Economics - Compelled to Move Forward

May 17, 2021May 19, 2021

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING?

As an Armenian, engrained within me is a culture centered on a dedication to family, faith and future generations. Given that Armenians have been a tiny population for centuries, the importance of self-sacrifice for future generations has always been an essential element of our lives and survival as a people. When that dedication to future generations and pride in what our grandparents built and gave us, meets much of current public policy and business aggression focused on the short-term, it is easy to be disappointed in how we’ve allowed the importance of investing to drift away from us.

March 5, 2021April 29, 2021

WHERE DO CONSERVATIVES GO FROM HERE?

Given the disaster of the last four years and an unfolding fratricide within the Republican Party, many fellow conservatives are probably wondering: Where do we go from here? The conduct of Trump and his enablers have produced incalculable damage to America and every aspect of American life, and pervasive political loses. While we have time before the next election cycle, daily we have a choice of what to believe and whom to support. These choices are not just political questions but reflect deeper questions of our moral identity and who we want to be.

January 23, 2021April 28, 2021

ELEVATING EDUCATION TO A STRATEGIC PRIORITY

Given the turmoil of the last few years, including near record income and wealth inequality, and all the derivative effects, if we truly want to build a more just, egalitarian America, we need to elevate public education to a strategic priority and resource it appropriately. With public school funding still highly imbalanced, and unemployment, under-employment, and poverty still running high, three specific areas of focus are recommended for all levels of government: further increase our focus and funding of primary grade reading programs, further increase the promotion and availability of skilled trades training programs, and reduce interest rates on all federal and state college loans.

December 2, 2020July 12, 2021

ALWAYS BUILD DIGNITY

Early in my career, a mentor provided me with a piece of wise counsel: “Always build dignity”. Over the last 40 years, those words have challenged me often. Given the ease with which we can spout critical words, particularly within the tattered fabric of our country, perhaps those three little words, can provide a meaningful balm to what ails us. A conscious effort to building dignity, I submit, is a most worthy goal in both our personal lives and as well in the governance of our country.

November 30, 2020December 30, 2020

MACHIAVELLIAN TO THE CORE

In 1513 Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a short book titled The Prince. In it he counsels a young prince who unexpectedly ascends to the throne on how to handle himself and the affairs of state. The essence of Machiavelli’s counsel is do whatever you must to accumulate power, stay in power, and no matter how dastardly your plans and deeds, always try to look virtuous. Tragically, a wealth of evidence suggests that President Trump has been Machiavellian to the core. He has masterfully employed deception, manipulation and deceit to appear virtuous and have the best interest of the American people at heart, while acting in his own self-interest.

November 25, 2020July 12, 2021

TO WHAT SHALL I LIKEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Sometimes it seems helpful to codify what we really believe about God. While God’s Word provides us with numerous descriptions of His Kingdom, over the years I’ve found it helpful to define what I believe in the form of images that come to mind as I reflect on my experience, what I’ve truly taken to heart, and live within. So, for whatever its worth, for whatever you may glean from it, below is a set of five images or stories that answer: To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God? Who is this God? How do I relate to Him? What is the paradigm within which my life is couched?

November 10, 2020December 30, 2020

ADVANCING ADVERSARIES

While most of us have been preoccupied with the chaos unfolding here at home, given my protective instincts, I am compelled to warn of advancing adversaries around the globe. This may be the last thing people want to hear, but American foreign policy failures over the last thirty years, particularly America’s unilateral withdrawal from around the globe more recently, have provided adversaries with an opportunity to meaningfully strengthen their position. Under the mantle of “America First” we have weakened our alliances, self-inflicted a decline in our moral standing and economic potential, and allowed our security to ebb away from us at an accelerating rate. China’s economic strength, military capabilities, and expansionary posture have grown markedly. Russia, Iran, North Korea and strongmen around the globe have also significantly advanced their military capabilities and negotiating positions.

September 27, 2020November 8, 2020

THE TRUMP ECONOMY

According to a recent poll, 46% of Americans approve of the way Trump has handled the economy. People seem to believe that since jobs grew, unemployment came down, and the stock market and their 401k accounts rose, Trump must have done a good job. As a conservative, a Republican and a student of economics for over 40 years, I submit that these economic outcomes often happened in spite of Trump’s policies and that he mismanaged the economy to such an extent that he has sown significant long-term risks into our economic outlook. The principle drivers of the economy during Trump’s tenure have been four factors: deficit spending, low interest rates engineered by the Federal Reserve, a widening trade deficit and the pandemic.

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020

FALSE CHOICES AND LABELING

One aspect of American culture that has often surprised me is our tendency to put people into camps. You either believe in creation or evolution. You believe in a women’s right to choose or the right to life. You believe wearing a mask is imperative or it doesn’t matter. You either support Trump or you’re a “Trump-hater”. You predominantly support black lives matter or blue lives matter. You believe we must focus on growing the economy or protecting the environment. You believe “taking a knee” is a fit means of protesting police brutality or it’s disrespectful of our flag and country. You’re either part of the radical left or the far-right. This tendency to label and place others in camps has clearly grown with the rise of social media, news programming and divisive political rhetoric. Let me suggest that if we genuinely want to make meaningful progress on issues of faith, race, income inequality, healthcare, abortion, our environment, and education, it is imperative that we become purposeful in turning away from false choices and all the labels flying about, and look in earnest for just, pragmatic and compassionate solutions.

June 7, 2020June 26, 2020

CONSUMPTION VS CONSTRUCTION

Considering the accelerating decline of our nation, particularly as a pandemic, severe economic downturn and social unrest grip our nation, it occurs to me that what differentiates today from the 1930s is that our government is leading us further and further into consumption as a solution to what ails us verses constructively addressing the challenges before us.