Commentary On Current Affairs

The Muslim Threat?

The Western world has developed a serious case of Islamophobia. The reasons are obvious: Terrorist attacks by radical Muslims have become a regular occurrence; added to that, Western Europe is starting to grasp the possibility that, because of immigration and the high birth ra...

Israel: Left, Right Or Both?

On the diagnosis side, I am a political Leftist; I am in their corner. Israel has taken and settled land that was once occupied by Palestinians.The claim that religious Jewish right has made––that this is Jewish land because it was promised by God several thousand years ago––d...

Why No to Tolerance?

It is in vogue to promote the idea of tolerance among ethnic groups, races and religions. In Santa Barbara where I live there is a whole program in schools providing educational material about "tolerance". In Washington D. C. The Museum about the atrocities of the Holocaust is...

General Discussion Area

This is a general comment area, for the intended purpose of non-blog post specific discussions. If you have a comment or question pertaining to the entire blog or would like to discuss issues not covered by these posts, please post your comment here....

Why 'Let the Consumer Beware' Does Not Work in Practice

Business organizations, when challenged, defend their questionable practices by saying: “Let the consumer beware.”For example, that is how the tobacco companies defend marketing their cigarettes, which, as we all know, cause cancer to those smoking them as well as those who in...

What Can Israel Learn From the Japanese?

Japanese culture is non-confrontational. In negotiations, for example, the Japanese always give their negotiating partner an exit strategy; they might make a ridiculous offer that has to be refused. That way, neither side feels defeated.Here is an over-simplified example to ma...

Capitalism is Dying Before Our Eyes

Interview with the editors of the newspaper, Business & Baltics Published August 18 2010 Editors: Experts are predicting that there might be a second wave of crises; do you agree? We remember that when we last spoke, you were calling the current crisis “just a warning.”Adizes:...

DIAGNOSIS: The Drug Cartels of Mexico

This blog is based on conversations I have had recently with leading Mexicans; it represents my diagnosis of issues relating to the drug trade there. (I am in Mexico monthly on various consulting assignments.)The Mexican drug trade is conservatively estimated to be a $32 billi...

Is the Cordoba Project (The Islamic Center for Ground Zero) for Real?

If Imam Rauf and his financial backers truly want to build a Muslim center that promotes moderation, they need to walk their talk. And if they do, I believe the Islamic Center, even at ground zero itself, not just close by, is most appropriate.If those who support the Cordoba ...

The Invisible Hand is Sick

Recently, I was watching a well-done CNBC documentary about the causes of the credit crisis. The program included a series of interviews with people who took out subprime loans, people who sold them those loans, people who securitized the loans, and the representatives of fore...