Great piece, thank you! Speaking of words, I keep coming back to the conclusion that we as a nation are all too often asking the wrong questions. Like: big government or small government? A binary that has no meaning. Instead, the question should always be, how can WE make OUR government work better for US? In recognition of the fact that government is the U.S. is “by the people, of the people, and for the people.” WE are meant to be the government - and that only works if we treat it that way, not as some alien institution dropped down upon us in our midst. Surely, Reagan’s assertion that “government is not the solution but the problem,” ranks as one of the most damaging (and inane) things ever said by a president.
While I can’t trace it’s impact to public policy and laws, I would suggest Uncle Tom’s Cabin had a huge influence on our country.
I’m embarrassed to say I never learned about Rachel Carson or Ralph Nader until I was an adult and working in environmental conservation myself. These things are just not taught in our schools. At least they weren’t when I was in school.
Great piece, thank you! Speaking of words, I keep coming back to the conclusion that we as a nation are all too often asking the wrong questions. Like: big government or small government? A binary that has no meaning. Instead, the question should always be, how can WE make OUR government work better for US? In recognition of the fact that government is the U.S. is “by the people, of the people, and for the people.” WE are meant to be the government - and that only works if we treat it that way, not as some alien institution dropped down upon us in our midst. Surely, Reagan’s assertion that “government is not the solution but the problem,” ranks as one of the most damaging (and inane) things ever said by a president.
While I can’t trace it’s impact to public policy and laws, I would suggest Uncle Tom’s Cabin had a huge influence on our country.
I’m embarrassed to say I never learned about Rachel Carson or Ralph Nader until I was an adult and working in environmental conservation myself. These things are just not taught in our schools. At least they weren’t when I was in school.