Newt Has Some Right Ideas for the Wrong Reasons
By Donella Meadows
–December 15, 1994–
I hate to admit that Newt Gingrich is right about anything, but I think it’s a great idea to have moments of silence in school.
There should be moments of silence at work too, and before meals and in shopping malls and at baseball games. I’m especially in favor of moments or even hours of silence on [...]
How to Talk About Changing a System
By Donella Meadows
–December 1, 1994–
Most of what government does makes little long-term difference, thank goodness. Spend more money here and less there; strengthen a regulation here, weaken one there. Those are fiddles, small and reversible adjustments to the existing system.
But every now and then government actually changes the system in a way that has long-lasting effects. That’s what it failed [...]
Addictive Welfare–Can People Be Fixed?
By Donella Meadows
–November 10, 1994–
Talk radio while driving west on Oklahoma 51 just before the election. On comes the Republican candidate for governor. Some people are just bad and can’t be fixed. There’s a line, and when someone crosses it, there’s no room for mercy. Put ’em in jail. Execute ’em.
Interview with the author of a book about America’s troubles: [...]
Plutocrats Don’t Know What’s Good for Them, Or Us
By Donella Meadows
–October 6, 1994–
The word “plutocracy” comes from the ancient Greek “ploutos,” wealth, and “kratein,” to rule. Rule by the wealthy.
That’s what we have in this nation where it takes a pile of money in the five or six zeros even to think of running for office. There’s nothing inherently wrong with plutocracy — wealthy people are made up [...]
First Campaign Reform, Then Health Reform
By Donella Meadows
–July 28, 1994–
Last week, through a stroke of luck, I signed onto a $50-deductible health care plan and discovered how the other half lives — the folks with good health insurance.
Imagine! I don’t have to walk around for months with an ache or lump wondering if I can afford to take it to a doctor! I don’t have [...]
