Time

As a retiree, I should have plenty of time. I don't. This is not a lament so much as it is a reality check.

My late great aunt retired from retirement, once. We laughed over that, but she was serious. She had become so busy in retirement that she almost lost her health over it. So, she took a breather from all of her commitments and rearranged them all.

I've done that from time to time in my own case. Aunt Helen's predicament has become mine from time to time. I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

With retirement comes freedom to explore so many things we once had no time for. Just too many other things clamoring for our attention.

Today healthcare visits account for much time: doctor visits at least twice each year, four different specialties; medical tests from those doctors consume more time; picking up prescriptions at the drug store adds more errand time. You get the picture. Prior to retirement we didn't have time for all of this, but then we were younger and in better health! Duh!

Church is an interest I've always had. I followed through and got involved with church work, committees, choir and program development. With retirement, those involvements have multiplied. It's a good thing, but it does expand time commitments.

Family responsibilities have expanded as well: more birthdays, anniversaries, get-togethers, and so on. Plus the family grows! Babies, weddings, huge new family components. It becomes quite dizzying, and all with no name tags! Right when my memory banks are full!

With time comes age and deaths of family and friends. Each of these happenings is emotional and requires attention. It is part of life's rhythms. And time requirements.

For Christians - of whatever stripe or depth of commitment - this is Holy Week.  Six weeks ago was Ash Wednesday, then Lenten services, followed by Palm Sunday, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday and penultimately, Easter. It is a good time to slow down and think. Even to learn how to feel again.

The other activities will resume apace as they always do. The volunteer activities, organizations and interest groups abound and clamor for our time and involvement. We dive in.

We need to slow down, from time to time, however. We still need to feel our own being. We need to scale our interests to available time and energy. That is a healthy thing to do.

I'm in the process of doing that at this very moment.

Peace to you all.

March 30, 2018

Winning and Losing

I recently lost a daughter in law from Facebook. She unfollowed me because she thought I hadn’t listened to her argument on the gun issue discussion. Actually, I read her material intensely to seek understanding of her position. It was difficult reading because her prose was loaded with power and debate. Such language pursues a ‘win’ outcome to the conversation. And it frequently is judgmental. I do not engage in that sort of thing. I continue to question and reason.

Somehow my wanting to reduce gun deaths in America, or just in schools, is tantamount to questioning the validity of the 2^nd Amendment. I’ve made it clear I am not an enemy of the 2^nd Amendment. I just want gun deaths to decline. How do we do that? That is the question.

Rather than winning an email or Facebook argument, I’m seeking a long term solution to reduce  gun deaths in America, especially in our schools. Let’s focus on that issue. But no, she would not.

Her opening salvo in the morning post was: “How can you oppose that which you don’t understand?”

A good question. But turnaround is fair play. How can she oppose my question for reasonable discussions on possible solutions to the problem under discussion? That discussion is not about eliminating the 2^nd Amendment. It is about reducing gun deaths in America and her schools.

I have heard kick back in this discussion before: “guns aren’t the problem; solve the real problem.” Well, guns are a tool used in the problem. The persons using the tool pose the problem we are addressing. That is part of the problem as well. And yes we have to address the behavioral and psychological issues that make up that part of the gun death problem. However, strident arguments defending gun ownership block the way toward discussing the other parts of the problem.

Many people will start with the guns and stop there. That would be a mistake. All parts of the problem need to be considered for solutions. And I want us to do just that. But get beyond the guns and do this other hard work.

The guns, however, are part of the problem and that needs to be addressed. So let’s do more than just one thing.

This week, retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, proposed eliminating the 2^nd Amendment as unnecessary in our modern age. Its time has come and passed. Gun ownership will still remain as is automobile ownership. Both require regulation and controls. We do much of that already. No confiscation of guns has been stated by me or Justice Stevens.

Now there’s a good start to a fresh conversation. No winning yet; no losing the argument yet, either.

Just no daughter-in-law because she has chosen to absent herself from the discussion. That’s too bad; for her and for all of us. We all need to be part of this knotty problem and its solution.

March 29, 2018

Trusting Government

The current public debate over gun ownership pits supporters of the 2^nd Amendment of the Constitution with those who feel the 2^nd Amendment needs some softening in its effects and outcomes.

Once again, outcome is the focus of the discussion but 2^nd Amendment purists turn the conversation to that dimension only. The rest of the conversation resembles a cat fight. Expertise of one thing or another is used as a trump against someone’s lesser knowledge on the same points. But that is noise. Whether intended or not, it deflects the conversation away from some important key elements of the discussion:

1.     Intent and purpose of the 2^nd Amendment

2.     Enormous gun death statistics; annual results

3.     Trust in government

I am not a lawyer nor am I a gun owner or member of the National Rifle Association. I still have an opinion, however, and in America that gives me the right to use my voice to express that opinion.

The 2^nd Amendment elementally allows citizens to own and bear arms. In those days, there were no standing armies and citizens constituted what was hoped to be a ready militia to help defend the nation. Later, military forces were provided for and the need for citizens to be able and ready to form a militia became unnecessary. Laws were changed to reflect this, but then so were many other laws written that muddied the waters considerably. Now an army of lawyers (hopefully unarmed) are needed to parse the legal jargon well enough for courts to decide the core issues.

Still, I support the 2^nd Amendment. If a person wants to own a gun, they should be able to own one or many and pursue their interests accordingly. That is their right. I will forgo this right in my own life. I do not wish to own guns or bear them in anyway.

What I do wish to help with is reducing the number of gun fatalities in America. After proper research of these statistics, I would hope we would have a better understanding on how many of these fatalities could have been avoided with common sense gun restrictions/regulations. How can we accommodate both the gun owner’s rights while reducing the death count? Which specialized experts in our land are capable of handling this matter so we all understand what the consequences are if we attempt to fix the problems? I want those people to help us do the heavy lifting of understanding the problem, identifying potential solutions, and finding a good balance of those solutions to apply to the problem. Then I’d like a proposal to be offered for public study so a consensus among citizens can be acquired. This will be a slow process, but it will be an honest one built on knowledge.

Being a supporter of the 2^nd Amendment, I do not want an authoritarian government to confiscate all the guns. I just want some of the weaponry removed from the hands of citizens that are more properly appropriate for law enforcement or military personnel.

That position, however, assumes my trust in government in the first place. Yes; I do trust government. It is not perfect and it can be skewed by poor judgment and bad leadership. An intelligent and involved citizenry is the foil to bad government. Government needs, especially a democracy, a public that is willing to get involved and be knowledgeable about government affairs. That is what guarantees our government to be of, by and for the people. Anything less allows government to fall into dangerous hands.

I do not believe the American people need to own guns to protect themselves from their own government. That is my bedrock. Because other societies allowed huge government distortions of power, does not mean that can happen in America.

Ours is a culture of the ballot box, not of armed homes. Ours is a culture of peace and cool minds.

Current public discussion is often skewed toward the obscene and stupid. More calm and clear headedness is needed to do justice with our public debate on all issues. That includes trust in government and the 2^nd Amendment limitations.

I hope we can get to a better place in those discussions soon before families split apart on such ideological themes.

March 28, 2018

The Talk Ahead

I have had my say many times via this blog. It is my escape valve. It allows me to think aloud and work complicated things out. By sharing this with a larger audience I take my writing seriously. Of course, I am not always right. Yes, I am wrong some of the time.

But I don’t stop thinking on the subject matter. My mind goes back over the material time and time again. It is a process. It is never quite done. And just when I think it near perfection, bam! Something comes along to upset the whole thing. Back to the drawing board, or at least the re-thinking board.

This happens quite a lot. The dimensions of life are large; diverse as well; and ever-changing. This is why history rarely remains the same other than the what happened, where it did so, and when. The why is the real reason of history. It is mankind’s way of deeper understanding on what happened and why. The Cause, Effect and Result of Man’s Story in Time.

The landscape of history, however, never stops. It is forever in a continuum. Making sense now does not mean the same ‘sense’ will remain later. Prelude and postlude change perspectives.

While we live through periods of events and unsettled times, we focus on the bits and pieces of what we think are the important matters. Often, they are not; more important themes are emerging and difficult to spot.

Today, in 2018, we have major issues beckoning our attention. But only one really takes center stage: what is the role of government?

That’s it. Everything else swirls around this question endlessly. Take the current student pressure for changes in gun laws, this is a role for government. At least government authority can handle this task faster and more completely than private citizens. But private citizens can take control of this issue as well. In fact, the issue is mainly a cultural one. That is your business and mine. It is not automatically one for government.

If we want fewer guns in our midst, don’t buy them; and discourage our kids from buying them. For sport, maybe; for any other purpose, no. Assault weapons belong to those who are trained military or police agencies. In my mind such weapons ought to be owned by those agencies and not private individuals. But that is only my opinion.

If all of us who dislike guns would just live our lives as such, it would go a long way in minimizing their presence in our culture. My parents did not own guns. My sister and brother do. I don’t. My kids don’t own guns. I don’t know about the rest of the family. And it is none of my business, anyway. I can do for my family what I can do; nothing more.

In this manner the culture of America can restrict gun ownership. It is not an ‘approved’ mindset to own guns. We can make it so.

With regards to the rest of the gun ownership debacle, a larger authority is needed. That is where government enters the picture. To maintain order and public safety, gun regulations are needed. We have them. They are a mish-mosh of ineffective laws and regulations. They need to be rewritten and streamlined. Someone ought to do that. I suggest a government authority do this under the supervision of the law, the courts and the Constitution. Then let’s discuss the recommendations before implementing any changes.

Government is a needed element of our lives. Without it anarchy would reign. Countless societies and cultures have experimented with this over the ages; all minimization of government failed dismally. Life is that complex. Order takes discipline and process. Accept it and move on.

What government does at any given time is guided by public input and elected representation. The rest is process and orderliness.

I really don’t favor one political party over another. Each has its ideology. That, too, changes over time. I once was a staunch republican. Now I am not. Nor am I a democrat. What I am is an independent searching for the people who will best speak my sense of reality at any given time. Right now that is mostly democratic leadership. Not entirely. But most decidedly not republican. That party is in great disarray! Again, that's my opinion; I own that, I don't expect you to.

So, for those who want to put me in one slot or another, don’t waste your time. I seek truth and orderliness. I accept government roles for some of this. I have faith in government, not blind faith. We are, after all, human beings capable of error. We muddle on toward the best end.

Why must this process be so fraught with hideous anger and personality? I guess that’s the human element once again.

Oh well; muddle on!

March 27, 2018

Finding Peace in Chaotic Times

It seems like an oxymoron, but we can find peace amidst chaos. Actually, we do it every day. Think about it – urban traffic muddled through on each commute, or train schedule, waiting platforms, and crowded trains both getting on and getting off, every day of that commute, and the weather adjusted to for each of its changes. We find private space within those chaotic conditions to feel at one, peaceful.

I admit it is an acquired skill to do this. Many years I waged a four-hour daily commute (round trip); it involved walking on both ends and trains in the middle. It consumed time but I found some of that time could be used for reading. Novels, non-fiction, or backlogged office reading we all attacked each day. Spending the time in that manner gave me peace. I was making progress with the reading on the one hand, and providing release and education on the other. It was not wasted time.

Over the years I came to observe many styles of commuting. Many mastered the art of sleeping on the train. It is an art for the body to know when to awake and get off the train. If it is the end of the line, that’s easy, but just think of sleeping through your stop and prolonging the commute another hour or two?!

That’s commuting! What of other chaos? The schedules and calendars we place on ourselves, and the complications placed on us by others. A sea of commitments and obligations; expectations from others, too. And of course my own expectations. All create chaos. Stress, time pressure, and whatnot. Weather, too; a huge complicating factor, yet most of us get a free pass on such days. We all have the weather to contend with, so common excuses apply for being late or missing appointments.

Chaos in public discussion. Chaos in shopping malls. Chaos in organizations choosing their way in complicated times. How do they all cope? How do we cope? How do I cope?

Answers don’t always work. Several are common: Breathe; meditate; take a break; take a nap; tell a joke and laugh.

Those are all good and very personal. We can all take these actions. It does not require another to accomplish. But when these do not work? What then?

Here’s what I do. It took me decades to learn these, but they work most of the time for me. Not all of the time, most of the time.

1.     I blog. This is a form of venting. I take the time to think things through and commit them to writing. This means I take the thinking seriously. This also means I don’t build up resentments and anger over all issues. I have this way to vent and release the pressure.

2.     I send letters/Facebook messages/text messages to people who need to know how others feel. Especially true if they are the ones who have the influence or authority to do something about the issue. They cannot take your opinion or mine into consideration if we don’t communicate it to them. So I do!

3.     I plan. I know what’s ahead of me and I sort through the tasks and potential complications to identify an action plan that will keep progress moving forward.

4.     I schedule my time with breaks to use to absorb unforeseen problems. This lessens stress. It provides an escape valve for possible chaos.

That’s it. There are other tactics to use such as openness of feelings and communications with those people who matter to us. Some people do that well; I don’t. I need to work on that. My other tactics are in place to lessen the chaos in my life. Perhaps it will help you, too?

March 26, 2018

Political Realities

With primaries over, a clearer picture is forming on what to expect in the fall elections. More Democrats have leapt onto the stage of public leadership. I suspect this is more a reaction to republican party woes; few new voices desire to connect their names with their current brand. Even seasoned republicans are leaving public office in droves. What is left are the shrill voices of conservatives slugging it out along narrow ideological lines. Just how conservative can these nuts become?

Meanwhile, Democrats are resurging. Bright new voices are being heard these days. Candidates who have obviously thought through the many campaign themes and topics. But refreshingly, women have accepted the challenge and entering races nationwide. A good sign that equality will be present in the fall. And African-American candidates, too. Lots of them; with vigor, bright ideas, and a willingness to combat the status quo, especially in the large urban areas. Hispanic candidates, too, are stepping forward. They are being heard AND elected. Did I say this was the resurging Democrat Party demonstrating these trends?

Yes. I did identify Democrats as leading the charge back to a normal, sensible discussion of issues, solutions and caring for the body politic.

This is America, the land of the free and the brave. It takes both freedom and bravery (courage) to step forward and be part of the decision-making process. It requires good hearing, too; how else will they know what their constituents need and want? They must hear before becoming the voice of their people.

Government of, for and by the people. That’s America. That’s what makes her great. Not listening, not standing up, not examining – all taken together – are what doesn’t make us great. At least trump has awakened the sleeping giant of America’s political might.

The pendulum swings its mighty arc. First one way, then another. Over time the averages appear, the mid-points of the arc. That’s where the energy is at its greatest. Champion the arc and the energy. Participate in this great American institution. Vote in the fall. But first, get familiar with the new faces and voices. Their positions will mirror the mood and thinking of the American people. With that and a protected ballot box, we will return America to its strengths.

Long live the arc of the pendulum! May its energy be harnessed to speak truth.

March 23, 2018

Wading Thru It

What does one do when forces seemingly conspire to complicate life? In the past I slogged through it. At nearly 75, the slogging is tougher to do, but slogging it remains. One foot in front of the other.

First the dog’s dental problem led to an eye socket impaction; this led to corneal ulcer, and a lot of discomfort. We had six teeth removed and the abscesses drained. The eye socket returned to normal, but eye infection followed soon thereafter. That infection spread to the other eye. Now we continue – months later – to place eye drops into her eyes three times daily, administer ointment when we can, and clean her mucous clogged eyes as best we can.

The dental problem also coincided with, or caused, a loss of hearing in one ear. She also has experienced a slipped knee cap in a rear leg – twice or three times, now, but something she gets over with time and tender loving care.

Did I say Willow is 15 next month? In dog years that’s more than 100 so I suppose we are lucky to still have her. She is sweet, smart and loyal. Getting old for her has had its trials!

Today, we go again to the vet for help, relief and counsel. One of these days she will inform us it is time to let Willow go. That day will be hard on us. But it will be natural in time.

Meanwhile, on the human front, Rocky is home from hospital after an ER visit and admission for observation. Meds remain the same and at the same dosages. Peace and calm will restore nerves. Education will satisfy curiosity over Parkinson’s Disease and make it more acceptable over time. The translation: one step at a time will do the trick. We know this technique well; it is called ‘The Slog.’

Meanwhile, Holy Week is on us and music must be prepared, services organized and planned, narrative roles assigned and rehearsed. Extra hours at church are needed. Other church duties call us to action as well.

And of course, routine lives have their rhythm of action – cleaning house, doing the laundry, dishes, shopping, and the ever dreaded – car care duties. Yes, gas, oil, minor repairs and an occasional wash is required if the faithful servant is to remain useful on demand.

We are retired but can’t imagine where the time goes.

Yet more duties call for attention. All the volunteer projects and organizations that mean so much to us still beckon for attention. And we do what we can in the mix of all the other things going on.

Slogging. Yes, slogging through it all. One step at a time. A little creaky these days, and sometimes halting, but a step none the same.

After all, these are the golden years and we are doing our part to keep them that way. Slog. Slog. Slog.

You get the picture.

March 22, 2018

Taking the Day Off

Taking a breather today. Rocky is in hospital for observation following chemical imbalances due to conflicting medicines. Some of the symptoms caused by a mild panic attack. Rocky is getting used to the idea of having Parkinson's Disease. This is an early diagnosis and the new meds are seeking a balance with Rocky's other medications.

Meanwhile, we study the disease profile for what to expect in the future. So far it is mostly benign. Disease onset after 70 years of age is a good sign the forward progress of Parkinson's will be slow and gradual. For now, exercise routines are advised. Rocky is doing that at the local park district recreation center and walking the dog.

Willow - the dog - sets the pace. If she thinks the walker is up to it, she leads a feisty path; if she thinks you are lame and pathetic, the pace is a mild foray to the closest bushes for a quick pee and poop. Then back indoors. What a good dog! So cooperative and adaptive!!

Rocky should come home today without further complications. Peace to you all.

March 21, 2018

Transparency

Much of the work done in the name of the public is complicated and deals with matters that are best kept confidential until they are ready for public discussion or implementation. Confidentiality protects people and their private lives from unnecessary public intrusion. If it matters, of course such information needs to be included in public discussion; but much of this information is not pertinent to public scrutiny.

Confidentiality is also needed in any matter that would affect the cost of a purchase or sale of property in the public domain. In fact, this is the primary reason public agencies enter ‘executive sessions’. Personnel matters and commercial property trades are kept from public inspection.

Internal discussions of public agency work groups and teams, should remain out of public view only if it helps staff think through the issues completely and creatively. This freedom to consider all pertinent issues is central to meaningful outcomes. Once decisions are made, or policies are unveiled for implementation, then it is fair game for the public to investigate and comment. That is when transparency in government happens.

Transparency also should occur during public on-record discussions – legislative bodies meeting, city council meeting, and so forth.

Non-disclosure agreements are usually appropriate to maintain competitive and creative ownership of ideas central to the value of a company or organization. It is not a tool to screen individuals from responsibility for their actions or behavior which may not be in the public’s interest.

In private industry NDA’s are common. In Government they are not common. Only in matters of national security are secrecy protocols in place. National defense and diplomacy arenas have such secrecy policies.

The trump White House appears to be blending private with public administration in matters of secrecy. As a result, public transparency suffers. The White House Press Corps has broad access to the White House and its staff for just such reasons. Transparency. This is the seat of government. This is where the public’s work is formed, planned and often accomplished. This requires openness with the public.

Watching how sausage is made is not very pleasant. But it is important that someone is watching to prove standards and safety of the product. The same is true in public administration of the people’s work.

Non-disclosure Agreements in government ought not be used unless to protect personnel or market value and national security matters.

The White House is the People’s House. It is not the private digs of mr. trump.

March 20, 2018

Public Servants

There are three kinds of public servants. Those elected to public office are public servants. They are selected to serve at the ballot box. The basis of each elected position lies in the United States Constitution. In fact, most elected officials take an oath to uphold the US Constitution, and usually the constitution of the State in which they serve, as well as other legislative authorities that give rise to the position for which they are being installed. They may receive a salary or monthly stipend to compensate for their time and expense in serving the public. Many elected positions carry no compensation at all.

The second type of public servant is one hired to perform a specific job – teacher, policeman, fireman, janitor, engineer, clerk, secretary, and so on. Their job descriptions, compensation and benefits are spelled out in countless documents governing the administration of public agencies. They are hired on the open labor market and are both hired and paid based on their skills, education and other qualifications. They work their jobs just like everyone else in the economy. They have bosses and work teams just like you and I. They also have career aspirations and professional goals like everyone else.

The third type of public servant is volunteer. There are likely more of these than all other public servants. Committee members, commission appointees, boards of trustees and the like are all part of the public service environment. Such people specialize in their service and delve deeply into the function and specialty of specific agencies. Volunteers are often recruited to help some of these agencies perform their functions. They perform with dedication and commitment. They receive our thanks perhaps once each year with a public reception at city halls across America.

I’ve been all three over the years. I worked for a state university as Assistant Dean of Students with countless director positions assigned over the years – student government, student discipline system, veterans, organizations and activities, etc. I was elected to a city council for four years; and I served as a park commissioner for seven years. I served on the Arts and Tourism Commission, the city hospitality association to support restaurants and hotels in town. Along the way other needs of the community were identified and voluntarily organized into bodies that performed public functions without compensation.

All positions were demanding and required self-education, acquired experience, and discipline to perform. The results were rewarding: responsive city leadership in planning, budgeting and preparation for the future. Quality of life issues were discussed and provided for. Needed recreational programs were created and provided; parklands were acquired, designed and maintained for public use and enjoyment. Social interaction of the community was supported and enriched. Tourism was sponsored, acquired and improved the local economy. Tax dollars were well spent and accounted for. A dynamic chamber of commerce was enhanced for the benefit of businesses, local employment and tax revenue generation. A community newspaper was created and produced for over seven years without expense to the readers or community institutions and agencies. Arts programming created public art exhibits – both local and distant artists – as well as plays, concerts and public discussions and lectures.

The university position was a career job and earned salary and benefits, including pension. All the other assignments earned nothing; oh, one had a small stipend ($400 per month), and none received an expense allowance or pension credits. All were performed for public benefit. And community life benefitted accordingly.

This is how life in America is done. It is mostly local. It is up close and personal. We can see this type of service and touch it, and benefit from it.

Career public servants labor for years, often decades, for the common public good as defined by the agency for which they work. They invest in their own education and training. They work 40-hour weeks and often much longer to do their jobs. They get paid a salary that is hopefully based on market value. Benefits are paid similar to what others in the employment market earn. Often, public employment is restricted in its generosity due to tight budgets and consideration for the tax load on the public. Public elections often target expense controls during campaigns for office.

When retirement occurs, pensions are paid. Most earn benefits from one pension plan, and it is in place of Social Security benefits. Some career employees earn modest benefits from Social Security if they worked enough years in private employment in addition to their public service career.

There are some elected positions that carry a public salary (governor, lieutenant governor, etc.) and those positions also earn pension credits. If an individual served in more than one of these major elected jobs, pension benefits accrue to each position and benefits are paid at retirement for each of those positions. Such practices benefit only a few people; the vast majority of public servants earn and receive benefits similar to private sector employees.

I offer this information because many people think public servants are overpaid, over-pensioned, and not worthy of merit. Those folks are wrong. Most employees earning salaries and benefits are worthy of such rewards. Not to pay them marketable salaries would deny government agencies talented employees. Not paying retirement benefits as contracted would be a major error; talented employees would be lost, and new ones would be hard to attract to fill vacancies. Besides, not keeping contractual agreements would place in question the word of the agency or government.

The recent firing of Andrew McCabe of the FBI within 24 hours of his retirement, is a gross misuse of authority by both the president and the Attorney General. The decision to end employment is one matter; stripping a person of pension benefits without proof of guilt, is an injustice of monumental proportions.

March 19, 2018

Stability and Leadership

Stability of relationship is important to me. Knowing where I stand with someone helps me build a connection that is flexible, knowledgeable and comfortable with that person. I tend to hold back with a person I’m not sure about.

In some friendships I’m able to just unload my frustrations about an issue or happening. I know they will hear me out and let me vent. If they have something helpful to say, they will share it. They won’t push back unless they feel my venting is unfair. They give me space to be me, then engage in discussion that’s positive and appropriate.

I prize that kind of relationship. It is one in which both of us can talk openly and honestly about a topic and search for better understanding. Together we can also piece together some working opinions. We do this jointly, not as a debate. It is a constructive transaction and builds a stronger relationship.

And laughs. Such friendships discover the fun and laughter of life’s idiosyncrasies. Comic relief is both fun and energizing.

Opposite of this relationship is one that is more competitive and judgmental. It may help participants sharpen their thinking, but not their emotions. In fact, the parties to this relationship most often select when and how to engage the relationship. Often they will avoid it entirely. They know the type of engagement that will occur, and if they are not up to it, they will avoid it.

Some work relationships follow the two types outlined above. One is open and constructive; a common task of learning, expanding knowledge and building working understanding are common outcomes of such relationships. The competitive work teams are often fraught with argument, debate and competitive choosing of sides. Hierarchy of authority is most often present. Threaten someone with lower authority with censure and watch what happens. Withdrawal of openness. Curt sharing of ideas. Productive ideas guarded, held back.

Now imagine this unfolding in a place like the White House.

The current work environment of the White House must be horrid. A lot of guarded conversations; opinions and ideas held back. Looking over one’s shoulder must be a common tic. Jumpy nerves and alertness to gossip. Who’s next? Who will exit the team? Who will take his/her place? How loaded will our work team be in the future.

Tensions rise accordingly. External contacts fall off as uncertainty grows. Our outgoing phone calls become guarded as well; both by us and the recipients of the calls. Tensions multiply outward as much as inward.

This becomes a crescendo of nerves and fear until the tension is released with a decision and action. From that comes a new balance of understanding and feeling. More or less tension depends on the nature of the decision and corresponding action. Has this made it better or worse? Time will tell.

The revolving door of the trump White House is an indication of the lack of clarity over agenda, issues and protocol. Policy is being made in the absence of knowledge. Guidance from the past is avoided due to lack of trust of that past. Normality is not present. But the atmosphere of discovery is lacking because people are fired for their opinion and recommendations. Thus lack of trust among teammates grows.

This White House lacks comity and trust. Without it exploration and discovery is missing.

Leadership is all about pulling resources together and then building a vision of where the team is headed. Together they define it. Together they build the methodology. United they speak coherently about the vision and agenda.

This does not describe the current White House. It is scary.

Democracy relies on openness, honest exploration and discussion. From this consensus emerges and leaders use this to move forward. Leaders draw out coherence of thought from this process. Then they lead with it.

Such is not the current case. we tremble.

March 16, 2018

China and World Energy Markets

We have stated in this space that clean energy is the wave of the future. The technology and industrial might needed to make this happen resides in America. This is the new export of America that will strengthen our economy going forward for decades.

Instead, America has placed its bet on continuing hegemony in the oil market. It couldn’t be more wrong on several levels.

First, oil commodity is finite. None is being created afresh. All we can do is find more of it, refine it more exquisitely to produce more value and products, and use it more stingily to make it last longer. We are learning more ways to extract oil from the earth more ingenious ways; but those ways are more expensive and yield less product. Thus the expense of the latest supplies are higher.

Second, trading and distributing natural gas is difficult and costly, especially by ocean freighter. Natural gas is a by-product of oil exploration; natural gas supplies are large and growing. This is a national strategic asset for America. But its value is more to America because it can be used to replace what oil has powered in the past. Transportation, heating, and manufacturing uses can be powered by natural gas that once was done by coal and oil. The costs will be less, and the damage to the environment will be less. But this only frees up more oil for international distribution and trade.

Third, oil supplies by major users internationally are dwindling and politically challenging to acquire. China is the primary user of oil products on the international market. Her oil reserves are declining. She is forced to purchase oil on the open markets, but has sought those supplies from unstable foreign nations on the African continent. Results have been poor to date. And long-term uninterrupted energy sources will need to come from more reliable trading partners. Although this poses an advantage to American energy trade, the advantage is of limited value due to the next point of discussion.

Fourth, China is committed to cleaner energy sources for its own use. Reports indicate they feel certain they can supply cleaner, cheaper energy to their massive population and land mass cheaper and easier than buying it on the open market. The added bonus is a cleaner environment, too; China needs that result given its dismal pollution levels.

Fifth, China has come to view clean energy as an international advantage she can build in place of America. So the leadership of Clean Energy Futures will be a battle between China and the USA. Early indicators show America may be withdrawing from that contest. That would be a pitiful decision.

However, this situation could be changed without government leadership if industry leaders step up and develop its natural advantage in clean energy while stepping away from the oil base we’ve misused for generations. It’s time this industry truly turned its leadership to the future of new, renewable and clean sources of energy. It is the language of the future. It is the bright economic star of the future.

Why would America back away from this competition?

One wonders. Best we get to work and follow the brighter path.

March 15, 2018

Shifting Power Centers

Back in the 1940’s babies were popping out all over. It was the Baby Boom and the numbers were startling. An expansion of new families happened overnight. It was the end of World War II and the mood was positive. People were relieved the war was over and could get back to ‘normal’ lives. Love was in the air and babies were the result.

Thus, began the Baby Boomer Era. Demographers suggested then that these kids would change the world. And they did.

The numbers were huge. To accommodate them houses were built. Communities sprang up quickly. Open spaces soon filled up with homes, schools, businesses and so much more. Local public services grew. Traffic grew. Roads were built and soon expressways and the Interstate Highway System. The face of the land was changed. Families were the center of things.

Political power soon followed. Numbers drove everything from advertising to voting. The culture shifted toward the middle-road ideology. Things needed to be done and they were. Can-do spirit prospered.

Those kids had kids but not in the same number. Smaller families slowed population growth and family life shifted yet again. This time toward more conservative values as people hung on to their lifestyles as long as they could.

A parade of demographic groupings followed until today we have boomers giving way to X-ers, Y-ers and now Millennials. Numbers are gaining ground. And attitudes are shifting yet again. With burgeoning talk among the alphabet groups, consensus splintered. Arguments expanded. Noisy, chaotic political skirmishing grew until events threatened the broader order.

Gun violence in our cities and towns, but most sacred, our schools. Guns in our schools? Bullets flying where our kids and grandkids spend the bulk of their daytime? Unthinkable.

When parents complained, nothing was done. Research on the problem was squelched. Government agencies were blocked from doing their jobs. The problem grew worse.

But now those threatened kids stand up and speak their truth. They point out their vulnerability. They are scared. They ask for help. From their parents and grandparents. They challenge the authorities.

At first. Nothing came. But now their truth is being heard. Things are changing. Help is on the way. If this help falters on its path toward enactment of legislation and programs to reduce gun violence in our schools, then these young people will go the next step.

They have tasted power. They will speak and act again until the right things are done. And tested. And proven right or wrong. And researched more to find newer, better answers to old and dust-covered problems.

Their persistence and numbers are shifting the power center. Soon they will own it. The rest of us will be engulfed by their willingness to do what we have been unable to accomplish.

Shame on us; kudos to them! This is as it should be.

March 14, 2018

Being Positive in a Sea of Despair

Despair. One word that sums up for me our national condition. What drives the despair for one person doesn’t reflect another person’s situation. So much despair. So much angst.

Or maybe not for you? Yes, there are those among us who seem immune to the problems we face today. I don’t know if they are the lucky ones, or just asleep to the challenges we face. How can anyone not see and react to the challenges we share?

I guess it depends on what your interests are. If you are an artist, you will see the world one way. If you are a business person you will experience the world in another manner. If you are a teacher or social worker, you see the social implications of much of our surroundings. If you are a philosopher you know the world in entirely different ways. Then there are the perspectives of the engineer, scientist and political minds. All have a different take on the social conditions we live among.

What to do about these things? How to get more people involved from such an array of differing positions and perspectives? Well, that’s the challenge in a nutshell, isn’t it? From many viewpoints, how do we arrive at a focused, common definition of the problems needing our attention? Once that’s accomplished, what then do we do about the problem to lessen it’s impact at the least, or better yet, repair the problem so we can go on to other pressing issues?

The complexity itself is a challenge. Most of us stop forward progress at that point, realizing the enormous futility we will experience if we were to dive in to make a difference.

But then, that’s the larger challenge: finding people willing AND able to get involved and labor through the difficult tasks of reaching consensus among people of differing views.

Most folks refuse to get involved. Most wish the problems away. Still others insist the job is for someone else to do. Maybe a government official or agency should do it? Or maybe, we don’t trust those folks to handle the issue?

That last paragraph – that’s the larger issue, isn’t it? People unwilling to get involved and do what needs doing? Yes, it is difficult work to do. Yes, it takes special skills and talents to do the work, to muddle through the disagreeable debates and ignorance of the details. But all of these matters need to be attended to if progress is to be made. Research, fresh thinking, and positive responses are needed to fuel progress. It takes courage, discipline, patience and a smile to get past the negative.

To see a living example of this, just observe the current primary election campaigns. An army of people are spouting words and images of issues, making claims, and attacking one another. The attacks are personal. They are slanderous and demeaning. They are dirty. They make the reader feel as though they are sneaking a peak into a forbidden place. Much of it is detestable.

How did we get to this place? Ours is a democracy where each of us has a voice. A democracy in which we have a stake in the process of doing governance and achieving desired outcomes for the good of our society. Why is this so difficult to accomplish? Why do people make this so personal and negative? Why not focus on the outcomes we truly wish would occur?

Why don’t we help people with good ideas achieve a position among us to do the work? Isn’t that what elections are all about? Helping talented and willing people get elected to positions where they can make a difference for all of us?

I’ve been elected to public office. I’ve been subject to lies and distortions by opposing candidates who want the position for themselves, not the work that will make a difference. The work is hard. It requires a selfless search for facts and ideas and cause and effect relationships. When all of that is assembled, then the organization or government unit begins to build a program, policy or process that will address complex issues and make good things happen. It  is possible to do this. I’ve seen it happen.

And the people involved were good team members willing to assist each other to understand the issues and the tools available to manage those issues. Teamwork. Common good. Positive outlook. Can-do faith in self and others. That’s what it takes. The successes come from this.

The failures – the challenges of enormous problems – come from people who don’t understand the issues and make for larger ones. Our public pension systems are an example. Good people made bad decisions, year after year, despite knowledgeable people volunteering expert advice and counsel on how to avoid those pitfalls. But politics and power relationships diverted those good people from doing the right thing. Decades of this occurred. I know. I was part of the process of trying to get state officials to not slide down the slippery slope of underfunding pensions. They didn’t listen, or chose to ignore the actuaries, math geniuses and management gurus. They did their own thing and now we face perhaps $100 billion of unfunded pension liabilities.

This is a management problem; and a governance problem.

But it can be handled intelligently if we the people insist on it. It will take volunteers, talented people, and those dedicated to seeing it through. Ask those folks to step forward. Let’s see what they can do. It would help if they felt we were helping and supporting them. After all, this is our work, too.

March 13, 2018

Election Season Blues

We voted early this week and put the current elections behind us. We have done what we can do. Time to move on to other things.

However, other voters are still waiting to cast their ballots the old fashioned way. So the political ads continue on public air space. Too much clutter and most of it ill-tempered and misleading.

Misleading. That sums up most political ads. Especially the attack ads. Tit for Tat. Over and over again. He said, She said. The audience is no way able to make sense of it or know the truth from the statements aired.

I voted for Pritzker for Governor. Here’s why.

He is wealthy and does not need to be a public servant for financial reasons. Instead, he is a public servant because he can afford to be. He does not rely on a state salary or pension for his security.

Yet, despite his wealth, he has labored hard and deep in public affairs for many years. He founded 1871, the large and successful incubator for inventing new business entities. Located in the Merchandise Mart, 1871 helps entrepreneurs create new businesses and industries while also infusing fresh vision to old ones. This is a magical place where different generations mix and share ideas while discovering whole new futures. The city and state benefit from this groundbreaking work.

Pritzker has also studied the many problems of the state’s current circumstances. Fresh thinking and defining worthwhile outcomes is his methodology. That’s what we need to solve the huge problems of the state. The pension fund crisis could bankrupt our state. How do we fix that? And how do we do that while being fair and responsible for the thousands of people who have served the state with their careers honestly and tirelessly?

How do we improve our public education system so it produces graduates who are able to adapt to rapidly changing conditions? How do we teach citizens to adapt and engage life-long learning for strong career adaptability over the coming decades? How do we produce a labor force the envy of the nation to better support our corporations making Illinois their home?

How do we motivate our citizenry to keep up with vastly changing technology that will revolutionize the world of work, culture, education and transportation?

How do we begin to repair our public infrastructure and expand it where needed?

These are the challenges we all face as a state. We need the leadership and selflessness to accomplish great things. Finding breakthroughs in each and all of these challenges will take all of our effort and concentration.

Politics of old should be over and done with. We have new work to be done. That work requires collaboration and healthy discussion to discover pathways forward. It will take courage and discipline to do this work. Bickering and arguing over blame gets us nowhere. It got us here!

Let’s try better ways to govern going forward. Money, power and propaganda is out. Collaboration, cooperation and creativity is in.

March 12, 2018

Milton Friedman, Economist

Note: It has been quite some time since I wrote about comparative economics, so this piece is simple for me and for my non-economist friends.

Friedman was a breakthrough economist that challenged the status quo of Keynesian Economics. Before Keynes (John Maynard Keynes, 1883 - 1946), economists toiled in a sea of complexity that grew exponentially with population growth and international trade. The simple economic model of Adam Smith (1723 – 1790) was useful in explaining many basics of economics. However, time and complexity overwhelmed economists until Keynes sorted it out.

Keynesian economics was the guiding hand for quite some time, but valuation of international currencies during a jump in international trade created questions with few or no answers.

To answer those questions, Milton Friedman (1912 – 2006) created many answers. Mostly in inflation, full and partial employment, and monetary policy, Friedman for a time turned traditional economics on its head. He had answers for the Great Depression and its compounding results that others did not. Much of his theory rested on monetary theory and valuation of currencies. His theories guided central banks in policy setting and helped repair global stagflation of the 1970’s and 80’s.

But that was pretty much the limit of his influence. The bulk of economic theory still rests with Keynes. Many economists thwarted original Keynesian theory and warped government policy accordingly. The bad reputation of Keynesian economics stems from those efforts by others. Returning to a purer form of Keynesian theory improved our understanding.

Friedman’s work helped augment policy tools for setting monetary policy in times of high unemployment, inflation and transition among those conditions. His currency valuation work – monetary theory – helped manage international trade and payment settlements among foreign currencies. So, we maintain loyalty for Friedman fans, but also give proper due to Keynes.

International Economics is a field reliant on open, free markets. Protectionism via tariffs is discouraged. This is the field of economics that helps us understand how competitive advantage among nations works to mutual advantage of the global community. It is complex. Understanding the complexity is vital if global economics is to function for the greatest gain of people the world over.

March 9, 2018

Leadership or Chaos?

It could be both. Chaos intentionally made upsets balances. Organizations are balanced most of the time; they transact actions routinely in a ‘usual’ fashion. Every now and then transactions are out of the norm, different from the routine. This may be logical at the time and practical for specific circumstances. Whatever the reason for breaking from the norm, interactions of the organization's systems are challenged to deal with the odd ball situation.

The interaction may go smoothly or not. Smooth operations when not expected develop fresh perspectives on different ways of transacting our operations. We may discover a breakthrough that improves productivity. We may even discover new systems that will drive future productivity – and net income – gains.

If the interaction creates a distortion of operations, then many things may misfire. Chaos may result. Then the organization must learn how to deal with it. It becomes a challenge to survive.

Chaos unsettles routines. Sometimes routines are stale and a barrier to discovery of new things. Chaos may cause damage to the organization as well. So, there are good and bad sides to chaos.

Even damaging chaos may turn out well if it helps an organization refresh and improve its operations.

Intentionally inflicting chaos can be logistically correct. It can be terribly wrong, too.

The wrong chaos intentionally causes problems with little or no plan for the results. The accident begets more accidents and soon a disaster grows. Uncoiling that monster may be impossible, thus permanent damage will be done. 

Such is the state of affairs in Washington DC with the current occupant of the White House. He continues to muddle in matters of which he has no knowledge. Tariffs? They normally are protectionist – saving domestic industries and jobs from foreign competition. Sometimes tariffs are strategically placed to protect infant industries that are inventing new technologies that will revolutionize industry and become the new strength of the nation’s business community. Such tariffs may be quite appropriate. Protectionist tariffs for jobs, however, are most likely not appropriate.

The balance of policy that broadly considers consequences is accumulated over time as specialists in these arenas build knowledge of cause and effect relationships. Rebalancing the policies in these circumstances becomes hugely complicated; miscalculations will be damaging and hard to repair.

Economics is a system of interrelationships of value and action. Each move of the chess piece has multiple reactions – some uncharted, unknown. The chess board in global economics is not two dimensional or three-dimensional; it is most likely 6 or 8 dimensional. Complexity upon complexity.

Throw in culture and foreign relationship issues and the complexity is magnified many times over.

These are not simple matters. It is why policy formation is so delicate and complex. Balances are carefully built over time; they are changed carefully over time as well. Blundering through these issues is destructive and produces enormous problems.

Does anyone trust current occupant knows what he is doing and can repair unintended consequences? Or his team of unproven people?

No; most people who know about these things don’t have any confidence in current occupant’s abilities. Those who do trust him do so blindly for other reasons. Upsetting the status quo is most probably their intent. They want the status quo reconfigured, most likely for their own gain. The problem is, however, unintended consequences will produce results far from their expectations. Or wants.

Job creation and job maintenance strategies are very different from one another. Tariffs mostly protect current jobs. As a result, they stifle creativity and innovation which builds new and more jobs. Tariffs create stagnation in industry and careers.

Free of tariffs industries can follow their markets wherever they are and build jobs to support the business activity that results. That requires free markets unfettered by frivolous restrictions.

The world is larger than America. So are the markets. And the economic system. They are all interdependent.

March 8, 2018

Investing in the Future

When I see a neighborhood turn a little ragged or worn, I feel the lack of investment by the homeowners. This is not a criticism. It is an observation that the owner(s) are allowing their home to seem a little down and out. A little sprucing up from time to time makes a big difference.

Maybe it is edging the lawn, or planting grass seed in bare spots. Or maybe it is painting the shutters that are flaking paint. Or raking winter debris from the yard. Sweeping the porch and driveway?

When spring arrives, will plants be apparent in the garden? Or a hanging basket of fresh blooms appear on the porch railing? Will windows be washed along with a good wash of the exterior walls?

These efforts don’t cost anything but effort. Maybe a little spent on paint, but not a lot unless the whole house needs a paint job. Then that adds a lot of cost!

Neat and tidy appearances of a neighborhood mean a lot of care and pride has been invested in the homes. That is a symbol that the area is alive and well, too. Drive through several neighborhoods and compare what you see. Some are bright and spiffy while others are drab and tattered. Are the latter areas struggling with living costs? Are they part of the disappearing middle class?

We do not know that without knowing much more about the people who live in the neighborhood. Maybe they are too busy to invest the effort to spruce up their property. Or maybe they are ill and can’t do such work. But an entire neighborhood? How is that likely?

Much more likely is an attitude of ‘why bother’. Or maybe it is just a case of procrastination. Both attitudes are contagious and have an affect on other people. With them – the attitudes – neighborhood appearance declines. Along with that goes pride, sliding down a slippery slope.

One of the things I like about spring is the brightened attitudes most of us have. We tend to get outdoors and sweep the porch, walks, driveways and steps. Next are the rakes and lawnmowers that make the first seasonal attack on the yard. Those efforts give cause to locate the bare spots in need of grass seed. Next are fresh plantings planned for gardens and foundation plantings.

As one property brightens up, others catch the spirit and families are soon outdoors talking with one another as they do yardwork. Soon the hoses are brought out and winter’s dirt is washed from windows, eaves and walls. Will scrubbed windows be far behind?

Little ways we recapture our living environment. Finding pride in ownership and home is part and parcel of spring. It is a season of recovery from the winter blahs. Maybe that was the root of our lowly attitude all along? Who knows? All we know for now is things are looking up.

Maybe we will paint the house this year! Or add shutters and flower boxes? That would be nice!

March 7, 2018

Executive Powers

Much has been written about executive powers of the President of the US. Charges and counter charges, too, have been tossed about aplenty. Trouble is not all of these things are true.

For example, many pundits and gossips claimed President Obama overused his executive powers. Not true. His Executive Orders were few and measured. He enacted them after much thought, and especially after much negotiating with Congress to enact some legislation in desired areas. When they stalled for two or more years, he acted in their place. Very restrained use of presidential power.

In comparison, George W. Bush used his executive powers considerably more. And some were stretches. Especially stretched was his insistence on going to war with Iraq. A foolhardy mission with no payback for America or the ‘free world.’ That military adventure created a whole lot of hurt for hundreds of millions of people. It and its aftermath cost American taxpayers two trillion dollars, too!

The current occupant of the White House has issued many executive orders as though they are law themselves. They are not. The trumpster cannot erase President Obama’s actions as easily as he has pretended. The courts have stymied many of his actions to obliterate the Obama legacy. What else has he been up to?

Well, announcing tariffs that don’t exist and must come from broader action of the government, is one example. It will take some time to clear up this mess alone; but the courts and cooler heads will prevail in the tariff boondoggle. Steel and aluminum tariffs are not needed and will cost the American consumer and economy dearly if they are enacted.

More to the point on all of this is the ill-considered moves Current Occupant insists on making. He has not done his homework. He has not researched the issues thoroughly; nor has his staff done the background work. He makes decisions too quickly and without full regard for intersecting policies. This will get him and our nation in deep trouble quickly if allowed to continue.

Free markets are the oft heard argument of the conservative mindset. Free trade is part of that philosophy. Evidently, it doesn’t fit well with today's conservatives or Current Occupant. World economic growth in recent years is the direct result of free trade. It is an efficient market function that decides which nations will be able to best use their competitive advantages to full effect. America’s competitive advantage is technology, invention, creativity, engineering, and quick adaptation to all of the above. It’s manufacturing strengths have moved to lands with cheaper labor; but integrated, micro manufacturing has been a feature of American businesses. It is also the wave of the future.

Obsolete industries, products and manufacturing have been adopted by other nations. This has freed up enormous resources in America for redeployment in the fresh and newly unfolding world of technology. This is where the future resides. Free trade on a global basis gives it space to birth and grow. Our transition to this new reality has been happening for the past 10 years and is well advanced. This is a good thing.

Of course, there are displacements. There were similar displacements when transistors replaced vacuum tubes in electronic devices. When cars replaced horse-drawn buggies, entire industries disappeared and new ones replaced them. Those sorts of changes have been happening for generations now. The only difference is the rate of change. It is now much faster. It will likely continue to accelerate.

Displacement is painful for those affected. But the new comes with pain as vistas expand.

Be the change, not the barrier.

Champion free trade. Ignore Current Occupant.

March 6, 2018

Hear the Kids!

The Florida youth who survived the Parkland school shooting have said a lot. They have issued articulate comments and conversations – mostly off the cuff – with pungent meaning. And effect. They were there. They heard the screams. They lost friends.

But mostly, they felt attacked. Unsafe. Vulnerable.

Vulnerable unto death with no one hearing the larger cry – Why?

They want answers. They asked the Florida legislature to consider methods to address the school shooting problem. They asked their elders to make this school shooting the last one. At least try.

And the nation heard them. For two weeks. Just like the earlier shootings. Two weeks of hand wringing and serious thought.

Then it was over. Debates about 2^nd Amendment rights snuffed out legislative solutions. Even Florida’s senate quashed a ban on assault rifles.

And Congress? What are they doing or planning on this issue? Anything? I doubt it. The sounds from the backrooms of DC are not promising. Much the opposite; other topics have leapt to the top of the agenda for Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. They control the agendas. They were elected by their cronies to blockade national interests for the sake of their political party. And financial donors. And ideologies of small government.

Their mantra is ‘don’t tread on me’ but not in the same sense that phrase was coined in New Hampshire in the 1700’s.

I’ve heard gun rights supporters claim banning weapons of any kind will not solve the problem. What problem is that, I ask? What exactly is the ‘problem’ you think we the people are asking to be solved? Do you even know?

All I want is a reduction of gun deaths in my country. 30,000 and more die each year from shootings in America. 30,000 souls. A terrible toll. And there are statisticians who would argue the number is far greater.

Oh, and another thing; I want school shootings to be eliminated. Period. We owe that to our kids and grandkids.

Please remember, there are causes and effects for most problems and those are studied and researched heavily. But not cause and effect with regard to gun ownership; that subject matter has been legislated by Congress to be off limits. No research using federal dollars is allowed on guns, ownership of guns, or the cause/effect relationship between guns and shooting deaths. Hard to believe but it is true.

Banning assault rifles from private ownership is a first good step. Only police and military organizations should be allowed to own these weapons.

If there are other means to eliminate school shootings, let’s explore those and consider implementing them. To sit back and say ‘it won’t solve the problem’ is not an answer. It is an avoidance of responsibility.

We must find the cause of these shootings. This is a complex matter. We need to know more to guide reasonable and responsible action. We must try to lessen the problem. Guns are the tool used in killing. Widespread ownership of guns is part of the problem. Controlling who can acquire guns is part of the answer. Controlling who can use a gun is another part of the answer.

I am not against gun ownership. I’m not out to ban all guns. And I’m not against the 2^nd Amendment. I just don’t want marauders armed with assault weapons roaming our streets out to ‘get’ anyone they don’t trust. Or don’t like. This isn’t the old West of the 1800’s.

Our society is sophisticated and densely populated. It cannot allow assault weapons and uncontrolled numbers of weapons on our streets in urban areas. That is pure folly.

If elected officials can’t research these issues and make informed decisions and legislation, then we must find another way to solve the problem. Perhaps it is up to the gun owners themselves? If you want the right to own and bear arms, police your fellow gun owners to do the right thing. The laws on the books now are so watered down as to be meaningless. They were designed that way to protect the 2 Amendment. Such laws are ludicrous and everyone knows it.

Meanwhile, the retailers are doing what no one else is willing to do. They are banning the sale of such weapons, ammunition, and accessories in their stores. That will help but it won’t solve the whole problem.

I guess for that to happen, a lot of responsible people will have to work hard and together on this issue. If not for them, at least for the kids.

Millennials are aging quickly and soon will vote. Fix the problem now, or watch these youth fix it themselves at the ballot box.

March 5, 2018

Judge and Jury?

I’m a little confused here. News reports and internet web home pages are asking questions like – “Should any cop who didn’t enter the Florida high school where there was an active shooter, be fired?” and “Should the Florida sheriff policing the shooting site be removed from office?”

In response, I say, Why, should I have a voice on this? It isn’t in my expertise. An opinion, sure; I have one of those, well, maybe several! But none of them have any validity as to dispensing fairness, judgment or understanding concerning the Parkland, Florida shooting.

A jury in a court room is guided by the sitting judge, and protected by the court staff, while attorneys involved with the case are supervised closely by the judge and each other to protect the rights of the defendant and the American jurisprudence system. Our justice system is built on facts, process and fairness. It gets it right most of the time, but failures do happen. Care, however, is exercised to protect that fairness.

So why would news organizations seek public input on such issues? That is not news. It is not fact. It is opinion.

The tragedy at Parkland is multi-dimensional. The students forced to live through the harrowing event represent one element of the tragedy. The 17 dead victims are another element. The many wounded and scarred for life are yet another element.

Still, other elements exist: parents and families of the students, all of them; neighborhoods surrounding the school property; the community of Parkland, all of it; the county of Broward and its people; southern region of Florida is yet another affected element. Then there are the first responders who were stationed there, those that came in response, those who supported the responders in roles we never see (supervision, trainers, dispatchers, radio personnel, equipment managers and fleet support services.

3200 students on site at the campus including all grade levels. Responders by the hundreds. News crews with their support crews and equipment. Choppers flying overhead. And parents and neighbors concerned about the event as it unfolded, all of these people were on site or nearby. Sounds like chaos to me; a lot of confusion, fear, excitement, shock, and adrenaline.

That environment does not bode well for human actions in the best of circumstances. And we who were not there are being asked questions judging others who were there and shouldering the crisis personally?

I’m proud of the responders and the jobs they all do in horrible surroundings. They do what the rest of us would never volunteer for. They are our heroes whether they perform perfectly or not. We were not there. We do not know. And I for one will not pass judgment on the poor sole who was assigned as the officer on duty at the school. He resigned under pressure. Now it looks as though he did a credible job regardless of the pressure.

The sheriff has a large staff patrolling all the land mass of the county. And he administers the police function as well as organizational management of his large department. Passing judgment on him at a time like this is not the job of the public. It should be in the capable hands of experienced investigators and professionals who know much better than we civilians how this should be judged. Let them do their jobs.

Meanwhile, let’s minister to the needs of a frazzled local community and its people, especially the students at all the area schools. All of them are at risk from crazies who burst into schools.

But they are not the only crazies we need to watch for! No, there are many we should be alert and ready for. Let’s not be part of the crazy action by jumping in with our opinions that are mostly ill-informed.

March 2, 2018

Realignments

Let’s see, failing organizations align with one another to build a strong firm from the remains of the two. One technology pairs with another to make a new product possible. Two sciences combine their separate focal points to create an entirely new field of exploration and discovery.

Nations pair up to solve a ticklish problem they both share. Some countries join forces to increase power over regional power skirmishes. In the United Nations several countries attempt to gain mastery over health problems bedeviling all of them. They hope to make a dent in improving living conditions in the region.

Politically foes from the past combine their efforts to forge a third political emphasis to unsettle a well-established political party. Internationally, one nation rearranges its political apparatus to stabilize it government’s leadership. It eliminates term limits for its top leadership posts, refines its military organizations, and focuses economic power in global terms. It reaches for more power and influence. It stretches muscle to become more visible in global affairs.

Two of these nations might align themselves with one another to gain even more sway against another. Sound familiar? Does any of this tickle any memories? Or possibly concern that something is afoot that you should know more about?

If you do, you are alert to international changes taking place. You are also becoming ever more aware that these changes are taking place while American diplomatic services are struggling to find stronger footing in face of a White House administration that apparently does not know what it is doing.

Delicate matters these. International relationships are important to all of us in the global community. Together we work out trading agreements, resource sharing, broadened cultural understanding, and so much more. Together we accomplish much. But only if we trust one another.

The question today: is trust growing or faltering among the nations of the world community?

If trust falters, alignments shift among the nations. Who was once strong becomes weakened. Ignored and avoided? It is early yet in this shifting of footing. There is stumbling around by many nations. There are whispers among old allies about some of their group; might one of them be shifting out of their orbit? If so, why? Is this permanent or temporary? And again, why?

The state of international relations in 2018 is very much in flux. How much of this is healthy? How much of this is an exploration of freshened possibilities that will lead to more global stability and comity? But then, the doubt is raised and wonder persists: What if the old reliable partner is moving away from us? Pulling and stretching their ties in ways we are unfamiliar?

These are the questions and doubts expressed today about America. With current political leadership unsettling connections and relationships of longstanding, alignments among nations are being redefined.

Russia. China. Middle East. All are in play. Intentionally or not. In play and shifting. Is there a design in all of this? Or is there a partisan intention on the part of a few nations to change power combinations? These are the combinations of the past that have maintained peace and stability. If they shift, how much stability and peace is in question?

A good question to spend time pondering. Questioning minds want to know.

March 1, 2018