A space for observation, discovery, and growth
The Judicial System is a Delicate Balancing Act. Resist Efforts to Tilt It.
The role of judges in America is an interesting one as it relates to the other branches of government. Put in layman’s terms, the courts are to keep the other two branches from running off the road of sanity. OK, that may be a bit of an overstatement, but not by much.
Courts are actually slow to engage in this role. They are not eager to pick a fight. This is especially so with legislatures,
Spend Some Time at a Polling Place. You Will See Much to Feel Good About.
For several elections, we turned our home into a campaign house. From late Summer through election day we rearranged the entire house. We set up distribution of canvasser materials and training areas. We established reporting stations and break area for returning canvassers. While it was a crazy set up to live in the midst of, we found it a very satisfying contribution to democracy.
But we are not doing a campaign house this year. Instead, I am at early voting sites,
Join the discussion at: Welcome Home, America: Observations of a Voting Site Volunteer
A Random Collection of Quotes We Like. Some Thoughtful, Some Funny, Some Both.
Happy Halloween, Everyone. Interesting what an event, what a phenomena Halloween has become, more so for adults it would seem than for children. Maybe we will talk about that, and holidays in general, soon. In the meantime:
Every so often I like to offer up a few samples from my ever-growing collection of quotes that resonate. I hope you enjoy them and as before, would be delighted for you to share one or two of your own with us all.
The More We Get to Know Mr. Trump, The Sadder A Case We See.
I will yield to few people in my anger and fundamental dislike of Donald Trump. Both the person and the president are terrible examples on pretty well every count.
My anger and displeasure remain unbroken (and are still growing). But I have to say that on a purely human level, I feel a little bit sorry for the guy. This is one sad life, riches and power notwithstanding. Even if one tends to agree with Trump, it is difficult to make the case that this is a well-grounded person running a good team with solid processes.
Join the discussion at: There is Much to be Angry About Trump. There is Also Much to Pity.
I Have Good News and Bad News
Regular readers of this blog know I have an abiding interest in self-driving cars. They have significant potential in many areas beyond convenient transportation. The technology is scalable and adaptable for many applications. I can see revolutions in transportation for the handicapped, elderly, the blind. Public transport could be completely reinvented. Accident rates can be dramatically reduced (but not eliminated. More on that later in this posting).
But all is not perfection around the corner. There are challenging technical issues still to be resolved.
What pleasures await the eager reader of each format?
I have some friends that have pretty well gone over to the electronic side almost completely. The books they own, buy, and read are all electronic in nature. There are students now at all levels of education who get their text books the same way.
I also, have, of course, many friends who consider the eBook an evil and deviant form. They extol the sensory experience of holding, seeing, smelling a finely made book. To them, eBooks as cold threats to book stores,
Join the discussion at: Traditional Books vs eBooks? No Contest!
There Is Solid Reasoning Behind Representative vs Direct Democracy.
The founders of these United States carefully reviewed governments throughout history. They focused much of their attention on ancient Greece and Rome. Oftentimes, they did so by reading in Greek and Latin, so as not to lose subtleties in translation. We could use a few of those founders today – but that is a discussion for another day.
We are making our choices in midterm elections. I don’t think anyone on any side of any issue underestimates the importance of these elections.
Join the discussion at: Have We Forgotten the Point of Representative Democracy?
As We Careen into the Midterm Election, Let Us Reflect on the Art of Conversation.
This blog began last Summer in part to provide improved dialog opportunities.
Our diminishing ability to talk with each other in this country should be a matter of concern for all. Disagreements are natural – and healthy. But if we are unwilling to talk at all with millions of our fellow citizens, this is problematic. Not easy stuff, but we need to try.
It cannot bode well for the health of this country to continue down this path.
Join the discussion at: The Purposes and Power of Conversation
A Small Insertion into a Recent Defense Bill Could Yield Important Results.
The midweek post on this blog most often addresses questions of science and technology. This week we are taking a slight detour to examine questions around ownership of companies in the modern economy. In an era in which income inequality is an increasingly front and center issue, the idea of employee ownership has appeal.
This is not to claim that employee ownership is always a winning formula. A successful company still needs management. A business run like a New England town meeting is unlikely to survive in a tough competitive environment for long.
We are pretty good at staying mad at each other. Might the mid-level of human interaction offer a break in the pattern of constant conflict?
Some years ago, many political scientists lamented the truism made famous by Tip O’Neal that “all politics is local.” The concern was that this condition prevented the operation of true national parties with unified agendas. The spread from left to right was so wide within each party as to make the concept of true national parties inoperative.
Be careful what you wish for.
Join the discussion at: Communities – Not the Nation, Not Individuals – Might be the Answer
