Here is Dave interviewing Dave, as per your questions:

· Given your talent, I’m surprised that you don’t (appear to) publish in traditional magazines such as The New Yorker, Reason, Psychology Today, The Atlantic, Mother Jones? Why is that?

It'll be a long time before my work finds these paths.

· What year would you say that your writing career “took off”? What made the difference?

Not happened yet. I made $12.96 on Medium for July. No book sales.

· How did you come to choose ………….. as a pen name?

No pen name

· Do you simply relish your privacy, or do you worry about retribution?

If my gets somewhat famous, I expect a fair degree of "retribution."

· Where did you get your college degrees and what are they in?

University of Alberta, Engineering

· I’ve seen you described as a “disenchanted professor.” Are you on a college or university faculty now?

Not me. The academics won't consider my alternative democracy.

· What do you teach?

I have five books about an alternative democracy. They are available for a free read from my website. I am trying to teach Medium contributors about this new way, but they seem to think the current way is all they need.

· How do you find time to write so often and at such length — and to prepare for writing and to tweet– while teaching and raising a family?

I just write as spare time and energy permit. Family comes first.

I recently decided to spend less time on Medium. I've got another three books that need to come out.

· Your writing indicates that you are very disillusioned by the state of the U.S. and the world. Why did you decide to have kids?

I'm disillusioned that smart, well-meaning people cannot consider another kind of democracy.

· What do you tell your kids about what’s going on in the world?

Danny is only seven. Maybe in five years, I will have this problem.

· How do you fend off depression?

When I recognize I have depression, that is usually enough to make it go away.

What commentary writers do you admire most?

Here is my article on four writers of the Ukraine/Russian war:

https://davevolek.medium.com/four-medium-writers-find-unity-about-russia-dd08e7703b91

· What’s the most influential book you ever read?

Many, but nothing seems to be at the top of the list.

· What’s your favorite novel?

I like the Asimov Foundation Series

· What do you believe to be the best country to live in now?

Canada. I'm thankful to be in this place and time.

· Is there an earlier epoch you would rather have lived in?

Nope.

· Is there anyone in politics, here or abroad, that you truly admire?

I could offer a few names, but they have been shaped by political parties. They did not give us their true potential.

· Have you ever been invited to appear on a cable talk program?

Nope. But I think I'm ready if asked. ·

Have you given thought to launching a podcast?

Yes, but most likely no one would listen to it. I'm planning to do some Zoom teaching this fall. ·

Will you ever collect your essays in a book?

I've already put 133 of my Medium eassys into a bood: The TDG-Medium Papers. Available on Amazon. Most on my Medium pub Tiered Democratic Governance.

This was fun. It should have gotten more traction.