The inequality news from just one day in December 2011: The likely GOP contender is almost certainly a member of the 1% (from a great story in the Times): During his political career, Mr. Romney has promoted his experience as a businessman while deflecting criticism of layoffs caused by private equity deals by noting thatContinue reading “From Romney to Rome to murder: today in inequality news”
Category Archives: activism
“This most unusual career”: Vaclav Havel
This has been a tumultuous year, and it continues with the loss of one of world's greatest civilians, Vaclav Havel. I miss him already. For me this is perhaps his most essential quote: …you do not become a "dissident" just because one day you decide to take up this most unusual career. Your are thrownContinue reading ““This most unusual career”: Vaclav Havel”
Christopher Hitchens: Why I hate Christmas
Well, at least the late, great Christopher Hitchens won't have to endure any more Christmas carols. The core objection, which I restate every December at about this time, is that for almost a whole month, the United States—a country constitutionally based on a separation between church and state—turns itself into the cultural and commercial equivalentContinue reading “Christopher Hitchens: Why I hate Christmas”
Unemployment: The unheard fire bell in the night
Robert Schiller, one of this nation's most respected economists, writes today in The New York Times that the unemployment we face today could be ruinous for our society for years, perhaps decades, to come: The stakes are very high here, and they are not just economic. As anger rises in today's economy, I'm reminded ofContinue reading “Unemployment: The unheard fire bell in the night”
The “hydraulic hearts” of Southern California
Another terrific CA water story from Bettina Boxall of the LATimes, this one on how soaring energy costs — up to 80% higher in the next decade — will force local water agencies to think about local water supplies. To pump water up just this 500 feet, carrying water from the Colorado River, is onlyContinue reading “The “hydraulic hearts” of Southern California”
Point of no return for climate is 2017: IEA
The staid, uncontroversial International Energy Agency said last week that we have five years to preserve our present-day climate. It's generally agreed that warming of more than 2 degrees Celsius risks disaster. Their studies show that most of that is already built in. In the words of Wonk Blog's Brad Plummer: The key issue hereContinue reading “Point of no return for climate is 2017: IEA”
Obama delays Keystone XL pipeline decision
The Obama administration, in a major concession to climate activists, is putting off the Keystone XL pipeline decision. “Because this permit decision could affect the health and safety of the American people as well as the environment, and because a number of concerns have been raised through a public process,” President Obama said in aContinue reading “Obama delays Keystone XL pipeline decision”
Fruits and vegetables a “specialty crop”: U.S. Congress
Mark Bittman, the brilliant food fundamentalist at the New York Times, has been writing the most amazing occasional editorials the last couple of years. Here's the latest, on the negotiations to reduce farm subsidies, and the group of four heavy-weight representatives from the Midwest on the so-called supercommittee who will negotiate the final numbers onContinue reading “Fruits and vegetables a “specialty crop”: U.S. Congress”
Bank Transfer Day: The Insta-Protest Pays Off
From The Daily Beast, the best story I've seen on the remarkably successful Bank Transfer Day action, which went from an idea to billions of dollars in accounts transferred in a matter of weeks: Kristen Christian was feeling more than a little fed up with the county’s big banks when a month ago today sheContinue reading “Bank Transfer Day: The Insta-Protest Pays Off”
Prediction fulfilled: Keystone probably delayed indefinitely
As predicted a couple of days ago: Obama administration "considering a move" to delay decision on the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The hope, apparent in this Los Angeles Times story, is that the pipeline proves too controversial to survive a transparent vetting. From Neela Banerjee's story, which should make the front page. "TheContinue reading “Prediction fulfilled: Keystone probably delayed indefinitely”
Kit Stolz 