I saw this video for the Army. The one thing that the military is, its the great equalizer of opportunity (like education). It is the place that trains young talent to become excellent and take places of leadership. There is honor in being in the military and there are codes and rules that must be followed. When I consider hiring people, their service is important to me because I know they have a value system not everyone else can claim. They joined something they believed in. There is no greater honor than to serve one's nation. Join the cause! (The end looks like the bus in Cali)
Saturday, March 11, 2023
A Blog on National Development: Honest Conversation is What Get's Us to New National Performance Level
The U.S. is a system like other systems except its root values that differentiate us from many other nations. It is only these values that make us different. Any nation can build a better mousetrap (Based on their current development), and anyone can tell someone what they want to hear (Based on their current development). The difficult part is positive and constructive change.
That is change to how we view each other, leadership, and our ultimate goals. We have something to teach the rest of the world. Our core values are unmatched but we have people that have forgotten those values. They think its ok to forget those values and self-enrich through blind party affiliation and social networks designed to open doors for people who may not be qualified for those positions.
My take is this........half of Congress deserves their spot (not party oriented and not a specific number.) and the other half have gotten there because they said things they know others will believe without critical examination. We know it happens in every country, and it holds us back, and I suppose others, from full national self-actualization.
Imagine in the insanity of it all, that we developed a nation on merit where race and religion are not the deciding factors of leadership or success. Many Americans that are grinding away for something better for their kids and their futures. They do so despite not coming from wealth backgrounds, elite education and easy access to top jobs that the common man/woman will never have. A truer metric of performance based actual versus perceived performance. The doors to success should be open to anyone who has the skills, grit and values to lead.
That will be hard if we don't change or fall back into existing patterns (Covid, conflict and challenge have pushed us to change our patterns.). We will become second best if we do not self-reflect. That may not be important to some people, but the average person needs opportunities for success and they want more avenues to reach that success. Its important for our leadership to work on the development of higher levels of opportunity for a broader based population.
I have seen a deep world and I will say this....hate has no place in this country and it has no place in our future. It doesn't rob just those people, but the rest of the nation as well from human capital. We need the best and brightest from every corner of our nation and we need to ensure they make it to the places where they can do the most good. Blind button pushing and connected networks won't get us to the next level.
Here is my suggestion as a person with a Muslim sounding name (That doesn't necessarily qualify me for anything. I'm being honest. My experiences are helpful but they are not definitive for each situation), that has felt like half citizen from time-to-time, and has challenged some pretty dark corners of our society....let's compete! Let us get serious about it! Let us take the political drum banging down whisper where we can hear that inner voice that tells us, "This is the moment where we decide that the future of our nation, its values, and our people supersede all other considerations" (Its not actually that finite or fatalistic but you get the point. Time is ticking away as we squabble over little things.)
*This blog is designed to get you to think. If your upset, click off, and go self-reflect. If you agree, then get motivated and do positive things with that. Whether your Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Bahai, Hispanic, White, Black, Asian, Mixed, rich, poor, middle class, etc....we need you! Patriotism moves beyond our party politics or the self-flattery it offers. We just need the right environment and those who can maximize our human capital in leadership positions.
China Brokers Peace Deal Between Saudi and Iran
New Iran-Saudi deal sort of raises a few eyebrows. China is seeking to insert itself in world affairs and flex its influence. We should expect that to happen and should not be surprised. That does require us to start thinking about how to put ourselves in the best possible position on international relationships and build our nation to create shared resonance of our core values of human dignity and freedom. That might require new ways of thinking about things.
Each time something happens (i.e. phenomenon) we should ask ourselves why these things occurred and in precisely how they were realized. As we universalize our democracy we are going to have new people come forward with skills that have not been fostered in our inner "connected" circles. That is going to open new ways of looking at the world and that will likely bring forward a lot more options. As the world starts carving up, assuming the cold war continues to grow, we will need to rejuvenate our American mission (mission as our values.).
We can overcome this challenge and we can do so in ways that put the U.S. in its strongest position it has seen in its history. We have already started on that process from infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and human capital development (We moved from C+ to C++ in our thinking but are not maximizing yet.). Matching that with renewed effort to rally our base to solve problems and focus on the big picture locally, nationally, internationally.
The deal is overall can be helpful, unlikely to be truly altruistic, but we should have brokered it. We need to get competitive as a nation and that won't happen unless we have sustained commitment to be the best we can be. Ideological maturity is needed in our leadership and its time to resolve any internal squabbles and self actualize as a nation. It is their duty and it is part of why they are in politics (If there are other reasons they probably shouldn't be there.)
If you disagree that's fine click off. I have a Muslim sounding name and earned my right to talk regardless of the shortsightedness that is often rewarded for Yes Ma'am or Yes Sir lip service. I stand for principles as a nation even when it's not popular. We can be the best but that will happen as soon as we focus on our core values. That can be a hard sell in some circles and their blind supporters. Life is choices and I choose my country over politics. Proof in pudding.... No? 🤔
*The purpose of this article is to get you to think. Hopefully, think about a greater purpose of drawing people to a national cause and not rewarding poor behaviors for political or reward. We will need to be our best going forward and false flattery wont get us there. Patriotism isn't just for politicians or have racial or religious anchoring. It's our nation and we need our politicians to earn their positions and we need to elect high quality candidates beyond normal party politics. We the People need the best leadership we can get!
Friday, March 10, 2023
Dr. Powell Provides Testimony to House Committee on Monetary Policy (03/08/2023)
Dr. Powell discusses the state of the economy. Is the porridge too hot, too cold, just right or something else??? As the labor market gets tight and technology further pushes itself into the Digital Era there will be natural implementation of new technologies. Different types of skills are needed and they are going to be less labor oriented and more creative in design in order to maintain that innovative development through natural human motivation. Maybe not? No one really knows but its interesting to think about.
For an overview read Jobs Report Gives Fed a Mixed Signal Ahead of Its March Decision
The other option is to not do anything which I don't think is a good option. However, we could always try something interesting and perhaps hedge technology and human capital to reduce labor pressure and improve the entire system to higher platforms of performance.
Those Who Make It and Those Who Don't: Challenge for Improvement!
Over the course of my life I have met many people of many different backgrounds from all over the globe. There are some who will make it and many who will not. None of it has to do with their background, wealth, religion, race, or origin. Those who do make it have certain traits and inner core values when compared to those who struggle to accomplish the basics. Fundamentally, it comes down who we are as a person and what we want out of this life.
Each person defines what they see for themselves in you. Research Truth or Lie?
The mediocre often want to tear down those who strive for a greater purpose because change requires them to self-reflect how they view themselves and the world in which they live. It is their misperception that holds them back and when someone represents difference, depending on the perceived level of that difference, they begin to push away that which is bright.
The next time someone rips you for being a little different, ask, "Which side of "truth" are they on?" What they don't understand is they do not "see" you through the transparency of a glass window, but only gazing into a mirror at a person they do not really know well. People fill in their own blanks.
Life is a story, let's turn the page.....
*Some implied swearing.
**The article is designed to help people think and be inspirational for those who want to accomplish something beneficial in life and want to stay motivated. I encourage young people to think about their inner value. Sometimes we don't all come from prestigious backgrounds but that doesn't mean we can't contribute to society. Often those that are quickly discarded are the one's who are trying to improve their world. We just sometimes prejudge people, things, and other's motivations without really knowing what we are looking at. If you didn't notice. You are looking at yourself. What you see defines you as a person. So start self-reflecting.......turn your own page.......its story book? No? 🤷
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Detroit State of the Union Address Duggan 2023 (Ed: "Big D" and "Little E")
Detroit is a beloved city and I like to watch how she has been progressing (I think Detroit is a She? or He? I'm not sure. 🤷). We also thought we lost the auto industry but we now have made a full circle back to bring it where it belongs....in Michigan. Our world is going to start changing very rapidly in a few years and new technologies many of us have never seen will be hitting the market. Most of that is going to happen is likely to happen in the next 5 years.+-
When we first lost a big investment to another state, I was concerned but then a couple of smaller announcements came out that hinted the EV market was likely to head this way (Michigan has a unique investor aroma.). The state turn around success came from pushing on the gas peddle at exactly the right time when the market was scrambling for investment safe haven and when the market was fidgeting. Michigan offered a solution (Some would say pure luck, but I would say a strategic choice by the state in a fog/murky waters as investors were unsure of what to do next. When you offer something at the time it solves a problem, the world responds. Sometimes you get luck and sometimes you don't.)
Other semi-related light economic reading (Its not necessarily directly related but it is part of a trend and there is some relation between economies that are becoming entrepreneurial oriented {I know someone must be chuckling out other}. Yes, Esky could be a itself a start up lab. I'm not saying it is, but I suppose one could do that if there was enough pack investing going on and easy in and out access. Detroit is on a large scale and Escanaba is on a small scale. Both have been punched in the gut when executives sold out for a few pennies on the share and went overseas. {Welcome back! Didn't work out?😂} If both systems function it could make a case for an avenue national scale {Infrastructure+Advanced Manufacturing/Digital Era Tech+Human Capital = Market Lead}. I mean in hypothetical abstraction land of Axis Mundi): Hedge Invest, EV-MI Infrastructure, Keep on Truckin!, Esky Jail, Forest Process, Esky Business and Fun, Esky Downtown, SME, Ford Doubles Down, Ford 2 billion, CEO Venture, GM President, GM Announces, Pure MI, Esky EMP, Digital Capital, Made in America, ShipBuilding, Start-up Esky, Full Bloom, Escanaba Harbor, Esky Redevelop, The Queen, China Trade, $5 Billion MI, Could MI EV, US Outperform China, Digital Explosions? (I wonder if cities can partner to bring executives up here to Escanaba. It used to be a straight 1 hour flight to the Detroit. I'm thinking a few design firms for testing new auto technology and parts would make sense. A place to come and be creative. An amazingly different environment with creative juices everywhere. An opportunity to expose and connect. Lots of land!)
Big D and Little E! 😏
DOJ Releases Negative and Startling Report on Police Excesses in Louisville
The DOJ releases a very negative and somewhat startling report on the Louisville police department. I'm saddened as an American about this and feel that we should have known better and done more. For those who know me, I'm an American and an "American" and live in both worlds a little (I can't explain it right now. Its about social structure, resources, friends, access and opportunity.). I'm 100% for police and 110% for Civil Rights. Thus, to me policing must always follow good conduct and do what is in the best interest of society.
(Normal silly political discourse isn't going to solve this problem so its up to our politicians to get serious about focusing on the needs of our nation. We have challenges we have to face and human capital loss is eroding our opportunities as non-essential things are debated. We don't get "do overs" if we drop the torch in this generation and we become #2. Were fumbling a little too much.)
I've had three interactions with local police and they were all positive (Even though I think they don't have the resources to follow up on things). One was when a person on accident hit the back of my parked car and the second time when a tire fell off my son's car due to what appeared to be mechanic error (There could be other causes such as faulty equipment, not tightening the bolt, tampering, etc. The mechanic actually said tampering and put it in written form.).
All three were positive so that is good for the most part. The first was a Black officer and White officer, second was a White officer (technically St. Matthews) and the third was an Asian officer (Due to an accident I think the mechanic may have caused. I can only use the word "may" accurately.). Yet, I have heard stories of the opposite being true and I sense the anger in some of the communities who feel like they don't count. We have to change our inclusiveness approach so to encourage a stronger more universal democracy (I think from a systems perspective, a strategic perspective, a historical perspective and as a separate moral system that falls in line with that. They are all telling me change is needed and its somewhat apparent. The larger historical line is solid but the local social line is mixed. This is also likely why the Feds are more Constitutional focused and locally its more socially based so its an inner discussion among various crowds.)
Yet, the city is highly segregated and it breaks my heart that it is so. I see life in that city and I believe it it has real value to start bridging the racial divide. I will say something that I think is important. While my interactions with police were positive and polite, I have had a few very rude comments by a few businesses that is indicative of some underlying cultural distortions. These are embedded into some of the "inner crowds" as defined by wealthy, right side of town, elite education and perceived "pedigree" (btw I love elite education but we draw too heavily from it as a society. To me, the guy or gal that beats all odds, has proven inner core of resilience, is way more valuable then a person who experienced a life of open doors and unwarranted bragging about so so performance. The best and brightest can be drawn from any background, rich or poor, but the poor who climb are have already been credentialed through actual performance. At least, in my limited perspective.)
One attorney denigrated a Muslim Black woman who died saying something along the lines of "Around here no one cares about people like her. {Referring to her race and religion.} Not in Louisville anyway!". This is what self-entitled people often do when something doesn't go their way. I responded something along the lines, "Well, you are a boarder state between north and south so I suppose there are mixed feelings in the area. Good thing your side lost the Civil War." I also mentioned I like golf too because of his age and his relish in his dad's money, skin color and "inner crowd". He got upset and hung up.
(The sad thing is that I think I'm a very reasonable guy and will switch my perspective if it seems more logical to construct the data, things I have learned and experienced, in a new way. I do it all the time and I love it when someone points something out that changes my assumptions. I do not like it when people just throw conjecture in an attempt to confuse or intimidate people. Its a perversion of truth that bothers me. To me, truth is what makes us more accurate and makes us more functional as a society.)
The other incident was a guy at a business who called my adult mixed race son "boy" and that should be seen as unacceptable in the modern business world. Yet, you can't really fix these things without full universalization of our systems because they are embedded into the souls of others and how they interact with people (Remember these are interpretations and my interpretation could be wrong but is not unwarranted). We have also allowed politics to foreshadow very important fundamental rights about our fellow human beings and creates some underlining mistrust. The grotesque has become "fashionable" in some circles (See above.). I know that very deeply. We have few to no positive options if we do not change. Wisdom tells me that its becoming a central moral and human capital issue that is slowly dwarfing any other national problem.
(Here is the agreement between the US and Louisville. I took it from this article so I just want people to know some other authors did the leg work and should be encouraged to read their work. 'THIS CONDUCT IS UNACCEPTABLE' Department of Justice issues scathing report into Louisville police practices.)
I'm proud we live in a country where most people are trying to do the right thing. That is not everyone. However, the vast majority of the society still believes in the American cause of a free human spirit. I appreciate the good work of the DOJ (Trust me, there is always room for improvement, but in this case they are stepping up to the plate for a fundamental and constitutionally protected core American beliefs. We will change and adapt as a society because it is the most logical option going forward. We can no longer afford the grotesque and be able to look at ourselves in the mirror in the same way. The more honest we are, the more we build trust.)
My recommendation is be positive, polite, challenge hate, encourage others to correct the wrong, encourage higher value systems and increased engagement. Some of the work will be needed in our national leadership to focus on what is most important, be philosophically educated on our values, and make decisions that are more in line with their conscious. We just need to "do the right thing" and everything else will sort of work out the way we need it to. The question is, "What is the right thing?" Polices and Procedures in Organizations
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