Thursday, December 26, 2019

Current Events Discussion Topics

An on-line "Zoom" discussion is conducted every Monday morning at 9:30am Chicago time through the North Shore Senior Center hosted by Ron Mantegna. You can enroll in this discussion session at   https://www.nssc.org/

Ron conducts a Northbrook Library zoom discussion every 1st and 3rd and 5th Thursday, 10-11:30am. Open free to all who enroll.  Contact the Northbrook Library to connect with Ron Mantegna.                                                                     

Are apocalyptic concerns about A.I. justified, or mostly over-blown? How do you use A.I.?

 

What do you believe Democrats will—or can—do about Iran if they win control of Congress? Looking at where we are economically, militarily, and politically, is America losing the War with Iran? What actions might we take now to put this mostly behind us, or at least reduce the price of Oil?

 

In the eyes of the world, is America seen as “ on the downswing”? Is China seen as “on the upswing”? How do you view Trump’s meeting with Xi? Did either earn any kind of advantage?

 

Legal and 1st Amendment issues aside, is Trump openly banning the Press an effective political strategy? Will pressure on the Press change how the Press reports on him? America’s President greeted China’s President by praising their state-controlled Press for “friendliness”…while banning members of our own Press. How much of this may be a down-side for Republicans?

 

Do we see ourselves the same way Trump sees America? Trump’s U.N. Speech underscored his approach: power over principle. Belief that Laws are just an unnecessary constraint on actions. “Take what you want. To the victor go the spoils.” “The only limit on my power is my own morality, my own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.” Trump’s core doctrine: America will use overwhelming military and economic power to suit our own interests, regardless of how it affects others. Agree?

 

Your thoughts about Netanyahu’s U.N. speech. Was he mostly playing to an Israeli audience? Many nations packed the room with folks who were seated just to walk out. Did it change anything?

 

Blue Wave—or “Undertow”? Trump—or Socialism? Which message might win Independent voters who dislike extreme voices in both Parties? Independents are the largest voting group. How do you see them responding to ads from both Parties that put greater focus on Trump? Like Trump’s new taxpayer-funded TV ad of Trump railing against “Communists, Marxists, and Fascists”.

 

Do Democrats need to move away from Trans Rights? Several Dem candidates are proactively opposing “boys in girls’ sports” to deflect Republican attacks. How do you see this playing out?

 

Does Sen. Fetterman help or hurt Democrats by pushing back frankly against some of his Party’s policies and positions? Do you feel he will caucus with Republicans next year?

 

In order to avoid a Social Security shortfall, will Republicans support raising taxes? 

 

What makes Data Centers such a bipartisan hot-button issue?

 

Might changing Cuba’s regime create another Iran-like headache? The Administration is considering “Military Options” with Cuba. Are we pushing Cuba to be an even more failed state? How might taking over a failed state be in the best interests of working-class Americans?

 

Is it “TDS” to complain about Trump’s focus on “building projects”? He says his planned 250-foot triumphal arch would be built to host “large numbers of drones,” snipers and ammunition. What logic supports demolishing The Kennedy Center if Trump can’t get his name on it?

 

Does Salazar’s ad signal trouble for Republicans with Hispanics? Salazar is in a safe Florida District: Trump won by 14%. Her ad criticizes Trump Immigration Policies. Do you believe polling that shows Hispanics, who moved toward Trump in 2024, are moving away from him now.

 

Gov. Newsom says he won’t run for President if Kamala does—“It would be mutual self-destruction”. Do you believe him? What kind of message might Newsom be sending Kamala?

 

Does “having a big tent” mean overlooking antisemites and racists because you need their votes…and winning is everything?

 

Birth Rates continue to fall. Do we need to admit more immigrants to fill jobs and pay taxes?

Why should working-class Americans care who pays for Don Jr’s expensive wedding party?

 

Do you feel our troubles with Canada are just short term, or more permanent?

 

The Space Force now has "on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action," but declined to say what the weapons are, how they work or when they were deployed.

 

Faulty Economics? Trump has repeatedly claimed that ending trade relations with countries that export more to us than they import would somehow generate vast amounts of cash for the U.S. government. “If we stopped Trading with every country that we have a Deficit with, which is most of them, we would make, at least, $1.5T a year.” How wise is this?

 

Are there good reasons to have greater concern about Left Wing Political Terrorism than Right Wing? Was the J6 attack the top example of Political Terrorism?  What else compares?

 

Should Daylight Saving Time be permanent?  Should we have ONE time all year?

 

What kind of force is Tucker Carlson in the Republican Party?

 

Governor Pritzker signed the bill mandating No Phones in Illinois Schools. Good idea?

 

Where are we today with the Epstein files? Does this issue still resonate with voters? What might change if Democrats win the House?

 

Your thoughts about “Trump Accounts”? It provides a one-time $1,000 federal investment for eligible U.S. citizen children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. The money is invested in a broad U.S. stock index fund, and families may contribute additional money (up to the annual limit). The account generally can't be accessed until the child reaches adulthood.

 

Good idea? Older Adults are turning to ‘Golden Girls’ Housing. A growing network of home-sharing programs is helping Super Seniors find compatible housemates to save money.

 

Is eliminating all standards for greenhouse gas emissions in our best interests? How smart is it to totally disregard the concerns of scientists vs. moderating how standards apply? On the other hand, are we spending millions without seeing plans work to bring emissions down?

 

The color of money is now gray. What are the ramifications of Seniors holding more wealth? In 1989, Americans over age 55 held 56% of the wealth. Today it’s 74%. Wealth for under 40 has shrunk from 12 to 6.6%. 18% of Americans are Senior citizens, up from 13% in 1990.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Israeli History/Israeli Current Events


Upcoming Discussion

Mark Gelfeld leads a Zoom discussion at the Northbrook Library 10am to 11:30am every 2nd and 4th Thursday. Signup is free at this link. A library card is not needed. 
https://visit.northbrook.info/event/4628524

Israeli Current Events will be discussed for the first portion of our session.
Then...we'll continue reviewing events related to the First Lebanon War
Links below allow you to review slides we show and discuss at each session.

Zionism/Israeli History through 1967  

Below is a list of books mentioned during our sessions:

· "The Arab-Israeli Wars" by Chaim Herzog
· "Kissinger and the Yom Kippur War" by David Morse
· "The Making of Modern Israel 1948-1967" by Leslie Stein
· "Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict" by Charles D. Smith
· “The Iron Wall: Israel & The Arab World” by Avi Shlaim
· “Transformative Justice: Israeli Identity on Trial” by Leora Bilsky
· "Six Days of War : June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East" by Michael Oren
· “The Secret War Against The Jews: How Western Espionage Betrayed the Jewish People” by John Loftus and Mark Aarons
· “A Safe Haven: Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel” by Allis Radosh and Ronald Rados
· "Truman" by David McCullough
· “Louis D. Brandeis: A Life” by Melvin Urofsky
· “The Prime Ministers: An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership” by Yehuda Avner
· “George C. Marshall” by Forest Pogue (a 4 volume work- the most definitive biography)
· “1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War” by Benny Morris
· “Woodrow Wilson: A Biography” by John Milton Cooper, Jr
· “A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East” by David Fromkin
· "Constantine’s Sword: The Church and the Jews": A History by James Carroll
· “In the Garden of the Beasts” by Erik Larson
· “My Promised Land - The Triumph & Tragedy of Israel” by Ari Shavit
· "A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide" by Samantha Power
· "The Physician" by Noah Gordon
· "Start-up Nation: the Story of Israel's Economic Miracle" by Dan Senor and Saul Singer
· "Eichmann in Jerusalem: a Report on the Banality of Evil" by Hannah Arendt
· "The Eichmann Trial" by Deborah Lipstadt
· "The House on Garibaldi Street" by Isser Harrel
· "Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices" by Mosab Hassan Yousef
· “Eichmann Before Jerusalem: The Unexamined Life of A Mass Murder” by Bettina Stangneth
· "Jaffa Beach" by Fedora Horowitz
· "Operation Thunderbolt:  Flight 139 and the Raid on Entebbe Airport, the most Audacious Hostage Rescue in History", by Saul David
· "Abba Eban", A Biography by Asaf Siniver
· "Jerusalem: The Biography" by Simon Sebag Montefiore
· "The Way to the Spring: Life and Death in Palestine" by Ben Ehrenreich
· "Jabotinsky" by Hillel Halkin
· "Doomed to Succeed: The U.S. Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama" by Dennis Ross 
· "The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel" by Uri-Bar Joseph
· "FDR and the Jews" by Richard Breitman
· "No Ordinary Time" by Doris Kearns Goodwin
· "Remember the Liberty!:Almost Sunk by Treason on the High Seas" by Phillip F Nelson, Ronald G. Kukal, Ernest A. Gallo 
· "Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn" by Daniel Gordis
· "Every Spy a Prince" The Complete History of Israel's Intelligence Community by Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman
· "FDR and the Holocaust: A Breach of Faith" by Rafael Medoff
· "Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations" by Ronen Bergman
· "Then They Came for Me - Martin Niemoller, the Pastor Who Defied the Nazis" - Matthew Hockenos
· "We Stand Divided - The Rift Between American Jews and Israel" - Daniel Gordis
· "BiBi" - Anshel Pfeffer
· "Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran and the 40-year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East" - Kim Ghattas


















Thursday, March 6, 2014

WELCOME TO TODAY'S DISCUSSION



“Current Events” Code of Conduct

We respect each other and conduct our discussions with civility.

This includes:

•      Never using loud, abusive, threatening or insulting language.
•      Never offending, threatening, or insulting groups or individuals based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or any disability.
•      Never being under the influence of anything but our best behavior.
•      Never harming anyone, including fighting or challenging anyone to fight.
•      Understanding every aspect of Sexual Harassment - This includes: • making inappropriate personal comments or sexual advances • using obscene or lewd language or gestures • staring at, or following anyone in a manner that reasonably can be expected to disturb him or her • exposing others to sexual Internet content.

Ron's Rules:

1. Civility means treating each other with respect. Hate the comment. Love the commenter. When you make it personal, I will stop you. Talk to the issue. Respond like this: “I disagree. Strawberry is not better than butter pecan. Here’s why. ….”  Responses like this are out of line: “You’re an F-ing idiot if you think strawberry is better than butter pecan!”   Our goal is to shed light more than heat.

2. If someone else makes your point, you don’t need to make it again.

3. I try to seek different views. In doing so, I will call on some folks more than others so there’s a chance to hear different sides. But I may not get to everyone for some topics.

4. If you’re seeking a “support group” to vent heart-felt rants, go elsewhere. Attend with an open mind. You don’t need to agree with what you hear—just do try to understand the other side. I’m preaching to myself here as well.

5. Finally, It’s perfectly OK to push back against my questions you feel are too slanted or flat out incorrect. That’s going to happen.  Just don’t be picky in the interest of time.