A Guide to American Campaign Language
By Donella Meadows
–October 13, 1988–
My European friends are watching our election with mystification. They see a young, powerful country with a massive deficit, a negative trade balance, a quarter of its children growing up in poverty, an eroding environment, an opportunity for a turnaround in nuclear arms — and its Presidential candidates are talking about the FLAG.
Is someone threatening your [...]
Drugs in the Bloodstream of Democracy
By Donella Meadows
–October 6, 1988–
The members of the International Olympics Committee pointed out clearly and calmly, after they stripped Ben Johnson of his gold medal, that if they don’t enforce fair competition, the whole game will fall into ruin. Referees have to be present at every match to call fouls. Candidates who soup up their performance with drugs must be [...]
Election Year Lessons about Right and Wrong
By Donella Meadows
–September 1, 1988–
A Supreme Court Justice should not be a former pot smoker. That’s what some outraged people said last fall, as they demanded that nominee Douglas Ginsburg withdraw his candidacy. We can’t have a high national official who has smoked marijuana. What kind of lesson would that be for our children?
There are indeed powerful lessons for our [...]
Who wants a President Who’s Gone to a Psychiatrist?
By Donella Meadows
–August 11, 1988–
The rumor was that Michael Dukakis had been treated by a psychiatrist for depression in 1973 after the death of his brother in a hit-and-run accident. No such thing, said his campaign staff. After days of suspense, the Dukakis medical records were released, unblemished by any encounter with a mental health professional. Democrats breathed sighs of [...]
Why Choosing a President can Change a Nation
By Donella Meadows
–May 26, 1988–
How can the simple change of one leader make much difference to a huge nation? Here we are, 240 million of us, toiling along, fairly constant in our daily activities and our many beliefs. We produce the goods, pay the taxes, educate the kids, clean up the messes. WE are the nation. WE don’t change. How [...]
