Geopolitical Focus – March, 2024

March 13, 2024

Geopolitical Focus – March, 2024: 

The global picture for 2024 remains somewhat clouded by high energy prices, with one side being the sanctions against Russia and the green energy enthusiasts advocating for dual systems, especially in the Euro Zone. This situation carves a hole in a country like Germany, which exports 50% of its goods, and poses a dilemma for the EU, given that Germany is the strongest of the European Union partners. While trades with China are slow due to its political system and demand constraints, China itself continues to invest heavily in Europe. It controls the solar market and aggressively expands its electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in Europe, thanks to mandates set by European politics to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The EU exports to both China and the US, with the US exports notably affected by sanctions, particularly in the EV market. If China dominates both the domestic and EU markets, the US, through the EU, attempts to restrict activities with China, indicating China's pivotal role in Europe's success.


So, what if the German economy fails to recover? Will the spending or printing of money for social and defense needs still be effective? Was the expansion of NATO truly a smart move, or merely a wish? Just imagine all the money spent on war being invested in peace.


When it comes to the German economy, however, recent trends are more concerning. The loss of cheap Russian gas has undermined Germany’s industrial model. Although the initial spike in energy prices after the 2022 invasion has abated, costs are not expected to return to prewar levels any time soon. In 2023, Germany’s economy shrank by 0.3 percent. Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck, warning of “rough waters” ahead, has projected that the country’s 2024 growth will reach a mere 0.2 percent. New pressures account for the recent contraction, but Germany’s economic problems run deeper. Over the last decade, Berlin has avoided making critical investments and reforms to attract skilled workers and adapt to a data-driven world. And Berlin has often insisted that what is good, restrained fiscal policy for Germany is also right for the EU—a prevailing mindset that, by limiting public investment in many member states, has prevented European economies from adapting to new conditions.


Environmental groups prevent many projects from developing, but does attacking EV manufacturing defeat their purpose? Perhaps some "social-green" organizations simply want you to acknowledge their presence, especially in Germany, where conservative thinkers are often labeled as NAZIs. The Merkel-led welcoming culture, with its nearly unlimited immigration, is beginning to divide the country, while a strong-arm justice system suppresses opposition. Does this sound familiar? What the left often labels as "far-right" is sometimes just people disillusioned with the current direction of the country and who are part of the political system. Until the next German elections, do not expect a resurgence, and this will not benefit the current course of global development.


BERLIN (AP) — Germany's top prosecutor has taken over the investigation into an alleged arson attack on the power supply of the electric car company Tesla near Berlin.


A spokeswoman said there is an initial suspicion that a terrorist organization may have been involved in the attack. In such cases, the federal prosecutor's office, the top law enforcement agency in Germany, is responsible for the investigation.


Hospital and nursing home without electricity. Edeka's logistics warehouse was affected and the supply of supermarkets was restricted. A production loss of the Tesla plant in Grünheide of probably just under two weeks with property damage in the high millions. This is the result of an attack on Tuesday on the power supply in Brandenburg this week. The radical left-wing "volcano group" has claimed responsibility for this attack via Indymedia.


But, just as the Summer of Love in the US saw protests and criminal actions from the left, while all those critical of it are branded as right-wing, does it seem fair? This excerpt is translated from the FAZ, a rather left-leaning paper in Germany. All of this makes one wonder if NATO and the EU are truly the great evolutions of our time or merely tools to restructure the world order.


At the latest, the chaotic withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have shown everyone: the old global order is broken, the former world policeman USA is withdrawing, the hope of change through trade seems to have been shattered, as well as that economic power can replace military power forever. But what does this mean for our lives in Germany, for the near future? Rainer Schmidt, editor in charge of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Quarterly, spoke to Herfried Münkler about this. The emeritus professor of political science is an expert on geopolitics and has examined in his latest book "World in Turmoil" what new order could develop from the current situation: "We must also be clear: If Ukraine collapses militarily, we will be confronted with huge migration movements in Western Europe – with five or ten million people."


Or perhaps Russia is not a bad destination for most of them. This 2020 report by the UN:


Migration to and from Ukraine. As of mid-year 2020, 6.1 million migrants from Ukraine resided abroad. While more than 53 per cent of them resided in the Russian Federation, other top destinations included the United States of America (6%), Kazakhstan (5.8%), Germany (4.7%), Poland (4.4%), Italy (4%), Belarus (3.6%), Czechia (2.1%), Israel (2.1%) and Uzbekistan (2%)


As the war in Ukraine persists, President Putin's recent remark while speaking to Tucker Carlson, alleging that Boris Johnson sabotaged peace talks, seems to be gaining credibility. However, it's possible he was merely being used by Joe Biden as the messenger.


The fact remains that in 2022, Russia made an offer for negotiation that was outright rejected by the US and the West. While Zelensky has recently expressed willingness to negotiate, the US and EU still perceive Putin as harboring intentions to invade the world. President Biden echoes these sentiments, often reciting them from a prompter during the State of the Union address.


Here are some links and excerpts, but it's important to consider the biases of the reporters, who may lean towards favoring the Ukrainian side. It's worth noting that the original 17-page document was not made public in the US or by the reporters, so their perspective should be taken with caution. All negotiations begin with a particular viewpoint, and rejection doesn't necessarily mark the end, unless there's a desire to escalate towards war. Why is there such widespread fear of Putin, and why hasn't our president called for a direct meeting with him to address these concerns?


Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, speaks at the meeting of the European Parliament's Joint Committee on September 7, 2023: "President Putin stated in the fall of 2021 and actually sent a draft treaty that NATO was supposed to sign to promise that NATO would not expand any more. That's what he sent us. And it was a precondition for not invading Ukraine. Of course, we didn't sign that. The opposite was true. He wanted us to sign a pledge never to expand NATO. He wanted us to dismantle our military infrastructure in all the allies that have joined NATO since 1997, that is, half of NATO, all of Central and Eastern Europe, we should dismantle NATO from this part of our alliance and introduce a kind of B membership or second-class membership. We rejected that. So he went to war to prevent NATO, more NATO, near his borders." From John J.Mearsheimer ist Professor für Politikwissenschaft an der Universität Chicago in the Weltwoche. 


Some noteworthy news: Victoria Nuland, the architect of the Maidan Coup and the US's influential figure in Ukraine, has silently resigned. While praised by Blinken, one might wonder if she has simply lost credibility. Perhaps her departure signals the first step towards initiating dialogue, offering a glimmer of hope. Meanwhile, German and Czech politicians in uniform have transitioned into war strategists, considering how to deploy Taurus long-range missiles to target locations in Crimea and potentially within Russia itself, in an effort to update their outdated ammunition inventory. As the German Chancellor hesitates, the British have offered to facilitate the delivery of the Taurus missiles via the UK, thereby avoiding direct delivery. Is this escalation or merely war games? It's becoming evident that the CIA and British are already engaged in clandestine operations, so why not another attempt by the Germans against Russia?


800,000 rounds of artillery ammunition is more than the whole of Europe produced in 2023. The announcement by Czech President Petr Pavel that his country would organize such a delivery within weeks and transport it to Ukraine is therefore causing a stir. For comparison, in the summer, during the counteroffensive, the Ukrainians fired 4,000 to 7,000 shells a day. At that time, the warehouses were full thanks to Western supplies. Now, however, Kiev is suffering from an acute shortage of ammunition, and the hunger for supplies is huge. Note, Peter Pavel was the former NATO General)


And what is Putin’s reaction to the leaks concerning Taurus Missiles? See Below:


President Putin knew about the conversation even before his speech (this is a partial download – but you can translate the entire content from the link, or email us)

We can consider it fabricated that it was the Russian secret services that intercepted the conversation and that the content of this conversation was known to President Putin before his speech on February 29.


It is therefore worth sifting through Putin's speech of February 29 for clues to his knowledge and his reaction to it. Clues to the wiretapped conversation and the possible consequences are truly not difficult to find.

Accurate reproductions – sentence by sentence

We reproduce this part of the speech precisely.

First, Putin calls the West's claim that Russia wants to attack Europe inaccurate:

"Now they have the audacity to claim that Russia intends to attack Europe. Can you believe that? We all know that their claims are completely unfounded."


SPEECH BY PRESIDENT PUTIN, 29 FEBRUARY 2024, P. 4


And immediately afterwards he mentions the discussion of the German officers:

"And at the same time, they choose targets to attack on our territory and think about the most effective means of destruction."


SPEECH BY PRESIDENT PUTIN, 29 FEBRUARY 2024, P. 4


Then he mentions the official discussion about the deployment of NATO troops. We know – confirmed by the officers in the wiretapped telephone conversation – that NATO troops are already in Ukraine.

"Now they have begun to talk about the possibility of sending NATO military contingents to Ukraine."


SPEECH BY PRESIDENT PUTIN, 29 FEBRUARY 2024, P. 4


The next statement refers unmistakably to the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

"But we remember what happened to those who have already sent their contingents to our country."


SPEECH BY PRESIDENT PUTIN, 29 FEBRUARY 2024, P. 4

Now Putin declares that Russia will not defend itself on Russian soil, but due to the capabilities of Russian weapons (which he described again in a previous section of his speech), Germany must expect targets in Germany to be attacked:


"Today, potential aggressors will face far more serious consequences. They need to understand that we also have weapons – yes, they know that, as I just said – that can hit targets on their territory."

SPEECH BY PRESIDENT PUTIN, 29 FEBRUARY 2024, P. 4


Following this quote, President Putin also points to the danger of nuclear escalation. The Western press combines these two statements and claims that Putin is threatening nuclear war – this is not the case. Putin is openly threatening Germany with a conventional strike. It is astonishing how sloppy the West reads statements by President Putin. Or better – how purposefully he bends them to himself.


A Final Warning

How are these statements by President Putin to be evaluated? If you follow Putin's speeches over the last 23 years, they are characterized by one thing above all: In contrast to Western politicians, Putin has always stood by what he says. He does what he says. Putin was and is transparent in his statements. However, his warnings come very early so as not to lose the element of surprise in an emergency.

Applying these principles to his speech on February 29, Putin's statements can be classified as follows:

He believes that NATO is already at war with Russia, as confirmed by the officers of the wiretapped conversation.


In my opinion, his statements are to be interpreted in such a way that President Putin holds out the prospect to NATO or Germany in the event of an attack – e.g. on the Crimean bridge – that Russia will feel free to attack targets in Germany in this case, since an attack on the Crimean bridge by Taurus is not possible without the direct participation of the German armed forces.


Possible Target

The German headquarters of MBDA, the manufacturer of Taurus, is located in Schrobenhausen, about 60 km north of Munich, just over 1,600 km from the Russian border.


Result


NATO is already at war with Russia, as we discussed back in early February 2023. Now existing doubts have been dispelled by statements from Germany.


President Putin has warned – probably for the last time – NATO and especially Germany against climbing the next level of escalation – this is unmistakably clear from the Russian president's speech on 29 February.


Here are some voices suggesting that Ukraine is running out of options without US assistance. Or thoughts on how they can pave a way to peace. As long as the US and President Biden continue to pursue military action, there will likely be war. This sentiment echoes the State of the Union address, where the approach was likened to asking Congress, "Do you want total war?" and receiving a resounding "yes" in response. While the President urges Congress to approve funding, a clear strategy remains elusive. Perhaps the intention is to pursue full-scale military engagement, following a similar path as was attempted with Saddam?


Then came the 9/11 attacks. In their wake, the George W. Bush administration decided to solve not only the terrorism problem but the Iraq one as well, choosing to conquer the country and forcibly eliminate Saddam’s regime. The conquering part went largely as planned, but the aftermath proved chaotic. Liberation turned into occupation; local uncertainty turned into insurgency and then civil war. U.S. troops ended up staying in Iraq and fighting one foe or another there for almost two decades.


There might be a valid reason for the world to prepare for more conflicts, especially with the current US government and the never-Trumpers aligning to gather support for such endeavors. Notably, General Jack Keane, a frequent guest on Brett Baier's Fox program, sees some positives in war, particularly in replenishing outdated inventories to pave the way for building new ones. Additionally, President Biden has suggested that engaging in war is beneficial for the economy and has assured that there will be no boots on the ground, at least for now.


It raises the question: if your livelihood is centered around warfare, can peace only be achieved through battle? Furthermore, when a president lacks negotiation skills, is it a common recourse to defer to the generals, perhaps as a means of deflecting blame if negotiations falter?


We know that the Ukraine and Israel (UN) have called on international law and other organizations to investigate rape and War Crimes on Ukrainians and Hamas. It certainly deserves investigation, but so does the fact in Palestine to corner Millions of people and in the process of eliminating Hamas, kill thousands of them. And speaking of Rape, why is the US not investigating themselves? Consider smugglers and traffickers on the Southern Border an act of War on sovereign territory, but no one speaks up for the travesties that happen.


Considering all this, one must question whether these developments are truly beneficial for the US. While our Administration commends the united front against Russia, it could potentially worsen the ongoing conflict in Israel. This raises doubts about the Reagan doctrine of 'peace through strength,' which emphasized diplomatic efforts, with force as a last resort for deterrence and containment. In contrast, the current administration lacks a clear doctrine or strategy. Instead, it relies on an ideological and reactionary approach, spearheaded by a diplomatic team driven by a bellicose and vengeful President. Despite his purported connections with world leaders, diplomatic resolutions seem elusive. Is this a matter of inability or unwillingness?


To call for a two-state resolution in the Israel conflict and to initiate a military operation under the guise of humanitarian aid are reactionary moves amidst the current explosive and emotional global climate. They do little to contribute to conflict resolution. Similarly, advocating for further military intervention in Ukraine under the pretext of defending a democratic nation essentially amounts to a call for war with Russia, as many decisions are pointing in that direction.


The ongoing global developments do not seem to favor the US as a world leader. Despite the presence of hundreds of US think tanks with elite prestige, many still adhere to outdated worldviews reminiscent of the Stalin-Eisenhower era. Furthermore, most of these think tanks primarily focus on military strategies, led by critics of Russia and pro-Israel groups. Nothing new here, just history buffs in DC?


Both China and the United States could soon be faced with even bigger problems, with FP columnist Steven A. Cook assessing that “it is likely that there is going to be a war between Hezbollah and Israel within the next six to eight months.” Cook notes constraints on the two sides are breaking down—and that “there is no diplomatic solution to the zero-sum relationship between Hezbollah and Israel.” FP will continue to bring you expert analysis on this rapidly evolving situation as it unfolds.—The editors.

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As the tariff negotiations with China are currently underway in Switzerland, it appears the US and UK have agreed to a deal that seems to be an icebreaker in the ongoing saga of tariffs. However, in the end, there will be changes to the world order and a shift in focus toward more discussions about saving the planet rather than war. As of this writing, a 90-day pause with China was agreed , lowering tariffs, while China will likely have to consider some of the US demands. Here is a lesson in journalistic economies ? Friend shoring demonstrates that there are no friends or foes in politics , only interests. Even when the world’s resources were not material but simply dirt—more or less fertile—even in agricultural societies, wars and contests were common, whether for territory, ideology, or personal gain. So when people promote friend shoring, it’s more complicated these days. Just look at rare earths—it's not just dirt, is it? Friend shoring for military technology is another example; read about it for yourself. Still, there is ongoing dialogue but no long-term resolution. After Trump’s plan to control Gaza, Israel appears set to take charge instead, once again negotiating for the release of hostages and the evacuation of civilians , while the world looks on as bystanders . If trade can solve the problem , then make a deal. Here’s some food for thought —liberals may be rebellious about it, but the trend all over Europe is clear: MAGA is going global, especially with an economy in tatters and failing negotiations with Ukraine. There are more sanctions, but what can they sanction that the rest of the world cannot counter? The EU is simply a bureaucratic ideology serving its own interests. The EU wants more liberal students —which is fine, as long as we keep the STEM talent. They need more protesters , as long as the UK remains the leading provider of education ? European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday slammed U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign against American higher education as she unveiled a half-billion-euro plan to attract foreign researchers.

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May 8, a day in history, marks the end of WWII in Europe with the surrender of Germany , but was it really an ending? As with many wars, especially the ongoing Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, and the renewed animosities between India and Pakistan, one might wonder: have enough people died in wars? Perhaps some wars are justified, but often only after provocation. If you consider the basics of relationship building, communication is a key concept, but there is a difference between communication and simply talking. Perhaps we need more communicators and unified voices in government, whether rooted in realism or liberalism . Are these better choices, or in the end, are NGOs and individual voices the problem after all? We hope that reason will prevail—the only lasting fundamental principle—but is it really, or is it just another cause or excuse? Reason, the cause of an event or situation , or something that provides an excuse or explanation : War forever, according to this lawyer, yes . The UN Security Council is another voice that only speaks after the war, sometimes fueling the fire. Consider the Oxford Guide to Treaties —are these more sources of conflict than resolution? And historians—well, some of them are just presenting a version of their own vision of the world. How was Germany rebuilt after WWII ? Was it help on one side, and taking what you can on the other? The USSR suffered greatly and had to rebuild on its own, but why was the offer of the Marshall Plan rejected—was it due to mistrust, as we see today? Perhaps the reset button requires talks among all, but please, let the haters and ideologues out of the room—only communicators and stakeholders should be present, haters out, which probably means no Selinsky. Beginning immediately after the German surrender and continuing for the next two years, the United States pursued a vigorous program to harvest all technological and scientific know-how, as well as all patents in Germany. John Gimbel comes to the conclusion in his book, Science Technology and Reparations: Exploitation and Plunder in Post-war Germany, that the "intellectual reparations" taken by the U.S. and the UK amounted to close to $10 billion, equivalent to around $150 billion in 2024, [3] [4] concurrent to Operation Paperclip . The plea for a two-party political system (translation needed) stands in contrast to the idea of a global one-party or multi-party system as seen in European countries. Attempts at a global one-party system were made by the Romans and some other early cultures , but none proved sustainable by force or government—though that was before the advent of modern communications. Would things be different today? There are still forces hoping that may be realized, for global peace or power, as reflected in Elon Musk’s warnings about a single world government, Einstein’s global perspective , and people attempting to establish it, such as government by AI and supercomputer . Compare that to today’s European coalition building —for example, in Germany, Black/Blue coalitions seem politically unfeasible. In multi-party systems, the need to form coalitions to gain power may end in stalemates and concessions to the detriment of the people. Here is an overview of global systems and drivers of globalization . The ongoing cat-and-mouse game between advocates for peace and war continues as representatives try to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict. Does it matter that Europe seems unified in the effort to defeat Russia with sanctions and arms, while the US seems to favor a negotiated peace? You can argue endlessly that Putin is the aggressor and invaded, but he will counter that with claims about NATO expansion and broken treaties by the West . Is Germany evolving into the powerhouse of Europe, as it should be? After the election and the ousting of Chancellor Scholz, Friedrich Merz has somehow managed to establish himself as the new leader and has immediately begun to exert influence over Europe—at least, that’s what the German “Democrats” are hoping for. So, when Trump appoints loyalists, it's called a dictatorship, but when Germany does it, it's considered democratic? Also worth noting: another Carnegie piece—and apparently every member of the German Cabinet favors war? Expect Germany's defense Minister to keep Kaja Kallas as informant, hating in politics is never a good start. Imagine, 5 years to build up the military and then eliminate the hate, for good, using the Ukraine invasion as a reason. Merz has deliberately centralized foreign and security policy coordination in the chancellery. To start, he has done away with the long-standing tradition of giving the Foreign Office to the main coalition partner, a practice that baked in foreign-policy dysfunction by setting up a separate power base held by a different political party. Now, for the first time since 1966, the chancellor and foreign minister will be from the same party—in this case, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). New Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is a party loyalist who will ensure alignment rather than competition with the chancellor. Within the chancellery—where all important foreign-policy decisions are made—Merz has appointed close confidants to key posts: Jacob Schrot, a trusted trans-Atlanticist, as head of the newly created German National Security Council; veteran diplomat Günter Sautter as foreign-policy lead; and Michael Clauss to handle European Union affairs, which Merz wants to make a core strategic portfolio and to which Clauss brings credibility and experience, including significant work on China.

US Political News Round Up: Lawyers, Investors, and the New Age of Power and Policy

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Remember the Biden-era stock market jubilations ? It was all about the Magnificent Seven —overhyped and overvalued. The tariff talk came at just the right time to disguise an overdue market correction. The administration framed it as “uncertainty over tariffs.” But no worries, like COVID, it will be “cured” by the same people who created it . Political noise on both sides continues to serve as distraction— like whistling at a referee during a soccer match. Are lawyers and investors the most destructive forces in America? On one side, there are legal maneuvers that deter people from investing. On the other, roll-up acquisitions concentrate wealth that was once shared broadly. Bernie Sanders is on his “Oligarchy Tour,” pointing fingers at Elon Musk—but what about private equity groups (PEGs) ? Are they not a form of oligarchy? And PEGs owning law firms is legal—and mostly supported by Democrats. Try buying a house and living in peace ; your appreciation goes to investors. Under Bernie, it might become a kleptocracy ; under Kamala, a kakistocracy. There are a variety of flavors of corruption. Currently, the most concerning kind is grand corruption . Grand corruption is when public institutions are co-opted by networks of ruling elites to steal public resources for their own private gain. It involves a wide variety of activities including bribery, extortion, nepotism, favoritism, cronyism, judicial fraud, accounting fraud, electoral fraud, public service fraud, embezzlement, influence peddling, and conflicts of interest. The “party of youth” —as someone once said, “If you’re still a socialist at 40, you have no brain.” Harsh? Maybe. But look at the Democratic Party: do they seem to get wiser with age? “If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by 40, he has no brain.” — Winston Churchill Why is fake news so persistent? It follows the same rule as bad customer service—the reputation sticks. On fake news, consider Isaiah Berlin and Friedrich Hayek , knights of classical liberalism. Maybe that’s why Trump won—elites don’t put food on the table. Liberalism and the Pursuit of Happiness The root of fascism, communism, and all totalitarian ideologies lies in the naïve belief that there is only one correct way to live and that intellectuals can determine it with the certainty of natural sciences. Liberalism, by contrast, does not prescribe a singular way of life and this is its strength. It enables individuals with diverse beliefs, goals, and ambitions to coexist. This principle is embodied in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the “pursuit of happiness”—a pursuit meant for individuals to discover, not for the state to dictate. This is the core belief of liberalism. With the Pope absent from climate advocacy, perhaps churches can fill the role . Whether lawyers act out of conviction or cash is debatable, but climate lawfare is on the rise. Are we heading back to gladiator justice—only with no one to fight? The public trust doctrine had little to do with environmental law until the 1970s, when Joseph Sax argued it could support lawsuits to defend public resources. Are law firms above the law ? Consider the government’s action against Perkins Coie , blocked by Judge Beryl Howell , an Obama appointee. Will we ever find answers to the big questions—like assassination attempts? President Trump’s executive order against Perkins Coie was ruled unconstitutional and retaliatory. It cannot be enforced. This ruling marks the biggest legal setback in Trump’s campaign against firms representing his political adversaries— many of which challenged the order in court . It’s all in the family. Once lawyers secure a case , the food chain never ends. Knowing the system matters—justice is second. And sometimes the lawyers themselves become the story. Abbe Lowell’s communications were ruled outside attorney-client privilege in a 2020 opinion by Judge Howell. The reason: potential evidence of crimes and involvement of non-lawyer third parties. And finally, on tariffs: if your population can’t afford the goods they produce, your export model collapses. Without a home market , tariffs eventually hit hard. Two years from now, Democrats may still hate DJT—but maybe they'll admit he saw it coming.

U.S. News – May 2025: Could American Education & Athletics benefit from the Integration of Apprenticeships and Academys?

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The betrayal of the American school system is evident when education becomes a secondary priority—supplanted by sports and social wellbeing. While some countries prioritize STEM in their education systems, the U.S. seems increasingly focused on “alternative” social issues. The value system now places lawyers, judges, and welfare programs front and center—paving the way for more lawfare, entertainment, and injustice dressed as justice. Yes, football players generate revenue , but so do scientists and engineers. Imagine if every ambulance chaser became an engineer designing fault-proof devices—the only downside? An hourly rate of $50 versus $250–$1500. Where is Congress in setting the tone? Nearly all members are lawyers. And while student loan debt exceeds $2.8 billion , we’re still debating whether to pay a third-grade volunteer assistant coach. It’s legal insanity. Next up? Pool, pickleball, darts, and cricket just to earn a buck. Maybe we should only have Division I colleges—and let sports fund all education. That, of course, would be a myth for the ACLU . Claudia Wilken is the jurist who will have the final say on the pending $2.8 billion settlement of a class-action lawsuit that is set to end the NCAA’s decades-old rules that have prohibited players from getting paid. It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of college sports rests on her decision. The deal Wilken is scrutinizing would award back pay to thousands of athletes, while allowing schools for the first time to pay their athletes directly from the billions of dollars they help generate. For an NCAA that had long sold the public on unpaid amateurs as central to the appeal of college sports, it is an earthquake. To athletes, it’s a revelation. European countries with apprenticeship systems educate roughly 60% of their college-age population. Even China implemented apprenticeships to address labor skill gaps. Meanwhile, the U.S. nurtures a college-for-everyone model, wasting millions for the profit of lenders and sports leagues that draft “free” talent. Sports are not an academic curriculum. The education and sports industries must be separated—eliminating the need to “draft” students to fill classrooms. The NFL could easily run junior leagues with the money colleges spend on coaches . Adopting apprenticeship programs in the U.S. would have clear benefits. But what happens to colleges that lose 60% of their students? And where does that leave the millions glued to TVs each March and fall? Education versus entertainment. With only 0.1% of college players turning pro, what happens to the 99.9% after graduation? Watching from the couch? In much of the world , especially in soccer, elite athletes are developed from a young age by professional clubs—not schools. Take Alan Carleton , as an example of how the system could succeed in the US.. The summer before his junior year, he became the first “homegrown” player to sign with Atlanta United FC in Major League Soccer. Atlanta United’s owner, Arthur Blank—who also owns the Atlanta Falcons—picked up Carleton from his Powder Springs, GA home in a Mercedes-Benz van to take him to a signing ceremony at The Varsity, a local Atlanta diner. Is it time for the U.S. to adopt a European-style model where pro clubs develop athletes and schools focus solely on academics? Another cultural debate making waves is the missed opportunity of not following seahorses in the sexual evolution cycle. Today, anything outside of “gender neutral” is treated as scientific radicalism. Gender ideology debates rage on, while perhaps Elon Musk has a solution he’d never use. Like it or not, we are male and female. Clothes and cosmetics don’t change biology. Feelings— no matter how intense —aren’t science. Ask Meta AI , or just be yourself—and be tolerant in both directions. But that's not their only oddity. Seahorses swim vertically, lack pelvic fins, have bony plates over their bodies, and move their eyeballs independently. Perhaps most distinctively, the males carry babies and give birth to them instead of females.

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Generational divide - The Democrats dilemma

April 22, 2025
Generational divide, ideological alliance —the Democrats' dilemma. In the search for a new leader, Bernie Sanders with AOC may appear as the perfect ideological duo—but will their platform ever become mainstream? Probably not. Oligarchs exist on both sides of the political aisle—some overt, others working as lobbyists or influencers. George Clooney could be an intriguing candidate; he arguably has as much intellect as Joe Biden and could deliver a performance on par with Volodymyr Zelensky. Maybe someone will convince him. After all, Ronald Reagan became a great president. Clooney’s favorite, Wes Moore , could be the first president from Maryland—and that may be enough for Democrats. This thought is permeated by the fact that his wife, Amal Clooney, is a British-Lebanese activist who specializes in international law and human rights. She's known for representing high-profile clients like former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. She's also advocated for causes like the release of Al Jazeera journalists and the return of the Elgin Marbles. February 21, 2025: George didn’t think he’d have “much of a chance” with Amal when they first met. In an interview with The New York Times , Clooney said he didn’t expect Amal to be interested because of their age gap. “Then I didn’t really think I’d have much of a chance with her because I was 17 years older and she seemed to have everything she needed,” he said. He also admitted he wasn’t initially “in the market for being a dad,” but that quickly changed. “Then I met Amal, and we fell in love. I have to say that, after that, everything made sense,” he said. Then there's the infighting and wishful thinking. Take your pick. Maybe Thom Hartmann should run in 2028—he certainly offers the kind of fantasy-based commentary needed to stir debate. He’s from Grand Rapids, a town devastated by outsourcing to China. He could have starred in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” but instead, Amway revitalized the area, and now, the city is back on its feet. It’s time to retire some dinosaurs from Congress. Pelosi, Schumer, McConnell—their visibility is fading. While the rallying cry is to “save democracy,” what we often get is lawfare, not leadership. From immigration to budget battles, ideology seems to drive opinion polls more than solutions. The opposition seems more focused on ensuring the administration fails, just to say “I told you so.” Take tariffs —there’s a case to be made, but it requires action. Instead, it’s easier to redefine economics to fit a narrative or litigate the issue endlessly. The 50501 movement claims to speak for the people , but it dismisses the outcome of November 2024 and the agenda voters elected. Overall, the median age of House Democrats is 57.6, while House Republicans average 57.5. In the Senate, the median age of Democrats is 66.0, slightly higher than Republicans at 64.5. According to the Congressional Research Service, 170 House members and 60 Senators are lawyers. Out of 535 total legislators, lawyers make up 43% of Congress—60% of the Senate, and 37.2% of the House. There are 81 Republican lawyers and 123 Democrat lawyers who list "lawyer" as their profession. Some may also hold law degrees but work in other roles, such as doctor, industrialist, teacher, or real estate agent or broker. The medical and real estate professions are also strongly represented in Congress.
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