An accomplished local leftist organizer once privately complained that we were at a huge disadvantage versus the right because it was better able to recoalesce after an internecine squabble. This is because the left tends to be individualistic and iconoclastic, whereas the right is infused with an authoritarian, “come to Jesus” streak. That analysis helps… [Read more…]
May 10, 2012
“The reality is that we are all addicts in this society. We are addicted to comfort, shopping, food, television, movies, petroleum — you name it. Wherever you look, we are exhibiting addictive behavior. It’s part of why our world is suffering. Addicts cause harm to themselves and others because of their unwillingness or inability to… [Read more…]
May 9, 2012
A belated thank you to Thad Curtz for mentioning Amory Lovins. He is one of the giants of the sustainability movement; his new initiatives are always worth paying attention to. Curtz linked to a video regarding Lovins’ recent book, Reinventing Fire. If, like me, you’re more inclined toward reading than viewing, here’s the book’s executive… [Read more…]
May 8, 2012
I’ve been meaning to give a hat tip to Olympia Power & Light’s recent editorial, “Big Trouble with Development Permits.” This is the best assessment I’ve seen regarding two recent decisions overruling Olympia land-use permitting staff. Of course, more people have read this one Power & Light essay than have ever set eyes on Olympia Views,… [Read more…]
May 7, 2012
The good news is that the Thurston Public Power Initiative has been successful enough in its signature gathering that it has elicited the attention of The Olympian’s editorial board. Although Sunday’s editorial, “Converting power supply to PUD no easy (or cheap) task,” did not take a formal position, that strikes me as merely a tactical… [Read more…]
May 6, 2012
If you have an interest in expanding the capacity of independent local media, I’d encourage you to take a few minutes to watch this video. High Country News discusses its journalism internship program and asks viewers to make a donation. So what? Two reasons. First, in the absence of an infusion of big money, interns… [Read more…]
May 5, 2012
By way of Yes! magazine I learned that 350.org is organizing a Climate Impacts Day today, May 5. Its theme is “connecting the dots” between extreme weather and climate change around the world. As you may know, 350.org is a climate change activist group that longtime environmental writer Bill McKibben helped launch. They are doing… [Read more…]
May 4, 2012
One of my favorite small newspapers is British Columbia’s The Tyee. An example of why is a story it ran last week, “Visualizing BC Climate Changed Future.” How many other newspapers would use Jared Diamond’s concept, creeping normalcy, to frame its discussion of local global warming scenarios? Reporter Justin Richie discusses how University of British Columbia… [Read more…]
May 4, 2012
“I think the key is for Inslee to keep running to the right of McKenna on spending and taxes! Eventually it will inspire the base.” – Winslee, PubliCola,“Less than a quarter of lobbyists think Inslee will win.”
May 2, 2012
As Thurston Public Power Initiative organizers continue to gather signatures, Puget Sound Energy is stepping up its efforts to defeat the proposal. Ken Balsley recently posted a story about a company executive who argued at a Rotary Club meeting that purchasing PSE’s local assets could reach nearly $1 billion. Going on the ballot too quickly? This… [Read more…]
May 10, 2012
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