BILL MOYERS: We like to hear what you think of our reporting on the Journal. So right now we'll share some of your comments. Kevin Drum and David Corn of "Mother Jones" magazine joined us recently to talk about why we can't get serious financial regulation reform.

KEVIN DRUM: The financial industry has convinced us, you know, in the '50s what was good for General Motors was good for America. Now it's what's good for Wall Street is good for America. And they've somehow convinced us that we shouldn't ask about what's right or what works or what's good for America. We should ask what's productive, what's efficient, what helps grow the economy.

BILL MOYERS: Here's what some of you had to say:

VOICE 1: Tonight's topic stirred my anger up again to the boiling point. The Democrats and Mr. Obama have made me despondent because the system has been broken by both parties and given up to the moneyed interests in this country. We knew almost immediately because the clowns who helped create this mess were immediately appointed to the cabinet. We, the people, are nothing but pawns who get trampled on by the bankers, corporate America and the military industrial complex. I despair for my country. Elizabeth Williams

VOICE 2: It's the big, moneyed bankers verses us little guys...I have written my Congressional representatives and even participated in phone banks. What difference does it make? It's extremely frustrating...Maybe we should all cut up our credit cards and mail them to Congress. I'm tired of expressing opinions to people who don't pay attention! Susan Caba

VOICE 3: You didn't ask some important questions; like, what would the consequences be of tough regulation of the banks? Would the banks migrate to some other country? John Vrugtman

BILL MOYERS: The historian Thomas Frank, author of "What's the Matter with Kansas" and "The Wrecking Crew" discussed his view of how conservatives approach government.

THOMAS FRANK: The conservatives have for decades now made their- the whole point of their party is to attack government, attack the state, encourage cynicism about government. And then wreck it when they're in charge, right? Democrats never defend the state. They never come out and say, "No, no. It's important to have, you know, government. It's important to have a Department of Labor. These are, you know, having government actually- a good government increases your freedom. It doesn't ruin it." They never fight back.

VOICE 4: I always commend PBS for its intelligent content, which is why I donate to my local station. However in this segment, the guest categorically demonizes all conservatives as bumpkin government haters or greedy soul suckers...As a limited government conservative, I think the guest brought up some really interesting ideas, but I did not appreciate being marginalized. Just because a person is not an Obama superfan doesn't make conservatives the disease that's killing America. Brasky

VOICE 5: The elephant in the room during this discussion was the bare and ugly fact that the administrative "judgments" of the past criminal decade have been continued by Mr. Obama even as he mouths platitudes about turning over a new leaf. Juliania

BILL MOYERS: And finally, Greg Mortenson, the humanitarian and co-author of the bestseller "Three Cups of Tea," shared with us his mission to bring peace to Afghanistan, one school at a time.

GREG MORTENSON: As a child in Africa, I learned a proverb. And it says, "If we educate a boy, we educate an individual. But if we can educate a girl, we educate a community." And what that means is when girls grow up, become a mother, they are the ones who promote the value of education in the community. The education of girls has very powerful impacts in a society. From my own observation, when girls learn how to read and write, they often teach their mother how to read and write. Boys, we don't seem to do that as much.

VOICE 6: What Greg Mortenson is doing seems to make so much sense it begs the question...why isn't our foreign policy based on the model he uses? One million dollars to build 30 to 40 schools as opposed to one million dollars to keep one pair of boots on the ground sounds like a no brainer. Troy

VOICE 7: Mr. Mortenson is a great spokesperson for the US war machine. He makes the white-male christian look and sound like the great educator and white hope for Iraq, Afghanistan, and soon Iran, all while carrying out the endless crusade. Good thing the generals are listening to him - a man with Jesus on his side just can't be wrong - can he? Jon

VOICE 8: I have, until your program last night, been assuming that the Taliban had probably been destroying the schools that have been built. I was so pleased to learn that the Afghan schools have not been destroyed; instead more have been built! I was hopeful when you and Greg Mortenson talked about the military leaders who know about his work and the schools. Jane Weil

BILL MOYERS: Keep your comments coming -- by mail, e-mail, or on the blog at pbs.org, and we'll keep reading.

For Educators    About the Series    Bill Moyers on PBS