Category: Society

There is Much to be Angry About Trump. There is Also Much to Pity.

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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.

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Is My Self-Driving Car Here Yet?

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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.

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Traditional Books vs eBooks? No Contest!

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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,

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Have We Forgotten the Point of Representative Democracy?

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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.

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The Purposes and Power of Conversation

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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.

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Who Owns This Business?

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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.

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Communities – Not the Nation, Not Individuals – Might be the Answer

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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.

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Let Me Tell You a Story….

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Story Telling as High Culture and Community Connector.

 

Most of us have good childhood memories that begin with the phrase “tell me a story.” Stories are some of the earliest connections we have with those we love. They can fire our imagination, touch our emotions, teach us valuable lessons.

That is only the beginning. Stories are also how we pass down culture and history. In some cultures, this is the primary means for passing along what is important. Story tellers are honored people, with foundational roles in society.

You may be forgiven for thinking this is no longer the case in America.

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I Visited a Food Bank. I Loved it. I Hated It.

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Hunger in America is rampant. Why the Hell Do We Allow This?

 

This past weekend, I invested some time with our local foodbank. It is in every sense a model operation, rightly cited as one of the best in America. The talented people who work there are dedicated beyond measure. The operation is a model of efficiency and effectiveness. They are both efficient and humane. (Manna Food Bank, https://www.mannafoodbank.org)

They have over 200 partner organizations. Manna serves thousands of meals a day in over a dozen counties,

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Night Owls, Early Birds, and Variations Thereof

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When do YOU Do Your Best Work?

We all know the stereotypes. Heck, most of us ARE the stereotypes.

Night Owls tend to get their second wind about the time most people are going to bed. Around midnight or so, these people hit their stride in productivity or creativity. They tend not to be especially happy to be awake (sort of) to attend a breakfast meeting.

Early Birds are the opposite, of course. They like to rise before the sun. The US Army had a slogan in its advertising some years ago wherein a soldier says,

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