Author Archives: Ed Fallon

A better way to get around

Posted on by

Architect Mark Clipsham joins me for the first half of the program. Among other angles of sustainability, Mark discusses transportation options to the present car- and plane-dominated system.I’ve posted a set of images Mark shared with me on the Fallon Forum Facebook Page. I  hope you’ll check those out, along with this week’s program.

Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action! Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action! And many thanks to the local small businesses, non-profits, and individual donors who help make this program possible. If you’d like to pitch in, contact me at ed@fallonforum.com. Continue Reading →

Braver Angels seeks dialogue across the partisan divide

Posted on by

I hope you’ll listen to this week’s program and share your feedback, especially on the topic Melinda Voss and I dive into.

Maybe you disagree, but the way Melinda and I see it, since we’re at a time when a former president calls his opponents “vermin” and a previous candidate for president refers to opponent’s supporters as “deplorable,” we need to nurture respectful dialogue now more than ever.

That’s only going to happen if we each make an effort to have those tough conversations with our uncle whose primary source of information is Fox News. Or with our niece who’s fond of cancelling any public figure she disagrees with. For an excellent, 15-minute documentary, on how this is possible and why it’s important, check out Ralph King’s “Crossing the Divide.” Continue Reading →

Silencing Israel’s critics

Posted on by

Check out this week’s podcast/radio program and give me your take on my conversation with Jeffrey Weiss. Jeffrey will blush when I say this: He’s a central Iowa treasure when it comes to analyzing foreign policy. He’s also not afraid to join a march, rally, or protest and have fun while making an important statement. (See photo for proof.)

ISRAEL-PALESTINE. Jeffrey and I discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and why there is so much push back against pro-Palestinian perspectives. For example, the bizarre decision by the Iowa Democratic Party to call for the resignation of three leaders with the University of Iowa’s University Democrats for writing a statement that included this: “Not only do we preach tolerance, but as an organization we emphasize education. The actions of the Israeli government are not the actions of Jews, and the actions of Hamas are not the actions of Palestinians or Muslims.”

Jeffrey and I also discuss the expression “from the river to the sea.”

We disagree about the political influence of AIPAC. Jeffrey feels the group’s impact is waning. I’m not at all convinced. Continue Reading →

Kathy’s favorite farm and food lady

Posted on by

We wrap up this week’s podcast and radio show with Kathy paying tribute to her Aunt Marian, who died this month at the glorious age of 99.

Marian was Kathy’s mom’s older sister and the mother of twelve children. In addition to an old-school farming operation with hogs, corn, beans, alfalfa, and sorghum, Marian ruled over a huge garden and two full kitchens!

Between preserving food for the winter and serving three meals a day to 14 people, the kitchens pretty much ran full-time. Marian’s apple pies in particular were known far and wide.

It’s my contention that 21st century America has much to learn from Marian Smith and the farming practices of a bygone era. As supply chains are further disrupted from climate change and other calamities, large gardens and small-scale meat production will become necessities, not novelties.  Continue Reading →

Veterans Day reflections

Posted on by

Dear Friends, LISTEN TO THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM Before I share my Veterans Day reflection, here’s an outline of this week’s program: First, I interview author Lawrence MacDonald about his book, Continue Reading →

Tuesday’s election, Biden’s polls, and my presidential prediction

Posted on by

We’re a year out from the 2024 presidential election, yet I’m ready to pick a winner. My prediction might surprise you. But first, some thoughts on Tuesday’s election:

DES MOINES. Some say voters rejected the message of progressive candidates for Mayor and City Council. I don’t see it that way. Candidates’ messages were fine, for the most part. But it’s hard to beat an incumbent. Between name recognition and the big money it often attracts (it did), incumbents and defacto incumbents won all five races.

Speaking of being outspent, I hadn’t intended to be the only public voice opposed to spending $350 million to expand the airport. It turns out I was. I spent $0. Airport proponents spent at least $30,000. My side lost 80%-20%. Ouch.

The biggest news locally was the suburban school board elections. The candidates supported by a far-right “Christian” organization lost. All of them. Yup. The radical religious right got its clock cleaned and its Bible thumped. Good to know that Iowans aren’t inclined to live in a theocracy. Continue Reading →

Climate is on the ballot

Posted on by

No matter where you live, the ballot you fill out on November 7 will impact the climate crisis. Maybe there’s a candidate committed to serious climate action running for city council. Maybe there’s a ballot initiative or referendum with a climate impact.

That’s the case in Polk County, Iowa. Public Measure A wants voters to approve a $350 million bond to expand the airport, which would have a resoundingly negative climate impact. 

I’ve never been good at sugar-coating my message, so to be blunt:

If you support building a bigger airport to increase air travel, you aren’t serious about the climate crisis.

From an online search: “Air travel accounts for about 4 percent of human-induced global warming, and the United Nations warns that airplane emissions are set to triple by 2050.”
Continue Reading →

We beat Valero and BlackRock!

Posted on by

The Navigator CO2 Pipeline — brought to you by the warm-and-fuzzy corporate duo of Valero and BlackRock — is officially dead. That’s right. We, the People, beat two Fortune 500 companies!

CO2 pipeline proposals by Summit and Wolf remain live rounds. But landowners along the Wolf route haven’t heard a peep from Wolf since March. And Summit just announced its pipeline would be delayed by two years. These developments are encouraging.

Here’s my analysis as to why we prevailed against Navigator and will eventually defeat Summit and Wolf: Continue Reading →

Meet Gary, my #1 detractor

Posted on by

Most of the feedback I receive about my radio show, podcast, and blog is positive. There’s a fair amount of criticism, too, and much of that is solid. Sometimes, it causes me to rethink my position.

Then there’s Gary. He’s my most reliable detractor. I discuss my correspondence with him on this week’s program . Here’s a sampling of our back-and-forth:

CO 2 PIPELINES

Gary: The Democrat Party is the driver behind building CO2 pipelines.

Me: It’s crystal clear to all involved that Republican mega-donor Bruce Rastetter is the leading force behind the Summit pipeline. Of course, President Biden signed the legislation that expands the tax credits for CO2 pipelines. So there’s bipartisan culpability.

Gary: Anyone can receive a fair accommodation for pipelines crossing their property … contrary to all the LIES Democrats are telling.

Me: So you’re ok with Big Government allowing a Big Corporation to forcibly take someone’s land through eminent domain as long as they receive what you determine to be “fair accommodation”? Continue Reading →