August 2022

Persistent drought in the Western U.S. has the potential of becoming a national security crisis of catastrophic proportions. Given that the interruption of such a large portion of the nation’s food production may potentially be at stake, one might consider the desalinization of seawater, notably agriculture production, to be a national priority of the highest order. Yet it is rarely discussed in our national political discourse with any kind of urgency.

All of us have witnessed in recent years the growing visibility of trans and non-binary people in American culture and life. Rich Thau, president of Engagious Inc., conducted a pair of focus groups to explore what swing voters make of this evolution, especially with so many younger people, in particular, identifying as either trans or non-binary.

Alfred and Blair Sadler, authors and identical twin brothers, once served as a medical-legal team ushering in several large-scale shifts in the practice and delivery of healthcare services in the United States. In this piece, they reflect on what they have learned over the course of their careers, and how it’s shaped their perspectives on today’s polarized political landscape.

“The Constitution of the United States lets us consider who we are today. It does not limit us to who we were centuries ago…” John J. Hamill, a Chicago-based trial lawyer, examines how constitutional rights are being reinterpreted as the concept of “originalism” is becoming more popular within public discourse.

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Malcolm Lazin, examines the aftermath of the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, and the subsequent hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee, through the lens of criminal prosecution. “As a former federal prosecutor who led investigations into white-collar crime, official corruption, and organized crime—methodically working up the chain and convicting underlings is underappreciated.”

In the examination of concerns related to violence, is there a priority? Mass shootings, suicides, domestic/family conflicts, deadly encounters with law enforcement, and uncontrollable protests are all setting new records. In this analysis, Dr. Don Clardy, a tenured professor at Baker University, focuses on violence associated with Anti-Semitism, which has persisted for more than 100 years, has led to the deaths of millions, and continues to show malignant growth.

It is no longer sufficient to design supply chains that are timely and cost-effective. As we learned over the past two years, resilience is paramount and making supply chains resilient demands a new management paradigm.  One of the most effective models to compare in this context is air travel and how the TSA conducts airport security because how it centers on providing security to the human supply chain.

The workplace is yet another opportunity for fostering friendships of the type that lift the poor out of poverty — and bridge our political divide — but not when practiced over a Zoom call. New data has found that bringing people together is not enough on its own; relationships must be forged. They won’t be — if we are only connected by ethernet.

It is somewhat of an oxymoron to suggest that educational institutions have the potential to resolve our fractured political and social issues which have polarized America into distinct ideological camps. Parental rights, curriculum content, gender identification, and school admission practices have many leaders failing to see “the forest for the trees.”