President Xi Jinping has taken policy actions which cripple the Chinese economy. Why? Let’s look at Deng’s previous successful policies, what Xi has done since 2012 and the resulting political and economic consequences and discover why Xi has not acted to cure the current economic malaise in China. Last month the stock price of Evergrande […]
Roy Wehrle
Posted inOpinion
Why Ukraine matters so much
Who prevails, Russia or Ukraine, will largely determine the quality of life around the world in coming years. The outcome will either divide the world into two opposing camps or give the West an opportunity to rebuild a world order based on rules of peace. Continued strong support for Ukraine from the West is vital. […]
Posted inOpinion
Why another financial crisis?
Why every 15 years since the 1980s savings and loan collapse has there been a financial crisis? Martin Wolf of the Financial Times states, “We have created a banking sector that is in theory private, but in practice a ward of the state.” Let’s take a look at the failure of the Silicon Valley Bank, […]
Posted inOpinion
Little progress, but a way forward on climate
As climate change increasingly harms our world, 200 countries met in Egypt Nov. 6-20 at the COP27 climate conference. Some 40,000 persons attended the 27th annual conference to make global climate policy to protect our planet. Presidents Putin of Russia, Xi of China and Prime Minister Modi from India did not attend. The conference was […]
Posted inOpinion
Russian bear is on the prowl
Seventy-seven years of relative world peace since 1945 is now at risk. After the First World War the Versailles peace compact failed. After the Second World War the U.S. succeeded with its allies in keeping the peace among major nations for three-quarters of a century. Russia, by taking the Crimea in 2014 and invading the […]
Posted inOpinion
Why we failed in Afghanistan
Before describing many causes that allowed the triumph of the Taliban in Afghanistan, let’s state what our country did right. We brought justice to Osama bin Laden by eliminating him and we defeated al-Qaida for their heinous attack of 9/11. We have protected our land from further al-Qaida attacks. Most important, our military forces fought […]
Posted inOpinion
After the virus is over
Hard times and shocks often produce needed change, for individuals and for a nation. A dramatic shock to a life of routine can produce change that reason and discourse can only envy. The Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 wreaked death and destruction which unsettled belief in a loving and benevolent God. I remember vividly how […]
Posted inOpinion
Here’s how to conquer climate change
Scientists agree that to forestall dire climate consequences, total carbon emissions must be stopped by 2050, and one-half eliminated by 2030. There is only one way to make quickly such gigantic reductions of emissions: place an increasing tax on carbon fuels and let market forces take over creating cheaper, non-carbon replacement fuels. Let’s see how […]
Posted inOpinion
Why nationalism won’t work
A U.S. foreign policy of nationalism, of America First, seems reasonable. All nations should be free to seek their national interests. Therefore, nations must be free and sovereign to make their own choices for betterment. Reasonable yes, but it won’t work. Let’s take a look. Any country’s foreign policy must fit the world that exists, […]
Posted inOpinion
Korea: Not so fast!
It’s easy to agree that beauty is desirable, though what each person considers to be beautiful can be very different. Kim Jong Un and President Trump have signed an agreement in Singapore declaring that they will bring peace and security between their nations, more particularly that they are committed to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. […]
Posted inOpinion
Europe’s disappearing center
Last Sunday, March 4, Italian voters crushed the ruling Democratic Party. Fifty-five percent of the electorate voted for the two anti-European Union and anti-establishment parties, one on the right and one on the left, both populist. This election sends an unmistakable signal that democracy in Italy is both not working and is working well. Throughout […]
Posted inOpinion
Good news for a change on climate change
Nature and the gods of technology have blessed us with the means to avoid the worst consequences of climate warming. Now there is good climate news for a change. What we must do is put less carbon into the sky and start taking the carbon we have already put in out of the sky. Putting […]
