Author Archives: oliverakel

I hope for the day when every national issue will be looked upon, not as a Republican or Democratic issue, but as an American issue to be evaluated and judged on its own merits. The 2020 election was no doubt controversial to many. For sure there were irregularities, as there always are in virtually everyContinue reading “On January 6th”

I tried to find the antonym for the word service, i.e. the opposite of something we call service. I couldn’t find one. Maybe it’s ‘helplessness’ or ‘disappointment’. Whatever it is we should have a better word for it because non-service, the lack or total absence of service, is rampant everywhere. How many hours do we spendContinue reading “On Service”

We still hear a lot these days about American exceptionalism. For sure, for a long time we were, indeed, an exceptional people in an exceptional country. We accomplished so much for so long and in so many fields. We fought for our independence and won. We fought for our unity and won. We fought forContinue reading “On American Exceptionalism”

Never did I ever think I would say this, but – – –  I’m embarrassed for our military. I’m embarrassed for our country. I’m embarrassed for all our elected and appointed officials who, for so long, have displayed such ineptitude. I’m embarrassed for the men and women who fought and died with the mistaken beliefContinue reading “On Embarrassment”

In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to prop up a Marxist regime which had taken power the year before.  Over nine years later, having spent over $200 billion, and suffered 15,000 troop fatalities, 35,000 wounded, having incurred substantial material losses, and having killed between 600,000 and 2 million Afghanis, they exited the country, leavingContinue reading “On Afghanistan”

When the Iran nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was agreed in 2015, I was originally quite supportive. I naively believed two things: Iran would use the released funds for the good of their own people. Iran would see the value of inclusion in the world community of nations and forswear its nuclearContinue reading “On Iran”

Probably the most important and consequential act we perform in this country is casting our votes in our elections. Americans seem to agree as over 155 million, a new record, voted in 2020. Voting is our right, our obligation and a privilege that must be seriously contemplated and responsibly exercised. It is not something weContinue reading “On Voting”

I hesitate to read newspapers anymore. It is getting really depressing. We seem to go out of our way to convince ourselves that we have morphed into a country that is fundamentally rotten. For too many our history is saturated with evil deeds that must be erased from our collective memories – – – andContinue reading “On America”

I have long been in favor of capitalism, free enterprise, and the right to keep as much of your earnings as legally possible. Honest efforts and real contributions should always be recognized and tangibly compensated. America has grown strong and accomplished on the backs of those who have worked long and hard and have comeContinue reading “On Corporate America”

There used to be a United States of America.  It was at a time when the American people worked together, sacrificed together, achieved together and rejoiced together. That august body, in a short two hundred years, had developed into the premier political, social and economic miracle, a powerhouse for good, honored and respected the world over.Continue reading “On Where is America”