree with you that most of the important problems are not discreet and in fact cross over into multiple "public policy" areas. And I also agree that in many cases the solutions that are needed must address a much larger gestalt, instead of simply trying to address a single issue in isolation. Nonetheless, in sketching out the problems that I personally posted on the site (and other users will hopefully add many others), I tried to be as specific as possible. This opens the possibility for both narrow and broader solutions, in my view. You might post a solution to the problem of "poverty" that also addresses global warming and war. Someone else might have a solution that more narrowly addresses poverty issues alone. I don't want to preclude the latter option, even while I am hoping that people will do what you are inclined to do and make the connections between seemingly separate problems.

This current release of the site is missing an important feature, however, that would be one additional guard against the kind of "stovepiping" you are cautioning against. Right now, you can't post a particular solution simultaneously to multiple problems. So your solution to poverty, global warming, and war could not be cross-posted in each of those areas. We are committed to making this possible, but it will have to wait for the next release.

One thing that you (or anyone) could do that would address your concern, at least in part, is to post a new problem that incorporates all of the elements that you see as tied together. Problems can and should be defined however users want to define them. I expect that many users will not agree with the framing of a particular problem, and will want to write their own problem description, before posting a solution.

Our existing system of public policy: I actually don't assume that the existing system is "only in need of tweaks and adjustments." As with the previous issue, our intention is to welcome solutions that advocate both large and small changes (we will have to remove any calls for violence or other illegal action, or we'll lose our non-profit status). We want people of all political persuasions (left or right), and all degrees of radicalization (from "tweakers" to revolutionaries).

I do tend to think that revolutionary change is unlikely right now, if for no other reason that most people are so apathetic. Politics is such a spectator sport, not much different from other manifestations of the popular media (except it's generally less entertaining). Our project is one attempt to engage people, in an effort to get them to become creative participants, rather than just observers and amateur commentators.

Your example: I agree that our format doesn't make this kind of multi-level discussion easy, but then I don't know what format would. The problems that you point to are difficult and extremely complicated. What I hope to enable in future releases is better ways to connect different ideas, so there might be separate but connected conversations about each of the issues you raise. Separate because each problem you point to is a problem in it's own right, and certainly connects to many other problems than the ones you list. But connected because these ideas so strongly effect and are effected by each other.

For now, you could do one of several things. You could post one (or more likely, several) In-Depth Discussion topics connected to any of the existing problems that are posted -- global warming poses grave threats (http://www.activistsolutions.org/node/69), for example. The In-Depth Discussion node is intended for just the kind of analysis and discussion you're describing. It's a way to get into and underneath the problems. The link to see existing In-Depth Discussion topics (and to add one) is at the bottom of each problem and solution post. You could also post a new Problem on the site, as I suggested above. In the problem description, you could describe the overlapping problems of global warming, poverty, and war, or you might skip to the chase and talk about "our collective sense of entitlement" and resistance to responsibility and needed change. Perhaps you could post it under the "Cultural and Ethical Issues" or "Education." Perhaps we should create a new "Issue" for the directory -- what should we call it? After posting this problem, you could then post an In-Depth Discussion topic (or several) to open up the various overlapping underlying issues.

Best of all, given our intended focus, you could put out a solution that attempts to address any or all of the issues you bring up. What can be done about American ignorance about and indifferent to our destructive impact on the rest of the world? I would tend to agree with you that many needed changes are bottled up behind that issue.

Thanks so much for your carefully considered and insightful feedback. Please post any additional comments on this forum.