I don’t trust governments, multi-national corporations, or religious organizations.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my church, my country, and even my consumer lifestyle that is supported by multinational corporations. I love and trust individuals.
Where my fear and distrust enter the picture is when enough people organize into an institution. When an organization becomes so big [...]

I am sad to report that America’s love affair with the automobile, our uniquely American automotive-centric cultural phenomenon, has come to an end.
As a society, we no longer travel the highways. We never see local attractions along the way. As commercial airliners become America’s default means of transportation, rural and small town America is becoming [...]

I live in an area where people are liberal, educated, and affluent. Talking to any neighbor exposes me to well formed opinion statements that tend toward idealistic goals. The volume and consistency of these statements add up to a virtual reality of their own. Living in this liberal reality, it is easy to affirm all [...]

Prophets are not always appreciated. Prophets penetrate nice or tough or comfortable facades. Like the child of the fairy tale, they dare to tell the emperor he wears no clothes. Like Martin Luther, they publish the hypocrisy of the sanctimonious and powerful. Like Rachel Carson, they shatter complacency and demand protection for the earth’s little [...]

Our government and corporate business leaders are selling my children’s future for a few conveniences today. Why can’t we elect leaders who really care about preserving our resources? There are people everywhere who want to do what is necessary to extend our time on this planet. Why is not even one of them in a [...]

Another title for this article could be, “We must put the Genie back in the bottle.”
For as long as I can remember, and that is longer than I care to admit, I have heard loud predictions of impending doom caused by science and technology.
And despite the passing of all that time, I have yet to [...]

As a society…
Have we lost the ability to approach important issues honestly?
Are we no longer able to learn from one another in open discussion?
Have ambition, greed, and defiance replaced thought, logic, and reason?
At one time our country, not that long ago, during dining room discussions, classroom debates, and public forums, people were expected to present [...]

Today is the fourth of July and there is a parade in my hometown. Along with local politicians and community service groups, rows of military vehicles roll slowly down the boulevard, cheered on by hundreds of smiling, healthy, happy people.
Like me, these people enjoy a rather priviledged lifestyle. Although we are not billionaires, we do [...]

My son fights in this war. Last week his letter home told of an intense fire fight. They were shooting at my boy. He shot back. He is alive. Some of them are not.
Two years ago I was steadfast against any war. I held a lifelong conviction that war is wrong. My conviction grew to [...]