Author Archives: Paul Deaton

Bill Anders Died As He Lived

Early Saturday morning news media reported Bill Anders died at age 90 while a plane he was piloting crashed into the sea off Washington State. He was a pilot at the beginning of his career and that’s how it ended. … Continue reading →

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A Progressive Summer Reading Program

At a time when conservative political activists tell us what we can and can’t read and learn in public spaces, summer reading programs at public libraries continue to thrive. In the City of Solon, population 3,018, 261 kids attended the … Continue reading →

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Migration From Newspapers To Other Media

This chart says a lot about the history of newspapers in the 21st Century. As the number of employees in the business declined by 75 percent, private equity extracted financial resources from these businesses through mergers and acquisitions, leaving a … Continue reading →

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To EV Or Not To EV

Moving the automotive economy toward electric vehicles is a good thing for multiple reasons. An important benefit is to decrease reliance on burning stuff in an internal combustion engine. In the late 19th Century, Rudolph Diesel invented an engine that … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Minority Rule

A decent history of American politics in the post-Obama era has yet to be written. One can’t rely upon any of the conservative principals to author one, because they have been drinking at the well of minority rule for too … Continue reading →

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Nuclear Power Isn’t It

Little has changed to make nuclear power a safe and affordable option to produce electricity. That didn’t stop Iowa Republican members of congress, all four of them, from voting for H.R. 6544, the Atomic Advancement Act of 2023. They were … Continue reading →

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Abortion Heads Back To The Supreme Court

When the U.S. Supreme Court decided Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on June 22, 2022, it was a matter of time before abortion would have another hearing in the high court. On Wednesday this week justices heard oral arguments … Continue reading →

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Misinformation About Climate Change

We hear in public forums that “climate is always changing,” or that “climate change is part of a natural cycle.” This is a form of misinformation intended to deflect from the existential fact Earth should be cooling according to natural … Continue reading →

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Immigration Iowa – Style

In an effort to present a contrast with Joe Biden, Republicans insist upon elevating immigration as a top tier 2024 campaign issue. My issue with this is they lie, dissemble, and obstruct. Are there are many “contacts” at the border. … Continue reading →

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How Are Things Going Before Earth Day?

Earth Day is Monday, so how are we doing? Is the news media helping us create a better environment? Bill McKibben follows issues centered around the climate crisis better than almost anyone. Here’s the stark truth from his substack, The … Continue reading →

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