The source of citizens' loss of control is the lack of public answering by authorities -- the people set in authority as the directing minds of governments, large corporations and other institutions. They haven't been telling us, fully and fairly, before they make their decisions, what they intend as outcomes, for whom, and why they intend it. Nor have they told us their own performance standards. They don't because we have never legislated the answering requirement, yet the requirement to answer doesn't tell authorities what to do. It simply tells them to publicly explain their intentions. The other common denominator in our loss of control is our reluctance to hold to account -- we haven't ordered our elected representatives to install the public answering requirement and to have important answering validated. We must shift from deference to stating legitimate expectations and getting the answering.

As things stand, we aren't informed well enough to do our civic duty in overseeing authorities. Then, not being adequately informed, we increasingly distrust the authorities. This in turn leads to armies of citizens having to get together after work to pour huge amounts of time and energy into fighting the authorities we should be controlling. There has to be a better way.

A Citizen's Guide to Public Accountability explains why we must require those in authority to answer to us publicly and adequately, before and after the fact, and why this would produce a self-regulating effect on what authorities do.

The example of "horror stories" shows what happens when we don't require adequate answering from directing minds. The book then explains what public accountability means and proposes basic standards for public answering by different types of authorities. Legislated answering requirements would give us reasonable information to commend authorities' intentions, alter them, or halt them. The book offers public interest organizations and activist leaders specific guidance for exacting adequate answering from authorities, which should lead to greater fairness in society.

THE WORLD TODAY - TOMORROW begins with drawing our attention to the dastardly, violent, global corruption rampant in the world today. Then it attempts to find the causes, by pointing at governmental systems; the super rich elites; and at conspiration organizations - with a big question mark! The third section concludes with a proposition to convert the global government systems into a 'participatory direct democracy' in which government members are transformed into public servants - serving, and administering the will of the people, who in turn are strictly guided by the dictates of 'moral Law' at the core of the national Constitutions. All legislation local, national, and foreign policy; and or any proposition affecting the lives of the people - must conform to the dictates of moral precepts at the heart of the Constitution.

Those who have already seen a preview of the book have expressed their very favorable opinions quite forcefully:

• "Bill Potts' Bushopedia will make you laugh, cry, scream, throw up, get mad, and try to do something about the worst administration in U.S. history. It's my kind of book."
  -Jim Hightower, author of Let's Stop Beating Around the Bush and Thieves in High Places

• "Bushopedia says it all when it comes to the follies of the Bush administration and its conservative cohorts leading to the present American tragedy."
  - Helen Thomas, First Lady of the White House Press Corps and author of Front Row at the White House: My Life and Times

• "What a hysterical and brilliant concept. I'm putting it on my coffee table. You can just open to any page and suddenly you can't stop reading."
  - Barbara Trent, Academy Award winning film maker (The Panama Deception) and seasoned activist

• "An up-to-date, meticulously and thoroughly researched who's who, what's what, how and why of the Bush administration, at once as amusing as a W bushapropism and as serious as a cancer diagnosis. Must reading for the majority of Americans who believe the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction."
  - Edd Doerr, author and President, Americans for Religious Liberty

• "An Extraordinary book."
  - Theodore A. Webb, author of Seven Sons: Millionaires and Vagabonds

A careful reading of this narrative explains how political and religious leaders, often being somewhat interchangeable, have been able to devise "enemies" that can be used to convince sufficient sections of the populace to elect or retain in high office those who portray themselves as opposed to such "enemies"; ignoring, in so doing, the sage advice of Benjamin Franklin that "those who would sacrifice essential liberties for a little temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security."

The United States faces a crisis today that threatens her very future and existence. Out-of-control government spending, corruption and deception; a war that is destroying one nation and dividing our own; an invasion of illegal immigrants; and the moral decay of our society are all symptoms of a disease that can only be cured by the American people.

In this compelling, sweeping look at American history and politics, Dave Batcheller provides a clear picture of where we have come from as a nation, and what we must do as American citizens to reverse these alarming trends within our culture and government. This call for true patriotism should be read by every American who is concerned about the future of our republic.

Excerpt from the book: "Perhaps if, like me just a short time ago, you discover that you have been lulled into sleep or complacency, this book may send a jolt through your system. If so, I am happy, because perhaps another true patriot is about to be born; one who will join hearts and hands with thousands of others who are emerging in this great nation to become an unstoppable force, bringing our nation back to its roots and back to God."

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MEGA MEDIA

"Every so often an author explains our culture in such an original way that from that day on we see the world around us in a new, if not clearer, light. This is especially true when the topic is the business of media, because its influence is a thread woven intricately into our daily routine. "MEGA MEDIA" is an important and a good read."
Anil Padmanabhan
Nieman Reports

"MEGA MEDIA is must-reading for any communications executive or any citizen seriously interested in the transformation of the news business."
Walter Anderson
Publisher
Parade Magazine

"MEGA MEDIA...is an important story told in a concise, thoughtful and highly readable manner. It effectively debunks the conventional wisdom that so easily emerges from the myths about our business. For that reason alone, the book deserves to be read and discussed widely."
Robert H. Giles
Senior Vice President
The Freedom Forum
Media Studies Center

"With the grace of an accomplished journalist and the experience of a newspaper owner, Nancy Maynard analyzes the forces shaping the newspaper business. Her passion for the social mission of journalism is clear, but so is her vision of economic necessity. Don't come to this volume for nostalgia or newsroom populism. Maynard knows that the future is brightest when at present one begins by facing up to the earth."
Jack Fuller
President/Publishing
Tribune Co.

"MEGA MEDIA is the best distillation of what's happening to the news businesses that I have read. I'm recommending it to people I know who are concerned about these issues - which should mean everyone in journalism."
Jim Bettinger
Director
John S. Knight Fellowships

"I can't imagine anyone lecturing about the media or the future of journalism without turning to [this] book."
Jim Steele
Senior Writer-at-Large
Time Inc.

If you feel besotted by the hoopla over what is happening to the news business these days, over how the frenetic marketplace and rampaging technology seem to be placing everything up for grabs, then here is a welcome piece of clarity and insight. Everyone from Luddites to early adopters can benefit from Nancy Maynard's nonhysterical, nondefensive, nonjargony - and delightfully nonlengthy - analysis.
"The news business today", she aptly writes, "is like the Wild West, in digital drag". But Maynard, a veteran journalist, businessperson and educator, takes a straightforward approach to demystifying this superheated environment. She identifies seven "forces driving the future of news" and offers clearheaded analysis, sensible predictions and some measured but wise advice.
Her work is characterized by balance and open-mindedness. She clearly has a point of view - the love of journalism, particularly the kind that serves the public interest with robustness and diversity. But she is no oldtimer flailing away at all things modern. She understands the business imperitve (she and late husband, Robert Maynard owned the Oakland Tribune), she appreciates technological advance, and she seems comfortable with change.
Exerpted from August, 2000 review by
Carl Sessions Stepp
Senior Editor
American Journalism Review

To read more about Maynard and her book, please visit the author's website.