Why We are Still Struggling With Good Moral Conscious in Law

Today I had an interesting discussion with an acquaintance of mine on law enforcement and its general effectiveness. Sometimes it is beneficial to move into the use of different citations and studies and other times it is beneficial to talk (record sentiment.) without having to deal with "facts". We know that bigotry, discrimination and racism are big part of people's discussion and much of the nation is gripping with this issue and confused by it. From far right to far left people are lining up on one side or the other and sticking to a party line narrative. Yet linger questions still remain and solutions are not forthcoming (likely because people can't budge on their opinions.)

In this discussion we talked about the nature of law enforcement, its purpose in society and how it is perceived in various communities. Different peoples see different things and they view law enforcement in different ways. Some have positive images and some have negative images. Much of that is based in their experience, how the wider system functions, and the personal narratives of their community (any community. Its not race or religion specific.)

(Before you get all excited, pull your hair out, and start calling names {or worse} my beliefs are fairly simple and I believe for the most part practical. I'm always open to the idea that I don't understand something and new perspective are welcome so I may define my own. I have seen mostly great officers who care about their community and their people. They are like anyone. Some are ignorant, some are smart, some are wise, some are selfish, etc... their personalities are like the many different people we interact with every day. As a society we need police and we need them to be part of the solution. Needing police and supporting them also means supporting the legitimate right of people to share their opinion on policing and demand that there are improvements when obvious deficiencies are present. Good officers do good things and are cherished members of our society. Bad officers and corrupt practices sometimes persist because of social, racial, religious, political and personal perceptions and connections. Mistakes can be trained but willful destructiveness cannot and such officers need to removed/accountable for the integrity/good will of the whole system. The justice system is subject to the good will of the people and thus must have the appropriate feedback loops in place to improve and ensure that it maintains that trust by the "people" {defined by our Constitution and not by extremist members of society}. The Justice System must be a thinking, wise and guided by moral conscious to do the right things so that when mistakes happen they are mistakes in improvement and not mistakes that chip at the foundations of society {Its not really about the technicalities of the law or how it can be manipulated}. I support police and our judicial system 100% and I support reasonable/practical/positive change that ensures it if focuses on the essential truths of American societal living. We have philosophical beliefs as a nation and our institutions should be constantly pushing to move in alignment with those beliefs; not the other way around. When it doesn't change or move to improve where improvement is obvious {depending on which group you talk to} we start seeing societal rifts in part on truth and in part on false narratives. When it comes to schisms truth and falsehood are generally mixed up creating wide partial justifications that fail to grasp the essential similarities among the different sides/arguments.  Its not a political argument or even choosing a side but it is an observation that has likely been experienced in many places/countries that were not able to successful navigate change. In case your wondering what my political beliefs are I'm a light right conservative that believes we can push systems to become better, wiser, increasingly effective, more accurate and more effective. Without learning we have stagnation and with stagnation we lose homeostasis as antiquated systems fail to meet the general expectations of all of society; assuming we don't have two different societies forming. To me science, evidence based decision making and good values/conscious can improve most systems. We can write laws, policies & procedures, mission statements, etc... but we must ultimately believe them to enact those values. )  

What we sort of came to the conclusion of is that people see different things based on their backgrounds (and interactions and narratives.). Positive change will be increasingly necessary to sew the different perceptions together. Without some level of change and adjustment we will be creating two different societies, different applied laws, different values, and different opportunities with different philosophical outcomes (One where everyone can compete in a free society or one in which only some can compete in a caste-type society.). These societies are defined in part by both individual cases and on a macro level when we add those cases up to determine how such situations are treated throughout the system (Big data and the Digital Era will provide lots of information and lots of new insights into macro behaviors.). It is best to be fair and reasonable and encourage new ideas to help vet and explore potentially fruitful possibilities. We can build on what we currently have to make it better and that will come when/if we decide that the values that are essential to American life/identity are universalized for all our people.  What do you believe? Do we have a single conception of our society of Americans or a duel perception of Americans and "Americans"?

Laws Should Reflect the Moral Values of Society

 As a people we should have certain laws and values (and symbols) that tie us together and sow the seeds that allow us to create shared roots of culture. Sometimes laws are designed to help and other times they are designed to distort (Yes its possible to have both). At the essence of all laws should be values and those values are where our money and laws should be focused. 

Values can be very subjective based on who you are talking with. Some feel that while individual cultural values are different that we as a people have shared values that bind us togethers. Others feel that values are all about what they can get out of any situation and laws are just meaningless tools (Some judges may even feel that way from time to time.). At the end of the day we must decide what the essential purpose of our laws are and whether or not they are going to reflect our shared values. 

I used to be an idealist who believed that most people are hoping to do the right thing and create a sense of community and fair play. Over the years I have learned that while this is an ideal we hold in society many people are not willing to sacrifice or give up anything important for those values.  Much of it is just lip service and we run the risk that our values decline (whatever those values are.). Putting our money and values there is difficult at best.

When we are not willing to stand by some shared principles we may find that laws are more of a game of manipulation than actual truth and moral conscious (Watch some court cases and you will see.). On technicalities some walk from major crimes and others blatantly play games with the law; much is dependent on social connection and deeper pockets as they relate to the quality of lawyer (Sometimes justice occurs but it is more likely on the 60-70% range and can be volatile. Feedback is something that seems to struggle finding receptive ear.). 

Here is where we have a problem and its one we just simmer in the background on a low boil. When we do not share certain values and principles and the law looks more like a game of checkers than an actual societal problem solving tool we have big problems brewing under the surface. This is where judges as a judicial branch must sole search and ensure that all laws are applied in a way that support underlining moral codes (They have a huge responsibility to judge based on the needs of all the people.). 

These unwritten and written values come to define us. Integrity in the law is important and people trust that the law is designed around certain shared values. Most judges are doing the right thing and of course they deal with fancy suit wearing attorneys (nothing wrong with a fashionable suit) that seeks to use the law like a chess game for self-enrichment (except civil rights lawyers that are like social workers.). We should think about returning to some of our founding principles that ensure that our laws have underlining values that support the development of a moral and just society (However, we define it.). 

Stingray Picture-Trying out a Used Underwater Camera

Ok its not a great white shark nor is it a nearly extinct whale! It is just a stingray with thousands and thousands just like this one on just about every beach in CA. I bought this relatively cheap used outdoor underwater camera off of Ebay I was trying out. Likewise, I haven't touched my dive equipment for a while so I needed to ensure I had everything I needed. 

Filled up the dinghy and headed to shallow waters. Not much to see but these little stingrays.

Watch out because these little guys hurt if they get you! Last year I got stung coming in from surfing and I had to sit at the lifeguard for an hour with my water in a bucket. Just in case you ever have a stingray sting you will come close to bursting into tears. This is what you do HERE.

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Tunnel Fire spreads to 6,000 acres Flagstaff AZ

Firefighters have a dangerous job. Their job isn't going to get easier if climate begins to change. Something like 6,000 acers are burning in Flagstaff AZ. I looked around to see if fires are increasing and in turn the demand for firefighters increasing as well (Will be a problem if we don't attract people to public service and volunteering.) Raymond Zhong from the New York Times put together a really nice article on increase of fires in Climate Scientists Warn of a ‘Global Wildfire Crisis’. 

You may also want to see some areas where you can help through donations (I know I'm big on supporting donations but its one way that many businesses and wealthy people can give back is by supporting these fundamental roles in society that don't pay much but are still central to a functioning society. In many cases firefighters are volunteer/part-time but the risks are extremely high. Delved in our day-to-day affairs most of us are removed a little from the importance of these first responder roles in society. There was once a time the whole community needed to come out and grab buckets to ensure the fire didn't spread. While in recent times we have trained individuals that fulfill those roles we still should be putting our share into the pot for our absence. Put away your bucket and pull out your wallet 😶 )

Arizona Fire Fighter Fund

United Flagstaff Fire Fighters Local 1505

Professional Flagstaff Firefighters PAC

Arizona Burn Foundation

Wildland Firefighters Foundation

Leading Military Architect Encourages DOD to Innovative

Preston Dunlap the leading architect official for US Space Force and Airforce is leaving his position but warns the U.S. must innovate to maintain technological advantages. He is responsible for $70 billion budget for research, development and acquisition. You can read more about it at 'Another Pentagon Official Exits, Saying U.S. Is at Risk of Losing Tech Edge'. 

I agree that staying on top of technology is important. Many times we lock knowledge up in higher education institutions without using them for national growth. The higher the institutional standing the more theoretical the research and increasingly exclusive the information (Gentrifying education and innovation can help speed industry adaptations. There are differences in emphasis between PhD and applied DBA). A little more focus on the application of research is helpful to speeding development. That takes commitment to increase competitive change (See GDP Govt. Mind, Start-up Firms, China 2033 PhD China vs US, Dumb Idea!.).

Trying Out a Used Waterproof Camera (Pictures of Boats in the Bay)

 I was looking around for a cheap waterproof camera that can do shallow dives and be used when I don't have my larger Cannon available. This camera cost me about $25 and was of course used. The parts came and it was a little scratched up. For a 20MP camera that is waterproof it is worth a try. These are above water photos but I thought a few of them looked pretty good. I'm trying to get a collection together for submission to juried art show (I've done on a so so level different artforms. Sold a few pieces from time to time for pennies on the dollar. 😩). Thinking about submitting anyway. I have a couple of galleries I am familiar with that would take the submissions. If nothing else they are good pictures for readership and of course if someone donates a little to children that would be awesome!

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If you like the picture
Donate to Orphans

If you like the picture
Donate to Orphans

If you like the picture
Donate to Orphans

When "Inhumanness" and Hate Are Rewarded in Society (Update on Hate 04/18/22)

It doesn't take much to see the horrors of war that come through the destructive capacity of people. Take a way a few rules and throw a wet blanket on social inhibition and the sky is the limit for destructiveness. On a daily basis most of us are pretty good at living in a civilized society but when given an opportunity some of us delve into the darker side of inhumanness through the justification of hate. Behaviors that would be shunned in one context are rewarded in another and that is the risk we face when failing to think of how to tackle thorny race/religious issues in our society (When I listen to the different sides speak none of them seem to have the whole story but they do have the sliver which justifies their preexisting beliefs. They seem to live by self confirming focus and interpretation of events). When we view each other as part of different societies we also begin to raise the value of those within one society and lower the value of those in another. 

At present that debate is raging in the U.S. where race and religion become dividing lines for political values and action (Both major philosophical beliefs can incorporate different religious and ethnic points of view because they are universal in their approaches. It is we who cater the message to a particular people or background depending on our political needs. Thus both parties are guilty of not solving the bigger problems in society.) Those who have wisdom and something positive to say are often sidelined for the loudest and often most uninformed. If one were to take a wider birds eye view of the such situation we may find that it is the values of some (good or bad) that influence and define the lives of the vast majority of others. When those values are of low quality it drags the values of others down through observed behaviors, expectation, and distortion of values; much like an infectious disease of thinking (Studies show that primates and humans who witness certain behaviors also have a reciprocal neural firing that mimics what they are witnessing. Thus bad behaviors impact everyone that witnesses and sees them making such "approved behaviors" a social learning affair that can be emulated at other times and places. When normalized it can be repeated regularly and the social inhibitions appear to decline the people believe, talk, and act on hate.  The study is someone limited to specific neural firing but you get the point. HERE.)

It becomes vitally important that we think about the long term benefits of developing a sense of fair play and togetherness. It is equally important to think about the consequences of not working together to solve particular problems and widening the gaps between people (Of which most is created to give people a sense of power and control. Unfortunately, some exploit divisions for their personal benefit. The one's who draw people together do so because it seems like the right thing to do and certain values take precedence in their life.)

I find that hate is often rooted to other dysfunctions and doesn't have much staying power if not comingled with other psychological goals/directions. Many of these internal pressures are at the level of undiagnosed mental health disorders and learned distortions of value (Based on perception of self. Such characteristics are likely associated with demanding one's needs, manipulating others, misleading information and trying to "get the other".) When we normalize such distorted behaviors and surround that by unquestioning social networks focused on "being cool" we find that the normal limits of society are easily discarded. They are also self generating and reconfirming of looped logic that continues to reaffirm itself in a way that perpetuates the dysfunction of thinking (See confirmation bias). A type of justification of justifications that are no longer connected well to the actual events. Some call this the "hate narrative" where facts are discarded and emotional hyper rousing are present (i.e. intentional trouble makers.).

The discarding of centralized values seems to be replaced by subjective values that apply subjectively to groups differently (This is why people are upset over disparity. It inherently makes some people feel more entitled and willing to subjugate others in sometimes subtle and other times obvious ways. Any time we choose behaviors based on race and religion we are running against the spirit of the nation and our Constitution. The goal is universal freedom and our philosophies seem to support that utopian end). The authority and position in life make no difference subjective social network values take precedence over things like duty, good conscious, and societal contracts (i.e.  laws, norms, etc..)

Our society rests on trust in our institutions, trust in each other, trust in our leaders and general trust in the system. To maintain that trust we must ensure our institutions act with integrity, are provided breathing room from immediate political pressure, and owe their primary directive to the Constitution, moral conscious and general will of the people through democratic venues. Anything beyond creating a full and free society where all human life is valued based on our core American and democratic principals is suspect to scrutiny and likely comes from a darker place. Thus behaviors and policies can be judged by this universal metric (Other metrics for economics, civic, education, etc... Theoretically one could have a dashboard of different performance metrics from society. You would have to continue to adjust the types of metrics used, data drawn and how often information is updated but it would have a pretty big impact on evidence based decision making. The downside of such metric systems is that once the measurements are defined we risk being blinded to all the other new options outside of existing well worn metric paths/understandings. There is likely a sweet spot of standardized metrics and new metrics. The Digital Economy will likely use more science and metrics to make decisions but will be at risk for theoretical blindness. Kind of why creativity will be important so as to question root logic of ideas. I'm sorry I digressed from the main topic. blah blah blah 😬)

That darker place has become normalized for many people where different societal hierarchical values are applied in different ways to different people. The noise over race and religion, perpetuated by "leaders" on different fronts, often tries to creative divisions among people because it helps those individuals achieve their goals (i.e. political power, money, prestige, support, etc.). As we exploit these differences for personal gain we also sew seeds in society that may take root like a weed to ensure that a healthy plant (healthy American ideals) are choked off before breaking ground. As a nation we must decide if we are to have universal laws that apply fairly to everyone or we are to have subjective laws that carve up our nation into "in group" and "out group" members. Unfortunately logic, law and values are often pushed to the side for reconfirming of pre-existing distorted beliefs that fortunately decline through increased accuracy as each generation passes. I believe as a people we will come to realize the value of inclusion but not do so until we have experience true hardship (When we choose the wrong choice and it creates problems we sometimes learn and develop better choices.)

As far as it is concerned related to law enforcement. I think there are many people who seek to do the right thing and there are some people who seek to do the wrong thing. The biggest thing we would worry about is that we make every decision (individual and macro level) with good moral conscious. A tall order if the winds are blowing in the wrong direction and people feel that sailing against the wind is not worth the effort because of the pressure/resistance people feel when standing up for certain principles at the wrong time (This is also why freedom of speech, civil discourse, and shared common goals important long-term success. We want people to stand up to destructive beliefs/behaviors the right way so we should ensure we create the right environment where that is most likely to happen. As soon as we silence reasonableness we also silence new information for performance improvement opportunities with better outcomes from an organizational development perspective.🤓) . While I may have a Muslim sounding name don't let that fool you (Trust me it trumped a lot of people who were confused on how to treat an "American" that fit under the 'undefined' category. A true American or something much much worse! It delves into how we create mental frameworks for categorizing our world and when we can't categorize something correctly it can lead to all types of responses seeking to find a proper category. What I have found is that the issues isn't the "other" but how we "see" the other. More information leads to better assessment. Our choices, words, languages, political parties, groups, races, etc....create culturally embedded symbolism of others. That leads to heuristic and often false assessment of people who are different than us based on limited information. In other words, you haven't walked a mile in their shoes to create empathy and shared similarities. The "other" is often seen as the "enemy" based on our biologically created propensity to understand differences {our senses are designed in a way to perceive differences as subtle as fractions of light} but our socially constructed "narrative" of others is an ongoing conversation that draws social meaning from these senses to create "shared" experiences defined through our culture. i.e. culture as a programming of root understanding of how to see the world and what is important in it since childhood. This is why shared purpose leads to shared culture and shared experiences that are uniquely "American".).  Like it or not we are in this American/"American" boat together and that boat contains many different shipmates and without the universal sound of the coxswain that resonates as having shared meaning and value to each of them it is likely we will have lots of disjointed efforts (In other words, we will argue about definitions without finding solutions because we haven't agreed on what it means to be an "American" and the central-universal principles that apply to all of us!) To me ensuring that we are drawing as many people into the enlightened view of people who manage their own affairs (democracy) and who are pursuing to benefit their lives (entrepreneurs of many types) to a fruitful shared identity and end is likely to be of benefit (Don't listen to me....jump on the first tough hate mongering politician you see and vow your undying loyalty to inappropriate values and beliefs. I guess we all got to make choices about our collective future. 🤷 )

2 Minors Killed and 8 Others Injured in Pittsburg Party: Guns aren't Toys

We seem to have a rash of people pulling out their guns to solve problems. The more we see young kids doing this, the more we must start to wonder if the way we doing things is the right way. I know it seems obvious but guns aren't toys. Real people get hurt, lives are destroyed, and everyone loses.

 Unfortunately, violence seems to be the preferred path for some people and the skills for other paths lacking among many. 

While these shooters did the wrong thing they did so in context of a wider society in which conflict is handled. Solving problems like this often means teaching people how to manage differences. 

I have seen the difficulties when people disagree and can't stop escalating. There is no limit in the way in which some people process anger and aggression. There are skills that help people diffuse tough situations and still "save face". It just sort of depends on which paths we emulate in society and which one's we don't. 

This is why we still need police. There are bad people in society (and yes there are some bad police officers) and we need mechanisms to hold "bad apples" accountable (counts for policing too.). That doesn't mean we can't make policing stronger and more focused on prosocial evidence based tactics but that the general function of policing is still needed in society. (Kind of why it would be difficult to defund policing. Someone/thing/group would have to fill that power void/vacuum; at least at this point in history. It is much better to have an official policing function than leave that to other entities less subject to oversite. If you study societal structures long enough you will see that different societies may have different cultural values but that there is always a policing function; i.e. religious, militias, military, police, etc... That doesn't take away from the ideas of exploring other alternative sentencing/punishment as well as a general review/update policing tactics/policies. Additional research in the law enforcement area supported by government/industry $$ might not only improve effectiveness but also explore other policing type systems, methods, and possibilities. If something isn't optimal it is often best to explore the possibilities, test, and evaluate to continuously improve the institution; the difference between  law enforcement as a learning organization or one stuck in old methodologies/tactics. Science is likely to change a lot of that going forward a little over the next few decades. Its just an opinion so please don't get upset!)

Does Water and Pineapple Juice Reduce Workout Soreness?

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We can spend the time in the gym ripping muscle fiber but its often the recovery that slows down growth. Recovery time is also part of the growth process as microtears in muscles heal creating strength and bulk. People often look for ways to improve and speed up that heeling process. Some opt for supplements thinking they are the best way to go.  Many of these supplements have limited benefits but there is a need to ensure the fundamentals are covered and that doesn't need to come in pill form. Some fitness trainers have argued that water and pineapple juice speed up recovery and allow athletes to get back into the gym faster (track, sport, etc.)

Does Water Improve Muscle Recovery? Dehydration not only limits current performance but also muscle recovery. See the study HERE. Thus not having enough water in your system is not only going to impact you at the gym it is also going to slow down your recovery. That is a great way of saying keep drinking water! (If you are a supplements I would drink a lot more water. I'm not a big fan of supplements but some have their uses. The same can be said for processing protein. Keep your liver in good shape!)

Does Pineapple Juice Improve Muscle Recovery?: Small study but indicates there was no apparent effect. You can read it HERE. A larger study might come up with different findings. What we might be able to say is that pineapple juice may have some benefits of recovery but the extent of whether that is factual and its extent isn't known without additional research. 

The conclusion is that water makes a big impact and pineapple juice seems to have much less of an impact. Its not going to hurt for you to take in some fruit so no harm in if you do it in moderation. It might make your water taste better!

Sometimes having a little help if you are new to fitness can go a long way. I have fitness trainer, yoga and self defense certifications and do training as a side hobby. Training is done virtually and catered to your specific goals and needs. Affordable. Limited space and availability. Email Fitness Training

April 7th 2022 Escanaba City Council Meeting: To Buy or NOT Buy your Tokes within the City Limits? That is the question!

Marijuana is becoming a heated topic among cities and dispensaries. There are financial benefits in terms of tax revenue to allowing dispensaries within the city limits and there are soft costs in terms of law enforcement, accidents, etc... Taxes are direct and costs are often indirect but they are all important. The soft costs are going to be much harder to pin point specifically. You have to watch for increases in costs in other areas. The same could also be for soft benefits such as requiring the dispensary to fix up and convert one of the nicer/cornerstone buildings to enhance the salability of other nearby businesses (Methods of revitalizing a downtown to increase tax revenue and increase the value of downtown. Add a hotel and some more investors for other buildings/business and you might have small demand growing. That is where the city/county would need a better plan on attracting and encouraging entrepreneurs to move into the area. I suggest small entrepreneurs be in tourist related micro manufacturing as well as retail and recreation. One could also think about attracting a few other SME manufacturers to the industrial areas of town.)

Looks like the city is looking to opt in on marijuana zoning. I'm relatively neutral to the topic. There are pros and cons either way. It just something people have to decide on. In general I'm going to say younger people are likely going to support it more and older people are against it. Its just the way it is! Nothing wrong with either argument.

You can read the April 7th 2022 Escanaba City Council Meeting Agenda. Lots of great information within it.