Author Archives: oliverakel

The dictionary defines Complacency as: “A feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or with one’s achievements.” Does that sound a bit like America today? Are we just looking back at how great we were yesterday and failing to see where we are today and where we may be tomorrow? Are we so self-confidentContinue reading “On Complacency”

There are several rather important priorities for America moving forward:             Grow the Middle Class.             Reduce income inequality.             Reduce dependance on foreign sources.             Prioritize production over speculative enterprises. Deal effectively with climate change.             Reduce wasteful time kids spend on their laptops. All needed and very important undertakings. By the way, these priorities are from Xi Jinping’sContinue reading “On Progress and Such”

In the 17th and 18th centuries China had an unhappy and often humiliating relationship with Russia. Even in 1912 when the Chinese Republic was created, it was too weak to resist the unequal treaties foisted upon it by Russia (and others). In the Bolshevik revolution in 1917-1922 China supported the losing White army. In 1923Continue reading “On Vladimir and Xi”

China is a Goliath with several significant near term challenges. Its economy is struggling with slow covid recovery, an aging and shrinking workforce, a strident, demanding population and a disgruntled client base. Its rapid rise to a dominant world power is in heated competition with the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, with Russia. InContinue reading “On Ukraine, Russia and China”

 Correction/update  (I hate it when that happens) It is commendable that young people take on major debts to better themselves by obtaining a quality education, and it is noble that the government would want to ease the pain of such an undertaking.  There are around 45 million students/former students with school debt totaling over $1.7Continue reading “On Student Debt”

It is commendable that young people take on major debts to better themselves by obtaining a quality education, and it is noble that the government would want to ease the pain of such an undertaking.  There are around 45 million students/former students with school debt totaling over $1.7 Trillion. The current administration’s plan calls forContinue reading “On Student Debt”

It is quite usual for the party in power to lose congressional seats in the midterm elections because elections are won on promises made, many of which cannot be (and maybe should not be) fulfilled. The expectation last Tuesday of a broad “Red Wave” descending on Washington in January in a grand parade turned outContinue reading “On Midterms”

We are fortunate to live in a country of abundance. We have extensive water assets, widespread forests, vast fertile agricultural lands and many God-given natural resources. We are blessed, a country of plenty. But we also have become a country of excessive waste. Maybe not the most wasteful country in the world, but certainly farContinue reading “On Waste”

The United States constitutes about 4% of the world’s population but incarcerates 16 % of the world’s ‘criminals’; some two million altogether, more than any country in the world.  Is this because we have more bad guys, more effective police system, and our streets are safer? Umm. –       We have 22 Federal penitentiaries in America,Continue reading “On Crime”

Suicides rates in America increased 33 % between 1999 and 2019. It is the tenth most common cause of death today and the 2nd leading cause of death in 10- to 34-year-olds. There were nearly 46,000 suicides in 2020, 7000 more than highway fatalities.  Why? 40 % of U.S. births are out of wedlock, 43% more thanContinue reading “On Family”