Author Archives: oliverakel

Did what we all see on TV last week really happen? Who would have ever thought that the Capitol Building of the United States would be invaded, and by its own people, seemingly enabled by its own sitting president, and while congress was in session? This sort of thing just doesn’t happen in America –Continue reading “The What-To-Do Dilemma”

What is the value of one life? We do not often ask that question, but it is wrapped up in much of what we do – – and things we make. We say life is “priceless”, but is it? It is a known fact that cars have fatal accidents, planes crash, trains derail, bridges areContinue reading “On Life”

One of the most serious issues we face in America today is the growing gap in income levels. Executive compensation has soared while the working wage remains pretty much stagnant. According to the Economic Policy Institute, since 1978, the average worker’s compensation has increased 12% whereas the average CEO’s compensation has increased 1000%. The disparityContinue reading “On Capitalism”

The two candidates for president this year could not be more different. One is a controversial businessman, an outlier and maverick with a lot of character issues. People either love him or hate him. There is no in between. He is bending the Republican party towards his personal political philosophy of America First. The other isContinue reading “On Election 2020”

To me a liberal American democracy can be defined as a form of government where every citizen is equal as to rights, opportunities and justly earned rewards, and where everyone has a right to participate in the affairs of state on the basis of one vote per person. Ultimately, the direction of the country isContinue reading “On Democracy”

The Vice president is a breath away from the presidency. That can be scary. In the course of our history a vice president has been elevated to the presidency on the death of the sitting president eight times, several on extremely short notice.  Some have risen to the occasion admirably, some less so. Historically, the selectionContinue reading “On Vice Presidents”

Sports venues are returning, and kneeling seems to be back in vogue.  OK, I know I may be swimming upstream. I know I will be stepping on the toes of a number of good-intentioned friends – – –  I’m sorry, but “Taking a knee is a cheap way to take a stand.” And when kneelingContinue reading “On Kneeling (2)”

Today in America we are facing three major crises – – An unprecedented pandemic, a serious economic downturn and widespread social upheaval. In time, the first two will pass. I am more worried about the third. The ability to demonstrate and to protest is a lawful means to draw attention to particular grievances and toContinue reading “On Demonstrations and Such”

I don’t recognize anymore where this country is headed. While peaceful protests are legal and guaranteed by the constitution, they certainly have gotten grossly out of hand on more than one occasion and in more than one place. Properties of uninvolved citizens have been burned down, vandalized and looted, and lives have been put inContinue reading “On Protecting Property”

As we all learned in Physics 101, a pendulum is a mechanical device first put to use by Galileo in 1602. It was initially applied to scientific instruments and time pieces and was essential to clocks from 1658 until 1930 when it was replaced by the quartz crystal. The pendulum is simply a body massContinue reading “On Pendulums”