An acquaintance returned from early voting in Manassas, Virginia, quite irate. The stakes are high in this highly unusual once in a lifetime presidential election. As she was waiting for her registration paperwork to be processed, she studied carefully the rear of each of the voting machines that were about three feet from her. She wanted to find out the name of the manufacturer of the machines being used. Continue reading
Two weeks before the most outrageous presidential election in history, the stakes for the economic future of our country are high. There is no question that the U.S. economy is in terrible shape and that the policy decisions made in the last ten years have negatively affected everyone who trades, invests, and use the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency. Are voters going to choose free market economic recovery with Trump or global collectivism with Clinton? Continue reading
Dacian Ciolos, Prime Minister of Romania
Photo: Ileana Johnson 2016
The Prime Minister of Romania, Dacian Ciolos, following a visit to Washington, spoke at the Romanian Embassy to specially invited members of the influential Romanian community from the Washington area.
His excellence, George Cristian Maior, Romanian Ambassador to Washington, welcomed the Prime Minister, his cabinet, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and all invited guests. Continue reading
President Klaus W. Johannis and wife
Photo: Ileana Johnson, April 1, 2016
Yesterday a select group of American and Romanian citizens were invited by the Romanian Ambassador, George Cristian Maior, to meet the President of Romania, Klaus Werner Johannis, and his wife, Carmen, who were in town for the two day nuclear summit in Washington, D.C. Continue reading
On the question of medicine and medical care after decades of communism which ended officially with the Revolution of December 1989, Brenciu explained that Romania now produces doctors on a “conveyor belt.” He admits that a good doctor is not made by textbook theory learned in school, but is born after years of residency training, specializing, and real life experience in the ER of a hospital. Continue reading
Life in general has improved for Romanians. They can now travel freely in the country and move across international borders with ease. They have freedom of political and artistic expression, freedom of assembly, unlimited Internet access, plenty of trashy television but also good educational programming, public information, easier access to medical care and better quality care, the right to own private property, professional opportunities, the right to go to college, even private ones, and many other freedoms the West had taken for granted. The failed European style multiculturalism, sexual freedoms/perversions, and drug use have arrived as well.
Food is probably the most beneficial improvement in the lives of Romanians – it is available everywhere and there is no need to stand in endless lines to leave empty-handed as was the case during the communist regime. People are no longer faced with having to repair their shoes from year to year because they could not buy new ones. Grocery stores display an abundance of food, not just one solitaire salami in the window. Pharmacy shelves are no longer empty and drugs are available. Fast communication and modern transportation are now a breeze even in the most isolated corners of the country. Continue reading
On the question, why would people put their faith in career politicians, fighting with each other fiercely on social media, looking for purity, honesty, and perfection in a person’s character, qualities that are often lacking in the political world, Mircea Brenciu’s answer was no surprise. Continue reading
Dinesh D’Souza (Wikipedia photo)
Bill Ayers (Wikipedia photo)
An interesting debate, sponsored by the Young Americans Foundation, took place on February 3, 2016 at the University of Michigan between author and film producer Dinesh D’Souza and the progressive retired professor Bill Ayers, a moderated debate with Q & A watched on line by approximately 3,000 Americans. Continue reading
“Truth is sleepwalking with a hole in its head.” – Mircea Brenciu
Mircea Brenciu Photo: Wikipedia
I met Mircea Brenciu on a sunny day in May 2015 in the downtown park as he was delivering a speech in Brasov on Heroes Day. The background of the rally was a huge cross erected in the memory of those who lost their lives during the Revolution of December 1989, when dozens of people were shot in the anti-communist revolution. Some of those young people were buried not far behind the cross.
I don’t believe in coincidence – there is a higher purpose for this seemingly chance encounter on such an important day in Romania’s history. Continue reading
Donald Trump
Rally in New Hampshire 8-19-2015 Photo: Wikipedia
The often ostentatious Trump irritates Democrats, the liberal media, and the establishment Republicans for many reasons. They cannot understand how his popularity soars in the polls no matter what he says and what they do to unseat him, or what dirt, real or imagined, they try to dig up. Continue reading