E. Lindsey McKay

School(s) Attended     

I earned a journalism degree in 2004 from Ohio University; currently I am a Master's student in Latin American Studies at the University of Chicago.

Place(s) Worked

In college I participated in the AFL-CIO's Union Summer program, working with a home health care workers' union in Newark, NJ. I spent two years (2004-2006) in the Dominican Republic as a Peace Corps volunteer in health education. I've worked on several publications, in different capacities: reporter, stringer, copy reader, editor, designer. I've also held numerous jobs in customer service, waiting tables and answering phones.

My Interests:

Interests	Basic Comment
Consumer Protection	The legislation and institutions that have protected us for years have been attacked and crippled by opportunists exploiting the "free market" label. How can we turn it back when our opponents are so well connected and well organized?
Fair Trade	I've talked to well informed people in the environmental movement who regard the current fair trade regime as an economic "sideshow," probably because the smallest and poorest farmers don't have the funds or connections to obtain certification.The crucial issue in open markets is market access. Should we be talking about locally produced food as a better, more sustainable alternative? Is fair trade just another feel-good label to make consumers feel better? I don't want to believe that, but I'm not sure.
Sustainable Development	This is such a complicated concept, because both terms, "sustainable" and "development" are problematic: what counts as sustainable? Because technically, human societies have rarely been sustainable for the surrounding environments. And who should say what constitutes development? Is progress measured by dollars earned and machines built, or by life expectancy and social security? Following these questions to their logical conclusions raises frightening concerns. Nevertheless, I don't intend to become enmeshed in endless academic hand-wringing over it, but some thoughtful consideration is warranted. After all, having good intentions just isn't good enough.
Worker's Rights	As a first generation college student from a blue-collar family, I know all too well that the American Dream is one of the great American myths. Social mobility is increasingly difficult as unions become smaller and weaker; I owe my good fortune to my mother's good union, because the equality of opportunity enshrined among our constitutional rights means little if people cannot organize to demand it.

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