Regarding the energy crisis, Americans need to think globally and act locally

Think globally, act locally.  That's the message of this Common Dreams article, entitled "Energy-Addicted US Can Learn a Lot From Europe." And yes, we can really learn a lot about energy from Europeans. Someday soon, we're going to be having fantasies that we had their fleet of tiny cars, those…

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Merit and Fear

We like to believe, as Americans, that this country is a meritocracy. The idea---Horatio Alger, Thomas Edison, McGuyver, all emblematic of this notion---that the best qualified rise to the top, that those who can display and apply ability, skill, and intelligence are the ones who are selected---either by themselves or…

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Conflict Pornography

Conflict: competitive or opposing action of incompatibles: antagonistic state or action. Pornography: (3): the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction. What else could it be, other than conflict pornography, when a major media source unnecessarily frames a story in such…

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