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About David Morris

David Morris is co-founder of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and directs its initiative on The Public Good. He is the author of New City States and four other non-fiction books. His essays on public policy are regularly published by On the Commons, Alternet, Common Dreams and the Huffington Post. More

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Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Nov 8, 2012

Even Superstorm Sandy Couldn’t Stop the Mailman

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/superstorm-sandy-stop-mailman/

“Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail shall keep the postmen from their appointed rounds.” Bill Fletcher Jr. of the Institute for Policy Studies tells of how he was reminded of that covenant when in the middle of superstorm Sandy he saw a postal van traveling on his street. And he reminded us that… Continue reading

Devastation by Sandy
Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Oct 30, 2012

Sandy and the Importance of Government

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/sandy-importance-government/

If this election is a referendum on the benefit of government then superstorm Sandy should be Exhibit A for the affirmative. The government weather service, using data from government weather satellites delivered a remarkably accurate and sobering long range forecast that both catalyzed action and gave communities sufficient time to prepare. Those visually stunning maps… Continue reading

we the people
Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Oct 16, 2012

What a Difference a Court Makes

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/difference-court/

In a democracy the majority wins. Which makes minority groups vulnerable.  At the dawn of the Republic John Adams warned about “the tyranny of the majority.” Almost a century later, the 14th Amendment finally declared that no State shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”  Despite its being… Continue reading

male female images
Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 3 Comments | Updated on Oct 9, 2012

Is It All About Hormones?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/hormones/

Sometimes everywhere I turn, the story line seems to pivot on hormones. Recently the Boys Scouts denied Ryan Anderson, a gay 17 year-old the rank of Eagle Scout because “he does not meet scouting’s membership standard on sexual orientation.”  Last April, Jennifer Tyrrell, a lesbian parent in Ohio, was forced out as a den mother… Continue reading

National_Football_League_2008.svg
Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Sep 26, 2012

We’re the NFL. We don’t have to care.

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/were-nfl-dont-care/

Watching professional football these days reminds me of Lily Tomlin’s Ernestine the telephone operator on Saturday Night Live and her famous punch line, “We don’t care.  We don’t have to.  We’re the phone company.” Or in this case the National Football League.  For those who don’t follow football, let me bring you up to date. … Continue reading

Wedding rings (c) Jeff Belmonte. Published under a creative commons licence
Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Sep 13, 2012

The Times They Are A’Changing. Or Are They?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/times-achanging-they/

The recent colorful tirade by Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe against a legislator who demanded the Baltimore Ravens owner fire linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo for supporting gay marriage and the overwhelmingly positive response to it by football fans and players alike are heartwarming developments.  It shows how far we’ve come.  But the fact that voters in… Continue reading

same-sex-marriage-cover
Featured Article, Resource filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 1 Comment | Updated on Aug 31, 2012

The Thoughtful Voter’s Guide to Same-Sex Marriage

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/thoughtful-voters-guide-same-sex-marriage/

This November voters in four states–Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington–will be voting on whether to legalize or ban same-sex marriage. After 20 years of debate one might reasonably ask why another report on same-sex marriage would be necessary. Our reply is that although the debate has been long it has often generated more heat than light. We learn best… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Aug 17, 2012

Anti-public schools candidates crushed in Wisconsin

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/anti-public-schools-candidates-crushed-wisconsin/

With public schools under attack everywhere, a inspiring victory came out of Wisconsin last week.  The American Federation for Children (AFC), a pro school privatization group funded by billionaires from Michigan and millionaires from several other states, entered a slate of candidates in Democratic primaries for the state Assembly and Senate. The battle was joined… Continue reading

sold 2
Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 2 Comments | Updated on Aug 16, 2012

Encouraging Corporate Crime

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/encouraging-corporate-crime/

Almost daily we read about another apparently stiff financial penalty meted out for corporate malfeasance. This year corporations are on track to pay as much as $8 billion to resolve charges of defrauding the government, a record sum, according to the Department of Justice.  Last year big business paid the SEC $2.8 billion to settle… Continue reading

Customer-Service-sign
Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Aug 14, 2012

For Quality Customer Service Go to Government, Not Business

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/quality-customer-service-government-business/

In 2012 we accept as received wisdom that government is unresponsive while a competitive marketplace forces private business to offer quality customer service.  So when Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced his warmly received bill, The Government Customer Service Improvement Act, we considered his announcement a truism, “When taxpayers interact with a government agency, they deserve… Continue reading