A list of all of Doc Werlin’s writings pertaining to government.
A Comparison of Texas to California
Click on the image below to see Doc's presentation: "A Comparison of Texas to California"
Americans’ Support for Constitutional Change: Insights from Pew Research
Pew Research reported that a majority of Americans favor constitutional changes. The United States Constitution has served as the foundation of American government for more than two centuries. Its endurance reflects the strength of its [...]
Harry S. Truman: A President Who Shaped the Modern World
Click on the image below to see Doc's presentation: "Harry S. Truman: A President Who Shaped the Modern World"
An America First Strategy for U.S. Policy Toward Israel and the Middle East
Introduction From 2015 to 2020, I served as a Senate member of the American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC) because of my strong Zionist beliefs. During that time, I believed the close U.S.-Israel alliance benefited [...]
Does the Collapse of the French Third Republic in 1940 Provide Lessons for America?
Introduction Today, I participated in a weekly telephone conference with colleagues. Our discussion focused on the enormous power of the Executive Branch of our government at the expense of Congress. These developments are troubling [...]
“Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.”
“Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.” — Book of Hosea, The Bible Introduction Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yeh Atid Party, 14th Prime Minister of Israel wrote for The Economist and shared, “America [...]
The Attacks on Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, and Senator Mark Kelly
Executive Power, Institutional Independence, and the Boundaries of Lawful Authority Introduction To be transparent, I’ll share my bias. Historically, I have voted Republican on most occasions because of my strong belief in the traditional [...]
America’s Quiet Turn Toward State Capitalism
The Wall Street Journal recently observed that the United States is drifting toward a new economic model—what it describes as state capitalism. This system is neither socialism, in which the government owns the means of [...]
Anything Goes America – Abstract from The Economist
“Anything Goes America,” an abstract from The Economist, had a sad commentary on the decline of America. The first paragraph detailed Harry Truman, who after his presidency, lived on an income from his memoirs and [...]
Majority of Biden’s 2020 Voters Now Say He’s Too Old to be Effective
A New York Times/Siena College poll revealed that even his supporters worry about his age. Among his supporters, 47% strongly believe that he is too old to be effective, and 26% somewhat agree. The [...]
Biden Administration Weighs Increase in Corporate and Personal Income-Tax Rates to Pay for $3 Trillion Infrastructure and Jobs Package
The Biden Administration is evaluating a variety of possible tax increases, including boosting the corporate tax rate and the top marginal income-tax rate on wealthy individuals in order pay for its infrastructure, antipoverty measures [...]
All White Democratic Primaries – 1944
Over the years I have mentioned that Blacks were effectively denied suffrage in the South until 1944. The fifteenth amendment, providing male suffrage, was emasculated through a series of laws. The Civil Rights laws [...]
The Case for Eliminating or Keeping the Electoral College
Introduction: In recent years several people have expressed to me their desire for America to eliminate our Electoral College system for electing our president. Their reason is a recognition that given demographic changes the [...]
Let us toast the New Year
As we think about 2021, the words from Charles Dickens’ 1859 historical novel “A Tale of Two Cities” remain relevant: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ... it was the [...]
California Takes Dramatic Steps to Combat Climate Warming
In recognition of its environmental challenges, California has taken the most aggressive steps in the United States to control emissions both in the field of transportation and electric power generation. Being the world’s fifth-largest [...]
Robert Caro: Understanding the Use of Power in our Democracy
Introduction For all of us, these are challenging times. Each one of us spends our times differently as we try to cope with COVID-19, a pandemic that has devastated our globe. (As of this [...]
Why I dislike the Debate Forums?
Last night because of Mike Bloomberg’s entrance into the 2020 race to become the nominee for the Democratic Party, I watched the debate. Within a few minutes, I was forcibly reminded why I historically avoid [...]
Presidential Debates Counterproductive
The Democratic Presidential debate reinforced my previous concerns that these forums are not productive in helping our citizenry make informed decision about the most qualified candidates for our highest office. Since the 1960 debate [...]
Why I oppose the Trump Impeachment
Introduction: As many people know I dislike President Trump on a personal basis. I voted for the Libertarian Candidate in 2016 and will probably cast another throw away vote in 2020. My attitude toward Trump [...]
The Democrats and Iran: “Why Can’t the party’s candidates admit Qasem Soleimani’s death makes America’s Safer” Joseph Lieberman
Former Senator Joe Lieberman wrote an editorial today that I largely agree with. I would like to share at least part of it and then contribute my own comments. “The president’s decision was bold and [...]
Trump’s Policy Zigzags in Mideast Undermine America’s Long -term foreign policy objectives
Over the past few days, I have read a number of articles and heard from a bi-partisan group of leaders regarding America’s abandonment of the Kurds in Syria. Stated differently, the Kurds in Syria, [...]
America Needs a Legitimate Third Party
Over the past few days I have spent too much time following the controversy associated with President Trump’s telephone call with the newly elected Ukrainian President, Zelensky on July 25th. According to a leak from [...]
Summary: Pew Research: Key Findings About Americans’ Declining Trust in Government and Each Other
By Lee Rainie and Andrew Perrin Survey of 10,618 adults conducted November 17-Dec 10 2018 Pew Research Center Report: Many Americans see declining levels of trust in the country, whether it is their confidence [...]
Mark Shields, Mike Mansfield, and William Fulbright
For decades I have enjoyed watching Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss important issues on the Public News Hour. Last night was especially illuminating. The conversation began with both Mark Shields and David Brooks defending [...]
Fighting Thugs with Thugs
Jair Bolsonaro, the president of Brazil, will not defeat crime in Brazil by tolerating militias The economists highlighted Brazil’s plagues: economic stagnation, corruption, and sickening violence. In brief, terrorists, not the civilian government, rule [...]
Israel’s Dangerous Dalliance with China by Ilan Berman
In today’s Wall Street Journal, Ilan Berman wrote an editorial that frankly surprised me. In brief, Berman highlighted America’s concern that Israel’s growing political and economic relationship with China has sinister implications. Specifically, John [...]
Where the Police Wear Masks, and the Bodies Pile Up Fast: Brazil Death Squads
The New York Times reported the appalling statistic: The police kill an average of 17 people every day in Brazil. Rogue officers are killing even more off duty For over a decade masked gunmen [...]
How Democrats Can Avoid Losing by Ted Van Dyk
Ted Van Dyk, who has been active in Democratic National policy and politics for 40 years, wrote an excellent editorial for the Wall Street Journal. In brief, Van Dyk worries that despite President Trump’s [...]
U.S. Turns from Global Uniter to Disrupter
In today’s Wall Street Journal, Greg Ip wrote an excellent article in which he discussed America’s changing role from a stabilizer of the world to a disrupter. In brief, Ip argues that solving the [...]
Job Corps Failure
Today’s Wall Street Journal highlighted the failure of the Job Corp program. The condemnation of the Job Corp confirms my disappointing experience as an Intern for the US Employment Service in the summer of [...]
Playing with Fire, The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics
Playing with Fire, The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics -By Lawrence O’Donnell Introduction: I feel compelled to write up my book review for several reasons. First of all, I was probably [...]
Marshall Plan: Legacy to World Peace
Few Americans in the twentieth century have left a greater legacy to world peace than George C. Marshall (1880-1959). As chief of staff of the United States Army during World War II, it fell [...]
Ku Klux Klan Act (1871)
The Ku Klux Klan Act represented a major civil right accomplishment of President Ulysses Grant. That is, by 1871 the racist ideology that was prevalent in both North and South undermined efforts to protect [...]
What is the Elephant in the Room in the GOP Tax Plan?
On the eve of the Senate Passing the GOP Tax Plan, I find it disturbing that there is no middle of the road discussion of its merits or demerits. While I have not read thoroughly [...]
AT&T – Time Warner Merger and U.S. opposition to it Both are Suspect
The Justice Department says it will file an antitrust lawsuit to stop the proposed $85.4 billion merger of AT&T and Time Warner. This marks a departure from decades of Justice Department practice of approving [...]
Jones Act’s Harm Extends Well Beyond Hindering Disaster Aid
On Sept. 28, the Trump administration said it would temporarily waive the Jones Act, a century-old shipping law, to help get emergency supplies to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico officials had urged the administration to waive [...]