Enduring ideas💡 that matter ☕ to you. The Easy Existentialist

Donald Harvey Marks asks: Are we really in a Financial meltdown? It sure seems like it to me, an educated non-economist. And at this very moment, I believe we are in what can best be called a “false lull” or deceptive calm before a major financial setback, either a recession or possibly a full depression. The full economic consequences of current policies — especially tariffs, debt expansion, and monetary tightening/loosening swings — are still building like storm clouds. It is IMO not an "if," but a "when and how bad." Most people knowledgeable in this area seem to think that there are fundamental structural weaknesses accumulating under the surface. Collapse may not happen tomorrow, but the conditions are ripening. What are the causes? See his related articles on Spotify, and on his personal blog www.DHMarks.blogspot.com

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. What are the causes? See his related articles on Spotify, and on his personal blog www.DHMarks.blogspot.com