February 3, 2012
Whither Korea?
The North Koreans aren't stupid. Nor are they brainwashed ideological zombies. Their main problem is that for the past sixty some years they've been at war with the U.S., a war the U.S. either doesn't want or know how to end. But might a changing of the guard in North Korea lead to an improvement? To check, I turned once again to Dr. Bruce Cumings, who knows more about Korea than most. A wonderfully patient man. Thanks, Bruce, for your clear insights! Total runtime thirty five minutes. Mors omnibus commūnis.
January 27, 2012
Nuclear Nihilism
Few people know more about nuclear power than a former Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, especially the one who had the lead in responding to Three Mile Island. So when Dr. Victor Gilinsky suggests that it would be reasonable for the U.S. to phase out nuclear power, people should pay attention. After all, our concern is not about private profits. And apart from the safety of the reactors Victor makes an excellent point: If you think you want to try to cut down on greenhouse gases by using nuclear power you'll need thousands more nuclear power plants, all over the world. That will lead, almost inexorably, to a lot more countries having the bomb, at some point making the use of some of those bombs likely. A simple, powerful insight. Thanks, Victor! Total runtime forty minutes. Graviōra manent.
January 20, 2012
One of Our Other Cold Wars
As is typical of situations involving post-WWII imperial over-reach, U.S. distress with Iran is largely our own fault. If the CIA had not overthrown Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953 — Operation Ajax — and if afterward the U.S. had not incessantly sought to get the Iranians to do what we wanted with their oil, relations today might even have been normal, but certainly would be far less fraught than they have become. Unless we sit down to talk through our differences this Cold War will go on and on, or maybe turn hot. Unsure of each other, both sides are capable of making extremely grave mistakes. It's all quite senseless. To get a helpful perspective from a former top State Department expert on Iran I turned to Ambassador John W. Limbert, who shares many of my concerns. Total runtime fifty minutes. Vāde mēcum.
November 25, 2011
Seeking Economic Truth
John Maynard Keynes understood that economics describes human beings, a fact that modern mainstream economics — the applied theory of "rational expectations" — effectively assumes away. Keynes' biographer, Lord Robert Skidelsky, reminds us that our economic priorities should extend beyond our logical models to address real human concerns, that we should not assume we know complicated things that we don't, and that there is merit in asking very basic questions about commonplace things we take for granted. It was a great pleasure and an honor to talk with Robert and his insights have sharpened my thinking immeasurably. Buy his most recent book, Keynes: The Return of the Master
, and thank me later. Total runtime thirty two minutes. Dum vīvimus, vīvāmus.
November 18, 2011
Accelerated Ideas
When a retired four star Admiral provides support for nuclear arms control and a few other commendable things, the proper interrogatory is "yes." Or "yes, Sir." A gentleman with a friendly disposition and a cautious but lightning fast mind, Admiral Bobby Ray Inman (Ret.) reasonably assesses the risks. Other political issues can wait for a rainy day... It was gracious of the Admiral to talk with me and to allow me a chance to keep up. Total runtime thirty eight minutes. Lupum auribus tenēre.
