Written By: Joshua Lax. The United States is generally considered a country where ’checks and balances’ keep the nation from devolving into dictatorship. The American republican system provides the three branches of government (Congress, Judiciary and Executive) with enumerated powers, as well as safeguards over other branches. This specific system was established at founding to … Continue reading
Filed under Politics …
The Inevitability Mindset
Written by: Michael Kravshik. For years the debate over the Iranian nuclear threat has raged, and for months the potential of an Israeli strike on these capabilities has enraged. Many on both sides of the political spectrum have made the decisions faced by the Israeli and American leaders seem obvious or easy. Such people are … Continue reading
Reverse Discrimination
Written by: Michael Kravshik. The fight against discrimination is certainly a noble cause. Ensuring that people of all genders, colors, religions, sexual orientations, etc. have equal rights and opportunities is something that is integral for the betterment of society. Defeating discrimination can only really be seen as successful if it occurs in the hearts and … Continue reading
This Land is My Land, This Land is Your Land
Written by: Michael Kravshik. Do nations deserve land rights? I’m not talking about countries with modern political borders, nor am I debating individual private land ownership. The word nation, in this situation, means a group of people who share a common culture, language, ethnicity, descent or history and not a political state. This question underlies … Continue reading
Cultural Relativism: An Intellectual Quagmire
Written by: Michael Kravshik. Recently, a quote by Jiddu Krishnamurti (an Indian author) was shared with me touting that by identifying ourselves differently from any others, we are in fact committing violence (See the picture below this paragraph). This excellent example of cultural relativism, although quite extreme, is a great starting point to jump into … Continue reading
Poverty and Lack of Education Cause Terrorism… Right?
Written by: Michael Kravshik. Ever since 9/11 the Western world, and Americans more specifically, have been asking why. What would cause these lads to want to fly through a building to their death, murdering three thousand people they have never met? This is a difficult and complicated question and I’m certainly not going to presume … Continue reading
Flip-flops
Written by: Michael Kravshik. Being known as someone who “flip-flops” is one of the most harmful characteristics to a politician’s reputation. There is good cause for this as changing your stance is often associated with political pandering, and selling out your principles for a few extra votes. Where this is actually the case, it is … Continue reading
The Founding of American International Relations: Washington, Hamilton and Jefferson
Written by: Joshua Lax. The archetypal perspectives from which America draws the foundation of its international relations have existed since the time of the constitution. These perspectives have advanced and receded based on their applicability to the existing economic, political, and social conditions within, and outside of, America. There are three distinct perspectives advanced by … Continue reading
The Democratic People’s Republic of… Canada?
Written by: Michael Kravshik How many of you out there live in a first world democratic country, yet keep hearing about how you actually live in a “Police State,” “Military State,” or my personal favorite, “Fascist State”? Living in Toronto, I hear about it all the time, especially loudly from the slew of protests this city … Continue reading
KRAXFACTS: Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt
KRAXFACTS are meant to be a short synopsis of the intended subject, which can also help to provide context for related discussion. See a complete list of KRAXFACTS here. Written by: Josh Lax and Michael Kravshik. Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt “Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready.” Life: October 27, 1858 – … Continue reading