A space for observation, discovery, and growth
First Contestant: Capitalism
A Four-Part Series on Choosing a Socio-Economic System for America
Ah, Yes. This One is Familiar
We start this little review and exploration of systems with capitalism in large part because it is the incumbent in America, and the one most of us know best. Well, at least we know a version of it. More on that later.
We begin or review of these systems on Friday the 13th. What could possibly go wrong?!
Remember our analogy we set up to evaluate these systems?
I Am Not Giving Up, But I am Not Optimistic
Why This Is So Important
No one can accuse this blog of only doing easy topics. Policing is one this space has addressed before and will surely revisit again after today. This is a seriously important topic for more than any one obvious reason.
Justice and Trust – A large portion of the American citizenry feels far more threatened than protected by the police. They have little expectation of fairness or justice from the police. Thanks to the spreading use of body cameras and the ever-present smart phone,
Join the discussion at: Getting Policing Right is About as Important as It Gets
A Series on Priorities for the Biden Administration
Joe Biden and company start work at noon tomorrow. Not that they have been idle in the runup. This is a team that is ready to hit the ground running. Good thing. There is so much to be done. As this blog mentioned last week, pay attention – history is unrolling before us, in very big and unpredictable ways. Dramatic and dangerous times are ahead.
Pillars for a Better America – Pillars 19-21
Today’s entries complete the Pillars list. It certainly is not all inclusive, nor is it in any priority – all of it is Category A priority.
Join the discussion at: Pillars for a Better America: The Final Chapter
A Biden Administration Should Go Big and Go Long
By the time you read this, the Barret hearings will history. As if we needed reminders, the way we choose Supreme Court justices and most other judges is a mess. We can do better. We have discussed a couple of these concerns before, but this is a good time to take inventory.
What are the Issues?
There are many, not all of them obvious. I will note the main ones here. For a fuller discussion, I recommend a recent posting in the blog The Weekly Sift.
We Looked at Me/We and Freedom/Community. Where Did We End Up?
Earlier this week, we looked at sometimes competing values as we fight the pandemic. We have been in this thing long enough now to come to some conclusions. But before we do that, a slight diversion. Let’s talk about dreams.
Dreams About the Pandemic
Others have noted that more frequent and more vivid dreams seem to be a byproduct of all this isolation. It appears I have succumbed to this symptom. I have recently had two dreams on judging how we are doing as a people.
No President in History Has Done So Much to Harm the Military. And Trump is Just Beginning.
Our Military
The American military is an amazing institution. It’s ability to adapt, persevere, and win is nothing short of awesome. The people who are the armed forces and their families are among the best our nation has ever been privileged to have protecting us. If you watched the impeachment hearings last week, you got a taste of the ethos. The military and civil servants who testified made us all proud to be Americans.
But a military is always a force at risk.
Join the discussion at: Think Trump Respects the Military? Think Again
Look at this Through Three Lenses for a Clearer View
To Impeach or Not to Impeach?
You may have heard the occasional comment these days on the subject of impeach or don’t impeach. It is increasingly the topic du jour, and not only among political types.
It is useful to consider all this through three different, but interrelated, “lenses.” This analysis could work with either pro or anti Trump types, if they are willing to be honest about the process. I know, that is a dubious start point right there,
Join the discussion at: A Different Way to Look at Impeachment
Two Very Different Models are in Play. The Differences in Effects are Overwhelming
A Tale of Two Taxes
No one especially likes to talk about taxes. Politicians really, really don’t like to talk about them. Only if it is to say they think they can reduce them or make them fairer are they willing to talk. But taxes are a necessary reality, and how they are devised is important. We have two models under national discussion that could not be more different. We should take note.
Tariffs are Taxes
First,
Join the discussion at: Two Tax Proposals Lead to Very Different Visions of America- Pay Attention
Scott Pruitt is gone, finally. A lot of people lost bets on this one, figuring about 10 ethics investigations would be his end.It took half again as many. This might be a good time to think about what – or in whom- we invest our support.
There are people who support the policies that Pruitt & Company purveyed. Fair enough; people can argue policy with passion and substance. Challenge reasoning and call out facts from opinions. Anything less would be downright Un-American.
Some also defend Pruitt and others whose conduct or performance fall short.
Join the discussion at: The Pruitt Syndrome – What Do You Value?
