In this edition of insights, we cover the most recent Democratic Debate, the exit of John Bolton, and the current state of the Italian government. Read the insights below, and, of course, we encourage you to read the articles in full and inform yourself on these important issues:
“Most of the candidates said they were eager for a detailed discussion. Yet none were ready to embrace the challenge entirely. Senator Elizabeth Warren...tried to avoid directly answering a question about whether middle-class taxes would go up under Medicare for All—even though Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, whose plan she’s endorsed, acknowledges they would...The moderators wanted to know, what is Joe Biden’s plan to counter China’s economic rise if not the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal he once helped sell but now opposes? How would Sanders get any of his major proposals through the Senate when he still supports keeping the filibuster in place? How would...Beto O’Rourke...build support in Congress for mandatory assault-rifle buybacks? The answers largely remain mysteries. Eventually the how can catch up to politicians.” - Edward-Isaac Dovere, The Atlantic, [MORE]
“Last month, Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy’s right-wing populist Lega party, attempted a Machiavellian power move...But whether the new government halts the rise of right-wing populism more than temporarily will depend on its ability to improve Italy’s standard of living and reverse some negative trends that have made the country one of the weaker links in the European Union. To fix all this would be a tall order for any government, let alone one composed of two parties—each riven by serious internal divisions—that were bitter rivals until a few weeks ago...if Italy does not begin to address the problems that paved the way for Salvini’s ascendancy, the country will have him to contend with whenever elections are held next.” - Alexander Stille, Foreign Affairs, [MORE]
“Donald Trump’s foreign policy has seesawed between threats to bomb enemies and moon-shot diplomacy. The president has flirted with nuclear war with North Korea, only to become the first sitting president to step onto its soil. He has strangled Iran’s economy and ordered bombers into the air, then offered talks. A troop surge in Afghanistan gave way to a proposed summit with the Taliban. John Bolton’s appointment as national security adviser in April 2018 seemed to tilt the scales towards the hawks. His acrimonious departure on September 10th—fired by presidential tweet—suggests that Mr. Trump is now in a dealmaking mood.” - The Economist, [MORE]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Common Good.
