We are Different & We are the Same: Voting from Here

The United States is voting.  Or at least that’s an option for the next four days. Because of the way my mind works…I’ve been thinking about that.  Voting. In the past 48 hours or so I’ve been in more-than-passing conversations with people – all American citizens – who, in the history of our country would not have been eligible to vote.  That means they were variously (or in some combination) immigrants, women,… Read More

Ancient Trees and Taxes

On matters of taxation, there’s confusion in our country.  Just where does that money go?  Another way to say this is to suggest that there’s too little education of everyday citizens on the whole economic thing.  How does it all fit together – the business part, the investment part, the tax part, the public interest part?  And how do we participate in it for the wellbeing of ourselves, our families, our communities… Read More

Working Change

“We have an amazing work ethic in this country. We’re not all working in the same direction, and that’s normal to some point.  You’re not supposed to always be working in harmony, but I hope the work ethic and the sense of shared humanity in that continue.” Lena This morning in the New York Times, Paul Krugman, an esteemed if controversial economist, forecast again the third Great Depression for the U.S. economy… Read More

Change: Who Cares?

So here we are, lots of us feeling somehow betrayed with many of the most vocal folks on both ends of the conservative/progressive spectrum heavy into tape loops of public diatribe.  The change just isn’t right.   It falls short.  It isn’t giving the same feel we signed on for during the campaigns. The pressing issue here in the middle of the EX:Change project is finding the right words to answer a question… Read More

Be the Change

“We need to ‘be the change,’ – Gandhi – ‘we want to see in the world.’  I think we’re ready.” Tara Loyd Remember Tara and Brett from last week?  You already know they are good at listening to one another even though they often don’t agree – especially on matters political.  A thing they did agree on was the necessity for being active parts of the public changes they want to see. … Read More

Easter and Reaching Across the Aisle

Yesterday a friend sent a text.  Charles is a Mandan-Hidatsa Indian from North Dakota who has for years been the lead public relations executive for a local non-profit.  He was asking if I knew of Easter celebrations in town.  Then there was Mike’s status update on Facebook.  Mike is Jewish and he was wishing all his Christian friends “a wonderful and redemptive Easter.” This morning in a small gathering, Julie, a mom… Read More

EX:Change 2.0

           He could say, “We need change.  We need change. I’m going to change this.”  He can say all he wants, but actually without the people out here, nothing’s going to change.   Art Garcia Jan 21, 2009   A year ago today headlines read: “Antarctica Is Warming,” “Relatives Say Peltier Beaten Following Prison Transfer,” “Israel Completes Gaza Withdrawal,” “Brazilian Midfielder Kaka Stays Put,” “Sen. Kennedy Hospitalized After Suffering Seizure.” Then there were… Read More