This conversation draws on my analysis covering general questions regarding major economic and societal challenges. Common themes include the analysis of wealth and income inequality, lack of affordability, critiques of prevailing economic systems, and the disruptive impact of technological change, particularly concerning Universal Basic Income in a post-labor economy, its application to vulnerable populations like the unemployed and the homeless, A.I., and the sustainability of crucial social systems like US Healthcare.

Review by Donald Harvey Marks concerning Viktor Shvets' fantastic recent book: The Twilight Before the Storm. I analyze the book's central arguments, which posit that the world is in a dangerous transitional period marked by the decline of neoliberalism - an ideology rooted in free-market capitalism that sounds reasonable, but went astray. A core concept in the book is the "Fujiwara Effect," describing how advanced technology combined with financialization is reshaping the global economy and creating abundance. Shvets draws historical parallels to the 1930s to illustrate today's social and political fractures, warning of potential conflict unless we can reach a new societal consensus.

The United States healthcare system faces a dual crisis of unsustainable spending and suboptimal outcomes. Despite spending nearly one-fifth of its GDP—approximately $4.8 trillion in 2023—on healthcare, the U.S. ranks last among ten high-income nations in health equity, access, and outcomes. I propose a cogent, six-point reform strategy designed to restore systemic health by mandating universal participation, lowering the age of federal coverage, expanding the provider network, and drastically reducing administrative complexity.

The United States healthcare system faces a dual crisis of unsustainable spending and suboptimal outcomes. Despite spending nearly one-fifth of its GDP—approximately $4.8 trillion in 2023—on healthcare, the U.S. ranks last among ten high-income nations in health equity, access, and outcomes. I propose a cogent, six-point reform strategy designed to restore systemic health by mandating universal participation, lowering the age of federal coverage, expanding the provider network, and drastically reducing administrative complexity.

Elitists, Neoconservatives, Neoliberals, and Globalists are all political ideologies that hold distinct beliefs and values. Knowing the differences is essential to starting a thoughtful discussion.

Donald Harvey Marks examines various contemporary and historical issues through the lens of social, political, and moral critique. One of his writings on Substack and on his personal blog www.DHMarks.blogspsot.com scrutinizes the history of antisemitism at UCLA, distinguishing between legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and anti-Zionism that devolves into antisemitic tropes, and notes that modern antisemitism often originates from liberal or leftist political spheres. Another of his writings conducts an ethical and rhetorical analysis of conservative figure Charlie Kirk's controversial statements regarding LGBTQ+ and especially transgender individuals, comparing his language to that used by some conservative Muslim clerics, and concluding that while his speech is highly problematic and can lead to harm, it does not justify violence against him. Two related pieces argue that the pro-Palestinian–antisemitic alliance is often rationalized through a leftist anti-capitalist ideology, which falsely casts Israel as a capitalist-colonial oppressor. A final writing analyzes the historical context of Shylock from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice to understand the centuries-old stereotype of the Jewish moneylender and the theme of revenge against antisemitic persecution.

How neuroimaging techniques, like functional MRI, can be used to interpret thoughts.