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Why Armed Conflict with China, and Perhaps Russia, is Likely

By Bill Clontz January 29, 2022 February 1, 2022 1 Comment

Turns Out Countries, Like People, Carry a Chip on the Shoulder for a Long Time

The Past is Seldom Ever Left in The Past

It is most interesting to note how periods of national humiliation, real or perceived, play many years later into national psyche. That shows up, often repeatedly and in different events, in foreign policy. Long term consequences result.

We should be careful with any stereotyping (he said, just before stereotyping…), but it seems that there are such things as national characteristics,

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Odds and Ends Rattling Around of Late

By Bill Clontz January 16, 2022 January 18, 2022 Leave a Comment

A Lot of Us are Snowed in Now – It’s a Good Time for Some Assorted Observations

Supreme Court on Vaccination Mandates

The current Supreme Court looks increasingly less supreme with every ruling. I keep thinking it cannot get worse, but they continue to raise the ante. At least they kept the health care workers mandate in place (barely – by 1 vote).

Gutting the large employer mandate on the basis that OSHA is the wrong agency for such a mandate enforcement is ridiculous. This is what happens when you have a court anchored in rigid ideology rather than real life.

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Items of Note Over the Last Few Days

By Bill Clontz November 14, 2021 November 16, 2021 1 Comment

Five Things That Caught My Eye Last Week – Some Good, Some Not

Timing

Whoever first said that “timing is everything” sure had a point. As we noted earlier, if the Infrastructure Bill had passed a month or two earlier, it’s possible that the incoming governor of VA would be a Democrat. Similarly, if the pandemic continues to stubbornly continue in several hot zones and if inflation stays at its current pace, the administration could run out of time to convince people the country is on a good course. Which reminds me:

Messaging

The Biden administration has done a lot of things well but getting their message out has not been one of them.

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It’s 11 PM – Do You Know Where Your Representative Is?

By Bill Clontz November 8, 2021 November 9, 2021 2 Comments

A Few Notes About Passage of the Infrastructure Bill

A Long Night – Following Long Months

The title for this posting is a bit of a chuckle that will ring a bell to readers of a certain age. Years ago, that line was often played on TV as a public service message, asking parents if they knew where their children were at that moment. Since sometimes it feels as though our congressional representatives are childlike, the phrase came to mind.

But last week, they finally did a good thing and pulled off what sometimes felt like an impossible task.

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The Passing of Colin Powell Merits Reflection by All of Us

By Bill Clontz October 21, 2021 October 22, 2021 1 Comment

He would be the first to say Life is Complicated- And Its All Connected

An Extraordinary American Has Left Us

Colin Powell’s passing has led to a steady flow of 1:1 stories and reflections on his life that remind us all of some important things. You could have zero background or interest in military or diplomatic affairs, and yet learn much from Powell’s life. I certainly have done so.

The Many Roles of Colin Powell

Powell saw himself first and foremost as an American. To him, that title carried with it special advantages and specific obligations.

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A Few Words About Afghanistan

By Bill Clontz August 21, 2021 August 27, 2021 11 Comments

Events Like This are Big on the Human and the Historical Scale. Here, A Few Personal Notes

Everyone Is an Expert – NOT

It did not take long for the chorus of “I knew this was coming” to sing in full voice. In fact, a lot of what transpired certainly was predictable, but not all of it. I am, shall we say, a bit doubtful about all the Monday morning wisdom now in print and on the airways.

Similarly, I am less than impressed with all the “wisdom” of those who get the dynamics of history but are not actually burdened with decision making,

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Mixed Emotions on the 4th of July? That is Very American

By Bill Clontz July 6, 2021 July 6, 2021 3 Comments

The Fourth is More Than Our National Holiday. It’s Our National Mirror

Reflections on the Fourth of July, 2021

You and I are probably like most Americans on this Fourth of July. In looking back over the past year, over the past 245 years, and over the years to come, we feel a wide range of thoughts and emotions. As well we should.

I decided a long time ago that anything less than conflicting feelings would be a waste – and lazy. This country has always been a mix of hope and despair,

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About That Bipartisan Goal – Forget it

By Bill Clontz June 3, 2021 June 4, 2021 Leave a Comment

The Republicans Have Made Their Stance Clear – And the Clock is Ticking

How Important is Bipartisanship?

Well, that is an interesting question – depends on who you ask. Generically, most people would, in a neutral setting, say it counts and they would like to see it as a part of governance. Makes sense in a complex society, doesn’t it? But we are not in a neutral environment and have not been for some time.

Joe Biden certainly thinks it is important. It is in his DNA. Decades of experience tell him big things can be done in a solid manner when bipartisan legislation is passed.

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