Harper's, it seems, as the right side of American politics nudges ever more into the Tea Party's never-never land, feels the urge to scrabble leftward as a balance. Not the sort of situation I'd like, but maybe necessary, given the zeitgeist. 

At least, though, the feature articles this month are rational and having to do with America's real future: failing farms, lack of water, and even the future complexities of "grow local-buy local." Still, as good journalism should, these articles point up the problems we're sticking our collective head in the sand about. What they seem to be saying is that there are no "aha" moments to be had regarding a large number of porblems on our horizon, the implication being that we have to commit to a course of action that has a reasonable chance of solving said problems and stick to it.

Did you notice there being no mention of this month's featured fiction? Hmmm...