Walkin' on Broadway

New York.

Letter From New York

This wonderful old city is hurting, as are all parts of America. For the first time in many years, I am again seeing homeless people, beggars, and panhandlers here in midtown Manhattan.

We are most likely on the verge of a major recession, perhaps even a depression. What I see here on the streets of New York is probably only the beginning. Even so, it is disconcerting.

Are we headed back to the '70s?

True Leadership: Climate Change

In my last post, I berated President-elect Obama and the Democratic leaders of Congress for their unwise (in my view) proclivity toward bailing out the "Big Three" automakers.

On that issue, my position remains unchanged. I stand with the Republicans and President Bush, and (I suspect) a large majority of regular Americans.

Tonight, we turn to a different and much more critical issue: Global climate change. This issue is deeply personal; for over 40 years, I have devoted much of whatever limited talent I may have as a reporter and writer to the issue of our common global environment.

The intensity of the issues have accelerated over the years. The threats we face as a species are far more frightening than those I was exploring when I was a much more naive, idealistic writer.

Then I just hoped we would heal the most egregious insults our way of life were inflicting on this, our common earth. Now, I worry about the fate my precious grandchildren may face if we do not quickly and decisively commit ourselves to a more aggressive program of alternative energy, containing greenhouse gases, saving the Artic and Antarctic ice sheets (if we can) not to mention species diversity, ecological balances, rainforests, wetlands, the oceans, and every other component of our inter-connected global ecology that we have not already destroyed to the point of no return.

We need to become modest.

I know what I am writing has no chance of happening. I am a faint voice, and the strength of my voice is fading.

Tonight, however, I am cheered by the words of our President-elect.

(11-18) 17:46 PST LOS ANGELES -- In his first speech on global warming since winning the election, President-elect Barack Obama promised Tuesday that he will set stringent limits on greenhouse gases, saying the need was too urgent for delay.

Many observers expected Obama to avoid tackling such a complex, contentious issue early in his administration. But in videotaped comments to the Governors' Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles on Tuesday, he called for immediate action.

"Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all," Obama said. "Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response. The stakes are too high, the consequences too serious."

Read the entire story here.

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My Republican Sunday

I oppose bailing out the Big Three auto companies. Therefore, I am standing with President Bush and the Republicans. President-elect Obama and the Democratic leaders in Congress have been advocating bailing out GM, Ford and Chrysler.

I'm afraid that, to me, this smacks of politics, not good policy. Of course, the Obama campaign is grateful to the UAW for helping deliver Michigan and Ohio to the Democrats. But that does not mean they need to return the favor -- if it is the wrong thing to do.

Let's consider why the Big Three are teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. First, they made bad cars, gas-guzzling SUVs long after any reasonable analysis of our common future would have concluded that we will have to be driving hybrids or alternative-fuel cars such as those the more progressive carmakers overseas are already offering.

Second, they have formed a devil's bargain wth corrupt unions, most specifically the UAW. Why should privileged union members be retiring at age 50, and then living off rich pensions, with health policies that have zero deductibles and zero co-pays when all the rest of us in America have no such privileges?

The beauty of bankruptcy is that the Big Three automakers can end these entitlements and re-establish themselves as companies for the 21st century, shedding these unrealistic contracts in favor of the work arrangements of the Japanese and European car-makers who are doing just fine, thank you, manufacturing autos in this country.

Therefore, count my vote with the GOP on this one.

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