The Senator, the President, and the Sea Lion
by Donella Meadows
— December 21, 2000 —
The drama of the presidential election, they say, has awakened the interest of the public, and especially of young people, in the democratic process.
So welcome, young people, to the entertainment that never ends. Once the question “who won?” is settled, other questions begin. What are the people who won up to? For whose benefit? [...]
The Power of a Vote
by Donella Meadows
— November 16, 2000 —
What is it we are learning in the aftermath of this crazy election? How powerful a single vote can be?
Or how worthless a single vote can be, when 19,000 of them can be tossed out in one county? When boxes of ballots get lost? When recounts are demanded or stopped depending on their expected [...]
The Campaign Glass Is 95 Percent Empty
by Donella Meadows
— October 26, 2000 —
In the spirit of celebrating good news wherever it appears, I would like to point out one excellent development in the presidential campaign. The candidates have flailed at each other so much about numbers — how much of that tax cut really goes to the top one percent? how much surplus is there really? [...]
Getting Beyond the Choice Between Tweedledum and Tweedledee
by Donella Meadows
— August 3, 2000 —
The complaints continue to pour in:
“Why are you writing columns supporting Ralph Nader? How can you actively aid and abet the election of that dolt Bush? You can think better than that.”
And so does the applause:
“I believe that you will never regret voting on the basis of your conscience, and neither will I.”
On the [...]
Earth Day Plus Thirty, As Seen By The Earth
by Donella Meadows
— April 20, 2000 —
If, in the thirty Earth Day celebrations we have held since 1970, the human population and economy have become any more respectful of the Earth, the Earth hasn’t noticed.
The planet is not impressed by fancy speeches. Leonardo DiCaprio interviewing Bill Clinton about global warming is not an Earth-shaking event. The Earth has no way [...]
