The U.P. Struggling with Housing: Attracting Lifestyle and Business Enthusiasts

The original Escanaba Highschool
Was Junior High in my time.
Is now Middle School
Very nice building.

Housing is going to become a bigger issue for small towns in the U.P. We have a lifestyle that is very different than many others. It is smaller, rural, and more connected to nature. The tourist areas would get busy during the summer months and typically these towns would fall silent. There is a growing interest to the area by digital nomads, technology workers, outdoor enthusiasts that now think the Upper Peninsula is great place to live and invest. 

Take Escanaba for example. It has received new investments and is starting to grow quickly. The town will go through some changes in a way that increases revenue for the local towns and draws in new resources. There will be new visitors and people and that is helpful in an environment that has seen somewhat of a decline in young people. That is about to be changed into the positive. 

Culture is also an important thing and will likely adjust a little with new influx of people and ideas. They will become acclimated to the Yooper lifestyle but will also bring with them new ideas on how to do things. If the cultural aspects of influx of people are managed well it could lead to a more "outdoorsy" and entrepreneurial flavor to the current community based approach of life leading to future business and family retention. 

Wallet Watch: U.P. struggles to house a much-needed workforce

CEA Chair Jason Furman: Discusses Fed and Interest Rates

CEA Chair Jason Furman says that the economy is growing and Feds might need to engage more to manage the economy and create stability. That will mean higher interest rates are possible. He feels that he should not hold off because it could create a bigger problem down the road. 

Principle: Holding off on interest rate hikes creates stability while increasing them leads to slowing inflation.

Video on the Decline of Patriotism: What are the Central Values We Should be Supporting?

Over the past few decades I have learned that we have a lot of things to do to improve our nation. We have so many different opportunities that present themselves to us and each time we make a choice to maximize those opportunities or not maximize those opportunities. According to this Brownstone Institute's Jeffrey Tucker there are certain values that should transcend generations and sometimes they don't come out. 

I agree that many of us don't walk the talk and we have reason to be self-reflective and develop our nation. I think these values are coming back as well because our best path forward is to be a single people with a purpose. We are a strong and resilient people and I think that our central values will become increasingly important as we are faced by new environmental challenges. 

We have a national calling to spread certain central values to the world around us.  To me Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech are central to that calling. We pledge to Liberty and Justice for all and should ensure that all of our institutions are focused on that end. When they are not, they need to be adjusted and/or reformed depending on depth of that dysfunction.

FULL EPISODE: Escanaba, Michigan-Main Streets

This looks like a really nice video. Its a pretty place. Nice to visit. I grew up here. Lots of good memories. Lots of great people. This town is on a new path as of late. If I have contributed in some small way I have been truly blessed. Let us see where the future takes this town.....turn page........

Poll Show Decline in Patriotism and Religion in U.S.

A decline might be a product of the political environment and a transition on religion. To me emphasizing core American values in a way that resonates with the young is helpful. A new generation needs new ways of looking at the world and that is through universalization of the democracy. We all must be part of the same process of building something great. Its helpful to find some goal out there that resonates with them and then get them involved in it through different pathways.

Its a learning process for us now. We will become universal because we will have to in terms of our diverse society and because it puts us in the most strategic location competitively. Its also the right thing to do. People want to feel part of something. To me they should be part of building our nation to new heights just at the time infrastructure and technology are coming online (Each new societal platform brings with it upswings in economic activity through increased activity. Think of how the Internet or Railroad sped up nations.)

Furthermore, emphasizing kindness and community in religion (positive soft traits) would help make it more of a support to people. Young people love self-help and chat about these topics all the time in one form or another. They are discovering themselves and their world. Religion is a positive support to life and keeps people focused on something bigger (I think a lot of people feel judged sometimes and that keeps them away. That is why religion should be welcoming and kind.)

GDP Up 2.6%: Industry Growth, Retail Trade, Mining Growth, and Fishing

Economy is doing well. We have to see if what it will be next quarter to see some trajectory signs.+ Q4 2022 GDP Up 2.6% BEA based on, "increases in inventory investment and consumer spending that were partly offset by a decrease in housing investment."  You can read a solid article on....

The final estimate for GDP shows the US economy grew at 2.6% last quarter

-Real GDP increased in 16 of the 23 industry groups. (The type of industries is important because it will tell you about what activities are occurring in the economy.) "Professional, scientific, and technical services; information; and real estate and rental and leasing were the leading contributors to the increase in real GDP nationally."

-Retail trade increased in all 50 states (People buying things despite inflation. Interesting. I'm done buying. I just want an old pick up truck and a fishing pole. Maybe some philosophy books. Dang....the good days. Fishing Near Escanaba. Come up and visit and throw in a line. Go down to the library and get a book. There is a bookstore on main that is pretty cool.).

-The mining industry increased in 49 states and was the leading contributor to the increases in real GDP. (We are bringing back infrastructure and manufacturing so let us think about metals a precursor to maybe some future activity on a bigger scale. Its probably related to not only return of manufacturing but perhaps large scale infrastructure investments. Maybe.)

-The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry decreased in 20 states. (A positive trend would be better. We rely on this stuff for tourism but the good news recreation is increasing in the area which is really good. We would like more fish and small scale fishing industries. I wonder if we could maybe allow more small scale family commercial vessels to use up the extra capacity if anglers are not fishing as much. If its not automatic for long years it will ensure the boats are smaller because if there are not enough you could be left out. Its not a full time gig. its a hobby craftsman thing. Likewise with the hunting. However, I think that individual hunters should always have preference. Maybe just allow a certain amount of extra bagging. The small scale commercial hunters in the U.P. could also take up some of that excess capacity. I think its a possible idea. )

Why I'm Now a Supporter of Police Reform

For the most part I have been a supporter of police and the important work they do day in and day out. Over the past 20 years I learned the other side of the argument and have come to see civil rights as central to our nations health. To understand something that is important means we have to see things from multiple perspectives (Sometimes 4 or 5).

I have also come to recognize there are not enough checks and balances to ensure integrity in the system. There also appears to be mixed political support for integrity measures. The root of liberty is in our oaths of "Liberty and Justice for All".

Furthermore, I believe the vast majority officers believe in those healthy principles. They are not always in environments that help ensure such central values are at the forefront of daily decision making. This is why we have to continue to work on the culture of policing (There are ways to test culture and build benchmarks, matched with proper training and better recruitment tactics to increase physical and mental diversity would help. Of course you also need good leadership that is thoughtful, fair, and open minded. Let also add doesn't feed the rumor mill because that makes things worse.)

When a minority of officers moves beyond those central values and form groups they sometimes take a dark turn in flavor and accept lower values antithetical to good governance. When complaints rise and behaviors go array the system struggles to reform and hold to account. This is why politicians should always be willing to adjust the system to make it effective. It might be behind the needs of society right now so there is some dissonance that popped up.

Without the will there is no way and such behaviors continue on unchecked creating a wave of destructive behaviors that are harmful to the community. Where judges should be holding to account such elements they often drop the ball. Sometimes in accident by not asking the right questions and sometimes by bias themselves. Either way they should maintain the search for truth and justice as central to their purpose. That is what I believe makes courts trustworthy. 

Freedom of speech and freedom of religion or even the acceptance of peoples race the way God created them is secondary to the unwritten rules these groups sometimes create ( If you think of like cults, extremism, and radicalism they often carry similar traits. That is why we can't have them and we have seen where it causes problems in other places. They become too comfortable with each other and then their missions switch to other things that are not related to what the public needs. I can go down a rabbit hole here so I'm going to move on.). Once they have a target of someone who is aware of misconduct the laws, rules and general moral conscious are thrown out the window. 

Because I recognize how distorted these groups can become, complaints of the community are at times ignored I have to say we need better more effective policing to ensure our central American values are protected. We must also take such complaints seriously especially when widespread. I now support reform in policing and accountability for those who intentionally violate those moral and written laws. I still love police and if anyone wants some heartfelt advice on how to restore full functioning and trust reach out. I'm pretty good at system creation in a way that can balance societal needs with that which keeps them effective. Got a few ideas on how to protect society and the need for good policing.

To be an American means speaking your opinion even when the environment doesn't support that essential constitutional freedom. It's a central value system that should not be violated. We either are supporter of these values or we are not. I happen to be and that is why police must always be somewhat subjected to the greater needs of society. That is why I say 100% police and 110% civil rights. If we reverse that all types of problems arise.