Harlan Ullman

America’s government and politics have long lost the ability for rational debate. The current crisis over how to “fix” the border and provide vital aid to Ukraine could not be more relevant. House Republicans, led by Speaker Michael Johnson who many believe has become Donald Trump’s puppet, argue that the border crisis must be addressed […]

With more than eight months remaining before the November 5th election, and despite the polls that seem to favour Donald Trump, no one knows who will win. But barring a major incident such as Trump being found guilty in one of his trials and sentenced to jail or a health event before election day, only […]

One advantage of a nightmare is waking up. In America, life is becoming one continuous nightmare. And waking up does not seem to be an option. The forthcoming presidential election is one nightmare. Some three-quarters of Americans do not want either Donald Trump or Joe Biden as president. Last week was indeed a nightmare for […]

In the 1980 election Ronald Reagan asked the blockbuster political question that would obliterate Jimmy Carter’s candidacy. “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” In the 2024 election, no doubt that question will be resurrected by Republicans. But let’s reverse that. Suppose Donald Trump won in 2020. Would Americans be worse […]

August 7, 1964, was a dark day for the United States when Congress passed with only two dissenting votes the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. The resolution was predicated on a non-existent North Vietnamese PT boat attack on two American destroyers on patrol in the Gulf. And it led to the Vietnam War we lost. Is America […]

The United States too often suffers from historical amnesia and technological hubris. One striking example proves this point. Since World War II ended, America has lost every war it started. Yes, America has lost every war it started-Vietnam, Afghanistan and the second Iraq War. And it won the Cold War it did not start. Saddam […]

One of the most serious and yet invisible consequences of the 2024 election will be testing the limits to free speech. Indeed, THE question may be whether free speech will survive this election. This is what the First Amendment actually says: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free […]

The World Economic Forum held annually every January in Davos, Switzerland is considered the global gathering of political, business and other elites. The Financial Times reported that this year, a preliminary survey of Davos elites in September showed a “predominately negative outlook for the world …. that is expected to worsen over the next decade….” […]

Gstaad, Switzerland: In this Swiss wintry wonderland, the first major snows are still expected. Not quite Davos in attracting the political elite once a year for its renowned World Economic Forum, still, plenty of the rich and not always famous, have residences or holidays here. Over dinners, lunches and extended conversations during the past week, […]

Speculation about what happens in 2024 should be a nice parlor game that on December 31st will reveal either brilliant luck or stupendous stupidity. The outlook however is grim. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza will remain unfinished business regardless of whether the fighting has stopped or not. The post-war situations in both are laden […]