I would love 2 columns per month. And I would like to hear both what you are doing in your current work/research and something that relates to today’s current affairs within a historical context (such as today’s post).
I think the people have spoken regarding writing more than one post. That was a no brainer. Who wouldn't want to read more history. As for the Monroe Doctrine I did not know all the background or that it was Adams that was responsible. I am guessing he would be shocked to see how that has turned out today. We haven't exactly supported democratic rule in South or Central America.
Thanks, Dr C., for the insight into something I have known about since elementary school, but didn't really know. As to multiple posts per month: I can't imagine "no" will ever be the answer to that question. Happiest of holidays to you and yours.
I may be misreading the NSS but I don’t know that there really is a Trump Corollary so much as a repudiation of the statement by John Kerry that the era of the Monroe Doctrine is over, and that the United States will again start to take action based on the principles of the Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary.
The issue today is more one of the US attempting to restrict the power of western Hemisphere nations from pursuing their own interests as they see them. It may work in cases of small Central American states, but it won't work when it comes to the larger ones.
Case in point is that Canada's "Defense Scheme No. 1", which was only modified in 1931, was a plan to defend the country militarily and otherwise from the United States. Canada was at war in Europe twice years before the US entered those wars.
More recently, Brazil with more trade with China than with the US has ignored American attempts at sanctioning it because of political divergence in their responses to Trumpism. Coffee won.
I would love 2 columns per month. And I would like to hear both what you are doing in your current work/research and something that relates to today’s current affairs within a historical context (such as today’s post).
I think the people have spoken regarding writing more than one post. That was a no brainer. Who wouldn't want to read more history. As for the Monroe Doctrine I did not know all the background or that it was Adams that was responsible. I am guessing he would be shocked to see how that has turned out today. We haven't exactly supported democratic rule in South or Central America.
Thanks, Dr C., for the insight into something I have known about since elementary school, but didn't really know. As to multiple posts per month: I can't imagine "no" will ever be the answer to that question. Happiest of holidays to you and yours.
Thanks Lindsay. I learned some important things from this timely article and would welcome two posts a month. Best holiday wishes!
Thanks for the historical context. I appreciate the irony of the situation. Happy holidays.
Thank you Dr. C and wish you Happy Holidays.
I may be misreading the NSS but I don’t know that there really is a Trump Corollary so much as a repudiation of the statement by John Kerry that the era of the Monroe Doctrine is over, and that the United States will again start to take action based on the principles of the Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary.
I always look forward to your lucid explanations ,solidly grounded in research. 2 columns a month would still not be enough! thank you!
I believe the word you seek to replace “interesting” might be “timely.”
Meanwhile, I offer this:
THE COMMON GOOD MANIFESTO
A society built for people, not predators.
We are at our best when we invest in each other.
We are at our worst when we abandon the vulnerable.
This manifesto is how we return to the common good.
I. DIGNITY AND JUSTICE
1. Release the Epstein files — full transparency, no exceptions.
2. Impeach, convict, and imprison Donald Trump and every handler who enabled his corruption.
3. No federal office for any convicted felon.
4. End the weaponization of the justice system against the poor, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and marginalized communities.
II. DEMOCRACY THAT ACTUALLY WORKS
1. Abolish the Electoral College — one person, one vote.
2. Abolish ICE — replace it with humane immigration policy that honors human rights.
3. Ban gerrymandering with a standardized national apportionment method.
4. Two-term limits for every elected office.
5. Mandatory retirement at 70 for all elected officials.
6. Paper ballots only — end the era of hackable voting machines.
III. AN ECONOMY THAT SERVES PEOPLE
1. Restore 1950s-style progressive tax rates — when America was prosperous and fair.
2. Overturn Citizens United — corporations are not people.
3. Eliminate the Social Security payroll cap and tax capital gains for Social Security contributions.
4. $25 minimum wage indexed to inflation.
5. Medicare for All, one unified system — no A/B/C/D maze.
6. Congress receives Medicare, not boutique private insurance.
IV. WORKERS, CREATIVES, AND PUBLIC SERVANTS
1. Big pay raises for social workers, teachers, librarians, artists, and cultural workers — the people who actually hold society together.
2. Universal childcare — because families are the foundation of the nation.
3. Free public university education.
4. Full forgiveness of all student debt.
V. CLEAN GOVERNMENT
1. Root out corruption at every level, starting at the top.
2. Full financial transparency for every elected official, appointee, and senior bureaucrat.
3. Ban lobbying for former officeholders for life.
VI. THE FUTURE WE CHOOSE
We choose a country that values:
• Compassion over cruelty
• Community over greed
• Truth over propaganda
• Shared prosperity over billionaire hoarding
• Democracy over minority rule
• Human dignity over corporate profit
We choose a nation where the common good is not a slogan, but the organizing principle of public life.
And we refuse to apologize for demanding better.
The issue today is more one of the US attempting to restrict the power of western Hemisphere nations from pursuing their own interests as they see them. It may work in cases of small Central American states, but it won't work when it comes to the larger ones.
Case in point is that Canada's "Defense Scheme No. 1", which was only modified in 1931, was a plan to defend the country militarily and otherwise from the United States. Canada was at war in Europe twice years before the US entered those wars.
More recently, Brazil with more trade with China than with the US has ignored American attempts at sanctioning it because of political divergence in their responses to Trumpism. Coffee won.
Trump is a silly man.