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 [...]
There’s Only One Campaign Issue
By Donella Meadows
— September 14, 1995–
Colin Powell and Newt Gingrich are peddling books. Bill Clinton is running TV ads. Presidential candidates are popping up at senior centers all over New Hampshire. Like Christmas decorations immediately after Halloween, the ‘96 political campaign has started way too soon. We aren’t ready to buy yet or even browse, but the political marketers are [...]
Unabomber is Crazy and Dangerous, but Only Partly Wrong
By Donella Meadows
–August 10, 1995–
The Unabomber is a murderer. He is crazy and dangerous. I have no intention of reading his 35,000 word screed against technology and industry. I’ll take the word of those who tell me it is pretentious and repetitious. (I have to read college student papers all the time; I don’t need any more of that kind [...]
An Endangered Species Story
By Donella Meadows
–August 3, 1995–
Political argument these days is conducted through stories. The woman who spilled hot coffee on herself and sued the coffee vendor. The prisoner let out on furlough who committed a horrible crime. The builder who was stopped from putting up a hundred homes, because an endangered Blue-gray Snailwort was found on his land.
Stories are useful. They [...]
Let’s Hang on to the Family Jewels
By Donella Meadows
–July 6, 1995–
I don’t believe that the voters who put the Newtsies in power last fall intended to sell off our national lands and gut our environmental laws. I can’t remember any politician running on a promise to devastate the natural assets of the nation. So we better wake up, folks, because that’s what’s happening.
Here are a few [...]
