Walker Willingham Jr: September 2008 Archives

[Update: U.S. Supreme Court issues stay of execution until they take the case-or not-next Monday]
Will an innocent man in Georgia be put to death today by the state?

Opponents and supporters of the death penalty should be united in opposing such a possibility. But it appears that only Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas stand in the way of this very real possibility. Troy Anthony Davis, likely innocent of the murder of which he is accused, watches the minutes pass as last minute appeals to grant a stay or retry his case go unheeded.

What is best for our nation? What is best for our society? What is best for our planet?

In a complex world, there is no one simple answer to such questions. World views can help us shape how we approach solving the world's problems, but those views can also blind us to solutions that others may offer.

Eight years of Bush-Cheney have given us ample proof that simplistic allegiance to the mantras of free market fundamentalism give way to economic disaster. As Henry Paulson, pragmatic Treasury Secretary, moved to have the government take control of mortgage lending giants Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, it is harder and harder to defend privatization and deregulation as the cornerstones for sound economic policy.