Opinion – Why Gun Culture is So Strong in Rural America – Op Ed – Robert Leonard – NYT

March 18, 2018 By dralfoldman in Defense Policy, Far Right, Far-left politics, People, Politicians, Politics, Reform Tags: Airline, AR-15, Democratic Party (United States), Donald Trump, National Rifle Association, President of the United States, Republican Party United States, The Washington Post, Twitter, United States Leave a comment

Here’s an outstanding must-read, op-ed, written by Robert Leonard, published in the NYT. It’s examines brilliantly the arguments for and against guns in America. There’s a fascinating insight into the ‘conservative American‘, passionate about individualism and individual responsibility, anchored in traditional Christian values. Most importantly, Robert Leonard highlights how the Democrat Party has abandoned traditional working class people in rural America. It’s a fascinating analysis. Thoughts?

Why Gun Culture Is So Strong in Rural America https://t.co/BQZQaLID1a

— Alf Oldman (@DrAlfOldman) March 17, 2018

The growing danger of great-power conflict – How shifts in technology and geopolitics are renewing the threat – The Economist

January 26, 2018 By dralfoldman in Business Administration, Defense Policy, Donald Trump, Foreign Policy, People, Politics Tags: Barack Obama, China, Donald Trump, Republican Party United States, United States Leave a comment

This Economist lead is a recommended read. I’m not sure that I agree that an increase in US military expenditure alone is the answer. The US needs to leverage its political power through global alliance, rather than alone. It needs to regain the moral high ground and again become the beacon of democracy. Perceived US domestic weakness, like the opioid epidemic, emboldens potential enemies internationally. Yes, the Obama squandered years internationally have drastically increased the risk of war. So far, many of Trump’s foreign policy decisions have increased the risks as well. But Trump has inherited an economically robust US. If Trump turns to soft power, he might still outmaneuver his potential foes.