296 results for author: Phil Anderson


The Retirement Crisis

One of the annoying aspects of our broken electoral system is that issues of real importance are often ignored. Our elections are a money driven media circus of personal attacks, misleading sound bites, and ideological slogans. The real problems facing citizens and the country are not discussed in any rational, substantive way. Retirement security is one of these issues. Yes, there was some mention of Social Security in the last election. The misleading, party line talking points were reiterated during the “debates.” But the broader issue of retirement security for everyone was not addressed. Being able to retire with dignity and financial ...

Logging the Brule Part 2: The Economics

“Politics: a strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.” Ambrose Bierce Ambrose Bierce was a late 19th - early 20th century journalist and short story writer. He is best remembered for “The Devil's Dictionary,” a collection of satirical definitions of American society. Last week I discussed the changes to the Brule River State Forest to increase the acreage available for logging. The state has mandated that 75% of state forests be managed for logging. This mandate certainly fits Bierce's definition of “conducting public affairs for private advantage.” This article ...

LOGGING THE BRULE RIVER

“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” -- Aldo Leopold “I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.” -- Dr. Seuss in “The Lorax”   The Brule River State Forest is going through a 15-year Master Plan review. It is also dealing with a state mandate to increase the available acreage for logging. Is this the best use of our public forests? Is it good for the health of the forest? Is it what you would like to see done with our public resources? In 2015 the ...

NORTHWOODS HUNTING HERITAGE

Minnesota's rifle hunting season is open and Wisconsin's is two weeks away. Minnesota Public Radio had a fluff piece this week on the “tradition” of the hunting camp with all its camaraderie and wholesome family bonding. The nostalgia is nice but it seems like our outdoors heritage is being replaced by a virulent gun centered paranoia. Hunting is declining in popularity while gun sales are increasing. Most of the new gun ownership is being driven by a small minority of 2nd amendment nuts. This change is illustrated by an encounter I had last year with several “sportsman.” I was hiking a public trail on public land. Three men on four ...

The Choice: Status Quo or Loose Cannon

If you think all politicians are crooked liars and it doesn't matter who gets elected you are mistaken. Who a candidate is and their “vision” for the country is important. The candidate's position on the issues matter. Because politics affects almost everything, differences in the agendas and philosophies of political leaders can make a difference to your life. Mrs. Clinton is a known public figure. She will probably govern much the same as President Obama or the first Clinton administration. We can expect the affordable care act to be continued (basically a good idea). Trade deals will be supported (a bad idea). Some minor progress will be ...

MAKING AMERICA GREAT

The presidential candidates are pontificating about making America “great.” The Republican candidate in particular has made this a theme of his campaign. Puffing up our alleged greatness is standard political campaign rhetoric. Meaningless sound bites and patriotic cliches are a common campaign strategy. It allows the politicians to avoiding meaningful discussion of actual problems and needed solutions. There may be good reasons for candidates to avoid specifics. Too often those who did discuss the issues have lost. Policy positions are often complicated and boring. Unfortunately people are motivated by emotion not facts. Too often the platit...

FIGHT RACISM WITH “WHITE PRIVILEGE”

“People with advantages are loath to believe that they just happen to be people with advantages.” C. Wright Mills- Sociologist and author. Racism is prevalent in our society. It has been a dominant theme in our history. It has shaped our public policy since colonial times. We all know the history of slavery, Jim Crow, the KKK, educational, employment, and housing discrimination. It was not just in the Deep South. Even Duluth had a lynching. Northern cities have de facto segregated schools. Much of American history is a denial of justice and equality for minorities. As a liberal, educated white person who has lived and worked with ...

BUILDING LOCAL ECONOMIES AND COMMUNITY WEALTH

Henry George in his classic Progress and Poverty (published in 1879) said that all wealth resulted from the labor of the worker. The worker used his skill and creativity to transform natural resources into things to satisfy human needs and desires. This process was the basis of capital as well as all economic activity. Capital did not create jobs, workers did. The current paradigm says economic growth, jobs, and prosperity are created from the top down. Give the super wealthy more and they will “invest” in the economy, jobs will be created, and everyone else will benefit. A rising tide lifts all boats. But it should be obvious that not all ...

ABOLISH NOT MODERNIZE NUKES

The United States is the only country to ever use nuclear weapons. On August 6th and 9th we mark the 71st anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is not enough to just remember the tragic (and many believe unnecessary) loss of civilian lives from these events. We must work to abolish nuclear weapons. The leadership of our country is still mired in the old Cold War mentality. They still believe nuclear weapons are necessary for national defense. They have not learned from the mistakes of 71 years of excessively militarized foreign policy. Many countries still suffer from the legacy of this Cold War mentality. Current ...

SPECULATING ON THE EU VOTE

Last week the British voted to leave the European Union. The next day stock markets all over the world declined precipitously. The DOW in this country dropped 610 points in one day. According to Reuters news agency, global stock markets “lost” $2 trillion in value the day after the vote. Why did this happen? What does it mean? Wild fluctuations like this often occur with stock markets. The news media, pundits, and investment hucksters, of course, always have explanations. The usual spin is that “investors” have lost confidence, or they are “taking profits,” or the “market” is responding to some world event. In this case “investo...