The Great American Detour

Man I could not have said it any better. awesome perspective, awesome documentary, truly awesome as you said it "real change comes from within".

Let's all do our part in this!

This was a great video, and really showed how people in america are being effected by war and the blow to economy. it also shows how people really think, not just what the media portrays. it was a great journey and something everyone should be inspired to do in there lifetime. great journalism as always vanguard.

Thank you guys so much for reaching out in the heart of the American society today and getting into the real problems. Happy that yall came down to Houston.This was one of the best Vanguard eps I've seen, really touched by it. Thanks again.

In all honesty, I thought the piece was a little pretentious. Budget travel is nothing new to (most) Americans and watching these two travel cross country on a shoestring was not, as many have indicated, inspiring.

That was beautiful. I feel a bit more hopeful for humans when I know good ones exist.

I do feel a bit irritated with the awol soldier though, but I know sometimes breaking that law is the right thing to do. My grandfather did it I believe, because there was a family crisis, and he spent time in the old Leavenworth castle prison (which has since been torn down and replaced with a new prison). He seems like a bright guy, but doesn't have the mentality of a soldier. I wish he went to college instead, he would probably have had a better impact on this world. I really hope his sentencing is lenient on him when he serves it (if he hadn't served it already), because it wasn't the most pretty or justifiable war.

I feel inspired to road trip and meet people too. Thank you for the inspiration!

Wow. It must have been amazing to travel like Americans. As an American, I can't understand what that must have felt like. Additionally, I live on a budget. Your budget travel speaks to me. I hope you weren't kidnapped.

I've watched the Great American Detour three times in the past three days and I'm actually watching it again right now.

It's so touching to see people indiscriminately asking questions of others to see what's going on in our country. It's just mindboggling to me, really, to see the countryin my living room.

This trip was a reality check on social issues; people are surviving, just barely. The truth is that 'every' man-made system of things, economic, political, and religious, has largely failed to 'genuinely' improve the quality of life for average people. In fact its declining exponentially. Thankfully there is a real hope for the future that does not depend on mankind.

This is one of the most interesting pieces I've ever seen on Current. VERY interesting. My faith in humanity is somewhat restored after having watched this. Thank you Lauren and Tyler (:

She goes "this country of ours" fricken stolen from the only people deem fit for a great continent of Indigenous; first nation. There will be a point in time that such a lost race as American's will be subjugated and left to reason" there way out of guilt! First Nation! Hoya Hey!
The lady on this clip is so ignorant that she is bored of the land that was picked by blood.
Typical Lost American!

awesome story. the journalism in this piece is excellent compared to the crap produced by main stream news.

Loved it! - Can't believe you traveld by bus..... great commitment to the story.

Imbedded as a piece on: http://savvynomad.com/

Great film guys... appreciate the effort and long hours on the bus you endured to produce this.

Really enjoyed it.

Thanks, from Melbourne, Australia.

Awesome piece. You guys did a great job, pretty epic journey for sure.

Hey Lauren & Tyler - Whitney forwarded me the link to your excellent documentary. Great work. If you can manage to get back on the bus, I'd love to see you film additional stories on a return trip across country, this time crossing up along the northern part of our country (Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, etc.) JK

I like how the beginning explains just how this pod makes current what it is! Current finds the stories that CNN and CBS and the major networks don't find. Thank you for highlighting the voices that really matter in elections- the citizens'- and not the "experts" that are featured on mainstream media networks.

Great stories...I would like some follow up and more in depth looks into some of these people and areas in the future.

i LOVED this video. You two did a fantastic job and i hope to see more American detours in the future!

Great job and good editing. You were able to fit in equal exposure for all the little stories. As a broadcaster of public affairs programs, I know that's hard to do. Kudos!

As a St. Louisan and midwesterner I would like to thank you guys for this pod.

Way to shine some light on regions of the country that are typically ignored by others.

this is very cool. i love that you both went in and really talked to the people. this is what i call real journalism and is rather inspiring. i have wanted to do something like this in my city...just to start....but this is def what attracts me to this site the real stories from real people about real people. the issues and people's stories are the most important

Wonderful job to the both of you... and now you can rejoice! Thanks for showing the voices of America. They spoke loud and clear!
cheers!

This is amazingly cool....thank you...yall have inspired me to do the same sort of thing...perhaps by a different means of transport or maybe the same...either way, thank you for sharing your adventures and perspective....rock on and may you be blessed every day....

BFAM (Brotha From Anotha Motha) RVS

Great Film !! I traveled nearly the same route on a Honda 750, back in 1976. Sure do wish there were cameras like
we have now back then. Brought back a lot of memories.
Thanks :)

Awesome guys! Love the part about Berea! Made me miss KY.

You guys did a really really great job. Nothing biased. Nothing complicated. Real life. Real stories. Straight up truth.

what a fantastic job you guys did.

This documentary was very moving.

I have actually driven around the country about 3 times in the last five years and I have managed to stop in many of these smaller towns: one, to say I have been there, and two, to really see what they were all about. I feel like I am right in the middle of your demographic of people that you ran into along your journey. Maybe I have a big ego, but I can relate to a lot of these people. I graduated from a private school in Lake Tahoe, and this might sound like I am privileged, but despite my grants and scholarships, and savings I still managed to rack up $70,000 in student loans. My mindset has always been optimistic though, otherwise I would have never taken on such a risk. My degree was in Entrepreneurship because I have always wanted to be my own boss. My small businesses have been in many things that would be considered excess in our society... premium juices, over-priced coffees, custom electronics, and high-end fashion. But yet they still have not provided the greatest sense of worth and I have now found myself not working and without insurance. What really caught my eye was Berea College... where my main Entrepreneurship professor in my college is now holding Berea's chair for Entrepreneurship and Mgmt. I am very hopeful for the students in these types of schools that have generous endowments to help those that may not have the privilege and access to such quality education. I too hope these types of schools continue to grow. Now my future is leading me towards alternative energy and helping people become more self-sufficient.

Recently I was sent a link to a documentary... Zeitgeist: Addendum. http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/ (If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it... with a grain of salt of course.) The central takeaway I got from this film was how much our lives are shaped by a profit-based monetary system where scarcity is exploited... and NOT a resource-based system that everything we have now can be available without a price tag. Jacque Fresco explains how, "Our true 'life' problems are not political but technological. It’s the technicians in society that improve our lives, not the politicians." Why does this matter? Because I realize how much waste there is in our society, in my life... and how important it is that we realize that the questions raised from politicians should not be, “How much will it cost for... universal health insurance? quality education? medical research? ending homelessness? *** But do we have the resources to solve these issues? ***

And while the scenes with the fallen soldiers’ parents, the AWOL soldier, the out-of-work teacher and laborers bring a tear to my eye... I feel that many of us, including myself most days, are still blind to the cause of all these problems. I hope you continue to make these documentaries because they do open peoples’ eyes and my eyes, otherwise I would not be compelled to write here today. And I hope that we can look back in awe and wonder how our collective standards of living were so low in these years past.

Real change needs to come from within. Let your lives be an example for the government and not the other way around. The smarter people are the better your life, my life, our lives will be. I think your film really points out to me that I need to talk to others and everyone needs to talk to others more because we all have a wealth of knowledge to share.

You have inspired me to do this one day. Awesome.

Thank you for this great film making.

You have no idea how much this video has touched me... the parents of the fallen soldier brought distress to my heart. You folks have done a wonderful thing here and I will do my best to spread this message.

Well done indeed you raised some very valid points!

Jiff
http://www.Privacy-Center.net

Lived in St. Louis all my life before moving to Columbus a couple of years ago, so I've been down Cerre St. many times. I didn't know the history behind it.

I cant recall exactly when it was that I first saw a short pod giving a taste of what was to come but, I knew that it was going to be damn good.
You both have a knack for capturing "Americana" in a freshly entertaining way while focusing on some of the more hardcore aspects of life throughout the US.
Great editing. The music score was used to move it along really well.
I've done a Minnesota to Florida bus trip so, I know how surreal, draining, sometimes disturbing and fun it can all be.
Nice work.

Bravo and THANK YOU!

Very much appreciate the perspective you've provided.

Loved the St. Louis segment! This definitely has a "globe trekker" feel.

I liked most of the video, but the Caledonia part pissed me off. The tone of the video was like in a small town the deaths of two soldiers matter more than in a bigger town. I live in Long Island, NY and death of a soldier is not a number here. Just as it's not a number there. I did not expect from Vanguard to take the tone that currently is very popular in the right media. That small towns are somehow superior in spirit and dedication. Overall though, the video is very interesting, and nice. Thanks a lot.

Very well done! I found it to be very engaging and truly a portrait of our country at this critical moment. Thank you for pursuing the story.

Good work, I wish the media would focus on what Americans actually think every now and then.

Awesome. Just awesome. This piece makes me want to go on a road trip.

I've seen a lot of pods on Current, but this Great American Detour doc is absolutely INCREDIBLE. It's truly the best thing I have seen on television in a long time.

I even stopped watching it so I could register and make a comment (which ive never done). Each story is so relevant to the issues of today. It reads like a Steinbeck novel...digging into the heart and soul of America.

This is journalism at it's best. Kuddos to reporter Lauren Cerre and Tyler Manson for embarking on such an incredible journey...they seem like really great people.

Keep it up Current!

This was dope...

I know from riding something as local as the city bus everyday, that unlike a plane ride, bus riders generally have something to say. I liked every stop you all made. Wish we could've seen a little more in New Orleans, I have a soft spot for the city ever since I interned there over the summer but yeah, hopefully Current will do a Detour 2 sometime next year and hit up more overlooked places (Charlotte, NC is cool in the summer and you could see how a city with multiple huge banks based there is coping with the financial crisis and how its really threat to one of America's up and coming cities)

Wonderful! I really enjoyed this.

Three cheers for your travel across America!! This the first thing that was worth my time watching. What an honest look at our country and the people that make it
what it is. Good job by the entire crew.
When I was 12 years old my grandparents took my
sister and I from Los Angeles to Maine then to Novia Scotia, Montreal, Niagra Falls, and back home thru
Montana, Jackson Hole, Whyoming and Salt Lake City.
I am 65 years old and the trip is still vivid in my mind.
It is a shame that more people dont take advantage
of taking the time to see our country.

The music in this is truly unbelievable--to say the least... I can't believe 7 months later--its real--its done! One word: CLASSIC! Thanks guys for going out there and doing this for us... you did all the work! (except for whomever did the music)

We're really lucky you guys wanted to shlep ofr 20 days, 4,512 miles and 2 cameras...

Thanks for taking the time to really get America's stories! You're apart of what I love about Current TV!