Inactive Bush; Interactive Gorbachev
By Donella Meadows
–February 15, 1990–
There are maybe a dozen world leaders. There are several thousand leader-analysts, who tell us what the leaders are up to, what they’ll do next, and when they’ll fall. Mikhail Gorbachev continues to surprise them all.
Just as the analysts are predicting his downfall, Gorbachev stuns everyone by leaping out ahead of events — and getting away [...]
The Greenhouse Effect, Left, Right, and Center
By Donella Meadows
–September 28, 1989–
“High Cost of Greenhouse Hysteria” reads one recent headline. Another says “Greenhouse Effect Looks Like Just a Lot of Hot Air.” And a third: “Environmentalists, Not Pollution, are the Real Threat.”
The backlash has appeared. Once the greenhouse effect was popularized, it was sure to become politicized.
Folks who are unhappy with the state of the world anyway [...]
Two Letters Across a Gulf
By Donella Meadows
–January 5, 1988–
“Dear Mrs. Meadows,
“Are you one of the people who really believe what you write, or are you one of those who are trying to dupe the public?
“Fortunately, it is no secret that the media IS biased and IS (to use the word) LIBERAL. Fortunately also, “grassroots” America hasn’t bought the bill of goods that you all [...]
Dark Thoughts on a Bright November Morning
By Donella Meadows
–November 10, 1988–
The morning after the election I woke up feeling bruised all over.
The networks were being celebratory and conciliatory, appropriate for the day when the nation has to come back together again. Dukakis was unemotional (no surprise) and gracious. Bush was saying nice things about him, finally. The pundits were drawing the obvious lessons: 1. Negative campaigns [...]
We’re not Choosing Values, We’re Choosing Assumptions
By Donella Meadows
–October 27, 1988–
“This election is about values,” says George Bush, without mentioning which values. He can’t mention them, because in fact the election is not about values at all.
Michael Dukakis and George Bush both revere the values that all Americans and all human beings hold dear. No one is against family solidity, against justice or freedom or life [...]
