Schleck and Contador Spark Global Ethics Debate
July 19th, 2010 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Tags: Civility, Public Values, Sports
LONGMONT, Colo. — I was surprised when Andy Schleck’s back wheel popped up and he jolted to a dead standstill in this morning’s stage of the Tour de France. I was more surprised when Alberto Contador rode past without hesitation. I had just said to my kids watching the tour with me, “Watch this, I bet Contador slows to a crawl.” I was wrong. My favorite historical moments of the Tour are the occasions when Lance Armstrong waited for Jan [...]
Read more...How Do You Measure Prosperity?
July 13th, 2010 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Tags: Culture, Public Values
LONGMONT, Colo. — Matt Miller makes a provocative assertion in his year-old book, The Tyranny of Dead Ideas. He argues that Americans need to get over the idea that future generations will earn higher incomes than their parents and grandparents. All the evidence suggests, Miller argues, that we will experience several decades of downward pressure on wages. Household incomes (after adjusting for inflation) have steadily climbed over the past four decades. But the additional income is the result of more [...]
Read more...Community, Trust and Problem Solving
July 8th, 2010 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Tags: Boston, Community, Public Values
LONGMONT, Colo. — I was walking from Boston’s Charles Street T (subway) to our apartment when the power of anonymity hit home for the first time. I was on my regular graduate school meal plan at the time: Cheerios for breakfast; peanut butter sandwich for lunch; a Happy Hour supper (two dollar beer and free cheese, crackers and chickens wings), and a Snicker bar to hold me over for late night studies. I broke out the Snicker bar on my [...]
Read more...We Are Free
July 3rd, 2010 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Tags: Community, Culture, Longmont, Public Values
LONGMONT, Colo. — The Longmont Orchestra is playing again this year in Thompson Park to celebrate the Fourth of July. It’s one of the traditions I love about this holiday. My family makes a point of staying home for the Fourth so we can join our neighbors to celebrate America’s birthday. Similar celebrations of picnics, music and fireworks will take place across the country. The Fourth and Thanksgiving are the two uniquely American holidays. The Fourth of July is one [...]
Read more...Managing a Surplus of Time, Money and Food
June 22nd, 2010 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Tags: Culture, Family, Public Values
It may seem odd to write an essay about surplus during a period we will long remember as the Great Recession. Much of what I have to say may be dismissed or ignored. It’s hard to hear a long term perspective when experiencing short term pain — especially when the pain is severe. But, as we’re all tightening our belts for the moment, now may be the best time to think through how we manage surplus. Better times will return. [...]
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