Social Security Is No Problem, Unless We Make It One
by Donella Meadows
— April 7, 1999 —
Overshadowed by the agony of Kosovo, outshouted by the Dow crossing ten thousand, a surprising news item appeared on page 6 or 15 or so of most American newspapers last week. Social Security has received a stay of execution. Instead of going into the red in 2032, it may survive till 2040 or 2050. [...]
Welfare for Politicians Could Help the Welfare of the Rest of Us
By Donella Meadows
–May 20, 1997–
My dear fellow Americans,
A recent New York Times/CBS poll says that 89 percent of us think our political campaign system should be fundamentally changed. Just eight percent of us think it needs only minor tinkering. (The option “no change, our campaigns work splendidly” was not even offered as a choice.)
We’re not dummies.
According to the poll 68 [...]
Beyond Bipartisanship
By Donella Meadows
–February 13, 1997–
“Bipartisanship” is the in-word in Washington. What it appears to mean is compromise. Everyone stays stuck in ideology, sniping at the other side a bit more quietly, while deals are made. Cut Medicare more than the Democrats want but less than the Republicans want. Throw just enough people off welfare to appease the right without too [...]
Beware of Social Security Fixes
By Donella Meadows
–January 16, 1997–
This country will be out of oil in 30 years. By 2030 we will pump dry much of the groundwater of the Southwest. We don’t hear a peep from our leaders about these problems. But they’re in a panic over the possibility that 30 years from now Social Security will go broke.
When the swollen baby-boom generation [...]
Unserious and Serious Suggestions for Reclaiming Democracy
By Donella Meadows
–September 28, 1995–
Every week, every day, come news items that reveal the sorry state of our democracy. For instance:
– Because of a rider urged by timber companies, passed by Congress, and signed by Bill Clinton, an extra 2 million board feet of timber must now be cut in Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest. (The present cutting rate is [...]
