Autiello: Will True Christianity Please Stand Up?
Nick Autiello, Contributor
The notion that homosexuality is a sin and un-Christian is one that is less than a hundred years old. It is wrong, and has no basis in scriptural or historical reality.
SASSO: The Coming New Year
James Sasso, Associate Editor
As the tumultuous 2011 comes down to its final day, this column could contain an obnoxious summary of the year’s extraordinary events. Rather than once again discussing the protests around the world, the death of Osama Bin Laden, Fukushima, America’s political ineptitude, Europe’s demise or the increasingly frightful weather patterns, here I attempt to predict what 2012 holds in store.
SASSO: Kicking the Can
James Sasso, Associate Editor
For one of the first times in his tenure as Speaker, John Boehner has made a statement with which every American, Republican or Democrat, should fully agree; the two-month Senate bipartisan extension of the payroll tax cut fails to fix the nation’s problems sufficiently. Providing a short-term band-aid to a long-term dilemma contradicts what a responsible government should accomplish, but fits the pattern of contemporary American politicking.
CIOCCI: A Foolish Consistency
Mitt Romney is guilty of serial hypocrisy, Newt Gingrich is guilty of being a public intellectual constantly scrutinized by the media and others, and Ron Paul never ceases to remind me about one of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”
AKMAN: Jon Huntsman’s Meaningless Campaign
Josh Akman, Columnist
Jon Huntsman did not participate in the CNN Debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. Short of his family and small (and getting smaller) campaign staff, no one really noticed. In a bizarre and counterproductive effort to impress New Hampshire voters Huntsman skipped the debate to protest Nevada moving its caucus ahead of New Hampshire’s, which has always been the nation’s first primary. It’s bizarre because no one else skipped the debate. It’s counterproductive because right now, Jon Huntsman is polling 6% in New Hampshire.
SASSO: The 99% Rising
James Sasso
Associate Editor
For the past month a movement has grown out of Zuccoti Park in New York with the potential to grab at the very heart of America’s problems. “We are the 99%” is not simply a catchy phrase used by frustrated jobless Americans , but a commentary on the disgraceful economic inequality that has arisen in the United States since the 1970s.
SASSO: Is President Obama Green?
James Sasso, Associate Editor
One of the most frequently lofted criticisms aimed at President Obama is that he has retreated from his promises of remaking the infrastructure of America to create a greener future. While many of the President’s promises made while on the campaign trail have not come to fruition (something which I half blame on the absurdly effective oppositionist strategy of Republicans and half on Obama’s desire to remain above the partisan fray), the lack of major environmental initiatives by Obama’s administration has left many of his young, ecofriendly supporters wondering why the environment is pushed continually to the side of important issues…Obama’s grand green vision, sadly, has proved to be more hope than change.
AKMAN: President Obama, It’s Time to Fight
Josh Akman, Columnist
Democratic candidates in Congress are beginning to fight. As their majorities in Congress are disappearing faster than the ozone layer, Democrats are getting up and getting pissed. Now, as Democrats see a bleak gleam at the end of the tunnel (meaning their losses in November might just be disastrous, not catastrophic), the message to the president could not be more clear: FIGHT.
MCNAMARA: Wanted — Decade-Defining Environmental Policy
The United States has a long history of progressive environmental policy, under Republican and Democratic presidents alike. But we have fallen behind, and it is time for Congress to pass new, stronger environmental regulations that set the tone for the rest of the world.
MCNAMARA: Young Conservationists Vital to a Greener America
Lindsay McNamara, Columnist
Programs like Cool the Earth, which encourages elementary school students to make simple changes to stop climate change, are vital to educating the next generation about environmental sustainability, responsible consumption, and respect for the nature.
RUSHFORD: We Must Not Forget About the Oil (Spills)
Stephanie Rushford, Columnist
The news crews will soon leave the Gulf of Mexico, enabling Americans to forget about the Gulf oil spill. But, Americans must not be shocked by more large-scale spills in future if they are complacent in doing nothing to change the status quo.
MCNAMARA: Too Little, Too Late
Lindsay McNamara, Columnist
Brazil’s poorly-enforced conservation laws are furthering the destruction of the vital Amazon rainforest. How can the global community, conservationists and farmers alike solve this crisis?
STORM: $4.114
Meg Storm, Columnist – Debut Column
Two years after gas prices hit an all-time high and Obama’s campaign was in full swing, it appears that Obama’s legacy will not be succeeding in finding alternative fuel sources or creating green jobs — but rather that his leadership failed to combat the worst oil spill in our nation’s history as the American economy continues to falter.
SIEFF: Energy Innovation and America’s Future
Adam Sieff, Columnist
The coming weeks are an opportunity to present a comprehensive energy plan that frames the toughest issues the country currently faces as components of a single problem facing all Americans: dependence on foreign carbon-based energy.
PHILLIPS: The Climate Science Conspiracy
The leaked emails from the Climate Research Unit do not disprove climate change science or stand as evidence of a conspiracy.
Phillips: Coal Power and the DC Air
THe health impacts of coal combustion and the DC Capitol Power Plant
PHILLIPS: Is Geoengineering the Solution to Climate Change?
In coming years, the field of Geo-engineering may be the source of a real bi-partisan debate on climate change.
Phillips: A Prank on the US Chamber of Commerce
Through a prank, an activist group draws attention to the US Chamber of Commerce’s conservative stance on climate change.
PHILLIPS: This Week, There Was “HOPE” for the Environment
Obama speaks on energy at MIT and activists demonstrate on climate change internationally.
