The blog discusses current affairs and development of national economic and social health through unique idea generation. Consider the blog a type of thought experiment where ideas are generated to be pondered but should never be considered definitive as a final conclusion. It is just a pathway to understanding and one may equally reject as accept ideas as theoretical dribble. New perspectives, new opportunities, for a new generation. “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”—Thomas Jefferson
Monday, June 19, 2023
What is Juneteenth? Remembering the Struggles of the Past and Opportunities of the Future
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Flannery Fired Up: Pritzker urges swift action as Chicago Police Department Needs New Recruits
He makes a good point that we need to hire more officers and we need them to come from different backgrounds. We have some cultural issues in recent years as big data and greater awareness have exposed some long term needed reforms. Those reforms are underway but the PR of policing has taken a hit during this time. Likewise, in a tough job market we have issues as it relates to recruitment in general so change to reverse trends is likely.
Its not an impossible situation but there are some challenges we can't really ignore for much longer. What one might consider is to ensure reforms are complete and then begin to work on the image of policing by recruiting from as diverse backgrounds as possible (Its not about hiring a particular type of person but ensuring the culture is appropriate to the tasks at hand and your recruiting, training, and retaining broadly to master challenges.) .
This isn't just about diversity alone, as it is also about mending communities and bringing them and police onto the same page (We all got kids and families so communities and police have responsibilities to work together and solve this problem. Its difficult to do that if our politicians hype up these differences, authority is misused or people refuse to positively engage when given opportunities. We are one people and need to solve this as one people.)
Sometimes change seems like its chaotic and weakens policing/institutions but that is not necessarily true when we reach forward to meeting opportunities that lay just over the horizon (There is a place where police and people can see eye-to-eye on developing peaceful thriving neighborhoods and opportunities. I call it the philosophical Axis Mundi. Its silly but basically when I use this term, I mean it as an answer that was not thought of before until people took steps to share their perspective and learn in a way that leads to wisdom, knowledge, and moral alignment. In other words, an essential insight into the deeper nature of things. Most cultures think of it as a place where heaven (s) and earth connect and I wasn't really going that far out. I was thinking just where things sort of make sense and it clear sight of a situation or problem. We study something and we come to understand things that would not have been possible without taking the right steps to gain insight. Its similar to "aha. I understand" that contributes to societal wisdom. Simplicity of answer is often more true then the complexity of the discussion. See the historical and not layman's term. The History of Axis Mundi). It all depends on how we handle situations like this. (I support police 100% and civil rights 110%. We can create opportunities but that won't happen in shout down matches.)
Universalizing our police and justice system can lead to greater buy in as the rules apply to everyone, are wise in their application and focused on helping others (Sometimes help is prison, sometimes its a scolding, sometimes its counseling, sometimes its a job, but it should always an opportunity to help. It should never be paramilitary or culturally ethnocentric. I mean, it should not be unless you want people to distrust it and abandon it as a supported institution of a free society) Impressions and political game playing often put protesters and police at odds with each other. This time we can really listen to each other and can adjust those things that are not working to make them stronger so let's not allow people exploit those differences (There is a difference between exploitation and reflecting back more accurate information. One leads to chaos as an end in and of itself while the other leads to greater performance through a more accurate well rounded perspective. Institutions sometimes don't collect the right kind of metrics and/or need to change their metrics to see a problem better.)
It is a time for new policing ideas and I would love to see heartfelt contributions by marginalized groups that may have been distrustful of police to contribute their knowledge to improve the whole system. Improve it for the police and the people. An essential question is, "What would make you trust and engage?" Its a simple question but is somewhat profound in orientation of switching from adversarial to co-builder (Right now, despite the sour grapes everyone is looking for solutions; or at least should be. It is an opportunity for minorities to be concise and contribute. i.e. For example, a complaints button might be on the main department webpage and vetted by someone outside the department. Bad idea, good idea...that is a debate but its one way to raise feedback, increase transparency and lower retaliation.)
At the end of the day, I believe everyone wants safe communities, responsive policing, and to raise the trust level of our institutions so they function with greater support and outcomes (i.e. a strong return on tax payer expenditures through shared goal focus and adaptable improvement). (We want our institutions to function well and have high trust through shared interest in their performance.)
Reflecting on the Long Term Subtle Impact of Hate, Rumors and Clans
Sure, I can accept a default in justice much like I can eventually accept a break in our community based on the bad behaviors of some. However, that doesn't mean I still don't have obligations to other people who may be caught in the same situation; especially in situations that were likely engaged in the past and have a high chance of being repeated by others in the future. Because these behaviors appear to be relatively common, supported by some in official positions, and they are aggressive and dangerous in nature I feel that I have more of an obligation to talk about them then I do to stay silent (Think of it as a societal development and moral issue. Certain behaviors should not be encouraged even if there is little will for justice.). The vast majority are exceptional and warm people. We are just talking about this central group and how their beliefs impact everything around them.
(These could all be fictitious hypotheticals. However, it is still a great story to learn and adapt from on how to build a stronger nation on a root social level. One would need to have a deep understanding of the micro and macro aspects of social interactions to understand how to fix problems like this on root social levels. I'm an advocate for positive social interaction and hedging our human capital through focus on shared principles and wholeness of conception. I call it universal American principles or a universal democracy.)
The Dangerous Situation
These people yell out "Your father is a Bitch to my kids" and then go down a series of group/clan based events of pulling them over, involving them in dangerous situations, stalking the father, creating potentially violent situations, employment rejection (I don't care about it that much as I was just trying to be helpful but it is still a concern for others.) spreading rumors on and off line, manipulation of the elderly, encouraging illegal targeting and doing much more. It appears to be a total default on the system based in the distortion, bigotry and greed of a few people.
(The people who started this are used to dominating their social network and I think there are many reasons why they would engage in this behavior from hate to finances. Its kind of obvious when you start digging into all of the actions and their goal directed behaviors.)
Can I truly expect that people are going to wake up one day and then say, "Wow, we really went after that guy and his family based on intentionally set rumors designed to enrich some and ensure that blacks, Muslims, and other minorities never feel welcome or safe in our community?". Different people might adjust that to other things such as, "I hear all Muslims are violent and this is my country and I don't want people like this around. I will do my part to ensure that these dark subhumans don't come to destroy my community" (Just ignore all of the assumptions about "their town", historical roots, freedom of religion, etc. These are big discussions on cultural assumptions. The Cultural Socialization Scale: Assessing Family and Peer Socialization toward Heritage and Mainstream Cultures
(Some of you may not know what implicit bias is. Implicit bias is when we take certain beliefs to be true even though they may be a reflection of a person's thoughts versus actual measurable data that can be observed in the environment. i.e. focuses on the one Black guy who stole something to represent the general values and beliefs of all Black people. One White extremist comes to represent all White people. I could go on to further say an implicit bias is putting kids in harms way because someone create a rumor to exploit those biases to harm, control, and profit off of hate. People lie to get stuff all the time. Lying in a group that lives in the rumor mill is a powerful tool of ostracization. When mixed with close friendships of fellow clan members in law enforcement it moves down a dangerous path. I think that is the leading explanation at the moment. )
A Simple and Subtle Example
Let me give you a subtle example beyond all of the more obvious examples presented prior. I see a guy who knows some people I know and we don't talk much. We don't because when I see him he tenses up, gets quite and out of the corner of his eye watches me like a hawk. Not yet fully sure why. but I believe him to be affiliated with "the clan" and the beliefs of the central clan members (One might say friend network and could even go as far as cult. I think clan is sort of the best reflection I can come up with at the moment because it is a highly socialized friends but also share other characteristics that are dysfunctional.)
I'm minding my own business and I looked over to listen to a conversation that was happening as a group discussion a few feet away. It wasn't a private conversation and was sort of open to the public but I was impressed by a good natured moment in which older people were sharing wisdom with younger people (See the beautiful side of communities. I encourage this engagement of young and old. Even more so across ethnic, racial, and religious lines to create wholeness.). I probably could have jumped into the conversation and that would have been acceptable in this circumstance.
Then I realized out of the corner of my eye this guy was staring at me and with serious dislike/concern. When I looked at him, he looked away, and then I went on doing my business. No more issues and it was a small issue with wider ramifications (I don't even think he was aware he was staring. I don't think he is a bad guy. He is naturally reacting to the stage set by others). However, I realized that this person must be hyped up on all types of rumors and information. Some of these people feel I'm a threat, that my kids are a threat, and that we should not be allowed to be in the same area.
Some Reflection
I scratch my head and ponder my past and think while I'm not a perfect person I been a pretty good person. Never in my life have I hurt a person or even picked a fight as a kid. People who know me know I'm sort of passive in my nature (I'm the type if I lie you can read it on me so most of the time I just either say nothing or say my unvetted perspective and that causes problems as well.) However, these people view me as something dark and evil. I guess that is one of the signs of the subtle impact of hate, rumors and clans. They are in their own world with their own constructed reality that isn't reflecting reality. The danger comes from the rumors and the lack of diverse exposure to other people that makes people outside their clan sort of the embodiment of evil and "the other" (We can go into this on a sociological level of tight socialized groups around identity, distrust of outsiders, etc. )
One of the reasons why I had to draw some boundaries was for the health and safety of my children. These adults were pushing their distorted perceptions of Blacks and Muslims onto my children ( I have a laundry list of reasons I could cite) and that was beginning to impact the well being of my kids. I felt the changes. They were not at first overt but it didn't take long before the signaling (as a implicit communication conception) became apparent and that would eventually damage my kids sense of identity. (I know they don't see it that way and I know they don't have the awareness to understand on that level. 60% of society understands it fairly clearly.) Raising “Antiracist Disruptors”: Illuminating Socialization Practices that Support Antiracism in Multiracial Households
I suspect there are a few thinking (Not specific to the example or the guy because I can't make that judgement without knowing him well.) but only a general observation of how certain toxic behaviors impact people's perceptions and in turn treatment of others. I do believe based on my understanding of the past and various repeated behaviors that something like this might be true for say 10% of the clan, "Well, if you don't like us treating you this way you should move! Don't expect me to make people who are like those ____fill in the blank________feel comfortable in my town. We don't need people like that who cause all the problems around here!" (We can look in history and science to give us some explanation on how fear mongering creates real dangers for people.)
I'm learning so we call can learn together. We may or may not see justice depending on the moral conscious of the system (It tries but its imperfect like we are imperfect.) but what we can say is that as a society we can learn about how to build a better nation and a brighter tomorrow. The battle is more over hears and minds that among my fellow Americans/"Americans" which I hope someday we will resolve so it leads to a more universal, "Our American Principles".💇😬💨 (BTW one day I mentioned Our American Principles in my writing and some members of the group went berserk! Crazy stuff! It would appear there are some who don't want us to be one indivisible people and are very opposed to it and will break liberty and justice in order to clearly state even mentioning shared communities is opposed.).
Are biased rumors dangerous or inappropriate? I guess it depends on who you ask. 🤔 I think in our society we should encourage good behaviors and discourage destructive behaviors. In a cultural transition we have to figure out which is which. Those with the gifted curse sometimes have insight into issues others might not have. In respect for my father, grand father, and great fathers who come from this area and fought to keep our nation free. We respect the great men in our lives and their sacrifices to our lives and to our society. Honoring them requires to honor their principles and generations of principles that went before, Our American Principles. May our fathers wisdom pass to this and the next generation (Today is father's day so give honor through the power of "being". Father's Day and Juneteenth. Our fathers pushed for freedom and through polite persistence we will do the same.).
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Escanaba Marina Still has a Few Slips Open
The other day I went down and paid for my slip. Some of my plan is to do a lot more fishing and golfing this summer. Everything starts with getting the boat in the water. Without that you will be doing shore fishing which is perfectly fine. I wasn't around and I had ordered a new engine so all is ready now.
The fantasy of a small commercial fishing boat is still alive! (For fun)
Friday, June 16, 2023
Delta County Board of Commissioners Meeting 6/6/2023: 2nd Amendment, Mental Health, "The Girl", Community Engagement and Farts!
As the representation of the power of women and the start of the woman's movement. Society continues to advance generation after generation. by Edward Penfield (1866-1925). |
(Notice how as people start asking questions, requesting information, defining problems and begin to ponder solutions. An educated, in terms of awareness, citizenship leads not only to better decision making through wider stakeholder analysis but often better market driven outcomes. Communities like this are communities that will thrive because they are actively engaged and that fosters good governance. No matter your political interests it is important to encourage people of all different backgrounds and political persuasions to be involved in government. I encourage it precisely for better decision making by making a more accurate market assessment through multiple perceptions. Hyper politics is antithetical to good decision making and we may see a little of that influence. People are the customers. Its not something you can really put into a jingle and get votes but it is what it is. )
Let me say that I believe some of why democracies have been innovative is because they take the creative process and in rough cut form or another put it into a system of feedback loops. The only time this has issues is when the feedback loops are closed down and there is no constant tweaking/adjustments to the needs of people. This occurs when other things take additional consideration beyond the best outcomes of the people. Freedom of speech was brought up many times and there is some benefit in ensuring these channels of community stay open. We must converse to decide things and gain new knowledge.
(Think about this from an alignment perspective such as a functioning organization with ever department working toward some shared goals. This is a general sort of comment about all systems and isn't necessarily related to here. The needs of the people come first and if anything else such as groups, hyper politics, corruption, over focus on the needs of a small group of stakeholders, etc. mitigate that relationship then it would be a net detractor from democracies full functioning. In other words, Freedom of Speech is a absolutely necessity for the system to function well with new ideas, solving problems, and building trust with the public. This is why undisturbed time allotments are given. 3 min.)
-Public Act 214 Veterans Relief Fund of 1899
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Senate Republicans Bring Forward Student Loan Plan
According to this article there is a new GOP plan to cover student loan debt. I make no judgements but only bring it up for your understanding. One would have to look at any proposal fairly closely to understand how each will work in theory and as applied.
This appears to be the GOP's and the other in debate/play is the student loan forgiveness by the Democrats (In court).
Anyway, the first article discusses the details of the plan and the second is what is currently in place on the website.
Senate Republicans introduce plan to tackle student loan debtNot Much Matters Outside of the Clan: Community Begins to Understand
I'm not going to spend a lot of time this morning as I have a few things I need to accomplish today. First, let me say that challenging embedded corruption is not easy. In such systems they close themselves off from outside oversight and from outside perspectives which allows them to continue down their path. When this happens they become unchanged systems and if they feel pressure they rally their wagons but they don't come to grasp their greater purpose.
We should sort of expect some of that behavior when homogenous clan based behaviors are a social driver to free passes for behaviors that would normally be considered federal and international violations. They just are not in this case yet because of lack of knowledge, lack of values, and common lip service to their oaths. Not everyone is going to do the right thing and most are going to play with its subjectivity.
I heard a little more information recently that supports the belief that intentional maliciousness, mental health, and self enrichment were at center of primer issue (The others associated with the group joined in to help them punish the minorities in their community. It looks like a learned pattern over years of circumventing rights.). Likewise, It also supports the idea that elderly and sick were taken advantage in more than one case to help the perpetrators advantage themselves (If true, its immoral but we really shouldn't worry about that much in a closed system. These things don't matter here like they might in other places. i.e. simple questions like how sick, what information was given to, what wealth was taken, are not asked, etc...they are just sort of swept under the carpet. ).
All of this could be true or it could lead to an additional explanation. It see it based on actual repeated occurrences more likely to be true then untrue (74% true in a criminal form). I don't like to think in definitive terms. When we sort of drill down into the nitty gritty details we often find that there is not only much more but some variability on the initial issues (That is why impartiality is important and one shouldn't just ask the people who caused the problem to be the one's to investigate the problem.)
If you understood the personalities involved you would also understand how this is possible and how they can easily use their social networks to attack and target others (i.e. flying monkeys who have no clue why they are hating on other people.). I think if you asked most people to step back and ponder the possibilities based on the casual awareness of the parties involved you could see that toxic mix.
Instead of spending more time this morning on this issue let me say that that personality led to an increase in targeting of children, lack of oversite, and multi department coordination to clean the "problem" out of the community. Problem being see as anyone who disagrees with bad behaviors and anyone who is 1.) not part of the clan, 2.) not of a race or religion this clan can accept, and 3.) drawing boundaries that reflect negatively on the clan.
These behaviors got dangerous and they will likely will get dangerous again (The dangers of repeated free passes.). Minorities, constituting a growing 60% of society, sort of know how this works and how quickly in history the professed moral beliefs of good old boy networks typically fall to the wayside under historical scrutiny (In other words, most of us know its hate based except the people involved in it or have some vested interest in support it.).
The only thing I'm going to say that really is noteworthy is that I'm very impressed by how people have responded in a positive way even after the hate narrative made its way throughout the community. I think the community is becoming increasingly aware of what happened and how immoral it was and how immoral the free pass system is on a root level. They have provided a level of moral support through their kindness which continues to show me that its a smaller then initially thought group (I can be wrong and people can swing back toward moral conscious. If we could get some of the officials to do that we could put the entire system on a healthier path. I mean, assuming it has any value to anyone.). I think people are increasingly aware of the community complaints that go unchecked, unvetted, and often ignored (If there is a clan that protects its own then it makes sense. No one outside that group is going to matter much when push comes to shove.)
Today is a day that comes with many mixed blessings. If you are a target of hate, take some small token of consideration that there are people out there, millions of people, who may have experienced the same thing. We just haven't found the solution yet. Let us keep our prayers lifted to the heavens and our eyes open to what is in front of us.