Let’s Talk

Conversation. People sharing ideas and thoughts. Ideas are creative and connect with many topics and embrace starkly differing themes. They attempt to understand things – complex and simple – things that don’t always connect with one another. Such is the process of discovering new ideas. With such new thinking come new possibilities.

Sharing thoughts is another form of conversation entirely. Thoughts are personal. They often meander among several topics, experiences, emotions and a whole lot of ‘whatever’. Sharing thoughts is a way of sharing the self with others and discovering parts of the inner life not normally explored. This is where opinion lives most likely. At least, this is where opinion most probably forms. Who knows? As I said, this is an exploration, an act of discovery, and a very personal one at that.

The mix of ideas and thoughts, however, is yet another dimension. We deal with this every day to some degree. It is the yin and yang of life; the opposites pulling at each other, the stretching of both experience and thinking. Pondering. Meditating, too. Wondering.

I think we need to allow ourselves more freedom with this. Allow is used here broadly. I need to allow myself to ponder these matters so I am more fully aware of my own dimension – ability and dis-ability. At any given moment I am more lucid or not than another moment. I understand some things one moment and am very much in the dark on others at the same time. Fitting these things together into a meaningful semblance is a high task. It takes time and patience to work through.

Allow me the freedom to do this without too much negative pressure or judgment. That’s an allowance I need to perform some of these block building acts of the self; I need to return that favor and allow you to do the same.

It helps if we realize that idea and thought are two different things. One is universal and the other personal. The personal is often unformed. Raw. It is idea in formation so it is delicate and not ready yet for judgment. My own judgment, sure; yours, no. I need space to better form those thoughts.

The ideas shared among a broader audience is a different proposition. Ideas are the grist we can use among each other and build better understanding toward shared goals.

The distinction is important. It is the difference between discussion and argument. One is positive and helpful. The other is negative energy bent on destroying something not understood. Because it is often emotion, the discussion turns into a conversation that is personal and out of bounds of public sharing.

That is the disconnect among many of us consuming news feeds these days. We often are fed thoughts instead of ideas. One is emotionally based while the other is fact based.

I share this thought: be careful what you consume as fact. It may be only ill-formed thought. It may be intentionally offered to mislead.

A lot of that going around these days. Beware.

February 28, 2018

Blog Traffic

Each day I post to my blog. Each day I review traffic to the site. It is not a total view because I also share my posts to Facebook. Readership there is not counted in blogsite stats. So I don’t know the full number of followers, readers.

I do know the blog is read internationally. Although USA numbers usually top the list, French and Italian readership is almost as high as American readership. From time to time Russian readership surpasses all the others.

The Russia count varies all over the board. Sometimes no connection for weeks, then a surge. We are talking about 6 readers on one day, and 158 the next. Sometimes over 200. Are these students in high school or university classes reading what is on the mind of Americans? Or might this be Russian bureaucrats examining American public opinions on a global issues? I think some of this is the latter. But I always hope that these are private citizens engaged in learning more about the world they, and we, share with one another.

French followers numbered several hundred at one time in 2016 as their national elections catapulted toward a showdown with conservative and centrist political thought. The centrists won, and French minds calmed. They still read the blog, about 200 weekly.

For some reason the same is happening in Italy – 185 readers weekly. Classroom readers? I can’t think of any other reason.

A smattering of other countries is always present – Germany, England, Canada, Brazil, and many points in Asia. Not so much China or Africa. Except Mauritius; for some reason readership blossomed there for a month or so once. Just that once. 250 readers for a month. Then that statistic disappeared.

What does this traffic mean? I have no idea. All I know is readers exist and they seem to find me. The numbers are not great: 208,000 readers in 6 years have connected with me. It took five years to collect 100,000 readers; just one year for the second 100,000. But now the readership has slumped back to an annual rate of 30,000. Is that good? Or poor?

I don’t have an answer for that. I write for myself, not them. If they have an interest in the meanderings of an older man’s mind, so be it. I kind of like that idea. Others interested in what someone else thinks and writes. Outside their country, too. The global community living its expansive life?

One can only hope.

February 27, 2018

Challenge and Possibility

Busy times. Even for a retiree. Family doings and household chores. Significant birthdays and chaotic public news. Cycles of news. A wave of happenings and opinions about those happenings endlessly crashing onto the beaches of our consciousness.

How to process it all. When to think new thoughts. When to think big. And when to just shut down for a while and rest the mind.

We watched the Olympics. Not a lot, but several hours here and there. Thrilled by the energy and skills of the competitors. Disappointed by national standings, especially America’s. Yet, in the end, it was sports that won, athleticism and personal discipline. That focus is where it belongs, not on national honors or brand identity. The Olympics is about the global community coming together to display its commonality. That we are the same the world over is a message we all need to learn. It is not about nations separated by ideology or walls or even mountain ranges. Or which nation is superior to another.

My mother turned 104 last Saturday. Although that is a major accomplishment for any of us, she is not happy. She is very tired and wants to go ‘home’. She is very much aware she is consuming resources others could use for better purpose. Regardless of her thoughts, her body simply won’t quit. And her kids are aging towards a long future as well. Yikes! I don’t want to last that long. It is burdensome and exhausting. I understand her thinking on this. And yet life goes on. Day after day after months of the same.

Current events unfold daily, the most exciting being the outcome of the Parkland, Florida school shooting. Here the victims that survived are now the heroes. They have taken a leadership role not because they wanted to, but because they had to; if not them, who? I feel pride for their sense of community and duty. Proud that they might step up and lead the world to a better place. Idealism aside, these young people are articulate and willing to stand up and be counted. And there seems to be little brashness about their demeanor. Pride I have for them. Yes!

Awakenings on other fronts as well: women’s issues ought not be a surprise; they represent 50% of the population of the globe, for God’s sake. Why shouldn’t they assume the mantel of their natural power and grace? They have reason to speak their truth and we ought welcome it.

Respect for the planet and its resources is gaining natural ground. Citizens everywhere are supporting commonsense policies and regulations. Government support would be nice, but it is not necessary for success. It is we the people who can do this. The power has always been with us. Only the outcome is needed for definition; once known, it is natural how we achieve it.

The same in education. What we need and want as an outcome may be more attainable than we thought. It is personal, education. The student and a peer student. The student and teacher. The student and family. Those are the primary ingredients for exploring life and world and then making sense of it. Respecting discovery for its own value and what it informs our brains, that is education. Unshackle it for commonsense and desired outcomes.

Embracing change seems more natural today than it did only a year ago. We know change happens. Rather than fight it and delay it, welcome it. Anticipate it. Prepare for it. Encourage it. Youth see it and know it to be good. It is exhilarating when confronted with the right attitude. It is depressing and exhausting with the wrong attitude. And that leads to fear of the unknown with no realization of what that fear costs us.

Better to cast off fear and breathe in fresh ideas and potential. That’s what we ask of our young people as they grow into adulthood. We were asked to do that in our youth. We were expected to take on the challenges. Why not them? And why should we burden them with expectations of a dated nature? We have had our chance to run the world. We haven’t done that great a job. So now it is another generation’s role to play.

I, for one, am excited and enthused with this prospect. They have the energy. They have the appreciation of education, and they see the world as it is and can be. Both perspectives are needed. The reality and the possibility – a golden opportunity to live life better and on its terms.

It’s a good thing. A very good thing.

February 26, 2018

Stretching

"You can do anything if you want to badly enough." You have heard that phrase many times in your life. Your dad told you so; so did mom. Maybe your grandparents told you the same thing. You were probably young, under 10 years of age.

Later, when you were in your teens, you heard the statement several times more. The tone of voice was likely different. When quite young, those voices were sweet and lilting. They were meant to be encouraging and hopeful. The later voices were tinged with impatience and maybe some anger.

Come on! Admit it. Faced with an exam at school in which you have no confidence, you worry about failing the test. Or an assignment with the Scouts or church group. Maybe you were taking music lessons and there’s this one piece that remains a mess for you; it simply doesn’t sound good to you even with 10 hours of practice. Then the booming voice from dad says, “you can do it if you want to; just keep trying. The world hates a quitter.”

So now the encouragement sounds like a threat at worse, or an admonishment at best.

In college or on the first job after high school, some tasks seemed too difficult to do. You muttered something about it at home, and in earshot of the folks. Of course they told you “you can do it if you want to badly enough.”

Once in college the folks weren't handy to bleat the phrase each and every time. But your roommates were! And they handed the message to you again and again. Only this time you took it as encouragement from friends, and tried harder. It worked! Little by little you did stretch abilities enough to accomplish what once seemed impossible.

After college we accepted a progression of jobs and built a career. During all of it difficulties were encountered and we had to dig deep to complete assignments. Still later, you supervised or managed others and they experienced the same challenges as you. This time you encouraged them so the team could score a win. And they did.

With marriage and kids adding to the family core, you found yourself telling your own kids the same message your folks did. You did it with love and encouragement. At times you admonished when patience ran thin. Still, you remembered being on the receiving end.

At key moments in life, when dreams and hopes challenge our abilities, we notice the need to stretch ourselves. Singing the first solo at church is one of them. You hate the fear and worry but you stick to it and do it. Errors and all, the experience was OK; you didn’t fail miserably, and most people didn’t notice what you knew for certain was a mistake.

The first speech before an audience over 100 is also a moment of trepidation. Repeated a few times makes each added speaking engagement easier to plan and do. In time it becomes an acceptable challenge; you still feel uneasy about it, but the relief and satisfaction afterwards is a blessed reward.

Writing for publication is similar. Studying for added expertise is yet another example of stretching. Sharing what’s inside you with others makes you wonder if you will measure up. Will I be OK? Will I keep my colleagues and friends? Or will I lose them with a tarnished reputation?

Gosh we are hard on ourselves. It is normal to feel this way, however. Our emotional reactions are proof that we are struggling and growing. The stretch is our going beyond usual limits and trying something new and different. The experience helps us grow. And learn.

Advice: look on opportunities to move outside your comfort zones as golden opportunities to learn and grow. Don’t avoid them; anticipate them. Look for them. Then answer the call.

You’ll be glad you did. And the rest of us will be better for it, too.

February 23, 2018

Silence of the Lambs

No more. No more silence, of the lambs, our kids and grandkids.

They speak their truth. So stark and fresh is it, many who oppose the message – not the kids, just the message – have spread false conspiracy theories. Fear mongering is the response to truth.

But the lambs will not be silent.

We witnessed this in the 1960’s; it spread into the 70’s. The war in Viet Nam closed due to public pressure. Stubbornly, authorities waged the losing war for decades (started in the late 1940’s, although its beginning date is officially 1955; ended in 1975), but it was the youth of America that brought the hideous military action to an end.

The 60’s witnessed these surprising changes in American life:

·       Civil Rights for African-Americans

·       Voting Rights for all

·       Relaxed social norms to accept much more diversity, individuality

·       The Flower Power Generation

·       The Sexual Revolution

A flowering of personal freedoms occurred in the 1960’s. The movement continued into the 70’s, and involvement in public affairs and political matters grew along with the other changes. Culture shock happened at the time, as well; many elders felt their world spinning out of control. Yet it wasn’t out of control. It merely answered to fresh new needs and logic of the community.

That’s what youth brings to our community. One at a time they come into our midst. We know them as our kids; we know them as our grandkids. At times their perspectives are jarring; but always fresh. New. Ponderable.

We learn who they are from this interaction. If we listen, we learn; if we don’t listen, we cause hurt and separation. The wave of fresh spirit is thwarted at those times. We interrupt their growth and development. Odd things can and do occur from that point on – drugs, ennui, separation, anger and frustration? Who knows for sure where this leads? Mostly it is not a good ending. We have much evidence of that.

But listening and learning brings them into the mainstream of our culture and social life. Included they share; excluded they create a separate culture we don’t understand.

Waves of change come eventually. Change always comes but knowing it and embracing it is almost always difficult. There are times when change becomes crystal clear – the youth movement of the 1960’s was one such time. I think we are witnessing another crystal clear moment in our evolution as a nation.

The youth movement of 2018 has laid down a challenge: keep us safe in school. From bullying to guns, they want safety to learn, to be themselves, and to develop as we did a generation or two before them. This is their birthright – to find their voice and their purpose. We don’t give that to them; they must find it for themselves.

And they have.

They are our lambs. They will not be silent.

Listen. Learn. Rejoice in their clarity.

We have a future in them. Heed their message. Heed them!

February 22, 2018 

Russia and Trump

I don’t really care what Russia did or didn’t do leading up to the 2016 US election for president. What I care about is what others are trying to make us believe. That, and what we should be doing about it now that we know interference most likely occurred.

First the republican party wants us to believe that President Obama and the FBI knew something was afoot with shenanigans by the Russians and the elections. And then they want us to think Obama quashed the FBI from doing anything and allowed the interference by Russians to continue. First of all, there is no proof of any of that. Second, the FBI would not be that dumb, and third, Obama is a man of principle the republicans rarely have seen. He is not manipulatable like their ‘leaders’. A sad but true fact. History will have the last laugh on that whole tale. I just hope I’m alive then to see the faces on republicans when they realize how dishonest and manipulated they have been all along.

Second, trump is guilty of allowing Russian election interference to go on without any response from him or his administration. In fact, trump has attempted to derail the investigation into Russian meddling since the inception of the charges. The Mueller investigation has broad authority to get to the bottom of the issue. Whether it is proven trump had anything to do with it has yet to be proven. What is becoming very obvious is the role his lieutenants played in the matter. Mueller has proof of that. So there is complicity between Russia and the trump camp. Mr. trump may not be in on it, then again, maybe he was. But his people appear to have been in on it.

Now, all trump can do is distract and misdirect public attention to other people and other issues instead of settling the matter once and for all.

The rest of us know that Mueller and his investigation will take care of this appropriately and accurately. The court system will work. The professionals in the criminal justice system will do their jobs, and the public will be well informed as to the facts. Period. End of story.

For now, we abide the ignominy of having an incompetent person sitting in the presidency. What a joke he is. What an embarrassment for our nation. And for the republicans? A fatal end to a party that has become one of nonsense and dishonor. 

Now, what to do about things that truly matter?

1.     Fix the election machinery so meddling by anyone is stopped; Russia, crooks, ideologues or political parties ought not have such power to cast doubt on our electoral system.

2.     Amend the constitution to eliminate the electoral college. It is outdated and unneeded.

3.     Congress, do your duty and outlaw private ownership of AK-47’s or AR-15’s; these weapons were designed for military and police use; allow them to be used by those parties; all other possessions should be illegal and punishable with long prison terms.

4.     Restore mental health programs to focus on developmental problems of youth and young adults. This is the crucial point of drug abuse, bullying and personality disorders leading to terrorist development.

5.     Impeach trump as a fake president and hold another election to replace him and the vice president. If the judicial system has trouble with this solution, Congress should then implement the 25^th amendment and remove both the president and vice president from office.

Let the American people have their say and their vote. End this foolish nightmare of a failed presidency.

February 21, 2018

Life In These United States

What’s it like to live in America? I don’t think I specifically spoke to that question before in over 6 years of blogging, but of course much of my posts provide a good reflection on what living in the US is like.

It isn’t all pretty. We have our problems and we tend to them sporadically. Over the long haul, most of the problems that matter are fixed. Time helps the process along; change, after all, is a constant component of life everywhere on the globe. Faster rates of change eventually revolutionize much of what we live with. Problems one day become ignored and fade away. Often we think something is a major concern when, in reality, it isn’t.

And so it goes, living our days one at a time and encountering whatever comes our way. We have learned to dodge big issues and embrace the fun ones. We find joy in our being among our boisterous citizens. Not all are current with the news. Some are, and most aren’t. when news items grow in importance we usually do something about it.

Meanwhile, current events break down into weather, sports, celebrities and advertising for consumer goods. This is a constant barrage of noise 24/7. It is perhaps the most negative piece of being an American.  Some get lost in it and enjoy it; most likely the youth do this; older adults naturally focus attention on more important matters. Busy adults stick to their routines. Still, the noise continues.

The issues shift from view in a whirling mass of announcements, news reports, documentaries and books. Today it is immigration irregularities and unfairness. A public school teacher with 30 years living in the US and teaching most of those years, is arrested on his front lawn when he left his house to accompany a daughter to school. He was detained, processed and shipped onto a plane to return him to his native land. Midway there the plane laid over in Hawaii and authorities removed him from the plane, and took him back to the mainland for further processing. Seems a public outcry may have spared this good man from deportation. The details are not yet fully known, but we can hope this injustice is fixed very soon and apologies offered to him and his family.

Immigration. Fresh new citizens streaming to our shores. It is a good thing. They are welcome by most of us. Oh yes, we sometimes fear the dislocations caused by a large influx of immigrants. Housing for them is hurriedly arranged, but not always very nice. Transportation to communities better able to welcome them is also arranged. Sponsors are identified and transition plans are made for the new family. Some jobs may be taken by these newcomers; that may mean citizens in a job will lose a job to the immigrant. However, that possibility is not automatic, and certainly not a tidal wave of change.

Change takes time. Dislocations in employment patterns and the fate of entire industries take years to develop. Those paying attention make new plans for the future. They are free to explore other possibilities and discover new potentials for themselves. Normally this means better jobs and a stronger standard of living. For those asleep at the switch, a job may be lost. And a future.

At least we have someone willing to do the work. We need such workers. And no, not all immigrants toil at menial jobs. Most are well employed and fairly paid. You see, America does not produce enough workers to fill all of the jobs available. Often, immigrants come to the US with the education and training to perform jobs Americans can’t do. We need immigrants to keep our economy functioning.

Yes there is unemployment among long-time citizens born in the USA; these are people who have allowed their skills to lag the pace of change in the employment market. They have not kept up and do lose their jobs. Nothing is guaranteed. In America life is good for those who want it so and are willing to work for it.

That’s precisely why immigration is good for America. Immigrants want to be here and struggle to get here. They put up with a dizzying array of immigration rules, regulations and laws. They survive despite all of it. And they find their way in a new land.

They keep us current. They keep us brave. They are part of the promise of America. Thank God for our immigrants and their courage! There is room for one more, and maybe...

February 20, 2018

Millennial Power

You heard it on TV, Twitter and Facebook. Youth in Florida – many of them speaking out from the very school where last week’s mass shooting occurred – said it straight. And blunt.

“You haven’t protected us. Do something. Anything to solve the problem. Let this be the last mass shooting in America.”

These taut messages are truth spoken to power; truth spoken to adults. It is we the adult American population who have failed the kids. They know it. You do too. Pretty straightforward. And honest.

There are several steps we can take as a nation to lessen the number of mass shootings. Doing that will lessen the number of mass shooting deaths. We can go forward a little bit, and also reduce gun deaths overall in our country if we want to. The question is: Do we want to reduce gun deaths in America?

Most would say yes to that question. We do want to reduce the mayhem. I know we do. The question is how? But to implement the how we have to understand the problem, know the operating elements within the problem, and then have the resolve to do something about it. We have to have the courage and persistence to implement solutions that will reduce the gun deaths in America.

Knowing and feeling about the problem is not enough. Taking meaningful action is the only way to get results. Desired results.

Taking action must be lawful and follow a process that can be empowered, perfected and relied upon for desired results. That is the business of government leaders with the moral strength to take the action. We have the tools. But something is missing.

Missing are the leaders, elected representatives in the House and Senate to legislate solutions. They have the power. They have the means. They have the moral responsibility to do this.

But they don’t. Haven’t. Years of inaction. Years of mixed actions and missed actions.

This is not a constitutional problem. This is a leadership and moral problem. The two together.

If we cannot look our congresspersons in the eye and get an honest answer and action from them on gun deaths in America, then they need to be removed from office. Replace them with people who will do the right thing.

This message has been stated millions of times in recent years. Still nothing gets done.

This is unacceptable. Plain and simple.

In time we will enact the solutions necessary. It most likely will not be us; it will be the millennials who get it. Yes, the young, untried, untested, unproven youth of America. They get the problem. They are the targeted victims. They don’t want that feeling anymore. So they will solve the problem. Your kids and my grandchildren will solve this problem.

Now aren’t you ashamed this unconscionable mess has gone on so long without a serious attempt to solve it? I am. Ashamed. Of my country and fellow citizens. It is up to you and I to fix this. Yet we don’t.

Millennials! Help!! For God’s sake and yours, get this job done. We are counting on you.

February 19, 2018

School Shootings 2018

Bam! You’re Dead!

And so it goes. In America. In 2018. A new year but still 18 shootings in schools so far in just a few weeks. And there’s more: 29 mass shooting incidents in America so far this year; that’s 11 shooting events in public that involved more than one fatality and additional wounded victims. Mass shootings. Intended to kill human beings. Targeted or not, just shoot to kill.

And terrorize.

Attract attention to the shooter. He has the gun. He has the moment. It is all about him.

Until it isn’t. until the blood seeping out on the floor is noted; and the bodies. Especially the bodies. One, two, three…how many more? How many this time? Our mind races to the count before asking why?

Why? The why is important. It’s the brain’s method of making sense of these events. Why do they exist? What made this such a reasonable ‘solution’ or action to the shooter? What triggered the action? Later we can try to figure out what triggered the thinking process days, weeks, months or years ago that led this person – this fellow human being – to take such action. And was this final act inevitable?

Could we interrupt the process and avoid the final act of mayhem? Could we notice this building in a way that causes us to intervene? Do we know enough? Do we know what to do and when?

And in a population the size of America – 330  million – can we pay enough attention to individuals to make this intervention probable? Or are we too large? Or too fixated on other matters to train enough professionals to watch for formation of dysfunctions in individuals?

Is this task unmanageable? Unrealistic?

If so, then what do we do to help the situation? What’s another option?

·       Make schools impregnable? We’ve addressed that; can do more, but really, aren’t we barring the barn door when the shooter is already among us?

·       And arming the teachers and school staff? Some schools are already doing this, but how does an armed citizen respond adequately in such situations? How much training do we provide them? Or is this voluntary and unsupervised? What threat do these people pose to the rest of the population without the training? How many innocents will be added to the body count?

·       Police staffing of schools? We are doing that in many communities. At least one police officer per building. Wow. Such an overpowering number! One officer per how many students? How many doors to the building? How many points of entry and exit to guard and monitor for weapons? One per building? Really? Ineffective is a word that pops to mind. And more officers only add to the costs exponentially.

·       Metal detectors at all entrances? In high crime areas this is already done. Weapons still make it in. And what about non- high crime areas? That’s where the school shootings are happening now. Wealthy, poor, high-crime, low-crime – it doesn’t seem to make a difference. And the cost?

·       Mental health strategies to pursue? Most schools have a school nurse, not a psychologist. Most social mental health service programs have suffered funding cuts. Our society is removing mental health services, not adding to them. Institutions in which to house and focus on such patient needs are fewer, not more these days. And the costs?

How many other options do we have?

Let me share a brief story. I work with teen drug addicts one evening per week. Been doing this for over 5 years. The common thread among patients is their feeling separated from their family roots. They are not communicating well with parents and siblings. They feel different and alone. They seek companionship in more radical ways. Drugs, alcohol and thrills become the means. Addiction soon takes over and obscures the patient’s ability to self-control other aspects of his/her life. Connection to significant others in a healthy manner. Communication as connection. Connection as caring.

Do our parents and families listen to one another? Are their lives integral to one another?

I suspect the key to aberrant behavior among young people has a lot to do with feeling connected to the core family. As parents and siblings expand their duties, careers, responsibilities and activities, are they (we) able to maintain healthy connections to one another in the household?

How we turn our attention back to the family is a daunting logistical problem to manage. And families need help in knowing how to do this successfully. How can we provide this core support? What will the cost be? Will this cost be demonstrably lower than the chaos now occurring? Is this doable? Is it even the critical factor needed at this time?

We have a problem: too many shooting deaths. In schools, malls or on the streets of our own neighborhoods, there are too many shooting deaths. The common factors are guns and motivation. The former we know and understand. The latter we don’t. Laws to curb the violence don’t work, or at least, are ineffective. So, what’s the answer?

Focusing on the shooters will help us understand them. Perhaps we will invent methods to help specific age-groups so they do not become shooters? Who knows?

Restrict gun ownership? What about the 300 million guns already out and about in our midst?

I’ve thought about this a lot. No doubt so have you. What are our options? And who can help make those options work effectively?

The time to find the resources to work on this problem is now. Not later. It is not money. It is people and knowledge and research. We know what the problem is: too many shooting deaths. Now, how do we reduce that number? How?

February 16, 2018

Budget, Schmudget

[Note: I'll have something on the Florida school shooting later; have to think about it!]

Shenanigans abound in Washington, DC. Also in many state legislatures. All of these acts revolve around budget making. What programs are funded? Which are whittled down, or massively cut? What new programs are slated for more funding? What do these questions mean for policy and priorities of the nation or state? And where is the political power – votes – to get the proposals enacted?

It also matters who is doing the proposing. Is it the president or leadership in congress? Or the governor or political leadership in the state legislatures?

Of course, all of this matters, but in the end, what comes out of the budget process is very different than what goes in. It reminds me of sausage making; you don’t want to know how it is made! It just is, and it tastes pretty good! But what mysteries are contained in it? Hmmm.

The White House occupant proposes two major initiatives: massive agency cuts and immigration reform last chance. Immigration reform is not a last chance as I covered earlier this week. Immigration has been played as a football. There is no immigration problem other than the harm done to immigrants by countless acts of omission by congress over the decades. Grant all immigrants citizenship quickly and easily. Be done with the ‘problem’. If other issues are conflated with immigration, they are false. Border security is just that; not immigration related.

So, remove immigration from the budget battle. It has no bearing on anything real. The border wall is another canard; it should not be built. Save those funds for other things that are more important. Walls separate peoples; they don’t unite them. Study the Berlin Wall for pointers on what not to do.

Infrastructure improvements are needed in our nation; in our states, too. Actually, infrastructure is a constant management issue. We need to maintain, refurbish, replace and expand public infrastructure continually. Like our homes, things wear out, become obsolete or need expansion. Public infrastructure is much the same as our homes. It needs to be managed continuously and planned.

If Artificial Intelligence revolutionizes personal transportation – then highways, roads, garages, police functions, city planning, public transportation and a host of other things will change – we need to include these factors in our planning. And budgeting.

Other changes we can map for the future will affect how we organize our lives and plan our infrastructure. Revolution in energy is a key factor; most likely fossil fuels will fade away and electric power will increase but produced from renewable resources. Changes in education will spring forth and focus on adaptability of human abilities. We will learn to learn; we will learn how to change with the flow of discoveries and shifts in major trends. Work will evolve and morph many times in each of our lives. Therefore schools will change, educational methods will change, whole systems will change.

With all that change comes infrastructure changes, too. And the budget mechanisms that support all of this will shift in form and function, too.

Playing political games with the short-term budget process in both federal and state governments is foolish and shortsighted. It’s about time we require our elected representatives to deal with the real world, not the imagined world of political games and power.

We the people are in charge of this, not them. So, when do we get back to work and address attention where it is most needed?

Budgets are a time for leadership, not fudging.

February 15, 2018

Valentine’s Day 2018

Another holiday of sorts. Valentine’s Day celebrates romantic love in many cultures. Sharing written greetings with one another is one ritual of the day; another is gifting candy, flowers and other baubles with the person to be doted on. Some people choose this holiday for their weddings. We did. [Happy Anniversary, Rocky!]

For those not romantically inclined, February 14^th is just another cold day in February, a month seriously embalmed in winter weather! Ice, snow, piles of both, and slippery sidewalks and streets. The second cold or flu bug hits around this time, as well. Broken snow shovels, dented cars, and landscapes seemingly ruined by massive efforts to tame winter. One wonders how the rose bushes will ever bloom again, or the lawn burst forth as green in April and May?

I remember one horrid winter (1978-79, Illinois) in which we received 94 inches of snow. It was a brutal season. We literally shoveled off the garage roof to keep it from collapsing. Snow was piled 10 feet high on both sides of the driveway. It was like driving through a canyon to park the car in the garage.

At the worst of the season more than four feet of snow sat upon the lawn. Months later, as the snow melted away, I gasped to discover a once muddy patch of the front lawn growing vibrantly green and thick. Grass seed hastily thrown down in the fall before a forecasted major storm, took root in the silence of snow pack over the months. Spring brought its green shoots to being, and roots had dug deep into the well moisturized soil for those many months. A miracle! From tundra to sod!

This year is no match for 1978-79; but we just finished a 9-day stretch of snow; no one day was impassable, but we accumulated maybe 14 inches of white stuff. Snow removal equipment labored 20-hours a day clearing the stuff and stacking it for eventually melting without flooding. The beep-beep-beep of plows and skip loaders backing up for yet another run at a snow pile, echoed throughout the day and night.

Winter is with us. This week a short thaw is forecast so some of this white stuff will be history by the weekend. Hopefully most of it?

After that we can get back to work and planning for spring. After all, the groundhog said we only have a few more weeks of winter before warmth returns. And green! The blessed green of spring and summer.

Soon, please. Even earlier, if you please! Meanwhile, Happy Valentine’s Day! And hope for good things in the near future!

February 14, 2018

Promises, Promises

In our age of propaganda, promises don’t mean much. Especially when made by a politician. Especially true when made by any republican it seems.

The white house occupant claims Democrats are playing politics with their intelligence committee minority report to counteract the false claims and misstatements of the Nunes report. I don’t know if his claims are true, but the Nunes report is clearly political and needs expert review to determine what is true and what is not in its contents. To do that, Democrats have written their own report. Expert analysis of it should be applied as well to determine what is misstatement and what is political. Both are suspect in this age of propaganda.

Besides, the WH occupant started all of this foolishness with his own political hyperbole and propaganda. If he’d just let the professionals do their job, his job might be easier and more productive.

Another instance of propaganda is occupant’s floating an idea about immigration reform, an idea that will be supported by both parties in congress. Where has he been? The immigration issue predated his administration; it has been around for many decades. Congress has refused to make changes over the years and keeps kicking the can down the alley. I think this is intentional. The political value afforded them by the issue is too rich to let pass. They don’t want to solve the problem. Actually, no one can actually define the problem. It is not about border security; that issue is its own problem area easily solved by the host of programs already provided with Border Security Department, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the FBI, countless other intelligence agencies, Drug Enforcement Agency, ATF and the military. Let’s not forget the National Guard in border states and coast line defenses. And the Coast Guard. And the police agencies in all the states, counties and municipalities involved with border security.

Yes; that’s right; there is no immigration problem. Too many immigrants in any one year? We have policy for that, and procedures to manage it.  Why is it a problem now? Want to streamline the system so it is faster, fairer and responsive? Well then, form a task force to do that work and write the legislation for later adoption.

The truth of the matter is we are an immigrant nation. We should not manage immigration to restrict immigration; rather we should encourage it. Immigrants refresh our society. They bring skills, talents, artistic passions and political points of view that enrich our culture. They do not damage our society.

Terrorists damage countless societies throughout the global community. If that is your concern, define it and focus management expertise on that. Don’t sweep immigrants into that issue just because it is politically attractive. Attractive to manipulators and propagandists; but not truthful to the rest of us. And harmful as well. Shame on all those who conflate these issues as one. They are separate.

We were promised the best and brightest people to work in the occupant’s administration. So far we have more than 40 people working in close proximity to national power centers and they have not passed security clearances. Say what? You heard me. We surely don’t want violent, abusive people working in our government; but we also need people who can and do pass security clearance analysis. Really? We can and should do better.

Deficit spending will be contained and managed. Where have we heard that before? When it was politically persuasive; evidently, it isn’t any more. So spend, spend, spend our little conservatives. As long as you get what you want I guess it doesn’t matter what everyone else needs. Wants and needs. Ever the skirmish to fight over. Childish.

Is America great again? When did it lose its greatness? How about the last year? Yep! That’s about right. Promises, promises.

February 13, 2018

Credit vs Blame

We must stop doing this, people! If something good happens, who takes the credit? If a bad happening, who gets the blame?

Our media does this for just about every news item. Of course, the occupant of the White House takes credit for anything he thinks is good (drop in unemployment, higher employment rate for African Americans, stock market soaring to high levels, etc.). He avoids the blame for the negative items (dropping stock market values, low interest rates [this is a variable item; often seen negatively and positively; the blame/credit attribution is positively head spinning!], deficit spending, border security, etc.) he blames on Democrats. Never a republican or their party despite the evidence to the contrary.

So, the blame game goes on and on. And the credit game as well. So childish.

Cause, effect and result are good things to pursue. That is the writing of history. However, no one knows the truth of most of the stuff under public discussion. It is pure conjecture offered as proof. It isn’t proof, but in the occupant’s mind it is. Time helps with writing history; time to gather the facts – large and small – and relate them to each other. Such connections provide the backstory and the understanding of events. Sorting through the details over time provides better focus.

Writing history at the time of its occurrence, doesn’t work very well. A recounting of happenings is one thing; understanding each one as a cause, or an effect, or as a result, is another matter entirely. Getting it right is important. Such are the precedents of understanding and logic to make later decisions.

Current news and public discussion has mixed up polarity of fact: what is in is really out; what’s out is in; up and down are reversed. Facts don’t seem to matter anymore. Only the story is important, even if it isn’t fully formed yet.

I was discussing current events the other day with a fellow who is very much in the know. And smart. He understands the interrelationships of our complex world. He doesn’t make knee jerk conclusions; he pauses and ponders things a lot; then he hazards a conclusion.

I suggested we remove ourselves from thinking much on current events and instead focus on the outcomes we would rather see. What are the positive attributes we want our society to be known for? What kind of characteristics do we use to define a hero, or leader, or thinker, or positive contributor to society? What are the ideals we aim for, both personally and organizationally? And socially; what do we want for life quality?

These are the measures of what is good and purposeful. Shouldn’t we be striving to fulfill these templates for a more ideal future? Would these efforts attract more positive collaboration from the rest of us?

Instead, we focus on happenings – good or bad – and make instantaneous decisions on the rightness or wrongness of them.

Such behavior drains energy from more creative pursuits. Maybe that’s why some people lose themselves in art, music and scientific research. Perhaps they are better adjusted than the rest of us?

February 12, 2018

Defining Moments

What are the key things that define who we are as Americans? Let’s take a stab at that.

1.     Inventive: new technologies and processes

2.     Creative: art and design boundaries are pushed forward relentlessly

3.     Education: to learn to learn; and think

4.     Passion to care for others

5.     Responsibly disciplined

6.     Expansive dreamers

There are other terms we could use to define us, but let’s stick with the ones we have above.

Certainly, we are not consistent always in adhering to these ideals. We cycle our interest at times, but we usually return to the previous focus with vigor. Because our society is large, off or down cycles often are short lived. Another group of people will take up the slack and competition presses forward again. The hunt is on for inventive ideas, processes and methods to produce whatever is new.

A closer look at the terms includes the following:

1.     Inventive: new ways of doing things, manufacturing goods, processes to manage resources better. We find cost effective means to produce more from less. New technologies abound; discoveries and advancements outnumber uses and follow up. The potential for the new is huge; much is untapped, waiting to be used in a later revolution of change.

2.     Creativity goes beyond inventiveness. The arts become a language of expression and what is possible. It communicates hope, vision and yearning for the expansive potentials that will define our lives in an ever-unfolding future. It has a hungry pulse pushing forward into the unknown.

3.     Education: although we often are sidetracked into dead end activities with short-term purpose, we generally support life-long learning. The need to bring this to more people is the undelivered promise; but the day will come. Meanwhile we strive to teach people to think and unlock the talent to learn continuously. It is hard work but it shapes the mind and proves talents needed for the ever expanding future. Learning to think. Learning to learn. That is the big task yet to be perfected. Many know this; more resist the hard work to accomplish it. Those resisting live lives limited by experience only; those who do the work know the rewards of freedom and broad possibilities. Excitement is theirs, and the motive to push on.

4.     Caring for others: this is preservation of family and friends. Neighborhoods and community, too. Community is the social structure that is small enough to know and understand; it is also the structure that demonstrates being cared for and why we care for others. America is comprised of millions of villages, small communities. We are heart-felt. Caring but not necessarily loving. Love is saved for our special people. We have much caring to extend to others outside our borders. We easily explore other nations and societies. We extend friendship and with it, caring. The community enlarges to embraceable dimensions. In turn we learn more, expand our worldly knowledge of life. In turn this supports our inventiveness, creativity, education – all for more caring. It is a cycle that feeds and refreshes itself. It becomes its own passion.

5.     Responsibly disciplined: a lot of the above terms are obtained only through discipline. Maintaining that discipline, however, takes a concerted effort, a sense of responsibility. Not everyone has this, or least not everyone has it at the same time as others. Spotty adherence to discipline is a hobgoblin of progress! We need to work on this more. Asian nations know this responsibility; it is evident in their educational institutions and the lives of their students. We know this by knowing them in our classrooms and research labs. Asian responsibility and discipline is individually lived. Americans need to do the same.

6.     Expansive Dreamers: we are blessed with many dreamers, people who draw in the many ideas surrounding them. They absorb the energy of these ideas and allow them expansive impulses to create whole new universes of possibility. Not all are capable of doing this; just a portion of our people. But they are supported by the rest of us. And we discover new sciences, shapes, designs and technologies. Talents and arts merge; so do science and education; and caring to produce the dreams that matter. Probability and possibility emerge. The stuff of dreams invades the culture.

We are not perfect. We argue a lot among ourselves. We are distracted by fun and games. We lose our focus in all of this. We become sidetracked and waste time and talent and resources. In the abundance of our culture we lose discipline in setting priorities that will support needed accomplishments. But we have the necessaries to go on. With faith in ourselves we will continue to perform.

Hopefully for the good of mankind and the ever present global village. After all, it is our community as well.

February 9, 2018

Inner Voice

Each of us has an inner voice. It is the logic voice we speak with to ourselves. Silently. A conversation occurs. The conversation multiplies and begins a dialogue, rich enough to become a narrative.

Narrative – a telling of tales and logic strings that make sense to me. Thinking through complex issues, or one at a time, to discover why it is important to me, or may become important. Why is this issue on my inner radar? What makes it interesting to me at this moment?

Narrative. An ever-budding line of thought that becomes more and more a constant in my life. Was this how my personality and personhood formed? Is this what makes me, me? So many questions; so much thinking; so much narrative. Who would think by looking at me that such ‘conversations’ are taking place? Silently and deeply.

But then those others do the same, don't they? You and they have inner narratives bubbling along just like me. These are not ‘voices’ heard like a psychotic. No; these are logic phrases forming within the mind. They are communicated and registered within the mind in some fashion. In my case it is this narrative thing.

You, too? When did you become aware of this? Did you know about it earlier or just now realize you have a narrative?

How did it begin? Was there a moment you recall when it began? Or was it tied to a person who had an impact on your life? Maybe it was something you read, or a movie that caught your imagination and helped you expand your personal universe.

Whatever it was, you and I know we have an inner narrative. So do all people? The question really is, “Is the narrative healthy and expansive?” or, is it negative and destructive? Good questions to explore.

Take people living in poverty or backward societies spread around the globe. How do narratives form for them? How expansive, helpful and healthy are they? What becomes a usual narrative for them? What is usual? Is that the same as normal?

Are narratives hopeful? Maybe gloomy? Fearful? If violence, crime, chaos and ugly surrounds them, how do their narratives form? Are they healthy and constructive? Or are they violent, ugly and chaotic like their surroundings?

In our own country, what narratives form in neighborhoods of differences? White, brown, black or other? What do the kids in these different neighborhoods think? What becomes of their narratives? Are they thwarted or distorted? And by whose standard?

Think of abused kids. What is their narrative? Can we have an affect on their narrative? Help them acquire a good inner voice? Or are they left with anguish and negativity running through their minds?

How much of all this is programmable or repairable? Who knows these things? What can be done about them?

I don’t take life for granted. I just hope we can make life better for others. Doing that makes life better for us.  And changing narratives may be the way to make those lives better. But how?

February 8, 2018

Rump Groups, et. al.

Human nature being what it is, there are always people who think they know the fuller truth about everything. And they don’t just tout that thinking; they attack others they believe do not share the same thinking. I call this the ‘rump group’ mentality.

Rump groups usually are small, disaffected numbers within a larger organization. In my experience, even small groups have rump groups. For some reason they always question the decisions made by others. You know the ones, if they were in charge, they’d do it another way. Or, why did they decide on that? Or whatever variation on the same theme.

In social groups layers of group opinion form. In work groups, volunteer corps, churches, charities, political and governance parties, rump groups are legion. They are useful only because they help identify different points of view which will need to be folded into the larger group’s thinking, or rejected outright. Either way the organization’s thinking becomes better focused. And often criticism is justified and welcome.

But rump groups often are rambunctious and rude. They yell instead of talk. They criticize continuously rather than collaborate. Insisting on their way of thinking or no way, they can and often do render the larger organization ineffective.

And that’s the danger of rump groups. Better that they consider constructive methods and  demonstrate their ideas are better rather than tear down those who voluntarily labor for the best product of the group.

We can readily see the parallels of rump group thinking in American political parties these days. This phenomenon has splintered political parties into highly divisive power groups. Republicans have conservatives, super conservatives, moderate conservatives and alt-right proponents. Apparently gone from the scene are the middle of the road moderates. The Eisenhower part of the party seems gone forever. So today republicans are the ‘conservative party’. Best they change their name so they are clear about themselves?

Democrats are much better and healthier, but they suffer from weak groups within the party that stymie progress. Barely anything gets done. Perhaps they ought to change their name to the Do-nothings?

We know what happens in churches. Sects and splinter sects appear and then schisms are formed to create entirely new churches, even denominations. Kind of sad when one goes back to the basics of every religion in which we are taught to love one another. We are not taught one love is better than another. Or that I am better than you. No; the opposite is taught. But then with political parties hijacking splintered religions, hyper speed changes are abroad in the land, especially in Washington DC. Yes, it is sad.

Saddest of all are the fraudulent ‘leaders’ who have no congruence with history or ideals. It is merely a power struggle for them. And they only get more powerful at our expense.

So much more is possible if we each find what we can do for the common good and do it. If that takes a few others to help the process along, fine. If the good of the whole is kept in mind, then we should be good for one another. And not a rump group.

When you find these folks forming their poisoned messages, remind them of the common good and how they could be helping that along better than being super critical. I’m not sure they will listen, but it’s worth a try.

I do know remaining silent doesn’t work at all. It only makes them more strident; I guess they think the louder and uglier they get, their message will be heard. Pitiful.

February 7, 2018

Equilibrium

Balance. Stasis. One for one. Harmony. If but for a moment.

Supply equals demand. Price equals value. Moment to moment.

That is equilibrium in the study of economics.

There is always another moment, however; and balance is sought, over and over again.

Friday’s stock market adjustment was expected. Value and price was out of balance. By the end of the day nearly 666 points had been shaved off the stock market’s overblown values. Was that the final point of equilibrium? By definition it was for Friday, February 2, 2018. But Monday, February 5 welcomes a new day and equilibrium will either be or not; likely not. [Note: is was down 1175 points]

The thoughts of value when paired with price will cause the balance to be fought over and moved to another point. As it always has been.

Whether the sell-off of stocks continues Monday will be known on Monday; the toll for the day will be reported at day’s end. My hunch is it will be lower still. And then we look to Tuesday’s open and price skirmishing for day’s end again.

I have stated in this space earlier that I think the market is overpriced by about 5000 points. Whether that is accurate or not depends on millions of others buying and selling stock on any given day. If more than half the traders feel the same as I do, then market prices will fall accordingly. Where it lands is where it lands. No person can actually determine that ahead of time.

With federal spending out of control and heading for a fiscal year deficit of $1.7 trillion dollars, the sale of treasury notes, bills and bonds will have to be brisk. If folks are willing to buy at current low interest rates, fine; but indications are they are not. Hence, interest rates on treasuries are rising. If that continues. The value of stocks will be challenged; that is another downward pressure on stock prices.

Interest rate markets and investor markets in stocks compete for one another’s dollars. A balance is sought, another equilibrium. Those are the two indices to watch in the coming days. Will interest rates rise to fund the federal debt?

Another aspect to watch are the withdrawals from the federal treasuries; will maturing T-bills and notes remain in the treasury market at higher rates, or will foreign buyers cash-in now and move their funds to other global markets where return on investment is stronger? China is the notable investor in American debt; so eyes will watch China’s US treasury moves.

A caution on this interest rate watch: $5 trillion in cash is awash in the American economy; mostly held by corporations booking excess profits. They will either use this money for fresh investment in their own operations, or they will buy other companies. The former will boost economic activity; the latter will simply move money around without creating fresh values. Nothing new will have been created. The result? A continuing pressure to maintain low interest rates.

Add to that the $3 trillion of US cash owned by investors now held in foreign banks. These dollars are being wooed home by the recent tax reductions. Repatriating the surplus dollars held abroad will only add to the pressure to keep interest rates low.

The key question always being asked by investors – “What alternative investments can I make with my cash that will maximize my return?”

This question is the stimulus to move money and seek higher returns. If stock market returns are declining – repricing in adjustment to bubble prices – money will be cashed out with stock sales and the cash deposited in other places where return is believed to be safer and adequate or higher.

Markets move with this stimulus. Which ones will drive change? Which ones will drive the most or least change? No one knows until it happens.

The primary factor is this: investors must feel their investments will earn them strong returns. If the economy is out of balance with expectations and reality, movements will occur to remedy the imbalance. Huge amounts of value will be traded accordingly.

Seeking stability; seeking balance. Labor markets, interest rate markets, infrastructure readiness, emerging markets or dying ones. All are in the pot for consideration.

I wonder where all this will lead in the next few months. Something to think about.

February 6, 2018

Fighting for Soul

The question is who’s soul? Conservative or liberal? Foreign or domestic? Black or white? Female or male? Adult or child? America or all of mankind?

The yin and yang of social interaction. We have an opinion on everything. We even laugh about a lot of it. Until it gets to a point where the serious cells in our bodies react. And then anger sets in and arguments take off. Because anger upsets emotional balance, words are exchanged that are harsh and personal. Judgmental, too. Hurtful and damaging to relationships.

In such environments not much is accomplished but venting of frustration and personal venom.

And that behavior doesn’t accomplish anything but the building of walls of separation.

That pretty much describes where America is right now. The venom of politics has risen to rule the nation. No government decisions are made that build positives; only negatives that destroy or separate.

We are a divided nation. The rich and not rich. The educated and ignorant. The young and old. The employed and unemployed. The achievers and those barely hanging on. The thinkers and doers versus the emotional wrecks who block progress.

Labels and proponents. Supporters and cheerleaders. Republicans and Democrats. Conservatives and Liberals. Big government versus small government. Or no government.

And that’s about where we are. Right now. Anarchy is the state of having no government. If large numbers of people do not trust or believe in their government, effectively there is no government.

Welcome to 2018. Shifting sands of nonsense logic. Policies pulled from thin air on whims of irritation and pique. Meaningless as to real purpose and function. Just hurtful and damaging to an enemy imagined.

Anarchy. That’s what this is. Personal and hurtful.

If this is what you hoped for, congratulations. You have won! Now what are you going to do with it?

That’s a serious question. What are you going to do with it? How are you going to manage what now exists? Is it something you want to create with, or leave on the scrap heap of history?

What was your purpose? What was your design. Did you think to this point? And beyond? Or was your intent to tear down for the hell of it?

You said you treasure military veterans. You say veterans earned our respect, admiration and loyalty. You have said veterans should be well taken care of. Yet hundreds of thousands of them are homeless, unemployed, career-less, and suffering from many things. Where is your caring now? Why haven’t you funded the Veteran’s Administration and its services to care for your veterans? And ours, too!

You claim to care for children and their health and education. Yet you tear down their healthcare coverages, their educational systems. You don’t help single mothers who struggle to keep their households together to embrace the well-being of their families. The prisons are filled with men, mostly black men.

You say you love the woods and nature and open vistas. Yet you allow clear cutting lumber operations, polluting coal fields and operations, oil drilling in wilderness areas, oil drilling offshore to pollute our shores, and fracking to despoil our water aquifers. Despoliation of nature is not a sign of caring; it is a sign of greed and dollar value of what the land will yield you.

If you don’t want us to believe government or educated people, who do you want us to believe? You? What are your credentials? Why should we believe you?

Destruction of trust destroys loyalty. The compass of truth ceases to exist.

Is this what you wanted?

What exactly was your purpose? Why? And what now do you do?

Where is your soul? I know where mine resides.

February 5, 2018

Protocols of Safety

Only a serious student of government would know and understand many of the protocols that are employed in running our federal government. Most have been in place for over a hundred years (the protocols, not the students!). Protocols guide people through complicated processes all the while keeping order to their work.

This order is there for a reason: to carefully preserve authority, image of serious purpose, and safeguard conflicting processes. Open communication with the public is one ideal espoused often, but justice and fairness is also a key principle of our social order.

The criminal justice system – police, prosecutors, courts, appeal courts, et. al. – are an example of complexities involved with open communications. Not all issues can be aired or discussed when the process of justice is still working a case. Protection of rights for both plaintiff and defendant is the objective here; so too, the procedures of evidence purity and chain of supervision of that evidence; and prosecutorial process to protect witnesses, defendant rights, and the credibility of the system of justice overall.

These protocols can become nitpicky. It doesn’t take much imagination to understand why.

The same holds true in government circles, to wit: Congress enables formation of departments and agencies to perform work for the government and its people; the Executive Branch administers these agencies but protocols of purpose are defined by Congress must be met; administrative details still must reside in the Executive Branch for accountability. And the Judicial Branch is available to settle disputes should they arise. All three branches of the federal government are involved in these protocols to safeguard the right things get done, and for the right reasons. Complexity of purpose and function easily get confused.

And Congress has oversight of executive functioning to make certain the intent of Congress is being followed.

Interestingly, the current white house administration is locked into a deep investigation into the possibility Russia meddled with the 2016 elections and that the victor’s campaign may have consorted with Russian personnel to affect the election results.

This is a Department of Justice mission to investigate. Congress exerts oversight to watch the process is performed properly. The Executive branch runs the Department of Justice. The political ramifications of the findings of the investigation are enormous if charges are proven. Such would be damaging to the incumbent white house occupant (republican) and his protectors in Congress (republican) and the administrators in the Department of Justice (republican). Who makes certain hanky-panky isn’t played with the protocols?

Example: a Congressional oversight committee is investigating the Mueller investigation; they  found a memo that they find suspicious; the committee did not adjudge the accuracy of the memo or pertinence with the investigation; they just think it is ‘fishy’ and have said so; so far this memo is confidential because it is part of the protocol operation of the investigation and tie-ins with the FBI which has responsibility within the investigation. The republican in charge of the oversight committee voted to make the memo public when protocol says not to. The FBI has weighed in on this and recommends to their boss, the white house occupant, not to authorize the release of the memo. The white house is suggesting the memo will be released.

The FBI in this instance has lost control of its own protocols; same with the Department of Justice, and all because of the actions of a politically charged oversight committee.

So far the Judiciary has not been involved. That is the next logical step, but by then the memo will have been released and the feared damage done. At that point the investigation may be called into question because of the abridged protocols.

Protocols are important. Transparency of government is important. Sometimes these two collide and transparency suffers for a time until everything gets sorted through. I suggest that mr. trump sustain protocols for now lest he damage the system of justice.

That is the fairness we all say we support. Sometimes it is not easy. This is one of those instances.

February 2, 2018

DUH!

I could not watch the state of the union speech by the occupant of the white house. I knew this was an impossibility for me a few days before the speech. I wrote what I thought the speech would cover; reviewing news reports of the speech, I learn that I was correct in my assumptions.

One news report said it all: “fact checking website crashes during SOTU.” The report went on to say at the time of the crash, 70% of the speech’s claims were false, misleading or exaggerated.

That’s what I expected would be the case. So I skipped the speech.

Instead we watched House Hunters and Home Town on HGTV. At least those programs demonstrate the American Dream and how to get it. The SOTU was the exact opposite.

So, the question has to be asked: why did others watch the SOTU? Because they wanted to be assured that their isolated thinking chamber was intact. I’m sure they got comfort from the speech. It was for them so they would remain supporters of the speech maker. And he needed the comfort to hear the words of praise he lives on. True or not, the words mean something to him, a propagandist and bully.

The latter point refers to the wedge-making he does between political opponents and parties; and it also refers to the military build-up he pines for to show he is tough on defense. The military-industrial complex just loves these words, too! It means many dollars for them and their shareholders.

Republican house and senate leaders loved the speech as well. They are comfortable with the status quo because it gives them maneuvering power in spending national dollars their way. Do not miss the point of all this: republicans aim to outspend the government’s resources so that social programs are not affordable and can be cut from the budget. Period. That’s the tactic they have adopted to move the government’s role from big to small.

There is a problem with that: deficits to be endured in the meanwhile. The congressional spending spree is aiming for a $ 1 trillion deficit; it could go as high as $ 1.5 trillion before the fiscal year is closed. And that does not count the proposals for both infrastructure and defense program increases.

Infrastructure is a high priority. It is an investment in the American people and its economic system. The infrastructure is crumbling and in need of expansion and modernization. Alone, it could gobble up $ 1 trillion. But then, that could be financed over time with bonded indebtedness. And repaid from improved efficiency and productivity of the economy. Defense increases are not the same in utility as infrastructure attention.

Something to think about. Is universal healthcare worth more than missiles? Is educating our people less important than bridges and sewer systems? Perhaps these are not easy choices to make. But ignored long enough the dynamics change and question the decision makers wisdom.

They have failed us. Time will demonstrate the consequences. They will not be pretty. DUH!

February 1, 2018