Edifice of Trust Podcast
Victor C. Bolles
August 11, 2025
Democrats across the country are outraged that Texas Governor Abbott wants to redraw the Congressional district map in order to favor Republicans a concept called gerrymandering (although many Democratic states are more gerrymandered than Texas). Both Republicans and Democrats gerrymander even though they also denounce the process. In this commentary we discuss how to get rid of gerrymandering if politicians are sincere about eliminating this blight on our democracy.
Quote from the commentary:
“So, spare me the drama and faux outrage. Gerrymandering appears to be an unfortunate side effect of democracy but it should be fairly easy to get rid of gerrymandering. With the vast computing power of artificial intelligence, it would be simple for AI to configure compact contiguous districts without regard to the strength of political parties in certain areas. But. There is always a “but” isn’t there?”
Is the death of Democracy
Victor C. Bolles
August 6, 2025
The viability and credibility of America’s public institutions are threatened by executive overreach, Congressional underperformance, a Federal Reserve tasked beyond its capabilities, political parties controlled by extremists and a Supreme Court in disrepute. Most of these institutions suffer from mission creep but the Supreme Court is being pilloried for trying to maintain constitutional order. In this commentary we investigate attacks on the Court that are actually attacks on the Constitution.
Quote from the Commentary:
“Democrats claim that the US constitution should be a living document. That the Court’s interpretation of the US Constitution should reflect the current culture and modern ways of thinking. One that evolves, changes over time, and adapts to new circumstances, without being formally amended. But a living document is a politicized document reflecting the views and opinions of the party in power. But the Democrats are not alone. Donald Trump also wants to change how the Constitution is interpreted.”
Victor C. Bolles
July 30, 2025
The dueling ideologies of the left and right are, in reality, the expression of two aspects of our human nature, an independent individual within a larger society where the needs of the group are in conflict with the needs of the individual. How can we create a good society if our conflicts are buried deep in our human nature? In this commentary, we look at ways to make progress in building a good society.
Quote from the commentary:
But while individualism has transformed our world, humans remain hybrids, Homo duplex. Most Americans are partly individualistic and partly communalistic. But each of these visions of society have their problems. Individualistic societies lead to inequality while communalistic societies are oppressive.
Victor C. Bolles
July 14, 2025
Rumors are flying around Washington about the imminent (and perhaps untimely) departure of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell along with speculation about possible replacements for this critical role. In this commentary we look at some of the implications of this change in leadership at this institution forced to take on outsized responsibilities for the US (and world) economy.
Quote from the commentary:
(T)he American economy is chugging along (the envy of the world as the Economist magazine puts it) with economic growth over two percent, low unemployment and the stock market at record highs. Adding stimulus in the form of lower interest rates to an already humming economy will only lead to one thing – inflation.
Victor C. Bolles
July 2, 2025
The difference between capitalism and socialism is easy to explain, capitalism creates wealth and socialism distributes wealth. The important thing to keep in mind is the difference between creators and distributors. In this commentary we will look at some of those differences.
Quote from the commentary:
Remember, the Berlin Wall separating capitalist West Germany from communist East Germany (of which I have a piece in my study) wasn’t designed to keep opportunity seeking immigrants out, as is the case here in the US, it was built to keep depressed and discouraged East Germans in.
Victor C. Bolles
June 25, 2025
As president Trump flies off to join other world leaders at the NATO meeting in the Netherlands, it is a good time to analyze the nature of that alliance and the necessity of other alliances as well. In this commentary we will address the question of whether we need allies or not and, if we do needs allies, how do we rebuild our network of alliances that President Trump is in the process of destroying?
Quote from the commentary:
“That rules-based order had worked pretty darn well for many decades culminating with the collapse of the Soviet Union and a belief that the universal acceptance of the “Washington Consensus” would mean the “end of history.” But at the peak of the success of Western Civilization it all began to fall apart.”
Victor C. Bolles
June 17, 2025
Amidst all the chaos swirling around us, all is calm in the eye of the storm. President Trump is at the center of this storm of activity announcing new policies and issuing executive orders while he remains calm and confident. In this commentary we discuss why maybe you shouldn’t be so calm and confident.
Quote from the commentary:
Donald Trump is an agent of change. He intends to leave not just the United States but the entire world a very different place from what is was when he was elected. But the forces he is unleashing may exceed his ability to control them.
You Are Not Entitled to Anything
Victor C. Bolles
June 11, 2025
What kind of Post-Trump world do we want to live in? The MAGA-Republicans and progressive left Democrats are in a bitter fight for the vote of American citizens, one side offering tax cuts galore for wealthy citizens and favored industries (funded by massive and unsustainable increases in the public debt), the other side offering an avalanche of benefits for favored identities and favored industries (funded by massive and unsustainable increases in the public debt). In this commentary, we look at what we really need to do to navigate in a Post-Trump world.
Quote from the commentary:
And because the government does not create wealth, the cost of positive rights must be paid by some citizens for the benefit of other citizens. These payments may be in the form of taxes such that wealthier citizens fund the benefits to poorer citizens. Or they may be in the form of deficit spending, borrowing the funds such that future citizens pay for the benefits of current citizens.
The First Step toward a Post-Trump World
Victor C. Bolles
May 28, 2025
There are many barriers to our goal of rejuvenating America in a post-Trump world. The first step in this rejuvenation effort is getting a government that works so that we have a solid foundation which can support our efforts. The US congress can’t pass a budget, can’t manage our finances and can’t get important policies approved with a bipartisan consensus. In order to get a government that works we must reform Congress. In this commentary we discuss some of the important reforms needed to set Congress on the right track.
Quote from the commentary:
Reinhart and Rogoff wrote that there is a point of no return where the debt trap becomes impossible to escape. The United States in nearing that point of no return. The desperate attempt to promote ever more economic growth at all costs only increases the fragility of the economy and our exposure to a debt crisis.
