The Political Dodo

04/26/2026

For years now, we have seen Democrats saying the economy is doomed, that society is collapsing, and that our rights are being dissolved. Republicans pretty much do the same thing on the opposite end, and it goes back and forth depending on who is in office.

So I guess what I want to say to people who come upon this page is ignore the fatalism of the extremists on both sides. The American people are strong and resilient. That is not to push aside the fact that there will be ebbs and flows in our economy and in our trust in one another, but there is a reason I say we are the greatest nation on Earth. We always push forward in spite of it.

When we had the Civil War, which would have destroyed many other nations, we rebuilt. We survived World War I, World War II, the Cold War, years of recession and depression, and two political parties that often seem to care more about their parties than the American people. Yet we have endured.

Even though we struggle from time to time, at the end of the day we will thrive and continue to move forward. Do not let the fearmongers and the faithless mentality sway you into despair.

04/14/2026

Often what happens in American politics is a cycle of blame. Democrats blame Republicans, and Republicans blame Democrats.

But the reality is that the situation is usually more complicated than that. The United States hasn’t had a balanced federal budget since the late 1990s during the administration of President Bill Clinton. Since then, both parties have held power at different times, and the debt has continued to grow.

At the same time, the American economy is unlikely to simply collapse overnight. The American people are incredibly resilient. Businesses adapt, workers adjust, and innovation keeps moving forward.

What does hurt the economy, and the country more broadly, is the constant political animosity. When everything becomes about blaming the other side instead of solving problems, it can create instability, uncertainty, and division that ultimately affects everyday Americans.

Maybe the real question isn’t which party is to blame, but whether both sides are willing to work together enough to actually fix the problem.

04/14/2026

By now many people have seen the awkward moment involving Sabrina Carpenter. Whether she should have apologized or not, I’m not going to weigh in on that personally. But it did get me thinking about apologies from public figures in general especially in politics.

I see three situations that seem to happen over and over.

First, a public figure says or does something wrong and later gives what appears to be a heartfelt apology. Yet people still continue to come after them. It makes me wonder do some people actually care about the apology, or is the outrage itself the point? Sometimes it feels like the apology isn’t what people want they just want a reason to stay angry.

Second, a public figure says something and people react angrily, but the person insists that’s not what they meant. Maybe people misunderstood them or took their words out of context. They try to clarify what they actually meant, but people remain upset. That creates a strange dilemma should someone apologize for something they didn’t actually say or intend?

Third, a public figure makes a mistake, apologizes sincerely, and tries to move forward. But months or years later people demand another apology… and then another. This is where it starts to bother me. If someone has already apologized sincerely, constantly demanding more apologies sends two signals. first, they will probably never be forgiven, and second, the apology eventually becomes less sincere and more like lip service.

So to public figures whether they’re celebrities or politicians I would say this if you mess up, apologize sincerely.

But don’t apologize simply because people misunderstood you.

And to the public. try to understand what someone actually meant before reacting. If it was truly wrong and they give a heartfelt apology, accept it and move on.

The Political Dodo’s bird’s-eye view when is an apology enough?

04/13/2026

04/10/2026

04/10/2026

I know this topic is a little late but.

When President Donald Trump first talked about being tougher on China over currency manipulation and intellectual property theft, I supported the idea. I thought, finally, someone is willing to stand up to them.

But instead of building a coalition of 20–30 countries to impose tariffs and restrictions together, the policy was pursued largely unilaterally.

If a large coalition of countries acted together, prices would likely still rise in the short term. However, the collective pressure might have been strong enough to push China to change some of its behavior. Acting alone, however, mostly raises prices for Americans without creating the same level of international pressure.

Now tariffs are being applied broadly even to longtime allies which risks alienating partners the United States would need for any coordinated economic pressure in the first place.

In the end, tariffs function as a tax that often gets passed along to consumers, meaning the cost tends to trickle down to the American people.

04/07/2026

Colleges and universities are not just about imparting information. They should also encourage students to think, debate, and challenge ideas. This doesn’t mean people need to be offensive, but there should be an environment where discussion is welcomed and where students challenge each other on topics like science, politics, philosophy, and more.

However, at times it seems that instead of encouraging debate, some campuses are moving toward shutting down opposing viewpoints. Rather than engaging with ideas they disagree with, some students attempt to cancel speakers or shout them down before they can even present their arguments.

We’ve seen several occasions where a presenter arrives to give a speech, only to have students stand up and chant slogans in an attempt to silence them. That isn’t productive. It doesn’t encourage discussion, and it doesn’t help anyone learn.

Education should encourage people to question ideas, examine arguments, and debate respectfully. When debate is replaced with shouting or silencing others, the opportunity to learn from different perspectives is lost.

Colleges should be places where students are taught how to think, not what to think.

04/06/2026

This is a complex issue. On one hand, government incompetence can lead to a shutdown, which means people lose their pay. It’s reasonable to ask why lawmakers should continue getting paid when others are not.

On the other hand, something like this could also be used as leverage during political standoffs to try to force policies through.

Ultimately, if workers are losing their pay because the government can’t stay open, the people responsible should face consequences for that failure whether that means stopping their pay, voting them out, or both.

04/04/2026

Immigration Part 4

Now, obviously, none of this would happen all at once. It would take time to implement these policies and even more time to see the results. However, I truly believe the results could be significant.

Reducing the power of cartels and criminal networks would likely reduce the amount of drugs entering the United States. Fewer drugs entering the country means fewer narcotics available for people struggling with addiction.

It would also relieve pressure on our immigration system. With less strain on the border, we could begin addressing other issues more effectively, such as family reunification and improving legal immigration processes so families can be together.

At the same time, people who originally came because they did not feel safe in their home countries might eventually have the opportunity to return home safely if stability improves in Central and South America.

There are also financial benefits to consider. Every year the United States spends enormous amounts of money dealing with the consequences of instability, border enforcement, drug trafficking, emergency services, and the costs associated with large migration surges. Reducing these pressures could free up resources that could instead be invested in strengthening our own economy and supporting American communities.

Beyond that, stabilizing regions affected by cartels, gangs, and corruption would help our neighbors to the south rebuild their economies. As their economies grow, their ability to produce goods increases, and their purchasing power increases as well. That means stronger trade relationships and more opportunities for the United States to sell products to growing markets.

But the benefits could go even further. If countries across the Americas worked together to confront one of the major humanitarian crises of our time, that cooperation could strengthen partnerships in other areas as well. Countries would be more willing to work together on challenges such as climate issues, environmental protection, counterterrorism, and combating diseases like Zika.

In the end, addressing the root causes rather than only the symptoms could benefit not only the United States but the entire region.

04/04/2026

Immigration Part 3

The next question is: how do we deal with it?

As I said before, we cannot fix everything at once, but there are steps we can begin taking now.

First, immigration enforcement should be focused and coordinated rather than purely political. Instead of constantly arguing over whether enforcement should exist or not, leaders on both sides should agree that enforcement should prioritize violent criminals, cartel affiliates, traffickers, and individuals who pose clear threats to public safety, while also giving law enforcement enough breathing room to manage the broader situation at the border.

Second, agencies such as the DEA and ATF should be strengthened and better coordinated so they can more effectively target the criminal networks that traffic drugs north into the United States and guns south into Latin America. These trafficking networks fuel the violence and instability that contribute to migration pressures in the first place.

Third, when it comes to drug policy, some cities have experimented with programs where individuals can obtain drugs from regulated sources under the belief that it is safer than buying from criminals. In my view, this approach does not solve the problem and risks encouraging continued addiction. Instead, the focus should be placed on rehabilitation, recovery programs, and helping people break free from addiction, rather than normalizing drug dependency.

Finally, there should be a serious effort to build a broad international coalition across the Americas. Countries from North, Central, and South America, along with partners from outside the region willing to assist, should work together to confront the criminal organizations responsible for violence, corruption, and instability.

This would involve cooperation between military forces, law enforcement agencies, and governments to dismantle gangs, cartels, and organized crime networks operating throughout the region.

We have already seen examples of governments taking strong action against gangs, such as in El Salvador. While no approach is perfect and safeguards for civil liberties should always exist the reality is that when criminal organizations are allowed to operate freely, the result is years of violence, fear, and economic stagnation. Serious and sustained efforts are required if these countries are to regain stability.

Of course, this is easier said than done. But if criminal activity can be reduced and stability restored, many countries would finally have the opportunity to grow their economies, attract investment, and welcome tourists again, giving people more reasons to build their lives at home rather than feeling forced to leave.

04/04/2026

Immigration Part 2

When it comes to what is causing illegal immigration, there are a multitude of causes. However, we don’t need to solve every single one immediately. If we focus on a few key causes first, it could lighten the pressure enough that the rest could be addressed piecemeal over time.

The first major reason many people come is for work. People come because they cannot find stable work in their own countries. There are many reasons for that, but one of the biggest is instability caused by cartels, gangs, corruption, and sometimes overbearing governments.

Businesses and corporations are far less willing to invest in regions where criminal organizations have influence or control. No one wants to build factories, infrastructure, or long-term industries in places where violence, extortion, or instability threaten their investments. When investment does not happen, industries struggle to grow, and job creation cannot keep up with population growth.

Governments that might otherwise invest in economic development often have to divert large amounts of money into fighting cartels and organized crime instead. On top of that, corruption can mean that resources meant to help the population are sometimes diverted for personal gain. Tourism is also affected, since many people are hesitant to travel to places known for violence or instability.

The second group of people crossing the border are those fleeing persecution or threats to their lives. In many cases, those threats come from gangs and cartels that engage in violence, extortion, and intimidation. Corrupt officials or abusive governments can also contribute to situations where people feel unsafe remaining in their home countries.

The third issue involves organized criminal activity itself. Much of this is driven by cartel networks operating across borders. Drugs are trafficked north into the United States, while guns purchased in the United States are often trafficked south into Latin America. These networks fuel violence and instability in the regions where many migrants originate.

If we focus on addressing these root causes instead of only the symptoms, it could relieve significant pressure on the border system and make it easier to deal with other issues later, such as improving legal immigration processes and family reunification.