There has been a fair amount of angst about the state of the democratic field for President. The mainstream media has pictured this (not entirely incorrectly) as a battle between the progressives (as exemplified by Warren and Sanders) and the moderates (Biden + just about everyone else). The area of consensus is the priority for nominating someone who has the best shot at defeating Trump.

I am a big fan of Elizabeth Warren and I think she has the smarts and solid plans to be a great President but I share the concern of some that she might not be…

In your commencement speech at Tulane University, you acknowledged to the newly graduated that your generation had failed theirs by not acting sooner to curb the devastating impacts of climate change. The burst of enthusiasm and media attention from youth activists has been encouraging; however, I think our generation (full disclosure: I am 9 years older) should assume responsibility for addressing this debacle.

While it would be terrific if Apple engineers created an app to drawdown CO2 from the atmosphere, we know that’s not likely. However, I’ve “thought different” about how you could make a difference.

But first this: It’s…

There has been a great deal of handwringing, debate and speculation about the underlying reasons for Trump’s election. The question has been often asked: what was missed by those of us for whom it was obvious that Trump was — and remains — uniquely unqualified for the office of the Presidency?

Most of the theorizing has focused on two cores issues: the economy and immigration. In regards to the economy, the reasoning has been that many voters in rural and manufacturing regions felt left behind by the post-recession recovery, coupled with the loss of manufacturing jobs. Much of the blame…

You are walking through the midway of a country fair and a table with a carny attracts your attention with a sign that says, “Win a Thousand Dollars.” You ask how to win the money and he explains that you pay $10, roll two dice, and if it comes out a 7 or 11, you win the money.

You do the math quickly (you’re good at this) and figure that there are 36 possible rolls of the dice and 8 ways to get a 7 or 11, which means that your odds of winning are pretty good, about 22%. …

After years of stasis, there is finally movement in the public’s attitude about climate change. Much of the media attention has focused on the Green New Deal, sponsored by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Senator, Edward Markey. In addition, recent polling by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication has shown a rise over the past 5 years in the number of Americans who believe it’s happening (+11%), are worried about it (+16%), think it’s caused by humans (+15%) and that it’s important to them personally (+17).

But balancing these positive trends are lingering concerns. Polls also show that a majority…

Climate Metaphor #2: Teenage Driver

A father is buying a used car for his teenaged son. He has found one at a reasonable price and the car is now sitting in his driveway but two reliable mechanics have told the father that the brakes on the car could fail at any time. His son asks to borrow the car to visit his friend in the next town.

It’s uncertain whether the brakes will fail on this particular night and, if they do, whether his son will have a fatal accident or come to rest harmlessly on someone’s lawn. …

Climate Metaphor #1: Baseball and Floods

A severe rainstorm causes a major flood for a town and a local reporter asks a scientist if the flooding is due to climate change. He hesitates in giving a “yes” or “no” response and this is perceived as an indication that the science is not clear. However, the scientist instead provides an analogy:

A baseball player wants to improve his hitting and so he devotes the off-season to an intensive strength and conditioning training program. …

With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed. — Abraham Lincoln

The ultimate solutions to climate change are workable, cost-effective technologies…. yet scientific, engineering, and organizational solutions are not enough. Societies must be motivated and empowered to adopt the needed changes. — Jeffrey Sachs, The Earth Institute, Columbia University

The solution starts with a reframing of the problem.

Despite the dire warnings about global warming, relatively few Americans are responding with a sense of urgency. For many, this is due to the misinformation perpetrated by some politicians, fossil fuel interests, and media outlets. …