Background
I have been writing and researching topics in our history, politics, economy, and society generally for many years. This started out on a hand-coded website, then graduated to a website coded with Dreamweaver. In roughly 2002 I moved to WordPress. 
CurrentMatters (http://currentmatters.markorton.com/ )(opens in new window) starts about then as the home for my scribbling. Though I have not added anything to to this site since Summer 2017 it is still running and you can visit it.
Beginning in 2015 I began to study the actual functioning of capitalism in detail. This led to many side ventures. In Fall 2017 I launched a new website entirely devoted to this work. AmericanDelusions (https://americandelusions.com/)(opens in new window).
Only a few articles from American Delusions and CurrentMatters are included here. Go to these earlier websites for the full story.
(listed in descending order by publication date)
Me and Religion – an essay
In recent years I have become much more forward and public in expressing my dislike and distrust of organized religion. This occasionally leads to some uncomfortable exchanges with people I meet. But, organized religion is a force that must be dealt with.
Published: April 14, 2019
AmericanDelusions
All of my recent work in the area of history, economics, politics, sociology, and the like are to be found at AmericanDelusions.com
Published: July 23, 2017
Concrete Dumping – more than a local Hudson nuisance
Posted on May 4, 2017 on CurrentMatters Thanks to GossipsOfRivertown for the image . Carole Osterink reported in her post “Unbelievable” on May 3rd about the dumping of waste concrete by F.H.Stickles Concrete on a site off north 2nd Street adjacent to… Continue reading Concrete Dumping – more than a local Hudson nuisance
Published: May 3, 2017
Are We Over Taxed, Over Defended, Bamboozled by the Military-Industrial-Congressional-Presidential Complex?
Americans feel that government at all levels is sucking the life blood out of them through taxes and regulations. Lets just talk about the tax part of this perception. What are the facts of the tax burdens on Americans? – an essay from 2010.
Published: September 14, 2010
6/2/2002 – Greenland and Global Warming
an essay from the original markorton.com website: Greenland and Global Warming When I looked down into the Grand Canyon for the first time, I paused only for a moment at its immensity and moved right onto a more self-centered thought, “How tiny human h… Continue reading 6/2/2002 – Greenland and Global Warming
Published: June 2, 2002
1/23/2002 – Enron, Trust, and Malfeasance
Enron, Trust, and Malfeasance The collapse of energy giant Enron over the last six months has produced a surprising level of outrage especially for a cynic like me. As this drama continues to unfold, I have been trying to understand how Enron structure… Continue reading 1/23/2002 – Enron, Trust, and Malfeasance
Published: January 26, 2002
When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor – book review
When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor Book Review: William Julius Wilson, When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor (New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1997) Race is never far from the surface in America’s public or private worlds. T… Continue reading When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor – book review
Published: March 24, 2001
The Marshall Plan and Jane Jacobs’ Cities and the Wealth of Nations – book review
The Marshall Plan and Jane Jacobs’ Cities and the Wealth of Nations Book Review/Essay 3/97 The recent celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the Marshall Plan was more than just a bit of self adulatory puffery for this generatio… Continue reading The Marshall Plan and Jane Jacobs’ Cities and the Wealth of Nations – book review
Published: March 24, 1997
Michael Crichton’s Congo and the Transformation of the Western Mind
Book Review/Essay 2/97 (revised 1/29/02 – maps added at bottom) (revised 6/25/03 – map of Angola superimposed on the US) Michael Crichton’s 1980 pulp novel Congo opens with an introduction that is truly arresting . I quote here the first two para… Continue reading Michael Crichton’s Congo and the Transformation of the Western Mind
Published: January 24, 1997