Tonality of Today

A tone sounds. A sound rooted in the real world. Physical. Sensed through hearing. Also by feeling the vibration of sound, of tone. Tonality. The substance and full sensation of sound.


Have you ever been in a room alone? Turned on the sound system and played a CD or record? The music plays and you listen. What do you hear? Vibrations comprising musical tones. Sonority of some; squeaky high pitch of others; rumbling bass notes from a few. Notes sounding together, chords, movement of chords, single lines of notes moving about as well.


The tones have order. They sound a theme and move it through time and space. The sound reverberates in my ears, on my face, around my body. Echoing through the room and gaining space and volume. Loudness and softness, too. The theme driven by rhythm and tempo. Speeds vary throughout. Expression forms.


Melody sweetens the sound and my mind attaches to it. Then I remember it. Hum it many minutes after first hearing it. Some tones insist on being, interrupting other tones and thoughts. They march through the music fighting for control while the melody pulls back the spotlight time and again.


Sound. Tones. Tonality. Characteristics ever changing that give the sounds specific order and existence, not repeated by others as their creation, only to be remembered and reproduced over and over again if the mind perceives it as memorable. Meaningful in some way or other.


The mood of the mind changes with the sounds. It is heightened, brightened, uplifted and swept away. Soaring here and swooping there. The mood follows the line of tones steering through my consciousness. It is speaking to me. It is sounding like everyday sounds. Perhaps bird song? Or wind sweeping through a forest in tall mountains? Maybe it is insistent horns or sirens from a city streetscape?


I once rode a fishing boat in a near wilderness area of Canada. Others were fishing. I was reading, basking in the sun, and just being there. On the front of the boat out of everyone’s way. The sun danced on the water’s surface. The breeze pushed through my hair. Summer’s warmth cocooned my body. Trees of forest and woods on shore marched past the boat. And a theme came into my mind. A musical theme. Natural and simple. It was from Beethoven’s 6^th Symphony, the Pastoral. Imitative of birdsong and simple melodies of nature.


I hummed or sang that theme for the rest of the vacation. Nature had spoken. Through song and tone.

Rich and memorable are the sounds of music. An intellectual process to be sure, but one of communication of more than mere idea. Mood, feeling, senses, all taken together to sound more of what it means.


I wonder what a symphony would sound like of the year 2020? Would it be sweet and harmonious? Or cacophonous and blaring? Discordant crashing's? Or a march toward a certain end?


I wonder.


January 31, 2020

Jumbles

Some thoughts on current affairs:

1.      44% of employed people earn $18,000 or less

2.      One million people lose health insurance each year since Trump took office, a total of 3 million more uninsured

3.      The top 1% of wealthy persons own a staggering 70% of the nation’s wealth; or more

4.      Republicans say the exact opposite of what the facts state; up is down and in is out

5.      Global warming is real but because solutions will be costly, deniers won’t listen to the science

6.      Power and money are lovely for a while, but they do not last and are unfair to the everyone else

What’s wrong with this picture? Why are these issues perpetrated? Hasn’t education prepared the human race to handle these problems? Why is there so much disparity of opinion? Why is there so much distrust of others?


Why can’t we just get along? And get down to serious business?


January 30, 2020

Politics As Usual?

The current state of politics in America is pretty sick. Candidates attack each other readily. Nasty seems the norm. Whatever happened to running on the record?


What an incumbent did in the past seems to be a good indication of what he/she will do in the future. Their positions on issues that are likely to be on current and near future agendas, should be well discussed among candidates.


Innuendo and character assassination seems tawdry and unnecessary. Bringing up old news that was never proven seems unfair. No; stick to the facts: what happened and what is happening now. What does this mean and why would you be a better candidate than X, Y or Z?


Local political campaigns are dog eat dog. Same for state and especially national campaigns.  The rule seems to be “the dirtier the better.”  That is woeful to weather as voters and demeaning to the position being sought by the candidates.


Ill will follows the elections. Public attitude toward the newly elected is glued to them. A rough and tumble campaign adheres to the new official and trust in his/her abilities is tarnished. Keep doing this and soon trust in government erodes.


Years of this and you end up with what we have now. How many of us still trust in government – its purpose, process and outcomes?  


America! Stick to this behavior and anarchy will surely follow.

I think we have time to pull back from the abyss. Not much time. But no time to waste.

January 29, 2020

Feeling Sad

Today is one of those days when sadness envelopes the soul. Why this is so is a mystery. It just happens from time to time.

Illinoisans can get this way during winter. Gloomy gray days are common. If it is super cold, we will have clear blue skies and lots of sunshine, but the temperatures will be brutal. This year is not a cold one, just middling temps of high 20's to mid 30's. Clouds everywhere. So this is downer weather.

Change is a constant. Not all of it is welcome. Some is OK and we take it in stride. Some threatens to redefine us, or me. Those changes take time to deal with. Sadness is often a response.

Death of friends or family - near or far - causes us to consider our own demise. That is not sadness for self but sadness for others that seem to take a toll.

Aging is a survival lottery that is good, but at the same time, a reminder of sand running out of the hourglass. Sometimes that is saddening; not often, but sometimes.

Watching society struggle with change brings another set of emotions. Some of it is fear, some is elation. Knowing others are struggling with change brings care and worry.

Organizations rarely remain the same. They survive constant change. Their operating environment changes. Tastes and social norms shift. Talents morph from knowledgeable to neophyte, to experimental, to attempting new things or allowing mission creep to replace one's original purpose.

Institutions, too, change. They are organizations run by human beings. Mistakes will be made. Amazing new ideas will shine and surprise us. Some will work. Some will not. The future is yet to unfold.

Unsettled by all of this causes worry, and rootlessness. It is uncomfortable. It is saddening.

Tomorrow the sun may shine (except in Illinois) and the future will seem brighter. But it is today we must deal with. And the day is gloomy.

January 28, 2020

Failure to Change, Adapt

I am a hopeful person. I have a positive attitude. I see problems and turn them around.


I am also observant. I see what is happening around me and think it through to future ends. What will occur if we keep on this track? What could happen if we tried a different route?


That makes me a futurist or visionary to some people. I prefer to think of it as logical and practical.

I am negative only when I see people around me not taking up the issues that matter and build a better future from them. That frustrates me. If the message is being said and published to a broader audience, why aren’t good things beginning to be seen?


If that makes me a negative person, a whiner and complainer, then I plead guilty. But I think that conclusion is incomplete.


What’s going on now?  What will this likely lead to? If that’s OK, then carry on; if it isn’t OK, then what do we do differently? What outcome do we prefer to happen?


You see, I believe in the collective genius of mankind. I see us capable of going to the moon and back, to outer space and back, as well as solving human hunger, poverty and ill health.  I have faith that mankind will save our planet. If we know the problems, and we have solid goals for desired outcomes, finding the way to them should be more than possible. It should be probable.


I have not given up on the human race, yet. Oh, I’m tempted from time to time, but basically, I feel we are capable of adapting and changing to acquire the right ends. It takes discipline and commitment. And collaboration with others. No one of us has all the answers. Together we most likely do.


So, leadership gets people to pull in the same direction to accomplish great things. Why isn’t this happening right now?


Indeed, we have many voices and ideas disguised as leadership we are distracted from the tasks needing to be done. In this mix are voices too, that wish to distract and confuse. Those voices seek money and power. They have been with us from day one. We can ignore them, however, and get on with the task.


The getting on part will be difficult. It requires trust in one another, and a deep sharing of ideas and faith in what we ought to be aiming for collectively. Adults know how to do this. Employees do as well. Same with academics and researchers.


We have the ability and the assets to do great things. what we lack appears to be will and cohesiveness.


We are not perfect. Mankind is not perfect. America is not perfect. We need to take what we have – with all the imperfections – and make things better for all of us.


Who among us is ready to start on this journey?


January 27, 2020

Tech Adaptation

Adapting to new technology has turned a corner for this 76 year-old. Now on Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word. Appears to be no change whatsoever. Saving, archiving and retrieving all seem the same. Grammar, spelling and punctuation all seem the same or better. The speed is faster, too, a bonus for sure.


My anxiety level has subsided, just in time for a half-day of training on a new computer system adopted by SCORE.org for all of its 12,000 volunteers. This is a state of the art platform that will help us go paperless, on-line in nearly everything we do, as well as keystroke saving and data aggregating. The only challenge will be training 60 to 80 year-olds how to do all of this! No small task.


Meanwhile, my splinted ring finger on the left hand has been accommodated. First two weeks I had many single stroke wsd’s; that’s the result when a ‘club’ finger intends to hit one of those keys  but gets all three in one stroke. It may sound super-efficient, but editing the mishmash was frightful. Now my hand is more adaptable to typing quickly even with the clubbed finger. I wonder what will happen in another week when the splint is removed.  Will I need to relearn my finger stroke method all over again?

That's a story of adaptation to all change, eh?


OK, with all of that soon to be behind me, focus returns to the book. I made a good start but all of the above interfered with actually writing the book. So, back to the process. This will take several months of daily sorting and culling. Hopefully that process will see emergent topics sufficient for chapters or even separate books. This is an act of discovery. The results remain a mystery. The biggest unknown is motivation to keep moving forward. Ah, the resistance. An ever present foe.


Whatever I do now is a handy diversion from the nation’s impeachment frenzy. I am not caught up in it because I am certain of the outcome – political party GOP will not find the offender guilty. Predetermined result as we all knew it to be. Of course, I hold hope that the Senate will exercise its once noble spine and convict the conman forthwith.  I have hope but am not holding my breath!


Survival mode on my part. So tending to my own garden and book project is a productive pursuit.

At least my efforts are for all to see; that way you will hold my feet to the fire.  For that I thank you!


More later.


January 24, 2020

Shifting Technology

I don’t know about you but technology changes have been good and bad for me. The good is the huge improvement in productivity technology has provided me. Also good, intuitive operations where grammar checking, spelling, and punctuation assists are available without me thinking much about them. Filing labels, saving related material in separate folders, and retrieval of all existing documents are all great advantages provided by tech advances.

The bad? Well, knowing about the advances is one thing, moving to adopt them in a timely manner is a problem not easily managed. Then, making the change - adopting the new - involves a learning process that is not always easy. 

I recall learning word processing software back in the late 70’s or early 80’s. It took a lot of effort to understand the programs and commands. Each updated version added to the learning curve. I adapted slowly to this. Grudgingly. Over time command changes became more logical and obvious. But then competing software products were introduced to the market and adoption rates were quick. Old programs disappeared when revolutionary new ones were made available.

Eventually, Microsoft Word was the standard. I stayed with the product for decades. It served me very well. Until lately.

Lately, licensing, subscription fees, and authorization procedures became much more complex. Talking this over with friends, I learned there were many free word processing products available. Chief among them is Google Docs. This is a good thing because my blog is on Google’s Blogspot.com, my emails are all gmail accounts, and SCORE operations involves mostly Google products. The consistency of these relationships promises good things for the near term.

I write these things on my new Google Doc platform. We shall see how easy this is, how transportable it is to the blog, and then on to my daily Facebook posting. If this works well, I think I will have adopted yet another great change in my work a day life.

If you don’t see the blog on the Internet or on Facebook, you will know automatically that this turn out to be as easy as I hoped!  Stay tuned.

And so, the aging process uncovers still more challenges! Ah yes!

January 23, 2020

Getting Throught It

The 'it' is everything, the complex of events and duties that are inescapable.  A dizzying array of things to do, both pleasant and required of us.  In times past we weathered the onslaught of do's and don'ts as they appeared. Just more bits and pieces to deal with. We did it in a trice, and moved on the to the other things needing our attention.

The aging process demands more concentration, attention. Daily elements are common distractions. The buzzing of an alarm, clock, phone or soundtrack on a TV program! Countless reminders on the phone and computer of doctor appointments (two people in the household!), as well as chores, potty breaks, and meal times. Everything is a distraction these days. 

And loud surroundings. Screeches. Horns. Train horns. Barking dogs. Loud conversations in a crowded room. All compete to fill the space with din. Tracking conversations slip off track. Soon we can't remember what we were talking about. 

Sitting back and watching. Hearing, too. Feeling the room's vibe is all part of the elder pastiche of life.

Often it is moments such as these that bring an odd peace. We don't truly have to be attendant to all the details, just the slipcover of the setting! Absorbing the texture is exhilarating. It is also tiring.

Sunday night we were present at my two grandsons' birthday party. Their birthdays are very close together at the end of January, so the celebration was for both. They are four and six and still in the screech and holler phase of life. So loud! Such laughter and activity.

When we left early we begged tiredness. That was true. We made it to bed before 9 and slept to 5:40 the next morning. Exhaustion but a happy one. At home, we reveled in the quiet. And the comfort of our own chairs. And the simplicity of single attention points.

Yes, we were home and at rest. And then to bed.

That's what grandparents do.

January 22, 2020 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembered

Over the weekend, I was transfixed by major issues and how they conjoin in holocausts of people marginalized throughout American history. So, I wrote about those issues. Then on Sunday, the sermon was on remembering German's holocaust of Jews and gays, and anyone else who was viewed different from the ideal.

In all of this there is consistency: horror of man's power again man.

Of course, I remembered MLK's holiday, but I didn't write about it until today, the holiday in his honor. I wondered why I hadn't written this post a little earlier so I could publish it on the holiday itself. I concluded that the themes were consistent and in that I did honor to the man, Martin Luther King, Jr.

For those of you who don't know me directly, MLK's assassination was a powerful moment in my life. I had invested much emotion in support of civil rights and righting the wrongs done to our African-American brothers and sisters. When MLK was murdered in Memphis, I was stunned. so were most of my friends and colleagues.

The following day, I managed to get to work, but was too upset and distracted to do much good. So, I asked to take the rest of the day off. I did. I spoke to my pastor about seminary. The next day I took public transportation to Hyde Park, a southside Chicago neighborhood that is home to the University of Chicago and the Chicago Theological Seminary. I applied for admission and soon thereafter wad accepted for the fall term.

That decision changed my life. I had made a decision to do something about the world I wad living in and to correct the wrongs of both the past and the present. I spent a year in seminary before I realized I could do that better outside the pulpit and working the real world. So, I went into corporate human resources, and then on to the University of Illinois at Chicago. There I worked with students and faculty in student development and community leadership. The spirits of the academy wad infectious and led me to many years there. Later, I moved on to other nonprofit organizations where I continued to retirement.

In retirement I donate my experience and skillsets to nonprofits struggling to begin operations, or to strengthen challenging operating conditions of existing organizations. This consistency of purpose and calling have remained with me throughout my working career. And now in retirement, too.

In a real way Martin Luther King, Jr's holiday is with me every day. He is the reason I changed my life to do the work I do now. That's 52 years' worth of doing. I hope most of it was for the good.

January 21, 2020

Blockbuster Issues We Face

The weight of current events is burdensome. I am mainly a positive soul. Recently, however, I’ve developed a Debbie Downer angst. Here’s why.


First, America is racist and fails to own the issue. That is the reason behind the White Supremacy movement. Of course, it is more complicated than that, and it involves more than white and black struggles. America has always struggled with ethnicities different from the norm, whatever group that is. Of course, it has been European stock throughout our history.


Native Americans were viewed as the enemy and marginalized, killed, and driven away to desert reservations where they withered and wasted away. Sad, horrendous, our own holocaust. Yes, mankind is capable of holocausts over and over again. We have our own proof. Right here in our own country.


And we messed up again with African Americans with the slave trade, plantation economics, and the Civil War. We still didn’t learn our lesson and engineered another holocaust in our midst. We got very good at covering it up to protect our own conscience. But facts are facts and African Americans died on our soil. Terrible numbers of victims. Generations of victims. Vestiges remain today as reminders. Our souls are stained with their blood and suffering. The suffering continues.


Second, America is selfish and self-centered. Individual wants are continually felt to be more important than national or global concerns. We take valuable minerals from other parts of the globe to sustain our way of life and industry. Yes, we buy them from other nations, but we deplete the planet’s riches with little concern about replenishing the storehouse or figuring out what to do when the supply runs out. Similarly, we pollute the air, water and soil because of our culture, economy and birthright. We are the primary cause of climate change. Other nations are also guilty of this, but they are late to the scene compared to America. China and Russia are primary polluters along with America. Others as well.


When confronted with this reality, most people shrug it off and leave the solutions to others. “What, me worry?” Evidently, as long as we get what we want at the moment, that’s all that matters. Everyone else be damned.


I think this is deplorable and we must change. We need to own our problems and manage them. It is the responsible thing to do. It is what good, loving people do. We do not need to be saints. Just adults.


Third, Global Climate Change is real, and most people have their heads buried in the sand. This is an existential threat. If we fail to manage this issue we will die. It will take generations to accomplish but die we will. The planet will become unlivable. Don’t believe it? Ask a geologist to explain the facts of life our own planet has survived. Eons of time are involved. Our planet has not always been habitable. In fact, it is a miracle we are here today. But guarantees of future are not included in our deed of residency.


If we allow climate change to destroy our habitat, we are then responsible for destroying our own lifeform. It really is that simple. Deny it if you must but own your conclusion and understand what it means for you, your kids, and their kids.


These three issues are the big ones we need to address. But we don’t address them, do we? Oh, we talk about them, write about them, and foam at the mouth about them. But we don’t fix them. We don’t face the consequences and use our intelligence to make amends ands build a sustainable future for us all.


The interdependence of each of us on all of us is the real message here. And that goes for the global community as well. It is pure logic and commonsense.


Evidently, America doesn’t have much commonsense.


January 20, 2020

Losing Soul?

I’m in the process of reviewing 8+ years of this blog’s contents. Every now and then Facebook reminds me of a posting done a year or two ago. Yes, I also post my blog on Facebook. It reaches my friends and locals better than the blog.


At any rate, I’m reminded from time to time what I wrote on various topics. The startling fact: I have been consistent in handling the many issues covered in the blog.  I reprint these to Facebook when so moved.


This process tells me that the issues raised in the past continue to this day. Those issues are as or more important than they were when I first wrote about them. Suggested handling of most of those issues remains the same today. This actually informs me:

1.      We haven’t accomplished much as a society in the past 8+ years

2.      Too few citizens engage in the hard work of making history, taking responsibility for our nation and its problems

3.      Along the way, no matter how much we say we agree on issues, we don’t move the dial any. Is this a sign that we are losing our soul as a nation and people?

I heard an interview with a disaffected republican conservative the other day. I think it was on the Colbert Late Show program. The fellow fulminated about how off the tracks the GOP is, in fact, he declared it a dead party. But he went on to say he kept his conservatism, his faith, and his ideology intact. He continues to work diligently on acquiring the ends of all his work.


It hit me square in the face: this guy is a reason the GOP is dead. His sense of ends or goals is more important than the means employed. In the end he has helped create the death of the GOP. He has celebrate ends over means until he has no soul. Of course, he doesn’t know this. He probably would disagree vehemently with me on that conclusion. The blind do not see, especially those who blinded themselves.


This tragedy works for each of us. If we do not raise our voice, stand and deliver our opinion, inform our government and its representatives we elect to work on our behalf, then we are as much the problem as others we blame.


It is time to own that reality. It is time to regain our soul. Stand for something like justice, equality, fairness and caring for our fellow citizens. This strengthens our nation and our people. But it also manages the issues better than the current ends justifying the means.


As we look out over the American political landscape, we note chaos, dishonesty, bad manners and woeful lack of respect for foundational values. We must do something about that. We need to take concrete steps today.


We can do this individually and together. Individually we take steps we can in this very moment. As others note our movement, they will stand and deliver their truth. Then arm in arm we can work together to bring harmony and peace back to our nation. And the world.


Both ache for this return to normalcy and acceptance of difference.

Can we regain our soul?


January 17, 2020

Challenges Pay Off

A national volunteer organization I work with is undergoing radical technology change. The complicated data system we all struggled to learn, is now being phased out and replaced by a new-world system. It will be good for us. It is intuitive and captures data as it is created from transactions throughout the system which avoids repetitive re-entry. Fewer mistakes will be made. Speed of transactions and retrieval should be much faster.


This is good news, but a painful process to unlearn one system and learn anew a different one.


The end result, however, is saving time and energy. Both those resources – time and energy – allow the volunteers to focus on what matters the most. The logic and creativity we bring to the clients ought to be better and more apt to client circumstances.


Logic and creativity are delicate resources. Rattle the environment of either – or both! – and distraction snuffs out some logic and creativity. Homing in on a problem, being clear on its definition, then determining the desired outcome if the problem is repaired, allows critical and creative thinking to happen. That occurs in the 'space' between  problem identification and outcome desired. That’s the hardest part of our work. Fewer distractions and more time should help feed that part.


That is the nature of change. It upsets the status quo but it refreshes innate logic and other talents. It provides an opportunity to think of our work in new ways. It is an opportunity that is not always utilized.


I once took an extended vacation – 3 weeks – during which my mind was free to ponder problems at the office. Defining terms was a logical first step. Describing what was wrong and why was the next step. Imagining what things would be like if the problem were solved, was the third step. Thinking all of this through in a calm, time-filled pause in my working life, I soon discovered the answers to the problems. I then carefully put together a plan of action when I returned from vacation. I implemented those actions immediately, on the first day. It was a shock to some, but the organization soon turned the corner for much improved operating results.


All I needed was time for the mind to do its thing. Time and a change in routine. A pause. Clarity returned. Anxiety melted away. Logic and creativity took the lead.


Thinking back on many life-changes I have noted a similar pattern in all of them. Time, logic and creativity are codependent assets. When used we make better use of the rest of our assets.


The moral of this story is two-fold: first, we unknowingly stifle our power of logic and creative juices with meaningless busy-ness and distractions; second, there is a vast reservoir of creativity that will improve our lives if we dare to use it.


Time, however, is needed in abundance to make the magic happen. Take the vacation. Take a few minutes. Sit and zone out. Take that nap. Sip another cup of tea or coffee. Now, solve the world’s problems, or at least know that human creativity will redefine our possibilities very well.


We just need to give it room and time to work. And believe!


January 16, 2020

Church and State

Politics has been a-roil since the 1980’s. That’s my experience. Of course, it has been a chaotic affair since day one, whenever that was. It is the human domain to argue over who is in power, what is to be done in what circumstance, and so forth. Whenever two people meet, the struggle is on.


I say the ‘80’s because that’s when my experience discerned what mattered to me. At the time the president was in trouble. He looked around for a life saver. The 'he' was George H W Bush. He chose to take help from evangelical Christian conservatives. They were handy and represented a meaningful voting bloc.


When done, it didn’t help him. You might recall that was the election involving Ross Perot as an independent, Bill Clinton as Democrat, and Bush as the incumbent president. Perot upset the voter applecart enough to pull votes from Bush. The result, Clinton won with a plurality of votes, not a majority.


The die was cast: religion and republicans were connected at the hip. It remains this way 35 years later. Results are arguable, but religion and politics has skewed discussions ever since. Gay or Straight? It is a religious issue to many and they ask their government to rule on it. Abortion or Not? It is a religious issue to many and they ask their government to rule on it. But it ought not be ruled such. It is not a rule of law but a rule of religion. Not the same estate. We all know better.


But power is power and we are stuck with religion playing a role in American governance. We need to kick it out now.


The church has lost much credibility since the 1980’s. The reason why is clear to see. Spirit and Law are two domains that inform each other but ought not rule one another. Separation of church and state is a precept not found in the US Constitution. It was first raised in the courts. Separation won the decision then and is now precedence.


Why the founding fathers failed to include this in the constitution is a poser because they were mainly Deists. They believed in God. Many of them were Christians, but most of them realized the fresh struggles of religious freedoms that gave cause to settling in the New World in the first place. Their abhorrence to naming a ‘state religion’ was such that they created the ‘freedom of religion’ wording in the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution.


We ought to remember this. Appropriate action awaits. What churches do is one thing. What government does is another. Choice among churches is not one for government. Along with that are several issues that would calm the body politic.


January 15, 2020

Bits and Pieces

Prince Harry and Lady Markle: this power couple is cute, capable and independent enough to lead a meaningful life on their own apart from the Royal Family. They each have the ability and talent to be a financial success in whatever they wish to do. Markle is already an accomplished actress and beauty. Prince Harry is solid, stable and reserved. He brings honor to the Royal Family.


The family has not held up well, however. There is a spat going on between William and Harry. It is not our business to know the details. It is something between them and we need to leave it alone.

What the Royal Family must do has nothing to do with Harry and Meghan. The Royal demands are weird and controlling. It is healthy for Harry and Meghan to experience life on their own. They are not  beholden to the Crown for anything. They can do quite nicely on their own, thank you!


Having said all of that, it is none of my business to write or say anything. The press has meddled enough. They and we should leave it alone.


Tweet as Governing: the occupant of the White House tweets about everything. If he has reporters and microphones available, he talks about everything. He is mostly off script. Although that may be refreshing to some, it makes for awkward moments. Divulging state secrets to inappropriate recipients is one. Slapping people down just because he has the opportunity, makes followup work quite nasty and unproductive. Saying sorry is not enough.


Policy development in governing circles is difficult precisely because it is attempting to speak fairly for the good of most people. Someone will always have their nose out of joint. Wording must be as precise as possible. Action and law relies on these policies. Protocols are crafted to guide implementation of extremely touchy processes. None of this is done well or professionally via tweet.


With tweets, all trust and confidence is lost. Organizational wholeness and collaboration is lost.


Tweet as Foreign Affairs: sharing national policy, opinion and negotiating stance by tweet is foolish. Undercutting foreign affairs professionals in their role of building and maintaining fruitful relationships among nations, destroys the ability of both nations to trust one another. Certainly the agents they work with will be untrusted.


There are so many ways to develop open communications among parties interested in getting along with one another. Tweeting is not one of them.


Trust in Government: I trust government, its intent, role, purpose. I do not trust all people involved in the governing process. Much has happened in recent years to instruct all of us of the frailties of government. Giving up on it, however, is not a practical solution.


History has taught us much about governing success and failure. This is a human enterprise and mistakes will be made. Poor judgment is common in life, and so it will be in government as well. To make progress, however, we must use what is available to govern as well as we can. That requires we trust as much as we can.


Trust is difficult on the federal level, however, because the White House staff has misstated so many facts and opinions that turned out false, that we can hardly believe anything they say at this point. This is especially true of the president.


Congress has had a very poor track record over the past 20 years. They have accomplished very little. They compromise on nearly nothing. They agree on even less. Values, programs, processes in every facet of our national life depends on the work of Congress and our political leaders. Yet we have been let down at nearly every turn.


No doubt this state of affairs is the intended result of a key political strategy and tactic. What the fools didn’t calculate is they wiped out their own credibility along with the general distrust of government.


We need government. This is our government. Not the government of the inmates. Us. The voters.


It is time the nasty rhetoric ends and calm discourse begins. We have work to do. That work is serious. Not doing it has consequences.  Poor regulations lead to poisoned water supplies. Poor regulations lead to fatal products sold on the open market. Poor regulations caused the last recession sparked by the near failure of the financial system. Our education system is failing all of us if students do not get the education and personal development they need to succeed in life. That success is not just theirs; it is all of ours. We live in community.


We need to act like we care about that community.


January 14, 2020

Democrat Presidential Candidates

I will say this again: candidates over 70 are not welcome. Their age and life expectancy contribute risk to our governance structure. What they do offer is experience, guidance, wisdom, and understanding of governance infrastructure. Combined, this knowledge is strategic and invaluable to proper governing and decision making.


The trick is to harvest these benefits for the nation. This can be done by selfless service in an advisory position to a sitting president. Or a candidate for the presidency.


I have no doubt that Bernie Sanders is passionate and knowledgeable. He is also strategic with tactical gifts as well. So is Joe Biden. And Elizabeth Warren. Add Mayor Bloomberg to the mix. All are hugely talented and motivated to do the right thing.


The right thing, however, is to help develop a winning Democratic ticket for the 2020 Presidential election. What the younger candidates lack, the older folk can provide. Their training, coaching and mentoring of the younger candidates will produce a winning team in both the White House and Congress.


Currently, the separate candidates are perilously close to dissing each other so they can grab more votes in the primaries. Sorry; this is not done without damaging your own image and credibility. This also tears down the very assets the party needs to retain and nurture going forward.


Who are my picks at this moment?  I like Pete Budigieg, Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar. All three have steady minds, hearts and healthy bodies. We need a leader, not a doctor. We need vision and sensitivity. We need big picture thinking and solutions. We do not need tinkerers and pure statesmen. If we identify the leadership core, then the other characteristics can be developed and/or added with the cooperation and collaboration of the seniors on the team.


This approach will tap the younger generation’s mindset, skillset, and passion for healthy change our society needs. We are living in an age of rapid change. Technology challenges all of us to keep up as we must. Climate Change is a challenge that will never go away. Quality of life issues demand we pay attention to those among us in need of help. We are only as strong as the weakest among us. Bring everyone along toward the American Dream.


That dream is still attainable. It must be on a level playing field, one not owned by the richest 5% of the land. That playing field should be just and loving at the same time, else we lose our soul on the journey.


I respect all the Democratic presidential candidates. But I don’t want to worry about them having heart attacks, fatal cancer or a stroke. I want them healthy and long living to remain models of useful citizens.


Come on, Democrats. The goal is to remove trump so we can save the nation’s soul and dream.


January 13, 2020

Days Ticking

Time is a funny thing. Here one moment, gone the next, onto another moment. Passage of time. time standing still, or so it seems. Rushing by, too. Oh, so swiftly.


When young, time seemed stationary. The clock barely moved. When would this class end? When would the day end and we could go home?


Later, time’s tempo became more apparent. Ten minutes flew by. And hour’s nap was a trice. A day filled with interest and pleasure was over before we were ready for it.


In retirement time is steady. It moves rhythmically. Steadily onward. First an hour, then two and finally eight. Time for dinner. Time for bed. Too early the morning comes. Another day begins. Then the hours march to another evening and bed.


Our days are programmed. First hour is blog time, then Facebook and Internet routines. Then calendar review and prep for meetings and projects. Then shower, shave, dress for the day. Wednesdays are bathroom cleaning and laundry. Thursdays are groceries. Fridays are weekend prep. Saturday is visit with my daughter. Sunday is church. Monday is for meetings and reading. Tuesdays are various meeting dates and times arranged monthly. Then it is laundry day again.

Don't forget Taco Night on Thursdays!


The week happens as planned and in rote. Over time it is moving more quickly.


We note time’s passing now with larger events in focus. But the sweep of the year’s activities and benchmark moments move more swiftly than ever. The bank is running low. Not our interest, but time in which to do things. Accomplish things.


We notice more. We realize opportunities and potential to fix things, improve things, be more. So easy. So doable. The resource needed most? Time. But it moves quickly out of view. We do what we can in the time we have.


Soon it is nap time. Too soon news time. Then meal time. Show time or meeting time. Then bed. Over and over it goes and soon the week, month and year are spent. Another birthday passed. The march continues toward an end.


We don’t know the end until the moment arrives. Meanwhile more is seen and done with the time we have. And we do it. Because we must.


And it is good. All is good.


January 10, 2020

Rumbles

Iran strikes two air bases in Iraq in retaliation for the assassination of one of their generals. Casualty data reports no deaths, and minor structural damage. Senator Graham declares the attack an act of war. The stock market calms.


So, what is it? An act of war or two bullies fighting on the playground?


I think the latter. Two bullies with the means to do real damage to their opponent. But they are limiting their strikes. They are minor. The deceased general was a real trouble maker and a worthy target. Whether he was legitimately in Iraq on innocent business, has not been established. If his purpose was terrorism against Iraq, Syria or the US, and if there is proof of that, then taking him out was legit. If not, Iran has every right to retaliate. And that is not an act of war, mr. graham.


News of the US assassination action caused the US stock markets to decline and boost the cost of oil on global markets. American gas pump prices were slow to rise. Then they fell. With Iran’s retaliation action, pump prices have spiked, but global oil markets are steady. The stock market slumped then recovered a bit. Today it is up modestly while overnight the futures were down 400 points. That prediction did not happen at the opening bell, however, and markets recovered.


So, the world community is taking the actions of two bullies seriously but not ‘bigly,’ to use a word of the white house occupant.


The bluster of American spokesmen is also in close review by the public. So far it appears the bluster is not believed. With good reason: the white house and republican leaders have told the public so many lies in the last few years no one is taking their oratory as truth. Or factual. In fact, fact checking denudes them every time.


Sad. If you want to know what’s going on, watch news channels for the footage and audio; avoid the opinion by reporters. Piece facts together and make a logical conclusion. Then talk it over with friends you trust who have a track record of studying issues seriously. Talk about the news in that environment.


I am encouraged to witness and learn that such discussions hold much logic and dutifully fact checked. Google makes this easy. The American public is not easily fooled by political rhetoric. By either parties. So Democrats, don’t get smug! Stick to the facts and take these matters seriously.


Too many people emptily support the trumpster. It will be hard work to remove him from office at the next election. Focus on that task and make it happen, people. The future we save is our own and our kids’.


Take deep breaths and do your homework. Act responsibly and remain calm and logical. And factual.


Thank you. That is all!


January 9, 2020

Killing Iranian General

The ends and the means. Again, mankind attempts to answer the imponderable to suit himself. It doesn’t work.


The ends are one thing. The means another. You want someone to die, now or later?  Wait. He/she will die. It is the natural order of things. If you wish to speed up the end result, then you are taking matters into your own hands. Which means can be used to speed the result? A few pop to mind:

1.      Murder the person. Illegal at all times in all places. 

2.      Place the person in a dangerous position and hope circumstances do your bidding; but don’t make the death happen directly; that is the same as murder. Death by accident is not murder.

3.      Hire someone to kill the person. This is still murder and illegal. The same as staging an accident.

4.      Hunt the person down in a place of war and chaos, and end his life. This is heinous but not illegal; it is an act of war.

That’s it. The means are limited. The right and wrong of it are variable. If you don’t mind being wrong, then do it and pay the consequences. It you do mind and prefer to do it right, you will have to wait. Death comes to each of us. The timing is happenstance and not in our hands.


The morality of means versus ends has been debated for eons. Accepting immoral, illegal means to acquire the desired ends diminishes the persons involved and the society. A moral society cannot approve immoral means. Plain and simple.


The Iranian general may have been killed as the result of a crime he was committing. Was he in Iraq legitimately, legally? If so, his killing was illegal. If he was on a mission to overthrow Iraqi order and legitimacy, then he was fair game. If he was working in league with other conspirators to overthrow Iraqi authority (this is part of the Iraqi civil war that has raged for generations), then both he and the other generals were fair game to be killed. This describes a war standing and the general is presumed to know what he was doing and the risks he was taking.


If Iran chooses to see the above as anything other, then it is on them to prove those facts. If Iraq wishes to blame America for the drone attack against their interests, then let them prove those facts.

Until then, America is presumed to be in the right.


However, to involve our nation in such a messy event, is unscrupulous, stupid state craft, and irresponsible to the citizens of America. Protocols exist to think these acts through before they are committed. We do not know what protocols, if any, were employed. It would help to know more about this.


The fact that the current White House does not respect protocol and professional state craft, clouds belief and trust. That is not a burden on the citizen. It is a burden of political leadership.


Mr. trump, Bolton, Pompeo and others in the line of command in this matter, step up and explain yourselves. Your nation and the global village awaits to hear your case.


Either that or be judged guilty and removed from office. There are other options for us to pursue, but we still remain a civil society. Speak or face the consequences of your silence.

And please, no spin or bluffer. Only the facts. Provable facts.


January 8, 2019

Sweeping Dirt Under the Rug

The GOP (republican party) is preparing to dump the House Articles of Impeachment in the trash bin of history. We expected this. This is how political bosses deal with truth, fact and history. They disrespect what is uncomfortable for them.


Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina continues his romp to protect the damaged king. He insists he can and will change the Senate rules governing impeachment trial processing. He wants to change the rules. The guy who claims Democrats have done this for years. Wrong. The Democrats have not changed rules unless bipartisan agreement has been secured. Not the case with GOP. They do what they want when it fits their point of view. How they get away with this is a mystery. The opposition party has steadfastly stayed with compromise, cooperation and gentlemen practices. That is the culture of what both the House and Senate were built on over the centuries.


Madmen do their thing when inner demons call. We are witness to this now.


So, the trump dirt will be swept under the rug soon, maybe as soon as this week (January 10^th) or by the following Friday, January 17^th.


This will happen because they can do it. Nothing stops them. Not decency, certainly.


The GOP now owns donald j trump. He is there leader and values standard bearer. He admits the wrongs he has done and even gloats about them. And the party of Lincoln thinks nothing of it. It allows the accused full sway over their party and their government. What they don’t seem to realize is they now own all the problems of the USA. These problems emanated from the George W administration, repaired in the face of full opposition of the GOP during the Obama administration, and torn apart during the current trump reign of shame. History will have a field day with this.


With no admission of their guilt, the GOP appears ready to cover up history in some way or another. Wonder what this will look like. Wonder how they will spin this garish failure of standards, values and principle. But hey, education appears low on the priority list of the GOP. And most social issue for that matter.


I am beyond mystified. How can decency be so absent in our government? The courts? The Senate? The House? The White House?


The checks and balances are gone. The government Of, By and For the people is hanging by a thread. Where have We The People been?


Is this our future? Is this what we want? Government by special interest groups? Government of the wealthy? Government of the power seekers?


Why?


January 7, 2020

Where to Go From Here?

Where indeed!?


The stock markets are exuberant over very little. They are poised for every sling and arrow that threatens it. Huge drops and surges of value happen weekly. It is unsustainable and illogical. Yet it does its thing regardless.


Higher education is priced to exclude tens of millions of worthy students. Students who cut across society’s warp and woof to create, invent and revolutionize our nation’s potential, future and gift to mankind.


Healthcare is excellent. Its delivery pretty darn good. But it is jammed with people needing services without a clear pathway in. Meanwhile the rest of us pay enormous premiums, and taxes to support government subsidies. The system is not sustainable in its current arrangement. What will and should replace it?


International relations is an art form built from patience and deep study. Generations of professionals built an institution to manage world relations for our nation and the global village, yet two presidents in recent years (and currently) have labored to disassemble that institution. Generations of work and investment are pruned away. Some actions are large lops and axe hacks. Our hopes for peace are dwindling.


We need leadership. We need wisdom. We need steady hands at the helm of our ship of state.


Yet a madman amateur is in position.


Where do we go from here? Don’t worry about how we got here. Fix what is wrong right now. We are in that immediate situation of danger and disruption. It is time to address the primary bollox staring us in the face.


If more than half of us agree with this assessment, what then do we do? Who should be in charge at this time? How do we get him or her or them in the position to act in our name?


That is the direct question of our age.


Answers anyone?


January 6, 2020

Freedoms

Curious things have been happening for several years. Most are based on unique American values and freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution. Examples:

1.      Freedom of Religion: our nation got its start as an escape from religious discrimination in England. Protestants did not want to follow the edicts of the Church of England – be it Catholic or Protestant-Episcopalian. Yet today, we have people persecuting our Jewish brothers and sisters. We even have people who claim that some of our laws discriminate against religious freedom. That isn’t true, but claimants persist with their argument on an ideological basis, thus politicizing religion. In the next breath they avow their religion ought to rule state or national policy. This then precipitates an argument over separation of church and state. The result: we have come full circle and freedom of religion rekindles as an issue.

2.      Freedom of Speech: our nation was created to be a bastion of individual freedom and initiative. Having free thought and expression of same, was believed to be the bedrock of community discourse and understanding. Indeed, freedom of speech leads through the chaos of all education to produce workable understandings common to many. However, today we have many people and commercial interests controlling and manipulating what gets said or printed and when and where. Huh? Freedom of speech negates that control. What gives? Is money speech? Is control speech? Is commerce speech? Interestingly, access to speech is increasingly controlled by subscription pricing and contracts. How is this free speech?

3.      Freedom of Press: this is an echo of the Freedom of Speech paragraph shown above. The press may have freedoms, but access to what they have written is not free. It costs each and every one of us a lot of money. In the battle for ratings (print or electronic) prices and subscriptions are high. Along the way corporate control of the message came with ownership of the news outlet. Thus speech is not free in content or purse. Another result: journalists are a vanishing breed. They are underpaid and overedited. Their messages are thus out of their control.

4.      Freedom of Assembly: most communities require permits to gather and speak in groups of any size. The permit is supposed to provide the community the time and thought needed to prepare for the ‘event’ and safeguard public health and safety. In many communities, however, the permitting process is not easy or equally accessible. Assembly of citizens is thus curtailed.

5.      Right to Bear Arms: we have this right aplenty today. Many would say the right is overwhelming us and creating chaos. A clear and present danger to the right of the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness is now the result. I believe this is so and would appreciate a better means of governing the right to bear arms. I find arms to be prohibitively expensive. I prefer society to maintain order without me having to own a gun for any purpose. That is a freedom I cherish more than the right to own a gun.

There are other freedoms but these are the main ones we attend to most commonly. The curious thing about each of the freedoms is who is doing the talking and who is feeling aggrieved. Opinions quickly change sides depending on who feels hurt. We should be able to do better with these five freedoms.


Who takes the first step with this? Where do we even discuss this in freedom?


January 3, 2020

The Beat Goes On, and On

I had hoped the noise of politics in Washington DC would have quieted down over the holidays. Not to be. The ‘fake news king’ ranted on camera, social media and twitter. Never silent for long, he continued to spin stories. Ever faithful for ratings, the news media parroted his nonsense back to the American people.


2020 is about many things. The impeachment process will continue through the Senate. A final decision will be rendered, and life will go on regardless the verdict. At the same time the national elections in November will cause endless posturing by presidential candidates and other congressional wannabes. Incumbents will tout their records and ideologies. The election date will approach. Voters will have their say. The verdict on who is in and out will be thus assembled.


And life will go on.


Of course, I hope for silence from ‘he who shall not be named.’ I know that will not happen. I also hope the Senate will finally get the balls and morals to decide the white house occupant is guilty and remove him from office. I am realist enough to know that will not happen.


So, my final position is betting on the American voter to remove him from office by honest, direct vote. I do not know if that will happen. I can hope.


Our nation is divided almost evenly at the moment for and against the sitting president. How that can be is a question I’ve pondered in this space for nearly 3 years.  The only answer I can believe in is many Americans feel disenfranchised from power and financial future. They find it necessary to blame that on someone else, and flock to the white house incumbent to speak their truth. They want a smaller government so as to have it out of their lives. Meanwhile, they enjoy the largesse of that government at every turn.


Those on the other side of the argument fervidly believe government is a necessity on many levels, recognize the good it accomplishes, and represents a serious investment in the lives of all Americans. Room for entrepreneurial freedom, freedom of speech, thought, print and religion remains well at hand. Those freedoms are the glue that holds us all together. Those freedoms also create the economic might our nation represents to the rest of the global village.


It is the global village that benefits from American inventiveness, thinking, education and creativity. But it is America that benefits hugely from the global village needing and buying our outputs because they don’t or can’t. This is a win-win situation. It is not an ‘us vs them’ situation. Decidedly not.


That is our strength. And that is what we do in the world because of all of us. Right or left, middle of the road, republican or democrat, we are one America doing what we do best: creating the new.


We diminish ourselves by arguing the weaknesses – real or imagined – of others among us.


2020 needs to be our year of renewal: of spirit, knowledge, action and self-determination.


My fervent prayer is that we all come to agree with this central point. And move on with our promise to the world community. It is up to each of us to do this. No one can decide this for us. Only you and I acting alone.


Blessings be with you on your 2020 journey.


January 2, 2020

Happy New Year

So, a new year begins! Another one! Just like last year, and the year before that, and so on as far back as we can remember. Here we are again at the beginning. Another beginning. You would think we would have this down pat by now. So many years of doing the same thing.  Starting, stopping, ending, beginning again, and so on and on.


Yikes!


I won’t belabor the point. Yes, the old year has ended. Some would say a fond farewell while others would gladly dispense with 2019 with a cheey “Good Riddance.” The point of ending something is the opportunity to begin something new. That possibility holds the potential for accomplishing great things. All we need do is think them up! Ah, well, perhaps that’s the hard part?


It might help if we count our blessings. A good start to the new year is accounting for the wonderful things in our lives – each other, loved ones, wonderful work colleagues, neighbors, financial blessings, a car that works, and a roof over our heads.


Health is a variable. So is age. Time is with us to live and know joy. The pains and hurts will be common companions, but joy is there as well. Know this and begin 2020 with confidence and passion. All will be well if we start well.


Happy New Year to each and everyone of us!!


January 1, 2020