Category Archives: Columns

Dan Wolf’s proven progressive ideas [op ed Cape Cod Times 20 august 2013]

Dan Wolf has built a great reputation in a term and a half as state senator. His admitted problem starting his race for governor has been name recognition beyond his district. Assuming he overcomes his State Ethics Commission hurdle, as a “Boston Globe” editorial and most others commenting feel he should, a lot of that […]

November 14, 2013 – 9:30 am | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged | Comments (0)

Pilgrim: what will it take? [op ed Cape Cod Times 6 August 2013]

In a democracy we are encouraged to believe that the will of the people should carry the day. That’s the idea anyway. But as we know, it often doesn’t seem to work out that way.   For instance, the Pilgrim nuclear power plant. It would seem that a substantial majority of Cape Codders would like […]

November 14, 2013 – 9:25 am | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Transgendering: biology or style? [op-ed CCT 23 july 2013]

Massachusetts’ Transgender Equal Rights Act became law on the first of July. Even for the liberal-minded among us, especially those of a certain age, the transgender phenomenon (to which young people are apparently flocking) is one more item for the What- Are -We- Coming- To file.   It used to be, and it is still […]

July 30, 2013 – 7:13 pm | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged | Comments (0)

Contradictions of affordable housing [op-ed CCT 25 June 2013]

Affordable housing is an issue with, it seems, very few opponents. There is m ore to its appeal than pure altruism. First, most of us aren’t rich and we naturally sympathize with those who can’t afford the average house in our high-priced town. Especially when they are our own kids. Naturally, we’d like them to […]

July 30, 2013 – 7:07 pm | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Eastham’s latest water vote : David vs. Goliath [op-ed CCT 11 June 2013]

   All eyes (as it were) will be on Eastham June 22 as a special town meeting will once again try to decide the town’s water future. Eastham, the last town on the Cape to get with the program and sign up for a p ublic water system–or so the proponents of such a system […]

July 30, 2013 – 7:03 pm | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

The logic of fearing Pilgrim [op-ed CCT 28 May 2013]

The movement to shut down Pilgrim nuclear power plant seems finally to be taking off. All 14 of the towns who have voted on it have voted to that effect. A poll shows a great majority of us afraid of Pilgrim. The May 19th demonstration in Plymouth was the largest so far.   If ever […]

July 30, 2013 – 6:58 pm | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged , | Comments (1)

Climate Change: addressing the momentum problem [op-ed CCT 14 May 2013]

I recently attended a forum on “Planning For Climate Change” at the Audubon Sanctuary here in Wellfleet. There was emphasis on both reducing and coping with climate change effects on this vulnerable town, the encroaching seas, the battering storms. Worse-come-to-worst, we were told, we may at some point have to put some of our houses […]

May 15, 2013 – 12:33 pm | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged , | Comments (0)

A Wellfleet perspective on Eastham’s water controversy [op ed CCT 30 April 2013]

At a fateful town meeting May 6 Eastham will decide whether it is necessary to spend 115 million dollars on a townwide public water system. That’s around 850 dollars per year per household, year after year, not including the thousands to hook up to the system for those who want to. The old commonsense of […]

May 10, 2013 – 12:30 pm | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Is this place becoming diluted? [op-ed CCT 16 April 2013]

Pretty soon, the word “place” may have nothing left to refer to. Corporate hegemony and the shrinking world of the internet and other forces of homogenization are making “place” an endangered phenomenon. What does it mean, “place”? It has always seemed too commonplace to need defining. (“You know: place, just a spot on earth, a […]

May 10, 2013 – 12:26 pm | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Killer app : getting Jane’s call [op-ed CCT 2 APRIL 13]

We recently cut loose from our land line. It’s a little scary for those of a certain age, casting off the bowline and trusting ourselves to the high seas of smart phones, texting, apps and all that good stuff. I love the term “killer app.” It implies that there have of course been other apps […]

April 3, 2013 – 12:08 pm | By Brent | Posted in Columns | Tagged , | Comments (0)