By Nancy Spannaus Jan. 1, 2021—The transition to a new year is a traditional time for in-depth reflection on the state of our nation and ourselves, and this year, it is more urgent than ever. A huge portion of our citizenry, faced with the horrors of the pandemic, unemployment, opioid […]
by Nancy Spannaus March 2, 2020—As Alexander Hamilton knew well, parsimony—i.e., purchasing everything at the cheapest price, and only when absolutely necessary—is an unwise policy. That practice doesn’t create wealth, and it certainly doesn’t provide for the health and prosperity of a nation. Shouldn’t our unpreparedness to even test adequately […]
By Nancy Spannaus The following discussion of FDR’s 100 Days was written in May of 2013, and has been slightly edited for republication. FDR’s New Deal moved to reverse more than 30 years of subversion of the American System of economics, and restore the principles enshrined in the Preamble of […]
March 31, 2018—President Trump’s firing of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin on March 28, is an ominous sign that proponents of privatizing the medical care system for veterans are gaining the upper hand. Should privatization occur, it would be a violation of principles which were part of the […]
March 31, 2018—President Trump’s firing of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin on March 28, is an ominous sign that proponents of privatizing the medical care system for veterans are gaining the upper hand. Should privatization occur, it would be a violation of principles which were part of the […]
Trump Administration Budget Means Slashes in Crucial Investments for the Future Feb. 18, 2018—From the standpoint of the American System of Economics, the nation’s commitment to the frontiers of science is a crucial parameter indicating whether it is on the path to progress. For our purposes today, two of […]
By John Ascher Sept. 19—Since the publication of Part One of this series, catastrophic events–and the challenge of an appropriate response– have intervened into our nation’s life with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. This series does not purport to present comprehensive plans for the infrastructure and great projects needed to […]
By Nancy Spannaus Sept. 16—The American Constitution, which celebrates its 230th anniversary Sept. 17, is under vicious assault today, but not just for the reasons most people think. Yes, the Bill of Rights is being violated wholesale, especially by the agencies allegedly set up to protect our security. Equally shredded […]
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August 17, 2017: On the 55th Anniversary of President Kennedy’s Speech at the Oahe Dam, Pierre, South Dakota by John Ascher New Orleans and Katrina, 2005; Minneapolis, 2007 and the I-35 Mississippi River Bridge Collapse; February 2017, Northern California, and the failure of the Oroville Dam spillway…. Tired […]
Sept. 26, 2021—While Congress continues deadlocked in a battle over inadequate infrastructure spending bills, support is growing for establishing a Hamiltonian Infrastructure Bank. A campaign by local officials determined to meet the full needs of the nation is spreading across the country. The focus of their efforts is H.R. 3339 […]
By Nancy Spannaus Aug. 27, 2021—Come September, I will be teaching two classes at local colleges on “Why American Slavery Persisted.” They will be offered, for a fee, at both the Institute for Learning in Retirement at Frederick Community College in Maryland, and the Lifelong Learning Program at Shepherd University […]
While Celebrating MLK, Remember Ben Franklin
By Nancy Spannaus Jan. 17, 2021—While much of the nation celebrates Martin Luther King. Jr. on this weekend, my mind also goes to another American fighter for the common good, Founder Benjamin Franklin. (1706-1790) Today is the 315th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth. Franklin was the quintessential organizer of our […]