If Russia is running out of capacity they will then seek to consolidate their gains fairly soon. It is close to the time for Ukraine to push hard to not allow them to dig into the lands they have taken and in turn create zones designed to punch homes into Russian defenses and put them on retreat. One has to wonder if the final pushes by Russia in expanding the war on all fronts at the time when Ukrainian leadership is replacing key members and attempt to gain as much land as they can before ending the war. Very few things the Russians have said have been true up to this point. They say they have designs on the entire country but other intelligence agencies are saying they don't have that level of capacity with a high amount of national capacity in Ukraine. Let us wait and see what happens.
Friday, July 22, 2022
What Have I Learned from January 6th? Leadership vs. Followership
I have learned we need a lot of work as a nation. That people should reflect about who they are, the country they want to build, and how their behaviors are contributing to our growth or decline. I have also learned that our leaders are not infallible and their opinions are not necessarily any better than the common man's (Merit being based in logic and advantages to the widest amount of people.). They should be required to earn their place in influencing others because it is a big responsibility (Think about it. We can't just spew things out of our mouth without having a bigger purpose in it.)
Great leaders are defined by their ability to think for themselves and have a moral backbone. We saw both misinformation and lack of backbone creep up through our ranks. People simply followed and put our entire system at risk (likely influenced in some ways be foreign intelligence). Some stood up and they too the hit for doing so.
While one may make a political argument about this, I don't believe that is the case. It happens to Republicans, Democrats and society at large. It is part of who we are as a social species. However, we have big brains as humans and can step above that if we so desire. We can have a moral backbone and independent thought (I beginning to believe many people define nearly all of their opinions by someone else's logic and thoughts.)
I have also learned that our presidents should be the cream of the crop and we aren't electing people based on skill and character but by wealth and social status. This may be one reason why we are struggling to keep up. We had some good and bad presidents but we must ensure that every person we elect is going to lead our country effectively.
Going forward we will need to change because other nations will also figure out that the best and brightest should move forward and those who are not contributing should move backwards. They will get better at hedging their human capital and we run the risk of "politics as usual". We have to think broadly about building our society based on founding principles.
While we may have moral leanings on particular topics such as abortion and gun rights we need leaders that can step outside of those arguments to think systematically about the process of compromise so we can find solutions. Its a process and not a battle of bludgeon. When one side takes all we all loose. Leaders should have an opinion but more importantly decide issue or the best of everyone.
We also need leaders to think about the long term health of the nation above themselves. That is something many of our leaders are struggling with as they try and balance public opinion, internal party support, and donor resources. We have a great system and we need more great leaders to take lead roles in supporting that system.
I advocate for stronger education systems, mass innovation, true capitalism based on performance (not privilege), and diversifying our opportunities (No race or religion gets free passes or undeserved opportunities). Likewise I encourage people think maturely about what it takes to build a great nation and how they should be pushing people to be better (Nepotism and blind support wont' get us there). We have to build our advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, and be at the central value of the global supply chain. All of those changes require focus.....and that must mean put our eyes on a target and working together.
(Going back to this don't listen to me I have a Muslim sounding name....and that is a huge part of the problem....and why we see all types of social issues rising. Its not about my name but about how we treat each other and the rights of Americans to pursue their goals and dreams. How our institutions function and how we rally different people around core American values. Social class, racism, bigotry, and short sighted thinking are not beneficial to anyone...not even those who live by it.)
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Ford Doubles Down on EV Battery Development (Can Michigan Capitalize?)
Ford is pushing for better batteries. Its a large push and with a 7 layer deep supply chain it is a complex arrangement. We should remember that this is just the beginning. Batteries will develop over time and will be able to be sustainably recharged (maybe even while using) quicker and that will likely impact things like space flight, military, robotics, and houses. Development doesn't happen in a vacuum and as soon as a new development occurs it can be quickly adopted (One reason why I encourage cluster development in places like Delta County MI. where it is possible to build new industries by pairing developing for design and prototype creation to butterfly multiple industries. It has ports, rail, mining, airport, bases just to the north, ship building nearby, and a new space launch center to the north. A nearly finished, need more time, Economic Cluster Theory that could help some U.S. industry grow faster than other nations. Maybe not....we will see. In alignment with Perpetual Sustainable Development and the emerging Digital Era and Sub Trans. There has been some development increase over the past few years but the right companies with the right creative capital are needed)
Maybe Michigan can attract more EV, Space, Robotic, Military and Auto development
Ford Twitter...
Learn how we're introducing new battery technology, adding lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell chemistry to our #EV portfolio, alongside nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) chemistry, to create even more capacity for our high-demand products like #MustangMachE and #F150Lightning. pic.twitter.com/o4rkZ2qZpU
— Ford Motor Company (@Ford) July 21, 2022
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Lawmakers Make Steps to Protect Democracy (Electoral Count Reform and Election Security)
We have seen a lot over the past few years. Trust in our leadership has declined because of herd mentality and the failure of both sides to see looming problems clearly and wisely. In many ways party politics has become more important than the survival of the U.S. tribe and created short and long term dangers. We have two acts being worked on that seem to show we are adjusting and willing to take a step toward ensuring we can't play "politics as usual" with our country (Yes it belongs to "We the People" and not to any party. I can say that as a light right Republican with lots of Liberal friends).
I still wonder if down the road we will find foreign intelligence collaboration not only among the extremist but all the way to the top. The figures involved certainly could have pulled off chaos and downed our system but it took a few brave souls to stand against the mob and believe in something greater then themselves (Those are heroes....not the fail to walk the louder talk people we often vote into office based on blind self interest). I think we should keep digging into it until we figure it all out. If nothing improper occurred, that is great, if something, we need to find solutions to patch the hole (While it is currently unsubstantiated and more of a possibility versus a claim one can sort of step back to how events unfolded, the placating behaviors, timelines, subversive groups, foreign social media manipulation, and other behaviors to ponder at least a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, nearly non existing concern. 🙈🙉🙊Don't listen to me, I have a Muslim sounding name. 🤷 ).
While I'm not going to comment on the specifics of each Act I will say that it is the adjustment and discussion of change that is important. It helps push our country into a learning organization that overcomes each trial and tribulation to be better and stronger. Growing pains into the Digital Era. We will thrive, develop, and with effort master our possibilities. Lets turn the page and see what doors open and close.....
Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act
and
Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act
Photos of Farm and Equipment (Upper Peninsula of MI)
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Why Are We Having a Hard Time Holding Corruption Accountable?
In my humble opinion there are two reasons why we are having a hard time holding police corruption accountable. Let me say, I'm 100% for police but also very much against corruption and targeting people for social networks and bias reasons. We as a nation must change the way we see and handle obvious violations of our Bill of Rights and Constitution least we someday break the system. The reasons why we do and don't is the proof in the pudding and often dereliction of our most sacred oaths. There are better paths forward but we have to accept them. That means being self reflective and supporting a higher value system.
Often giving the benefit of doubt to people of a certain race, background or occupation regardless of their merit or worthiness. When supported by a network that has shown prior coordinated poor behaviors we have a dangerous situation where free passes can embolden others to act in similar ways. (Most of the members are good people but are so wrapped into their social network they lost their ability to think outside that group. Who they talk to, what they wear, where they go, what clubs they are involved in, what they believe, etc... are highly dependent in internal group status. If someone says they have to hate and target someone they do so without thinking about it. That is a long term risk. There needs to be an empathetic way to help them see beyond their ex sports playing network to more appropriate American values that relate to independence of thought that tap deeper value systems. )
It is just too easy to lie and make up stories when the system is not willing to hold people accountable (Those lies can be broken by asking the right questions of different people at the right times. The Prisoner's Dilemma.) The problem is that a free pass becomes a potential sign of clannish third world thinking that risks the long term integrity of our institutions (Are we experiencing some of this now? What does it take to restore trust of such institutions? I believe we can but we have to look beyond the obvious. It will take coordination of different people who know what the "right thing" is.)
We also want our officers to be successful and engage with the community (Not just their social, racial, or religious network.)The shield means something important and it must continue mean something in order for it to be effective (Everything in our society is based on trust from our economic system to our leadership. You have to think beyond the obvious to understand that our institutions are socially constructed based on necessity of society. The height or decline of a society is related to the development and wisdom of these institutions. Nearly every great society from the Romans to the Islamic Golden Age was based on universal values that transcended race and culture. They declined when such values were no longer inclusive and in fighting went rampant.). When we fail at our internal controls and turn a blind eye to criminal behaviors that strikes at the core of our national values our foundations begin to crumble (They don't just go away through intimidation or dishonesty. It just transforms into other areas of society.) We have the beginning of decline of a great nation as institutions become distrusted and people lower their trust levels (We need people to trust those institutions and leadership to act with integrity.).
Acting with integrity is always important and when matched with multiple uninvestigated community complaints we run the risk that the law no longer functions as intended (It can become an extension of distorted beliefs that represent certain groups or a fraction of society. That is not denigrating the very good officers that act with integrity. Good officers are put at risk by those who circumvent public trust.). The law must seek to maintain integrity throughout the entire system and I believe that the process of betterment has started (Lots of foot dragging thus far but it is starting because the other options don't make sense and even if someone makes a sadistic "win" they risk everything else down the road. I'm still unsure of why we didn't start a long time ago. We should know the difference between right and wrong. Some do, but many do not. I applaud those with a moral code and value system who fulfill their duties as professionals.)
Do we really wonder why people are protesting if obvious criminal acts are given a wink and nod? Think about it for a moment and drop our pro or anti police arguments (I'm pro police, pro civil rights, pro solutions, and against crime and corruption. If something wrong happens and the system doesn't correct people have the right to protest. If the police act with integrity one must respect and support that to show their well balanced nature. It is called objectivity and the ability differentiate situations. Thus pro and anti-policers are rarely right because they lack proper perspective. The same goes for our politicians who struggle to think divergently on such issues. They often maintain all this or that mentalities which damage potential bipartisan solutions.) We want our police to be strong, have the best tactics, know when to help and when to arrest. We want them to act with integrity all the time to maintain institutional trust and ensure people work with and support the institution to make it more effective.
What happens when a code of silence protects bad apples? How many bad apples does it take to make the whole department rotten? You have to answer this for yourself and how those behaviors might align/misalign with our wider national values. However, if we know that people are doing bad things and a "code of silence" takes hold, those people may walk from accountability but the entire department and in turn institution inherits the bad karma (Silence on corruption is not wise. I've seen this and I have seen it grow to damage hundreds of prospects and lives. I encourage officers to turn in obviously wrong behaviors and intent to their internal controls, state police, and/or federal law enforcement. It would really suck if you knew something and it was found out later you failed to act.)
You don't have to listen to me. I have a Muslim sounding name so I know how quickly my life, my children's life, my skills, and opinion are discounted (I might be one of the leading authorities on this topic within the country.). I think we need to change....or the system will someday have a forced correction (Universalizing our values to all Americans). I always believe in being proactive on problems and looking over the horizon to emerging issues before they become big (Some work only in hindsight and that often costs society significantly. That is why political immaturity over national development is not wise.)
How do we solve a problem such as this where we know wrong is wrong? I don't know but I'm thinking about it because much of it is up the rational decision making and moral conscious of others. Some are born better at it at ethical judgement than others, and yet we all must live by success and failures in that regard. To change hearts and minds is to move people from hyper focus on the leaves, to the tree, to the forest, to the ecosystem. In other words, we must reflect back enough truth to ensure their moral strings start to tug at their inner conscious. If we as a people fail in correcting when correction is necessary we begin to fail the entire system and the people who live in that system.
The group that targeted me felt they could engage in such behaviors because of their perceived belief in their inherent superiority over me and my children. They also utilized their close association with law enforcement to engage in aggressive coordinated activities that have impacted at least 2 public institutions (education and law enforcement.). While they don't recognize it, their behavior seems to be based in racial, religious, and other distorted misperceptions related to beliefs within their social networks. Rumors and intentionally character assassination were part of the process. None of them can say me or my kids have done anything to them. These are the type of groups that rob the rest of society of their future and without some level of accountability we continue to build the pathways to two different societies. (They do not know they will increasingly be in the minority of opinion and value systems nationally as most come to recognize the needs of human capital and fair treatment to our future competitiveness. That is why each person in that group, and in many ways the entire country, should decide what values they hold most important. It is the micro of actions that add up over time and every American must stand for certain principles beyond their social networks. The next 10 years will decide what our nation will look like in terms of one or two societies. The seeds of our direction are already planted.). It is up to our judges to stand to fuse society into one system guided by a universal institution (Importance of Judges and Corruption and Better Values). We can hope and pray wisdom. moral conscious and law can occupy the same space at the same time. Let's trust in each other and see where that goes.