Category Archives: awareness raising
Cash for Clunker Craziness
I’m pretty sure Cash for Clunkers will hurt us more than it will help the things its intended to help. The thing about government programs is that the people who enact them almost always have the best of intentions (I honestly believe that to be true), but when the rubber meets the road (no pun intended), government fails more often than not in understanding how their billions will affect the people and industries that have to make their programs work. Continue reading
GM Issues “URGENT call to action”
My father has been an employee of General Motors since he graduated from Evansville University in southern Indiana in 1974. A lot has happened since then in the energy industry, in the auto industry, and in my family. I wrote … Continue reading
Clean Energy Economy. Green Jobs. Now.
From Wall St. to the Clinton Global Initiative to the UN Summit, I’ve watched with all of you this week as unprecedented economic and political events unfold in the United States and around the world. Thankfully, in the midst of … Continue reading
Cash for Clunkers: The Best Idea You’ve Never Heard Of
Just above Ben Stein’s column in yesterday’s Sunday Times (telling us that things really aren’t that bad in our nation’s economy …Bueller? Bueller? …anyone?) was a piece by Alan Blinder with the title “A Modest Proposal: Eco Friendly Stimulus” The … Continue reading
Understanding the “Giant Pool of Money”
Why and how have banks made half-million dollar loans to people without jobs or income? In keeping with the recent Realist Idealist theme of sharing information that has been incredibly useful in my understanding of the world, its history, its … Continue reading
Ben Franklin: The Original Realist Idealist
I just finished Walter Isaacson‘s biography of Benjamin Franklin this weekend, and without knowing exactly how to say this, I’ll simply say that I was completely inspired. “Inspired” is quite an understatement actually. I found myself at times with chills … Continue reading
China in Africa
This six part series by Richard Behar of Fast Company entitled “China in Africa” is the single best piece of investigative journalism I’ve read in months. Maybe years. Maybe ever. Behar breaks down and brilliantly weaves the geo-political, business, governmental, … Continue reading
Green For All
I first heard Van Jones speak in 2005 in Berkeley. I still get chills recalling his call for a “new politics” a “new religion” and truly a new way of operating in society. I’ve followed Van since then through his … Continue reading
CBS’s Lara Logan Angry at American Coverage of War
…as very well she should be. Back in May, Tom Brokaw was quoted as saying Jon Stewart’s “role is important” in the media, and if for no other reason than more young people get their “news” through the Daily Show … Continue reading
CarrotMob: WE Are the Economy.
The buying power of the casual consumer can be harnessed to impact the environmental actions of business. We can get companies to make choices that are sustainable and transformative. And we can do it with the carrot …not the stick. … Continue reading