The Lonely Realist is a bridge across the partisan gap, raising questions and making pointed observations about politics, economics, international relations and the markets. Its goal is to raise awareness and inspire thought on controversial issues that impact America and Americans, highlighting issues that should be, but rarely are, the focus of bipartisan discussion.

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In seeking to promote dialogue, The Lonely Realist is not an advocate of conclusions or remedies. To the extent perceived biases leak into these pages, as they sometimes do, please ignore them. They are inadvertent missteps.

  • “Should America wage a ‘War on Unaffordability’ as the 21st Century successor to the 20th Century’s ‘War on Poverty’?” – The Lonely RealistLoading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... Is there really an “affordability crisis”? If so, when might such a “crisis” become “critical”?...

  • “The Iran War is igniting an inflationary bonfire.” – The Lonely RealistLoading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... TLR yesterday had the opportunity to discuss economics with Cassandra, the mythical Trojan priestess gifted by the Greek God Apollo with the ability to make accurate prophesies...

  • “Is a gerrymandered democracy good for America?” – The Lonely RealistLoading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... TLR first discussed gerrymandering 7 years ago. That commentary, “Elbridge Gerry’s Salamander,” is being republished today in light of last week’s ruling by a Virginia county judge declaring...

  • “Highs and lows of April 2026…, and thereafter.” – The Lonely RealistLoading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... TLR recently received a number of questions from readers. TLR’s responses follow: Dear Mr. Realist:           I’ve been reading a range of commentators’...

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More by TLR

Let’s Talk Turkey; A Financial Transaction Tax?*

Let’s Talk TurkeyLoading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player… The country, not the bird. Change happens. In Turkey, change has been a slow-motion slide into dictatorship. Turkey used to be the shining example of an Islamic republic with a multi-decade history of secular democracy.

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Iran War Misconceptions

“Three quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty.” – Carl von Clausewitz “Beware the ‘fog of war.’” – The Lonely RealistLoading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player… When asked in

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Fractured America

TLR considered alternate titles for today’s commentary and stuck with “Fractured America” because it conveys the shocking reality that American society is coming has come apart.  It has not simply bifurcated separated into a few dissimilar schools of thought.  It has come unglued, sundered, splintering

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William (Bill) Natbony is The Lonely Realist, its author and originator. The opinions expressed in TLR are solely Bill’s opinions, have not been edited or reviewed, and do not reflect the views or opinions or any other person.