David Morris Columns

Instead of Cap and Trade, Cap and Dividend

dmorris — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:56:50 -0600

A new and vastly improved climate change policy has come out of nowhere to capture the imagination of state and national policymakers: "Cap and dividend." It works like this: Step one, impose a carbon cap. Step two, auction off all carbon allowances. Step three, return most of (if not all) the revenues generated to all households on a per capita basis.

A New Outside-the-Beltway Climate Bill Deserves Support; Why Won't Enviros Get Behind It?

dmorris — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:51:34 -0600

Cap and Trade is one approach for limiting our global warming pollution but there is a different climate change proposal in Congress called the CLEAR Act. It's simple, deserves to be looked at closely and looks to be the start of a winning alternative to the complicated system of cap and trade.

Two mistakes, 30 years apart

dmorris — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:38:27 -0600

Obama seems destined to repeat the errors made by Soviet and U.S. leaders on the eve on the first Afghan war.

It is fitting that President Obama announced his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan on the 30th anniversary of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev's decision to do the same. The two events are joined at the hip.

On Energy Questions, State's Leaders Should Listen Better

dmorris — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:28:46 -0600

How many times do the people have to be proven right before their political leaders listen to them? The recent cancellation of Big Stone II by its investors brings that question to mind.

Back in 2006, seven Minnesota utilities asked the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission for permission to build a large coal fired power plant in that state. At the same time they asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for permission to build a high voltage transmission line to bring that plant's electricity into Minnesota, where more than half of its output would be consumed.

Of Health Care, War, Costs and Consequences

dmorris — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:21:03 -0500

In the next few weeks this country will make two decisions of great consequence: Will we send additional troops to Afghanistan? Will we reform our health care system? It is both instructive and disheartening to see the different ways our policymakers approach these issues.

New Proposed Climate Change Bill in Washington Is Simpler and More Equitable

dmorris — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:02:00 -0500

Happily, a new climate bill drafted by Sen. Maria Cantwell may change both the nature of the debate and its outcome.

On Sept. 22, in a speech to 100 world leaders gathered at the United Nations to discuss climate change, President Barack Obama declared the U.S. "determined to act." But at the same time, word began to circulate on Capitol Hill that the Senate might be equally determined not to vote on the climate bill any time soon.

ACORN: Federal Government's Best Investment Ever

dmorris — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:57:15 -0500

The grassroots organization ACORN has come under an almost unceasing attack recently. David Morris argues that over the last 60 years the ACORN model has proven remarkably effective in helping the poor, the working class, and America itself.

ACORN has been a painful thorn in the side of powerful companies looking to profit from poverty.

Might private, not public, be the dirty word?

dmorris — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:17:00 -0500

Consider: Which of these sectors is the one really doing a number on society?

At the birth of the American republic, the word "private" had a sinister connotation. Derived from the Latin privare, meaning to reduce or tear apart, it described behavior often contrary to the public interest. In the late 18th century, a pirate was called a privateer.

Today "private" has become a positive, even boosterish word, while "public" carries a shady undertone. "Private sector" has become synonymous with efficiency and innovation, while "public sector" connotes bloat and unresponsiveness, even corruption.

Why Does the Much-Touted Climate Bill Look Like It Was Stolen From the Republican Playbook?

dmorris — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:50:31 -0500

Most environmental leaders and Democratic Party officials argue that we should support the Waxman-Markey carbon cap and trade bill (American Clean Energy Security Act) no matter how imperfect because it represents an important small step forward. In this commentary by David Morris, he concludes that the bill would be acceptable if it was stripped of its cap and trade provisions. Retaining the cap and trade provisions and he sees it as a giant step backwards that may well hobble further progress in federal efforts to combat climate change for years to come.

David Morris speaks on the Challenge of Going Green in a Recession

jfarrell — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:21:41 -0500

On Sunday, April 26, David Morris addressed a crowd hosted by the DFL Education Foundation, on the challenges of developing renewable energy in a time of economic turmoil. His remarks follow:

I appreciate the opportunity to speak to this distinguished audience this evening. My charge is to address the question, “Can We Be Green in a Recession?” Or as the teaser for this meeting puts it, can we be green without green?

If it's citizens vs. utilities, utilities win

dmorris — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:55:00 -0500

The PUC has an approval process that stacks the deck against the public.

A few days ago the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved a massive high voltage transmission project (known as CapX) that will cost Minnesotans an amount equal to the projected biennium state budget deficit and four times the total bill to taxpayers for the Gopher and Twins stadiums.

Presentation on the Ethics of Sustainability

dmorris — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:02:28 -0500

David Morris spoke on Earth Day to the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis on ethics. He began with some definitions:

Ethics is a set of moral values and standards that guide our conduct. Those moral values and standards are not the same in all societies. Our own country offers an excellent example. Indeed, we consider our history and culture so unique that our leaders often use the term American Exceptionalism to describe our economic and social niche.