Kid Nation: Let Me Talk!

The theme of this week's Kid Nation show is supposed to be about respect, but it is really about the transition of power.

As we learned last week, a vote of dissatisfaction over the Town Council's performance led to an election. Rather than the last Kid Nation election, complete with campaign, we start the episode this week with the opponents giving speeches, followed immediately by the election. Three of the councilmembers run for election, and one drops out. All of the incumbents are defeated (which appears to be a common theme this year, whether you are a member of Kid Nation or Adult Nation).

Along the way, we hear from each of the outgoing councilmembers, who all say "I loved this job." Many of them talk about how they liked the feeling of importance, and being involved in the center of their community.

The incoming councilmembers don't seem to have the key to the room where the Journal of Staff Backup is located, so they have a meeting where they seemingly decide on their own that the biggest issue facing Bonanza City is respect among the townspeople. We quickly find, however, that the new council members have the same problems with respect that they find among the townspeople, including eavesdropping on a meeting of one district's team members, and threatening to withhold the weekly gold star from those who don't cooperate with the council's plans. At the same time, the new council declares that it is their goal to be the best council ever.

After a very frank town meeting, the most vocal new council member admits that he sees the townspeoples' perspective on his behavior and that he will work to change. After the council awards the gold star to one of the recently retired council members, it appears that the rift is healed.

Next week, we learn whether the occupants of Kid Nation can set up an educational system.