Subjectivity of Laws-Different Societies for Different People?

 Our nation should strive for laws that ensure we have equal protections and that those who engage in criminal behavior are held to account for their actions. We are not talking about simple life mistakes and learning opportunities but those behaviors that are designed to cause serious harm to others. There is some subjectivity in our laws and we should start to think about how we can hold "bad actors" accountable and preserve the integrity of our legal system. 

There are a lot of people out there protesting for various reasons. Protests range all over the map in terms of the cause. Some want more opportunities, some want equality, some feel they are politically cheated, and others just want to be destructive. They each contain a message.

Our political leadership (not party specific) are struggling with serious questions as it relates to what is means to be "an American" and what rights do we have under our Constitution. While these group protest (for whatever their particular cause is) at the end of the day they are trying to shape the definition of what an American is and what America should look like in the future. 

In some ways, police have been unfairly put in the crosshairs of the political dialogue and staunch stubbornness that defies the more logical members of society. Other times they deserve the criticisms for failing to uphold the rule of law or allowing some groups a free pass.

Laws have become politicized and depending on which party one belongs often determines how our legal system acts; or doesn't. The message is not lost on the average American who is watching the self-oriented battles displayed on television (depending on which politicized channel they turn on). 

What I can say is that universal justice is one of the only ways I can think of to restore trust in the system. Universal justice indicates that all humans are worthwhile and justice should not be subject to a persons race, religion, political position, party affiliation, etc...

Trust of different people with different perspectives can only be had when the rules apply universally to all members of society. This means that the rules should not ignore the crimes of some while over focus on the crimes of others.  

I'm working on climbing Mount Everest to raise awareness of Universal Justice and the need to ensure laws are applied fairly and universally across our national perspective. I may never make it up there, and maybe only to Base Camp 1, but I would like very much to do something constructive.

We do not have a perfect society but we have one in which we are striving to be something greater, more universal, and focused on the long-term needs of its citizens. It isn't those who commit crimes and receive a wink and nod pass but it is those who push for higher standards that are engaged in the struggle to restore America as a leading international player.

In some ways I have faith we can do better but the reality of the situation is it doesn't rely on good judgement alone but the political factions that have allowed such ineptitude persist. I wonder if our government officials and policy makers are looking at the next generation and their responsibility to stand up for our most basic American principles in order to set the table for their children and grand children's success.

As an idealist I have hope while as a realist I understand we simply can't muster the moral ability to "do the right thing". We are lost in our own self-interest. Time will tell if we strive or we resign. 

Proper Use of Force in Portland-Balancing Freedom of Speech with Peaceful Protests

There have been a lot of protests over the past year and some of the demonstrations have gotten violent. There are a lot of central themes being played out and many of them are legitimate concerns of the youth. However, engaging in purposeful destruction is different than promoting one's cause. Every society will need some method of policing poor behavior (whether among the population or within itself). There are times when using appropriate force, with respect to human dignity, is needed in order to ensure protests have an appropriate non-violent message.

(As a side note, violence destroys the message and devalues its central legitimacy.)

 Arresting those who are committing legitimate crimes that run afoul of legal and moral codes is an acceptable use of police power. They are paid by taxpayers to protect the right for free speech and the right for people not to have their property damaged/destroyed. While we may not agree with everything each individual officer does they often provide an essential function to society that exists in all forms of government.

For example, protesting police excesses, environmental issues, racism, direction of the country, etc... are all acceptable concerns and we have an opportunity to improve our society through collaboration. How and where people direct that message will determine whether it is a useful message designed to help society adapt or it is a useless message that starts to erode society.

 Some of the people in these protests are moving beyond voicing their beliefs to purposely damaging other's property and all societies have the right to not allow anger to boil down a destructive path. In this case, I have to support the right of police to use appropriate force to arrest wrong doers and the right of protestors to voice their beliefs without resorting to violence. 

I'm not an expert on this topic (other then what I remember from old skateboard culture) I guess there are essential arguments as it relates to capitalism, immigration, BLM, etc... embedded in the march and anarchist symbols. As a youth movement it appears they are saying they do not trust the capitalist system, don't believe their government cares about them, and want more rights for people/workers. Some of what they hope is to end racial disparity and a freer society You can read one description HERE. 

Its interesting because we can sort of listen to the central theme and see a disconnected youth that are upset with the direction of the country. True capitalism offers opportunities for all members of society to improve their position based on their skill and ability that is not hindered by race, discrimination, and elitism. Creating a more farer society, a capitalist system that helps the young and poor rise on their skills, is something we can take from what they are saying for future policy consumption. 

At the end of the day, it is up to older generations to listen to the multiple protests occurring and find the best way to help youth feel connected to society (its past, present, and future) through providing opportunities to avoid the growing problem of those who are "haves" from those who are "have nots" (i.e. renewed focus on small business). The bitter rivalry between Republicans and Democrats is fueling some of these other issues and it would be wise for our leaders to start thinking about drawing people to a rational center. 

(As a side note I believe Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is doing a pretty good job balancing some of those divergent needs in his press conference.)

Delta County MI (Escanaba and Gladstone) as a Digital Nomad Land

Digital nomads are a growing demographic of highly educated online workers that can be anyplace at nearly any time across the globe. Depending on their personality and flavor for the year they may travel to Europe, South American, Africa, or the U.S. Locations that offer something unique. Such locations maintain a proper data infrastructure that can attract digital nomads and utilize their broad abilities not only create new business opportunities but also enhance existing businesses within the area.  

Drawing Ideas and Talent

No place can grow without new ideas and those ideas come from others that think differently and have different backgrounds. Bringing in small businesses to populate and popularize downtown goes a long long way in putting the area on the map as a place to live and invest. 

Adding on top of that the increasing digital nomad demographic creates further entrepreneurial ideation that often leads to new wealth and ideas for locals.  While places like Escanaba/Gladstone in Delta County have a physical location with outdoor tourism appeal it will need visitors and ideas to grow.

The area was known for its mining, paper manufacturing, and low boil tourism. Not much has changed over the past 50+ years and rejuvenating small towns in the U.P and the Midwest will rest in part on reconnecting them to the global supply chain as suppliers versus simple consumers.

Tapping into global trends early to enhance local offers can make a big difference. Digital nomads look for places that inspire them and provide the stimulation they need for their creative work habits and recreational down time. With proper marketing and outreach to improve investments in downtown districts they can attract these nomads to their shores. 

You may read the article Tourist Micro-Manufacturing Can Improve Delta County's Manufacturing and Distribution Sectors

The more we can bring in business and digital nomads the easier it will be to reach a threshold where a local hub will begin to grow on its own through enhancing local business with new ideas, investors, and customers. A study of rural digital hubs indicates, we want to "reach the number of users required to generate added value, especially in the rural context." (Rundel, Salemink, & Strijker, 2020).

 You may red the article Multi-Clusters In Delta County Can Create New Innovative Industries

Delta County Economic Consumers

In a prior article I discussed Adventure Tourism and how that demographic may appeal to a high income educated entrepreneurial class who are not only at a youthful age where they enjoy these activities but also have the money to settle locally and/or start new businesses. 

You may read the article Attracting SME Adventure-Venture Capitalism to Delta County (Escanaba & Gladstone) Through Neuroeconomics

The demographic of people the county focuses on attracting can be anything from the casual cross country skier to a more purposeful visitor that wants to stay for a while and set down roots. Typically digital workers make more money and spend more on services than the average. When they own a business they may also be seeking to find a location for operations. 

Attracting more wealth into the area not only enhances the local businesses through purchases but also pushes those businesses to stay more relevant to an international community (i.e. tourism micro manufacturing and exports). Innovation is a process of connecting ideas and resources in a place that solve problems.

I can't really discuss in this article the way in which different aspects of clusters interact to feed and support each other (I will save for another where I can put together a basic map of a few sections) but I can say that if your going to attract certain demographics you may want to attract those who capitalize on the natural strengths of the area and are likely to have the longest tale in terms of revenue generation. 

A few things that might help the draw in more digital talent and encourage them to engage:

-Focus on international vacationers looking for places to enjoy the outdoors and work digitally. 

-Short term housing, hotel and AirBnB rentals. 

-Free Internet in the downtown area. 

-Easy auto rental and cab/Uber access.

-Coffee shops, bars and restaurants in the downtown area.

-A culture of openness that seeks to draw in skilled talent from across the globe. 

-Temporary (day, week, month) short-term office rentals for small businesses and travelers.

-Policing and law enforcement that follows basic universal human rights.

-A marketing campaign that seeks to attract SME manufacturers and tourist mico-manufacturers to create themed "uniqueness" of the area. 

-Activities, events, and attractions that not only draw in people from the local area but also provide entertainment for visitors.

-Affordable living costs.

-Local government that encourages investment in the area.

-Reaching out to other digital nomad destinations to market and offer another destination (partnerships) for visitors.

-A walkable and shoppable downtown area.

The work is part of a larger theoretical work on innovation and transactional clusters with Delta County as an example. HERE. 

Rundel, C. T., Salemink, K., & Strijker, D. (2020). Exploring Rural Digital Hubs and Their Possible Contribution to Communities in Europe. Journal of Rural & Community Development, 15(3), 21–44 

Cowie, P., Thompson, N., & Rowe, F. (n.d.). Honey pots and hives: Maximising the potential of rural enterprise hubs. United Kingdom: Centre for Rural Economy, Newcastle University.

Painting of Lighthouses and Guiding the Way

 Thinking of Lighthouses and how they guide ships to port. While they may be left overs from a previous era they are still important not only as historical landmarks but also shipping lanes (now using GPS). As a nation we still have the Great Lakes and their ability to grow the regional economy. As a metaphor we might be able to say our leadership (both sides) may be guiding us to different ports when they should be guiding us to the same one using different shipping lanes.

In Response to White House "Sacking" New Anti-Terrorism Bill and Govt. Admin. Initiative

New legislation was brought forward by co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Fred Upton from Michigan along with other policymakers are working to bring forward an extremism bill HR 350 to track and avoid extremist groups from making their way into law enforcement. There are opportunities to coordinate between local, state, and federal entities that would create a better draw of hate crime data for policy making as well as to further understand how to avoid and thwart radicalization of individuals engaged in hate based behaviors.

Co-author of the bill U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R) states, "The attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month was the latest example of domestic terrorism, but the threat of domestic terrorism remains very real. We cannot turn a blind eye to it,” (Barrett, January 21, 2020, para 3)

The bill sets up a new way of viewing domestic terrorism and puts more focus on discovering White Supremist and Neo-Nazi type behaviors. What is beneficial is that we start thinking of ways to uncover, disrupt, and redirect hate behavior before it becomes a bigger issue. 

This can be more confusing on a local level where such behaviors have become accustomed. While only a few may become radicalized their behaviors are often encouraged by others who are in silent agreement. Any successful program will need to look at local triggers to radical hate behaviors. 

We are shifting from thinking about such groups from a single perspective and taking on a whole different vantage point as the consequences of not effectively acting lead to a paradigm shift. What was once ignored is now front face and we know little on how they operated for soo long avoiding responsibility (likely from personal connections). 

You will also notice renewed emphasis on human rights to ensure we are not overstepping our bounds or prejudging information from an incorrect lens (i.e. race, religion, etc...). We must stop and think about our own existing bias before we can accurately judge others. We are moving into a era of no majorities and will need to think on a universal level.

Training will be a big issue (skill based and cognitive based) to improve how officials respond to potential threats. A few weeks ago someone mentioned we should have a regional fire fighter training hall/station in the U.P. Considering military expenditures in Marinette/Menominee and commercial space flight in Marquette we might want to consider a regional training center in Delta County.

To raise the centers value we would want to open it to state/local firefighting, state/local law enforcement, and multiple federal agencies. Furthermore, cross-border coordination with Canada could be another unexplored benefit (Its an unvetted idea. Not to mention it might fit in one of the cluster spots for the military that could enhance other industries 🤷).

Other lawmakers focused on tackling this problem are listed below and taken from Rep. Brad Schneider's page,

"Today, Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Rep. Don Bacon (NE-01), Rep. Vicente González (TX-15), Rep. Fred Upton (MI-06), Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46), and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the introduction of the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (DTPA) of 2021, H.R. 350. A Senate companion bill is led by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)"

The Biden Administration has also ordered a review of domestic terrorism within the country. To conduct this analysis Jen Psaki, Whitehouse Press Secretary, states “...we will rely on our appropriate law enforcement and intelligence officials to provide that analysis.” (Bertrand, January 22nd, 2020, para 7-8).  She further states, "Relevant parts of the federal government will also be asked to coordinate on monitoring and countering evolving threats, radicalization, operational responses, social media activity" 

 Hate Crime Definitions Might Impact What is Analyzed

How we define and code a "hate crime incident" will determine what data is available for research, review and analysis. If hate crimes are defined in a limiting factor, ignored and miscoded it will be under reported. However, if hate based behaviors are rewritten to reflect actual behavior it will be more accurate for prosecution and analysis (i.e.. mental health, misdemeanor in additional to felony charges).

18 USC Section 241 HERE. 

18 USC Section 245 HERE.

18 USC Section 247 HERE.

18 USC Section 249 HERE.

Section 901 of the Civil Rights Act

The International Association of Chiefs of Police have some ideas on how to handle such incidents HERE.

You can get a copy of the Bill HERE.

Michigan and Hate Crime Definitions

Most of these incidents will be investigated by local/state policing entities and referrals are made to Federal entities. To ensure that the full scope of hate is coded and referred effectively local/state policing entities will need additional training. If they do not know what a hate crime is then they will be unlikely to differentiate them from other crimes. Some may avoid coding properly because such behaviors don't reach the level of a felony or don't seem to fit their political/ideological perspectives.

The devil is in the definition and how hate based behaviors are applied and prosecuted.

Michigan Department of Civil Rights Defines a hate crime as (MDRC Brochure, para 2):

A criminal act of intimidation, harassment, physical force, or threat of physical force, directed against a victim, their advocate or property, motivated in whole or in part by bias against a protected group, based on the real or perceived race, color, ethnic background, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim. 

The definition of punishments for the law are (MDRC Brochure, para 3):

 Michigan’s hate crime law (MCL 750.147b), is called the Ethnic Intimidation Act. The law makes it a felony to harm, or threaten to harm, a person, or the property of a person, “with specific intent to intimidate or harass” that person “because of that person’s race, color, religion, gender, or national origin.” The crime is a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and/or up to $5,000.00 in fines. Federal hate crime laws may also apply and include incidents involving disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression. 

All research relies on good data coming in so that relevant conclusions can be made by that data.  While I'm not an attorney and this is for my own understanding I can say its worthwhile to review some of our laws in Michigan to determine if they are truly detecting hate crimes (misdemeanor and/or felony) as well as redirecting lesser forms of the crime (i.e. mental health alternatives) to ensure that such behaviors are tracked and deradicalize during initial contacts with law enforcement. Such a system may help create connections and evaluation on how effective mental health help, intervention and policies at early stages minimizes violent felony crimes at later stages. It may also offer a stronger review of hate crimes and their impact on other aspects of society such as economic development and human capital growth (Big Data?). 

MDRC Brochure (unknown date). Retrieved January 22nd, 2020 https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcr/MIAAHC_VS_Brochure_v5_362736_7.pdf

Barrett, M. (January 21, 2021, para 3). Michigan congressman backs bill to track domestic terrorism, stop neo-Nazis from infiltrating police. MLive. Retrieved January 22nd, 2021 at https://www.mlive.com/politics/2021/01/michigan-congressman-backs-bill-to-track-domestic-terrorism-stop-neo-nazis-from-infiltrating-police.html

Bertrand, N. (January 22nd, 2021, para 7-8). White House launches ‘comprehensive threat assessment’ on domestic extremism. Politico. Retrieved https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/22/white-house-assessment-domestic-extremism-461390

Dtpa of 2021 Authorizing of Domestic Terrorism Offices 

Eben Ice Caves in the U.P. Michigan (Pictures and Video)

 Eben Ice Caves are located about 40 miles north of Escanaba and Gladstone (Delta County MI). Because the water seeps through the rock and freezes it creates large icicles that create a "cave". You will need to walk 1.2 miles in and out along a trail and river to reach the location you can enter the cave. 

 

Soo Locks, First District Priorities Added to Army Corps FY21 Work Plan

The Great Lakes are unique waterway system in the world and have been part of the economic resilience of the area since the founding of the country. It is also likely to be part of recovery in the future as the U.S. develops its infrastructure to again compete on the international stage. Shipping is a major supply chain cost factor and with a little analysis I think it would be possible to find a great place to coordinate shipping to reduce the cost of both procuring materials and shipping finished products. 

Enhancing the Soo Locks and keeping evasive species out (environmental enhancement) while at the same time increasing trade volume is the line of thinking we should explore more. As we increase the use of shipping (and revenue) we will also want to ensure a certain percentage of that money goes back into improving the shipping and improving the health of the system.  

Sustainability means that a system is created whereby increased revenue means increase investments that improve the health of the Great Lakes. If one can find the "sweet spot" they can improve revenue and improve the environment at the same time whereby increased economic activity could be beneficial for other concerned parties that include business and environmental stakeholders. Business and reducing global warming don't have to be on opposite ends of the spectrum but perhaps we could find some way of enhancing each other.

The following was taken from a press release......

Soo Locks, First District Priorities Added to Army Corps FY21 Work Plan

Washington - Earlier this week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its FY21 work plan to reflect the appropriations provided in H.R. 133. The work plan includes an additional $46.543 million for continuing construction of a new lock at the Soo, bringing the total FY21 funding up to $169.763 million. This is in addition to the $63.815 million available for operations and maintenance on the St. Mary's River - including Soo Lock Asset Renewal.  Rep. Bergman stated, "The FY21 Army Corps work plan is a great next step in our effort to build a new Soo Lock, rebuild critical waterway infrastructure, and protect our Great Lakes from invasive species. Just a few short years ago, many of these projects were considered pipe dreams - but through our collaborative effort, a new Soo Lock is being built, and early stages of the planning for the Brandon Road project are beginning." On January 8th, Rep. Bergman signed a bipartisan letter urging the Army Corps to prioritize Great Lakes projects.  With the enactment of key authorizations and funding provided by Congress at the end of 2020, the bipartisan group identified continued Soo Locks improvements, Asian Carp prevention, and implementation of both the Great Lakes Resiliency Study and the Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration program as top priorities. Read the full letter here. You can find the entire FY21 Army Corps Work Plan, which includes many First District priorities here.

bergman.house.gov

Army Civil Works Program, FY 2021 work plan by Dr. Murad Abel on Scribd