Archive
Shivering in the Land of Climate Denial
First, the 80-foot pine tree fell on our house. Then, the power went out, along with the heat. After a few days the indoor temperature became brisk, emulating the outdoors. But in our neighborhood at least, there was no ocean nearby to come calling.
A Better Way to Run Elections
Once upon a time there were at least nine Republicans running for president. It turns out that almost every Republican in the country thought that Tim Pawlenty would be a pretty good president. Indeed, he was everyone’s second choice.
Investing in Voting Machines
Less than two weeks after Halloween, many Americans may wind up casting their ballots on haunted voting machines.
Is Obama Taking Climate Voters for Granted?
I may be a glutton for punishment, but I will cast my vote for Obama tomorrow. Still, I’m not going to let Obama hold my hand in public until he starts acting like the man who courted the climate community before the last election.
Beyond the Jobs Report: A Call for a Transformational Economy
Don’t count on the latest round of good economic news to have much of an impact on the elections. There are very few undecided voters left and these minor changes aren’t likely to change anyone’s mind.
This Week in OtherWords: An Early Thanksgiving
While I’m concerned about the damage this latest bout of extreme weather wrought, I’m also thankful that my loved ones are safe and sound. I hope that the same holds true for you, your friends, and relatives.
How to Make our Embassies Safer
The deaths of our diplomats in Benghazi turned the national spotlight where it doesn’t often go — to the security around our embassies and how much we spend on it.
The Next Administration’s Top Five Foreign Policy Challenges
Our next commander-in-chief will, as President Barack Obama joked during his final debate with Mitt Romney, spend little time fretting about the nation’s bayonet arsenal or herds of battle-ready horses. Instead, the White House will confront serious international challenges as it deals with Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, North Korea, and nuclear weapons.
A Nuclear Strike on States’ Rights
The 9/11 attacks made terrorist incidents at nuclear reactors appear much less hypothetical. After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, concerned citizens grew more alarmed about the possibility of a catastrophic nuclear accident in our own country. And a struggle underway in Vermont over the future of its Yankee reactor is highlighting the threat that power companies can pose to our democratic process.
Isolation on Both Ends of the Line
When Martha Wright’s grandson went to prison more than 20 years ago, she learned a stark lesson about the cost of maintaining ties with a family member who is incarcerated.
