Dawn Allen is a freelance writer and editor who is passionate about sustainability, political economy, gardening, traditional craftwork, and simple living. She and her husband are currently renovating a rural homestead in southeastern Michigan.
In a heartening example of government defending the interests of individual citizens over those of predatory businesses, a bipartisan bill that protects consumers who write negative reviews has been passed by unanimous consent by the Senate and is now awaiting President Obama’s signature. The Consumer Review Fairness Act, which was introduced in 2014, was sponsored
President-Elect Trump took an important step towards uniting our country last Thursday as he negotiated with the CEO of United Technologies, a major defense contractor and the parent company of furnace-maker Carrier. Appearing to fulfill a campaign promise to keep Carrier from shipping jobs to Mexico (but which Trump later explained he didn’t remember saying
In a stunning and surprise (and perhaps temporary) victory for the water protectors gathered at the Standing Rock protest camp, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that they will not approve the easement necessary for construction of the hated Dakota Access Pipeline. This decision means that construction of the pipeline will be delayed for
California has been facing severe drought conditions since 2011. Much of the media coverage surrounding the drought has been given over to direct human concerns, such as the folks painting their lawns green (rather than, say, landscaping with native or drought-resistant plants) and water restrictions for residents and farmers. However, lurking in the background, there’s another
In Part 1, I discussed some recent discoveries, such as a portion of human anatomy that is entirely new to science, a mysteriously dimming star, and the culture of whales. Each of these revelations hints at what we don’t know about our world. But does our ignorance matter when it comes to politics and public
In the United States, we allow all adult citizens to register to vote. Sure, there are some other locally relevant requirements, such as not being a convicted felon or establishing residency. There are also informal (wink wink, nudge nudge) requirements, such as being able and willing to jump through the ridiculous hoops necessary in some
The late Dr. Amos Wilson is credited with saying, “If you want to understand any problem in America, you need to focus on who profits from that problem, not who suffers from the problem.” That advice will shed a useful light on any number of inequities, among them the Standing Rock Sioux-led protest against the
Happy Thanksgiving, Legal Readers! If you’re reading this waiting for the turkey (or Tofurkey) to cook as you anticipate spending Thanksgiving with a politically diverse family, take heart. You’re not alone; right now a purple America is having that same awkward moment at family gatherings from Newport, Oregon, to Newport News, Virginia. After a bitter
Incoming President-elect Trump certainly has his share of legal troubles to work through, but here’s one I bet he didn’t expect to face: a bunch of kids suing his government over the inevitable effects of climate change. The climate change kids won their right to a day in court recently when US District Judge Ann
Kalamazoo, a town in southwestern Michigan, is facing the same problem as a lot of American municipalities: a declining tax base that led to a budget deficit. Reduced revenue sharing from the State of Michigan, a law that prevents raising property taxes faster than the rate of inflation, and the inability to convince a stakeholder