The Dangers of Institutional Default and Lack of Accountability on a Local and National Level

Institutional default occurs when the systems in place that are designed to protect the population don't work as they should. Instead of ensuring the primary law of the land is upheld they become mechanisms by which law and its protections can be warped. In general the concept of Federalism and shared governance should be bulwarks against such defaults but it doesn't always function that way and there are a few reasons why. 

First, let us highlight why such defaults are dangerous. What separates the U.S. from third world nations is the application of law and the use of wisdom in that application. No race, religion, or ethnic group should get special treatment under the law or have the law warped for their benefit (Except in the case of politics where politicians regularly seek to politicize and warp our institutions. Of course it's still a problem we need to fix. Prince or pauper we should be under the same system with the difference being the merits of their case.)

Once we begin to allow certain races, religions, ethnic groups, or social groups to have special treatments we begin to see cracks forming in our system. We mirror those third world nations where ethnic conflict is common and systems cannot be trusted to uphold the fabric and shared perspective of society. In essence, they have conflict because the laws are different for different people and the value of institutions becomes minimized.

Now, in my life when I have seen extremism and criminal activity forming and I have monitored and reported such behaviors when it was appropriate. I didn't make a difference to me their race, religion or social group. It was their intent to harm other people that was my primary concern. That also included turning in larger groups of people who have corrupted cities and their institutions through organized criminal activities. 

The problem we face as a nation is that there are different laws in place for different types of people. Defaulting of institutions becomes much more acceptable if they are against the "wrong" type of people. Holding people to account for these behaviors is more difficult if the perpetrators are the "right" type of people with the "right" support. Its an indication that some institutions have role and duty confusion (Some officials functioning in fear and afraid to stand for their values. A further indication that decline has already got headway.).

That creates a type of disparity that heightens the dangers such institutions are not functioning with their duties in mind but with their ethnic, racial, religious and social preferences at the forefront. As a nation we must be universal in our values and that requires institutions that are also universal in their orientation. Long stemming disparities in society have become increasingly highlighted in the digital media world and they will become global phenomenons.

Cleansing communities should be something we look upon with disdain in the U.S. in much the same way as we look upon it with horror in Kosovo, Timor, Darfur, Rwanda and the many other places where unfair group treatment started on a local level and then grew to a wholesale national conflict based on shared pain. That danger becomes highlighted in ethnically diverse nations like the U.S. where civil unrest and protest against unfair treatment is one video away from reemergence (In many ways encouraged by both sides of our political spectrum. One side encouraging people to attack police and the other to attack FBI. I feel a universal obligation to protect both. If we need to adjust something we do so within the system but don't encourage violence against the many good officers and administrators that are trying desperately to keep our communities safe! It's a sign of that some of our leadership don't have the character to be in their roles and are successfully manipulating blind support.). 

We do have risks if the wrong group comes to power and encourages institutions to blindly support a certain ethnicity, racial, religious, or social group over the rights of others. It doesn't take much to light a match when we have people openly calling for civil war and seeking to violate as many of the Constitutional protections as they can. The wrong people in the wrong institutional positions can lead to all types of chaos when institutional trust levels are already at all time historic lows. 

I have experienced this some in my life where a homogeneous group of ethnically similar people coordinated with a few officials to use local institutions to try and forcibly remove and harm me and my family for being the "wrong" type in "their" community (It didn't happen because there are still good people out there who believe in our Constitution and our American values. Our genetic footprint has been there longer than most of theirs but "local" is defined by social group, racial and religious similarities.). Yet it was enough to down at least two institutions (possibly three) and "normalize" hate to a larger group of people who knew before they got started they were "immune" for their behaviors (Most of the people in the community did the right thing and are warm and welcoming people. Some are not and continue on with their behaviors because of that immunity.).

I have forgiven such people for their dangerous bigotry but I cannot forget their behavior nor stand idly by as the risks to these institutions are still present. As of today's date, it appears that such risks are percolating just under the surface waiting to reemerge if one of the members picks an argument with a minority/"outsider", can profit from hate, has a mental health issue, wants to "save" America, or just wants to be plain old destructive. 

As we move into the next election cycle I want people to think about the real dangers of such groups that are given a national forum and capable of impacting national institutions. Think of how quickly people line up to support hate and how the system struggles to hold them to account if they are from the "right" religion, race, political party, "connected" network, or background. These existential risks are long term dangers. 

If we truly hope to be a first world leading nation we must universalize our systems and ensure there are protections from local defaults. We will also need to ensure that we maximize our human capital across different ethnic, racial, religious and social groups in a way that leads to prosperity and a shared sense of purpose of the benefits of pushing our democracy forward.

Free passes are not free! I have said that many times to deaf ears. They only change and morph into other risks and paths. To me being a patriot and being a Republican means encouraging universalization of our institutions and ensuring that our nation begins to develop into the next stage of democracy where we have a shared sense of purpose and clear goals to increase our global competitive position (The Digital Era and innovation). 

I understand that concepts of moral conscious and fairness isn't going to be popular with some of our leaders (judges, politicians, officials, etc.) who hope the "right" group gets the most opportunities but I think we owe it to ourselves and the next generation to give them the best shot at a healthy democracy. Many of our politicians are not on board with a free and fair universal society. They have not looked deep enough into their grandchildren's eyes and contemplated how our failure to correct our path could lead to generations of pain and sorrow for them (shame!).

Now let us see what our leaders and the institutions they manage decide is the best course of action. Some doors open and some close.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger Discusses the Needs of Republicans and Paths Forward

Some people I respect because they are unapologetic for standing up for their country (Even If I don't believe in all their policies or perspectives.). Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R) encourages Old Guard Republicans (I would add Liz Cheney to that group of genuine Republicans. Btw she is not done...she will likely be an even more powerful player soon.) to reclaim the party's central values.

There are a few others as well but most have zipped their lips in fear even though we know most are just repeating what they think will get them elected/reelected. To me if you support destructive behaviors and then it becomes unfashionable you don't get to redo a mistake in hindsight.

(Its one thing to be confused with misinformation but another to be a blind supporter. We must always decide what is the best path forward and that is for democracy, equality, and national development.).

I'm a light R and while I share similarities with many Republicans my family and I have been targeted for my Muslim sounding name and mixed race kids which justified open "normalization" for hate based coordinated activities and the difficulty to understand or hold it accountable as inappropriate.

 (There are people who openly talk about civil war and encourage cleaning their communities on a local and national level with impunity. We struggle with what it means to be an American and why we should encourage a spirit of togetherness. If you don't believe me, read the news.)

If we are going to survive as a nation we have to stand for our shared American principles and not our blind party politics (of any side), ethnic-racial groups (Of any background), distorted social networks, or specific religious affiliations (Its about the right to practice religion freely and that is why it was written that way. The specific religion isn't important.). We as a people are better than this and we need to start focusing on rebuilding our nation and its central values.

The idea of America is based on freedom for all our members and that keeps the Torch of Enlightenment on for those who come into her Bay (Except this generation where confused values and hyper focus on self enrichment have crept in to nearly smother that light. If we can keep the ship from being commandeered and likely intentionally sunk the next diverse generation will pick up where we stalled.) . 

 Sometimes, many times, we are failing to stand for our basic values simply because it takes the work of thinking through the options and the moral courage to fulfill our duties (Of course at the time we need to compete the most! We have growing threats from Russia and competition from China. Patriotism is about those central American values and supporting our national togetherness and competitiveness.)

To me RINO is someone who hijacks the Republican name in an attempt to support inappropriate values and growing radicalism in politics that includes ever more acceptance of political violence. The crueler you are, the more people vote (support) without consideration of the needs of the rest of society or the next generation.

Judges, politicians, minorities, FBI, IRS and just about anyone else have been a target of extremist groups and some sit silently saluting their efforts (Some R, Some L, and some just messed up.). I know first hand the dangers and don't really care about consequences when free pass for moral failures are passed out like candy at a parade (I think I owe it to my kids and my fellow Americans to have an opinion that strengthens our nation and opportunities for the most amount of people.).

We are not doing well seeing, understanding or thwarting this type of extremism (Politics give it a shield and I believe in many ways its a type of manipulation that will come back to haunt us.) Some people are encouraging it so I appreciate people like Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney much more than those who give lip service to their values, their oaths and their moral conscious.

I encourage the silent majority of Republicans to reclaim their party or otherwise we not only risk a serious split within the party (perhaps the nation) but also a deep dive for the prospects of democracy as a viable self governance system for our youth.

We have serious responsibilities to our nation and people as we get no redos if we make a major mistake (We can't look back and say "Yikes...I'm sorry can I try again".). Think long and hard what your leaving behind. Peace and prosperity are just over the horizon....just waiting on the rest of America to decide they would like that more than the other paths open to them. 

(I once thought about politics but I just don't see how I can say I hate my fellow Americans that much just because they differ in opinion or follow a different philosophy or have different ideas. I want to talk to them and listen and share my specific Republican values but I don't want to make up things to embarrass, harm, punish, or encourage others to attack the other side. I would also prefer they don't do that to me. Like many people who first entered politics I suppose I would have loved to solve problems; that is not what it has become. Been evaluated three times a genius and I feel pretty dumb as I don't think I know much compared to the confidence by which many of our politicians speak. Such confidence and ability to sell that confidence better than any salesperson I ever met. They all know the answers and I haven't heard one say they are working on figuring it out; even when the problems are complex. I don't think entering politics or helping others is really possible in the way in which I envisioned it. I'm fearful that the divides between R and L will keep growing and there will be less and less middle ground thereby making future solutions even less likely. Perhaps to the point where there are irreconcilable difference similar to what I have with those who hated me and my kids and the distance that was created for safety. I'm also fearful that any bad behavior against people in our country is justified if its against the right/"wrong" people, for money, the right conspiracy/rumor for politics, in support of a specific race/religion, for social acceptance or just to be plain destructive. I also have some fear, as I have seen a version of this, that we could have institutional defaults that could raze what generations have built. It could also be that we get bested by other nations simply because we didn't care enough about our own and I wouldn't want that to happen on my watch. I think in modern times, seeing what I have seen in this world, that these are legitimate concerns; I think others may think them as well. My idealist hope is that the opposite is true....and that doesn't come with a high probability....except in a few scenarios. That idealism has been mocked throughout my life and I suppose now in later years I have come to accept the silliness of hope and wishful thinking.)

Time answers all questions. Let's not let the needs of our kids and grandchildren slip through our fingers because we do what is in our own best interests.

Kinzinger says GOP in trouble ahead of midterms: "We have no leadership

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at Jackson Hole

 I don't really have many comments at the moment but just watch for yourself.  We do need to seriously think about ways to develop our advanced manufacturing to meet world demand and raise our position at the center of the global supply chain. China's growth was based in part on our greed and inability to produce things in the U.S. (That's not necessarily against China who are naturally going to work in their own interests but it does mean that we have to beef up our own competitive position. We can better do that as soon as our leaders in both parties focus on solutions instead of all the other distracting things many enjoy more than national building.) We should maximize any limits in labor through the use of greater productivity brought through the development of wearable tech, innovation, drawing FDI and strong management. 

Student Loan Forgiveness Information

 Love it or hate it there are student loan forgiveness information below. You can check in at https://studentaid.gov/. 

DOJ Released Mar-a-Lago Search Warrant and Affidavit

The Justice Department released a redacted version of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit and memo. You can read the redacted warrant affidavit HERE. We also have the sealed redacted search warrant HERE. Read, browse, and understand.

You should make your own judgement about these things. What I can say is that there does seem form these documents to be a history/concern of "outing" people and then targeting them. That would potentially deter witnesses and that can be dangerous for discovering the truth of such situations. 

Everyone in this country is innocent until proven guilty. Yet we cannot determine innocence or guilt until the information, witnesses, and data come fully forward. 

Likewise, classified documents are classified for a reason because they save lives, people, and our national interests. We must take care of those documents and guard them as much as possible. I say that as a general rule.

There are lots of different lawsuits, actions, behaviors, filings and other things that seem to be coming forward in the past year from various places. That is an awful lot of smoke and I would hope people would sort of step back and take it in before making any quick judgements for innocence or guilt. 

I'm a loyalist to our Constitution and do not believe pauper and prince are any different in our society. That being said, it is important to focus specifically on fact and not on conjecture no matter who brings it forward or what our political leanings (I'm a light right R).

Make up your own mind....I haven't made up mine yet. I have some concerns but I haven't definitively made it up until more information is available. 

The Importance of Standing for Values for National Growth

We have a national problem that relates to our universal values. While no one is perfect we should have a minimum set of values that guides us and pushes us to make proper decisions. Sometimes our personal needs get in the way and sometimes we don't have the ability to think beyond our own wants. However, without a level of shared values in society will someday dissipate based on the divergence of those values. 

Think about it for a moment. Values are what hold us together. As Americans we have certain values that we share in common that include freedom of religion, freedom of speech, economic opportunities, and practicality (There are more). Truth and justice are some values that are hold sacred across different societies.

The problem is that when we see obvious and blatant violation of values we have a responsibility to hold those who violated them accountable. We are not talking necessarily about life mistakes but about those things that are truly designed to harm, exploit, unfairly profit off, manipulate, and/or damage other people. The people we should not be encouraging or promoting in our society.

Often as a people we can be ignorant. Someone picks a fight and lies and we all line up to support. We go with our social networks and we go with the symbolism of similarity. That is one reason why minorities often complain of unfair treat as people are willing to compromise their values against those they see as different (Its not race or religion specific. Many people have the capacity to do this.)

The question then becomes what do you do if the values of others are not functioning as they should? Gross violations of the law and moral code. If we allow a free pass for such behaviors they spread through socially learned behaviors that could eventually distort the values of an entire group. 

For example, bad values led to a wholesale attack on me and my family. To solidify those bad values they encouraged as many of their friends and community member as possible to be involved to focus on damaging, disrespecting, lying about, and provoking fights with the targets (There is some history of this behavior that some local officials feel afraid to confront and that is why it has grown. Placation of hate doesn't work.). Worse, they utilized their close association with a couple of officers to violate the Constitution and erode the trust that those positions were expected to uphold. 

Now, if this group would have stopped a long time ago we would not be in this situation because better minds and positive learning would have came forward. They have not positively adapted despite what appears to be an attempt to keep friends and associates out of trouble, the actual targets were discounted (I actually tried to help them think through their behaviors and take steps to correct themselves before they get in serious trouble. Remember there are state, federal and UN laws that were likely violated and that will be out of the hands of local officials.). That in and of itself is a major violation of trust and we should not have to rely on such institutions to deal with things that are obviously wrong. People have the right to be protected from roving gangs of bigots and their blind followership.

(It comes down to who has more rights. A single father protecting his family or a group of ex sports players seeking to harm the targets through misinformation, intimidation, blocking opportunities and ostracization. i.e. cleansing. Its creepy and we know its creepy! In our current environment some will support removing minorities from communities and others will be appalled as they know all too well the subjectivity of values and how such behaviors are more common than people think as supported by the low reporting of hate crimes.)

Where do we go from here? If and when institutions default and their is no accountability you have to accept that hate is deeply embedded in our society and there isn't always checks and balances. Values, truth, integrity, and justice are not universally applied and are highly dependent on who is the perpetrator and who is the target. So you do the only thing you can do....that is encourage the system to strengthen its own values and uphold the Constitution where there have been violations and institutional defaults. The next generation deserves people willing to stand up for their needs to live free, happy, and meaningful lives.

Of course we run into our political spectrum where decisions are often not made on those values but on connectivity of political adherents (You can tell from watching paralanguage many don't believe what the bigger personalities in their parties are saying but they repeat what they must to get ahead. Its a sign of lack of integrity and in turn the inability to use leadership positions for positive national gains. For many its for self gain. btw some people really believe in what they say but in todays political environment they don't last long.). The needs of the nation and its population (being about half and half) are fodder for political fights. 

Where we could have maintained those values and worked toward problem solving and resolution, we often find wan ton mudslinging that has little end in itself beyond the joy of throwing something to diminish the other side (Do we really believe all the things people are saying about the other side? We can't just keep manipulating the population without consequences. Think about it. All institutions are declining  now. We have stories in our history who try and teach us essential values. The Boy who Cried Wolf.)

Ask yourself this question. Looking at our current political spectrum and what appears to be a lack of universal values and where do you believe we will be in say 10 years if such behaviors continue? There is no right or wrong answer but I do believe our risks will rise each year we don't find a middle path and uphold our shared values. This is also why we need the best and brightest (those with deep seated principles and abilities) to rise and not the most connected (Those who seek advantage through social networks and struggle with living their values. Poor political environments are created by poor values and misinformation. Skewing the truth becomes "name of the game". Few took into consideration that the success of the nation and the needs of the population to secure opportunities and democracy for the future is not "a game".).

Keep in mind that what is happening on a local and national level is something people are learning from. There is a point where the pendulum shifts too far and can't be brought back because people no longer see eye-to-eye on the fundamentals of what makes us a singular and unbroken people (Our enemies clap with glee as we eat ourselves from the inside. Wait until all these investigations are over and we get a chance to look in hindsight at what could potentially be happening. Time answers all questions. Telling our leadership to take their responsibilities seriously instead of a chronic bickering seems to be a dumb statement). 

Let us use a local example of distorted values and how it would be natural for it to break down trust (Our institutions are built on trust). It would be unwise, and perhaps reckless, for me to trust any member of the local hate group because they have put me and my family at risk and then had years to continue to provoke situations (Not to mention how quickly they raise the value of their kids and lower the value of my dark skinned kids. That includes harming them and manipulating elders to take from them what was rightfully theirs. All legal in today's world when social networks pervert moral conscious. Right and wrong are based in ones social background and skin color...local officials that support those dark values.). I have not only a responsibility to them, but also to others, and to the community to not wink and nod poor behavior least it becomes embedded and repeated against others.

Justice is a value system we should support in our society (No matter the race or religion of the perpetrator or the targets. That is why universal application is important.). So I will push for change and I will hold the line against such a hate group. I will do so with kindness, empathy, truth, and courage because those are my values (I am not a perfect person but I am very experienced in life and have been exposed to worlds most people in this group couldn't possibly understand. To judge me or my kids based on "super cool" limited perspective isn't likely to have much level of accuracy. We are just in different fish bowls of knowledge and background. Another story that seeks to teach society something Allegory of Cave. While I may have came from there and hold some similarities of background I have explored this world far and wide. We are no longer the same people with the same values.  I doubt based on their persistence and misinformation there will ever be rectification. ) I can no longer assume that others hold those same values. We owe it to my kids, others kids, and our future to do the right thing. That requires insight and integrity as a process of person development. I dont see anyone gaining such knowledge overnight. So let us wait and see....there is more to patriotism than blindly repeating and following others. 

...again my words fall on deaf ears and we will all suffer the consequences of lack of national moral courage.  Loving your country means standing up for it! Do I expect brighter minds to come forward. Not really because that is the nature of things at this time in history. Few hold such values...its mostly lip service. Hindsight wisdom is always more cheap than foresight fortitude. That is also why I dont automatically believe people whose values become important only once the political and legal winds change and its convenient to stand up for them. Where were they when it counted?

Our inability to fight for what is right means something is wrong. Everyday there is a lack of accountability is further evidence of the power of cleansing and the slow erosion of values that keep the two sides connected. Time is no longer on our side and it will determine the truth of such situations. Others have complained how things "work" and their voices also fall on corrupt indifference; at least on a local level.

Two Potential Parties Forming Out of GOP: Maybe or Maybe Not?

Interesting news happening in the Republic Party. I'm a light right Republican so I'm just thinking more from an observational standpoint. While I have my own opinions they are not really relevant here and at this time. I'm an Old Guard Republican but am not really involved in politics at this point in history (on a very low level). I may never be but I do love to understand things. 

I have been thinking for a while that there has been some danger of two parties forming within the GOP (From a sociological standpoint). It may not happen but as one side swings more right there are those who could be outstripped in terms of values and direction (Think of some of the key leaders like Cheney that have been dissenting. More dissenters could mean a real split. Some may decide if they don't actively and boldly take a stand they will loose more ground. Again, its not an endorsement/not endorsement but something but that could potentially form.). I think there is a group of Republicans that are sort of at loss for words and unsure of how to act or respond to these situations where knock down drag out fights are forming (Remember that Trump is powerful and so are many Republicans he is fighting against. Time will tell how that turns out in the short and long run.).  

Before we jump into an conclusions we should watch how things unfold and where it leads. In a few years will we have one Republican party or two Republican Parties (or something else)? There are growing definitions of what it means to be a Republican in today's world and it can create brand confusion so some are going to decide to go all in or all out to gain support. Let us look at a few options (No real particular order). 

1.) GOP moves as a totality further right as candidates and leaders seek to maintain their positions. 

2.) GOP splits with different loyalties (That would likely temporarily end the GOP as we know it and in turn split the votes as people line behind their favorite leaders and ideologies.).

3.) A third party forms as counter to the often irrational fighting of both parties focused on centralist tendencies such as science, logic, and evidence (Meaning they are a business and science oriented party. People are valued based on what they can do and not their loyalties to either party.).

4.) Nothing happens and the conflict and issues fade into the background. 

5.) Maybe something we don't expect.

Which one do you think will happen? There is no right or wrong answer. They are just potential doors.

I picked the video and article because they are somewhat neutral while the others seem bent left or right. 

Trump calls for McConnell to be ousted as GOP leader ‘immediately’