Panel suggests how to get America back on track

CBS News gathered a panel of people, from many walks of life outside Washington, and asked them what they would do to move the country forward. — CBS News

CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley gathered a panel of people, from many walks of life outside Washington, and asked them what they would do to move the country forward.

Michelle Rhee is Founder & CEO of StudentsFirst. Rhee was previously former chancellor of Washington D.C.'s public school system. — CBS News

Michelle Rhee is Founder & CEO of StudentsFirst. Previously, Rhee served as chancellor of Washington D.C.'s public school system. Rhee told CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley, "Oftentimes when I talk to folks on either side of the party line, in terms of policies, they're actually not that far apart. What's driving them further apart is the politics."

Mick Cornett is currently serving his third term as Mayor of Oklahoma City. Cornett's message to Washington, "Think independently and put the country first."

Matthew Segal is the co-founder of <a href="http://www.ourtime.org/">ourtime.org.</a> Segal hopes bring economic power to his generation, those under 30 years old. — CBS News

Matthew Segal is the co-founder of ourtime.org. Segal hopes bring economic power to his generation, those under 30 years old. Segal thinks special interests prevent progress in Washington. "It's a fundraising game. So, they know that if they can go to certain industries and always be loyal to that industry, they're always going to win their reelection. And I think that demonstrates they only have to be accountable to the people financing them."

Mary Frances Berry is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and former Chairperson of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Berry's message to Washington, "If the American people would send a message to the Congress right now, everybody who's a voter, 'I want this Super Committee to come up with a solution. And I want a recommendation out of them. And I will vote that when the next election comes up,' then they will do something."

John Bogle is founder of the world's largest mutual fund company, the Vanguard Group. Bogle told CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley, "We, the United States of America are losing our ability to govern ourselves. And if we lose that ability, and we're very close to losing it now, I don't know where we go as a nation. But it's not good."

Dr. Pedro Jose "Joe" Greer, Jr. is Assistant Dean of Medicine at Florida International University. "It would be nice if our elected officials, came out with opinions based on facts instead of having opinion and then looking for facts to back them up," Greer told CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley. "Then I think we'd have a little bit more faith in them."

Arturo Vargas is the Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. — CBS News

Arturo Vargas is Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. His message to Washington, "My message to Washington? Have some courage. Don't act like it's about the next election. Act like it's about the next generation."

Eileen McDonnell is President and CEO of Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company.