The People Have Not Spoken
By Donella Meadows
–November 17, 1994–
It was a tidal wave, an earthquake, a rout, a cultural revolution, a mandate for sweeping change, say the media. The people have spoken, say Gingrich and Dole, preparing to cut loose on Capitol Hill. But look around. Do the people you know feel they have spoken? Did you call for the mandate the Republicans think [...]
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 [...]
Who Has a Population Problem?
By Donella Meadows
–September 8, 1994–
There’s a general belief in this country that the global population problem exists Over There somewhere, or maybe Down South of our border. But certainly not here.
If we could see ourselves as the other 95.5 percent of the world sees us, we’d know that nothing could be farther from the truth.
U.S. family size is going up, [...]
You Are What You Put Through Your Mind
By Donella Meadows
–August 25, 1994–
Scores on the Scholastic Achievement Tests — the SATs that determine which of our high-school seniors go to college — have been going down so steadily that the College Board has shifted the scale. Now you can get a higher score with fewer right answers.
Only one out of five U.S. students can write a logical, well-developed [...]
