The facts and figures surrounding income inequality are so outrageous that it’s hard to understand why people aren’t more outraged about it. The fact is, the situation is more insidious in our lives than is obvious, because income inequality is undermining democracy and will continue to do so until the nation rises up against it or slouches its way into true plutocracy.

It is a real problem.  Today in America, one percent of the population earns 25 percent of all income and controls 40 percent of the nation’s wealth, according to economist Joseph Stiglitz.

It is very likely only a matter of time before Independents outnumber Republicans in California. According to the Secretary of State's most recent report on voter registration, Californians are continuing to register as Independents in record numbers.

The Youth 

Los Angeles topped the Environmental Protection Agency Top 25 Cities with "Energy Star" Certified Buildings for the fourth year in a row in 2011. The City of Angels increased its number of "Energy Star" certified buildings by 149 from 2010, leading the United States with 659 buildings.

It's no secret that Americans love their cars. We buy them, we drive them, we like them. But as gas prices increase, foreign dependency on oil is viewed more critically and controversies like the Gulf oil spill and Keystone XL dominant headlines, it's interesting to examine solutions. One are bicycles. Highly popular modes of transportation in many areas of Europe, the United States could be prime area for the growth of bikes. Check out the infographic below to learn more about the health, environmental and economic benefits of bikes:

One of President Obama's most well-known, significant and controversial policies has been the automaker bailout of General Motors. Resurgent Republic asked self-identified independent voters in Denver, CO and Richmond, VA who had voted for President Obama in 2008 and are currently undecided, "If Barack Obama were a car, what kind of car would he be and why?" The responses were interesting:

Some of the strategies Ford is using to reduce petroleum dependence and integrate sustainable materials into designs, are downright creative. Ford was one of the few American car manufacturers not to take auto bailout money,  but the company well-known for gas guzzlers like the Explorer may have other uses for unwanted government dollars: going green.

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." - Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoi