Author Archives: Sean Patrick Hazlett

About Sean Patrick Hazlett

Finance executive, engineer, former military officer, and science fiction and horror writer. Editor of the Weird World War III anthology.

Will Israel Attack Iran This Spring?

Posted on Thursday, February 2, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta indicated today that Israel is considering a strike on Iran’s nuclear program as early as this spring. A Washington Post reporter asserted Panetta believed “there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, Middle East, Nuclear proliferation, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged International Security Policy, Iran, Israel, Leon Panetta, Nuclear proliferation, Oil, Strait of Hormuz | 17 Comments

The Disadvantages of Growing up Wealthy

Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Now that I have your attention, I think it is fair to state up front that there really are few disadvantages to growing up wealthy. You never have to worry about finding a job or joining the military to pay … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Leadership, Politics | Tagged Class Tone-Deafness, Democrats, Karen Hughes, Mitt Romney, Republicans | 17 Comments

Oakland Occupy Protestors Show Their True Colors

Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

The First Amendment is one of the hallmarks of the U.S. Constitution. Americans ought to have the legal right to express themselves and their grievances against the government. This right is fundamental, and the government ought to protect it. Burning … Continue reading →

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Posted in California, Crime, Media, Politics | Tagged Flag Burning, Oakland, Oakland City Hall, Occupy Oakland | 36 Comments

Marginal Tax Rates And Recessions

Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

A Reflections of a Rational Republican reader suggested that I attempt to debunk or challenge the notion from two posts (see “Rich Peoples Taxes Have Little to Do with Job Creation” and “The Myth of the Lower Marginal Tax Rates“) … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged Center for American Progress, Democrats, Recessions, Republicans, Tax Policy, Tax rates, Taxes | 32 Comments

More Signs of an Upcoming Confrontation with Iran

Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that “Navy officials acknowledged that they were moving with unusual haste to complete the conversion” of “an aging warship” the Navy “had planned to decommission into a makeshift staging base for the commandos” so it … Continue reading →

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Posted in Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged Iran, Navy SEALs, Nuclear proliferation, War | 13 Comments

Are You Better Off Now Than You Were Three Years Ago?

Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

President Obama has been in office for about three years and six days, which begs the question: Do you feel better off now than you were three years ago? A cursory review of the statistics suggests that the country is … Continue reading →

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Posted in Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics | Tagged Food stamps, National debt, President Obama, Unemployment | 6 Comments

Why I Will Not Vote for Newt Gingrich

Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Earlier this year I was spellbound by Newt Gingrich’s gift for debating. I was also fascinated by his skills as a brilliant political wonk. Nevertheless, when he attacked the very foundations of capitalism by levying charges of class warfare against … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Leadership, Policy, Politics | Tagged Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Politics of Personal Destruction, Quisling | 30 Comments

Why Business Leaders Think America’s Economy Is Ailing

Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Last October I was among nearly 10,000 Harvard Business School alumni who completed an in-depth survey on American competitiveness. Harvard Business School released the results of this survey last week, and they are fascinating.

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Posted in Business, Education, Finance and Economics, Healthcare, Leadership, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged Harvard Business School, Jan W. Rivkin, Jobs, Jobs Policy, Michael E. Porter, Prosperity at Risk, Prosperity at Risk: Findings of Harvard Business School's Survey on U.S. Competitiveness, Regulations, Regulatory Uncertainty | 16 Comments

Are Airstrikes Imminent in Iran?

Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

According to Stratfor, a routine rotation of American aircraft carriers could place three carrier strike groups in the vicinity of the Persian Gulf; a fourth carrier strike group in Japan is within a week’s sailing distance. This suspicious-looking placement of … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged Aircraft carriers, Iran, Israel, Nuclear weapons, Strait of Hormuz | 15 Comments

Private Equity: A Force for Good, or Evil?

Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney has been under a lot of pressure recently because of his private equity experience. Much of this negative media attention stems from certain assumptions about the nature of the private equity industry — assumptions that reflect … Continue reading →