337 results for author: Phil Anderson

Economic Conundrums

“There is always enough for the needy, there is never enough for the greedy.” Mahatma Gandhi “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” Edward Abbey environmentalist and author Most of us would be better off if we spent less, spent more wisely, and saved more. But what happens to an economy based on consumer spending when consumers don't spend? If we all do what is good for our personal situation will the economy crash? American consumer capitalism is full of conundrums. Consumer spending drives the economy but is often not good for consumers. Competition drives innovation but cooperation is essential to everyon...

YOUR TAX RECEIPT

People like to complain about taxes. Polls tell us most people think the tax system is unfair and they pay too much. But what most people think is rarely reality. There are many false beliefs about who pays, how much we pay and where it all goes. “Most conservative criticisms about the ill effects of taxes are exaggerated or untrue. Taxes are in fact good -- they are dues we pay to enjoy the numerous vital benefits that government provides for our society” This quote is from Dr. Douglas J. Amy, Professor Emeritus of Politics at Mount Holyoke College and author of “Government is Good - An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital institution” (a ...

Costs of Foolishness

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” Bertrand Russell (1872 –1970), British philosopher The fools and fanatics currently in control of our country have no understanding of what government is about, how it operates, or the importance it has for people and society. But they are “certain of themselves” and their anti-government ideology. Many people are going to be hurt, and many will literally die from their ignorant, mean spirited, shortsighted actions. John Adams explained the purpose of government 250 years ago. He wrote, “Government is ...

A Supreme Court rerun in Wisconsin

If you are feeling deja vu about the Wisconsin Supreme Court election you are not imagining things. You have seen this movie before. The election on Tuesday, April 1st  is a rerun of the 2020 and 2023 contests. The names have changed but the issues are the same.   In 2020 and 2023 Jill Karofsky and Janet Protasiewicz, both liberal jurists, won their elections defeating conservative Dan Kelly. Kelly had been appointed to the Supreme Court in 2016 by Gov. Scott Walker. The victory of Protasiewicz created a liberal majority on the court after many years of conservative control.   These were both record breaking battles between ...

Wisconsin April 1st Election

The Wisconsin election happening on Tuesday April 1st has three important items on the ballot. A Supreme Court justice will be elected (which I talked about last week). Another is a  constitutional amendment – this one on voting rights. Voters will also choose a Secretary for the Department of Public Instruction.   I suggested last week that this election has an element of deja vu because the issues and impact on Wisconsinites are a repeat of other recent elections. The candidates and details are different, but the basic contest is whether Wisconsin will move forward with progressive leadership and policies or backward with conservatives ...

Gaza Absurdity

“If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged.” Noam Chomsky In this statement, Professor Chomsky (author, political activist and social critic) was referring to the legal principles used to prosecute the Nazi war criminals after WW2. This statement certainly is appropriate for the Biden administration's support for the genocide in Gaza. Biden's shameful and illegal funding, supplying and enabling of Israel's war crimes in Gaza are the most egregious of the many war crimes committed by our country. Donald Trump is continuing this tradition and is setting new lows for shameful, criminal ...

Destroying America

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” President Abraham Lincoln “If President Trump wants to change our nation’s laws, he has the right to ask Congress to change them. He does not have the right to violate the United States Constitution. He is not a king.” Senator Bernie Sanders. Our country is in crisis. Our government has been seized by a dictator wannabee and a cabal of super-wealthy, authoritarian extremists who want to destroy all the social progress of the last 150 years. They want to return to a time when wealth and big business ruled ...

Building the Resistance

The 24-Hour Economic Blackout Back in December I wrote about using our power as consumers to oppose the Trump wrecking crew. (“Now what? Tactics for resistance,” The Duluth Reader, Thursday December 5, 2024). In that article I suggested taking the fight to the wealthy Trump supporters by reducing our spending and not buying from companies that supported him. I am not the only one pushing this tactic. I recently got an email saying that comedian Jon Stewart has been calling for Friday, February 28 to be a “24-hour Economic Blackout.” I have not found Jon's post to verify his involvement, but I did find many posts sharing the information ...

Green Plastic and Cow Burps

This article discusses two environmental topics. Both are examples of how we refuse to do even simple, reasonable things to deal with our garbage or take action on environmental problems. These stories illustrate our propensity to both believe in scientific solutions – technology will save us – while being woefully ignorant of basic science and unwilling to accept the warnings of scientists. The Myth of Green Plastics In recent articles I have discussed the environmental problems with plastics and plastic waste. The myth of “green” plastics is more of the same. We want to believe that bio-plastics and biodegradable and compostable ...

WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW

  What I Want You To Know is a radically honest film about veterans, moral injury, and the post-9/11 wars. It offers an intimate journey alongside veterans as they share deeply personal stories from their deployments, exploring truth and justice in the context of their wars. Their depictions of moral injury provide a unique and critical perspective on the cost and consequences of war.   Catie Foertsch Producer / Director, Impact Campaign Director Travis Weiner Executive Producer, Iraq veteran Tommy Furlong Executive Producer, Afghanistan veteran    What I Want You To Know is now live on Kanopy! Kanopy is a ...