A Voter’s Guide to the National Economy
By Donella Meadows
–March 5, 1992–
Most of us are well aware that the economy is badly off kilter. We are working harder (those who still have work), paying more, and getting less. We’d like to ask the candidates who are seeking our votes some hard questions.
But economic analysis is not exactly the long suit of the average citizen, and the government [...]
Hair of the Dog That Bit You
By Donella Meadows
–January 23, 1992–
“Growth!” promised the president when he showed up in depressed New Hampshire last week and posed for a photo-op with a cow.
“Growth!” commands Alan Greenspan, as he cranks interest rates down by a whole percent at a time, hoping the economy will turn around before he hits zero.
“Growth!” chants every Congressperson, CEO, and business publication, offering [...]
Ho Humbug!
By Donella Meadows
–December 26, 1991–
A neighbor of mine was in the post office the other day complaining about the holidays. Commercialism, crowded stores, too much to eat, too much to drink, too much to do. As he walked out, he tried to sound like Scrooge, but he muffed his line. “Ho, humbug!” he said.
My sentiments exactly. At this time of [...]
What on Earth to do About Population?
By Donella Meadows
–November 7, 1991–
The World Bank has just raised its projection for the population of the world by another billion. The population will level off toward the end of the next century, says the Bank, not at 11.5 billion as previously thought, but at 12.5 billion.
That item didn’t make the news, although there could hardly be tidings of greater [...]
Markets Don’t Make Energy Policy, People Do
By Donella Meadows
–March 14, 1991–
George Bush’s National Energy Strategy is causing heads to shake in disbelief all over the world. It is a strategy for the 1950s, when we thought that energy supplies were infinite, that big cars made us better people, and that the environment was just a pretty scene out the rear window. Worst of all, the Strategy [...]
