Abe Lincoln and Mark Twain have another conversation while visiting America in 2025.
Category: Kleptocracy
When countries are controlled by criminal enterprises
Truth and Entertainment
It is possible to pursue truth and entertainment simultaneously, but they are usually mutually exclusive. The following video is about three men from the 19th century who time-traveled to a 21st-century coffee shop in an American small town to discuss truth and entertainment. Postscript: I converted Honest Abe into a cartoon character because the current…
The Appetite for Violence and Obedience
America’s darker impulses seem to be rising after years of relative calm and stability. Today the drumbeat of aggressors and bullies is louder than the peacemakers. The following is a YouTube video that highlights the slow but apparent drift of America towards a more warlike posture towards not only foreign countries and foreign people, but…
The Game of Hiding and Deception
Hiding can be a game or a trap…
The Excitement Scam
Julie Masino and Donald Trump know how to excite people. Whenever they perceive a psychological problem amongst their captive audience or negative news about their respective brands, they stir up the pot. They realize their “customers” must remain loyal, so what better way to keep them loyal than to give them a strong jolt of…
Argentina is the Big Winner at the Trump Casino
It is impossible to imagine a US administration that makes so many blunders. It would be polite to say that they are rookie mistakes. However, after a decade of ruling over the Republican Party, they can no longer use that excuse. To summarize one of the biggest economic blunders in American history, please listen to…
The Passing of American Conservatism
Most of us thought conservatives wanted to keep or conserve the world more or less as it is. The dictionary definition is “Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values.” Until recently, conservatives had the reputation for being somewhat dull but reliable,…
Two New Yorkers who are Poles Apart
Russia invaded Polish airspace the night of September 10, 2025. Russia attacked Poland with Iranian Shahed drones, and Poland promptly shot down most of them. President Trump’s tepid response to the incursion was, “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!“ Less than a month ago, President Trump warmly embraced Russian dictator…
When History Collides with the Present
There is a strong tendency for Americans to ignore the realities of the past and the present. Many Americans ignore how and why our country was founded, slavery, periods when the scales of justice were tipped in favor of the ultra-wealthy, and unwise foreign policies. Americans typically revere the totems and symbols of past glory,…
The MAGA Energy Future
Make America Like Yesterday (MALY) This article focuses on the MAGA-led march into a potential economic disaster. Ignore Trump’s tariffs, immigration, and deficit spending. A longer-term danger lies in how America acquires and distributes energy. Over the last year or so, I’ve read several articles about the energy policies in various countries. As much as…