Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

The American Enterprise

Dan's unique perspective on the economy, the government, and our country's leadership is not commonly found in mainstream media. Designed to enlighten and engage you with what he believes is a refreshing dose of truth, his articles challenge the narratives often presented by mainstream media and encourage critical thinking about the state of our country's enterprise.

Dan offers workarounds and solutions when possible. His aim is to provide actionable solutions to the challenges we may face in these areas.

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What Sparks Real Change? The Psychology Behind Life’s Turning Points

What is the Spark in One’s Life that Causes them to Make Significant Changes in their Life for the Better?

That pivotal moment or “spark” that causes someone to make significant life changes for the better often stems from a personal crisis, a profound realization, or a transformative experience. While the catalyst varies from person to person, here are some common types of events that tend to trigger such shifts:

How the Federal Reserve System Plunders the American Taxpayer

The Federal Reserve was established in 1913 under the Federal Reserve Act, following a series of banking panics, most notably the Panic of 1907. Its stated purpose was to stabilize the financial system, provide an elastic currency, and act as a lender of last resort. Over time, however, its policies have evolved into mechanisms that critics argue quietly transfer wealth from ordinary Americans to the government and financial elites. This “plunder” doesn’t happen through overt taxation—it occurs through monetary policy, inflation, and systemic favoritism.

The U.S. Electric Vehicle (EV) Market is hitting a Rough Patch, and the Reasons are Clear:

The expiration of federal tax credits, high upfront costs, and persistent infrastructure gaps have triggered a sharp slowdown in demand. The Impact of these factors is not to be underestimated, as they have significantly altered the market dynamics. Social engineering only works when it continues to manipulate the public into thinking they are gaining benefits and preferential treatment. Once reality sets in that the benefits were only temporary, then the business adjusts back to market-driven economics.

The EV Bust: How Policy Shifts and Consumer Fatigue Sparked a Market Correction

The Policy Whiplash Government incentives were the backbone of EV adoption in the U.S. For years, tax credits and state rebates have narrowed the price gap, signaling a long-term commitment to electrification. When those incentives expired in late 2025, the market lost its safety net overnight. Automakers had scaled production based on a demand curve that assumed continued policy support—only to face a sudden cliff.

Government as Racket: How Power, Policy, Access, and Paydays Converge

When people say “the system is rigged,” they may be closer to a macro truth than a slogan. Here’s the evidence-driven anatomy of how public authority routinely converts into private gain—and what it would take to unwind the racket.

War Is a Racket: Smedley Butler’s Timeless Warning About Profiteering and Power

In 1935, Major General Smedley D. Butler—one of the most decorated Marines in U.S. History—published a short but explosive book: War Is a Racket. At fewer than 50 pages, it remains one of the most searing indictments of the economic motives behind war. Butler’s thesis was radical yet straightforward: wars are rarely fought for freedom or defense—they are fought for profit.

From His Book, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, to Today’s Debt Diplomacy: Debt as a Weapon

What John Perkins alleged two decades ago—that a system that uses debt to shape nations’ choices—still resonates. But the 2020s bring new players, new contracts, and new fault lines, marking a significant evolution in debt diplomacy. Here’s how the playbook has evolved—and what it means for countries caught in the middle.

Why We Should Accept Nothing at Face Value from the Mainstream Media

Because of its persistent—and often subtle—use of propaganda techniques to sway public opinion

California’s 2025 Legislative Reset: Housing Density Meets AI Accountability

California’s 2025 legislative session was historic. Governor Gavin Newsom signed 794 bills into Law, vetoing 123 others, in a sweeping effort to address the structural challenges facing the state. Among these, two policy areas stand out for their transformative potential: housing reform and the regulation of artificial intelligence. These initiatives not only address immediate crises, such as affordability and tech ethics, but also set a precedent for national policy debates.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed 794 bills in 2025, spanning a Wide Range of Policy Areas.

The Governor never met a new regulation designed to control every element of human experience that he didn’t like. The control in California of the human experience moves one step further toward the Communist Chinese Party experiment. Tax, regulate, and provide a safety net for those who don’t want to work. They will come in groups, and I will maintain control over them. They will vote for me because I represent a life-line hammock.

SB-21: Reforming Single-Room Occupancy Housing and Homeless Assistance- Quick Read

California Senate Bill 21 (SB-21), authored by Senator Maria Elena Durazo and signed into Law on 10 October 2025, represents a significant update to the state’s housing policy. The bill addresses the rehabilitation and replacement of Single-Room Occupancy (SRO) units, a critical housing resource for extremely low-income and homeless individuals. It amends provisions of the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 to allow flexibility in redevelopment while maintaining affordability protections.

SB-21 (2025): How Sacramento Rewrote Single Room Occupant (SRO) Rules—And What It Means for Housing, Finance, and Cities- Technical Read

SB-21, signed on 10 October 2025 (Chapter 511, Statutes of 2025), updates the Housing Crisis Act framework to allow jurisdictions to rehabilitate and replace single-room occupancy (SRO) buildings with more flexible unit replacement rules. This update, while securing long-term affordability and strengthening tenant protections, ensures a fair and balanced approach for all stakeholders. Most provisions take effect on 1 January 2026 (the regular effective date for non-urgency statutes).

Demonstrations and Rioting in the USA are a Big and Profitable Business Enterprise.

History and economic dimensions of activist demonstrations and rioting in the United States, including its evolution into a profit-driven and politically charged enterprise:

The Psychology of Economic Behavior — Why We Choose What We Choose

Let’s review a few comments between economists, Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek, and compare their views on purpose and individualism.

“Start-Stop” and “Stop -Go” Dynamics in Business: This is Not a Strategy, but Rather a Barrier.

The phrase “Stop, and Go” is not just a simple expression, but a concept of profound importance in various aspects of life, particularly in the dynamic world of business. Its literal and metaphorical uses carry significant implications, shaping the way we understand and navigate the business landscape.

American Moral Hazard Analysis, Sector-by-Sector: Government Inefficiency, Corporate Profitability, and Insurance Market Instability

A moral hazard occurs when one party is insulated from risk and therefore behaves differently than they would if they were fully exposed to the consequences of that risk. The risks are systematically transferred to another group, a subset of the whole group, or an external entity.

How Federal Legislative Laws and Regulations Get Written (with Industry Examples)

Most laws don’t start as polished statutes. They begin as ideas—often from outside the legislature—and are translated into precise legal text by nonpartisan attorneys employed by the legislature, with heavy input from members’ staff and stakeholders. While lobbyists and advocacy groups cannot introduce legislation themselves, they do play a significant role in shaping the language that ends up on paper.

How Does Search Engine Optimization Work?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving a website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) to attract more organic (non-paid) traffic.

Radicalized Ideologies Spring Up in the Age of Algorithms: Why, And How They Spread—and What Actually Works Against Them

Radicalized ideologies thrive when three forces converge: grievance and the need for significance, compelling narratives that legitimize extreme means, and networks that reward commitment and belonging. Researchers frame these as needs–narratives–networks (or, in classic models, the “staircase” that narrows choices as people move upward).