The Rational Middle

We won’t leave anyone behind in the fight for #climatejustice. Marginalized communities — from the coal towns to indigenous peoples to the inner city —should not have to bear the burden again. Everyone gets a seat at the table, everyone gets a bite at the apple, and no one is abandoned.

The U.S. healthcare system isn’t broken—it’s working exactly as designed: to extract profit when people are hurting. Other nations deliver better outcomes at lower costs, but America clings to this system by using public fear that another way won’t work. Newsflash: what we’re doing now doesn’t work.

Why are we drowning in single-use plastics? Companies choose cheap over sustainable and taxpayers pay the price: growing landfills, pollution, and ecosystem damage. Biodegradable packaging exists—industries must adopt it and stop passing the costs of waste onto communities. #circulareconomy

Portland’s green designs didn’t just save $250 million—they future-proofed the city against climate risks. Green infrastructure is resilient, lasts longer, and avoids expensive emergency fixes. Investing in nature works—for budgets and the planet. 4/4

Trees, green roofs, & rain gardens don’t just manage water—they cool cities, clean air, and raise property values. Portland cut urban heat & boosted public health—all while saving cash. Why fund concrete when nature multitasks for free? 3/4

Green infrastructure reduces stormwater flooding and sewer strain. Portland’s “Tabor to the River” project swapped gray pipes for bioswales—absorbing water naturally. Bonus? No costly sewer expansions. Nature works harder for less money. 2/4

Portland spent $8 million to save $250 million by using nature to instead of costly infrastructure. Think bioswales, rain gardens, & green roofs that absorb rain naturally. It’s cheaper, longer-lasting, and solves multiple problems at once. Curious? Let’s break it down. 🧵 (Photo by Mike Houck)

The Rational Middle is not a place that is equal distance from the right and left. It’s a place where people tired of the status quo from all sides of the political spectrum can discuss actual solutions. It’s a pragmatic and passionate approach to progress.

The last meaningful change to our immigration system was over 30 years ago. There’s a reason for that: it’s politically profitable to maintain the status quo. The right uses it to stoke fear. The left uses the promises to bring hope but doesn’t deliver. That’s why we are stuck on immigration reform.

The fight for #climatejustice is inseparable from the fight for economic justice. We need an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. Renewable energy, good jobs, and a livable planet should be human rights, not privileges. Let’s build a future that’s sustainable and equitable.