Foreign Affairs Journal

A neighbor gifted me with a subscription to Foreign Affairs, a bi-monthly journal written by professionals and academics in the field. American international policies are under the microscope and continually related to those of other nations. Just how well has the Biden administration fared in the last 18 months?  Here’s what Heidi and Douglas Rediker wrote in the May/June issue of the journal:

“After more than a year in office, Biden has advanced many critical international economic policy goals by aligning his administration’s foreign policy agenda with the interests of US workers, achieving strategic national security objectives. He laid the groundwork for creating more resilient supply chains and transforming US infrastructure in ways that will help underserved communities and the middle class. He rejoined the global community’s effort to transition away from fossil fuels. He repaired US alliances, marshaling the democratic world to collectively respond to Russia after it invaded Ukraine.”

The article went on to support Biden’s realistic policy shifts that engage the US once again in the forefront of global matters. This is where our nation plays well with others and gains not only military security, but also economic rewards for our people. These policy shifts recognize the role of economics in international power roles.

The free nations of the world collaborated economically to punish Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The interdependence of all nations on matters of economics is better understood. That plus the positive role economics can and does play rather than deploying missiles, nuclear threats and bombs. Short term economic bruises are felt; rather they than loss of life and vast property destruction.

Russia is experiencing an enormous negative impact economically. Every Russian citizen will feel the effects of the global community efforts to pull Russia into a less militaristic position. Yes, Ukraine’s horrors are huge and real; worse, they persist. But Russians will realize, if they haven’t already, the negative impact of uncivil behavior in the global village.

Economic policy is strong in such matters. Biden and his administration understand this. The rest of us should as well. That includes paying more for gasoline as a result of unstable oil markets.

I much rather economic policy than military. The cost comparison is frightful.

June 8, 2022

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Intimacy

As we mature, we become deeply involved in relationships. Some of this is basic family relations – siblings, parental – and the like. Next is friends who enter our homes and we theirs. Neighbors, classmates, mutual hobbyists and so forth. Then we develop friendships that go much deeper. We comfort one another when we are hurting physically or emotionally. We discuss the matters of life and learn much more about ourselves and each other. We can even anticipate how others will react to various situations and stimuli. Good friendships do not spread to everyone we know. No, good friendships are special, close and deeply personal. We focus attention and brainpower on these few friends. Some special relationships focus on specific topics of interest and importance. Yes, we have specialized friendships. Most common. But one day, we get to know one person very well. An emotional connection forms with deep roots. A need to know the person more fully expands in personal ways. We sense this b...
Read more

Bits & Pieces

Pie: Apple pie more specifically. With Thanksgiving just passed, many of us enjoyed a good apple pie. Sure, there was pumpkin to accompany the turkey, but in our family multiple pies are offered in the holidays. Apple is surely one. Pecan, pumpkin and others, too. But I almost always choose apple. When I was in college, I was asked what kind of pie did I eat most often. In front of my mom, I answered apple, because I was always looking for a pie as good as mom’s own. Of course my mother was pleased, but it was a true statement just the same. When I was married, Ann’s pie was darned good. Her mother’s recipe. But we fiddled with the recipe until it took on its own generational name, and boy, was it good! Today I still order apple pie for dessert because I am always looking for a great pie to challenge our family recipes. I rarely do find such a prize. Do others do the same? Do you search for a great pie of choice, continually? If you do, what’s your story? Why do you do this? ...
Read more

Remembering Tom Sherlock

Tom Sherlock died on Wednesday, April 3rd. He was 65 years old and did not survive a heart surgery. That was his unexpected end and sad enough. But there is more to his story. Tom joined Dan Schuyler and George Safford to create what became the Village Chronicles, a weekly newspaper serving Warrenville, Illinois. That paper expanded to serve Winfield and then West Chicago. The paper published for eight years and built a good reputation for itself. Tom served the paper in several ways. He was our information technology guru, provided hardware and software to support the paper's operations. He was our sole bookkeeper, accountant and financial manager. He designed our distribution process and provided office space for meetings and layout and typesetting. His efforts supported the work of 32 volunteers who wrote and reported on the communities we served.  The newspaper broke even financially most of the time, but it was a struggle. Tom managed to find money to keep the newspaper afloat...
Read more