Happy Valentines: Much better to be Snuggled Next to a Fireplace!

This morning I was out riding horses in like 0 degrees, without including the wind chill factors whipping through the field. Its much better to be snuggled with someone next to a fireplace. 🙄 

Don't Have an Ergonomic Table-Make One?

I'm from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and if you don't have something you can always make it. You don't need to be a master carpenter to get out some old wood and make a project out of it. Lacking counter space and a reasonable desk I decided I better make one. I've used up my welcome at the kitchen table, the student, desk and the couch. 

I needed a new desk and have been disappointed with the chip board material that usually comes with cheaper products you at the store. I lived the first half of my life on broken worn out cheap desks. 

I have this pile of boards sitting in my garage that I didn't have a chance to use yet. Most of them looked long enough to put together for a table top and sides.

I'm not a greater carpenter of any type but I have the basics skills of sawing, measuring, and cutting down. Worst case scenario is that if it is too embarrassing to show anyone I will just use it in the garage. 

It turned out pretty well. While it was a touch too large I sawed off the lets and stuck the pads back on. I painted it grey on the top and white on the side to match some other pieces.

To my surprise the table came out pretty well. Its solid, hardy, and functional. Is it better than what you can buy in the store? It depends on the price range in which you buy it. If you are asking if its better than a $150 desk yes! Probably not anywhere near a $500 desk. Its not top of the line but I did it myself and it works for under $25 dollars. 

 

Governor Whitmer Budget Feb 11 2021-Collective Choice of Resource Use?

Governor Whitmer submitted a new state budget proposal yesterday and there will likely be debate between legislature and the governor on how money should be spent. Each side has their proposals so it will be interesting to see how the negotiations turn out. You can read the budget HERE. It is hosted on the State Budget Office HERE.  Click on Detroit has a breakdown HERE. 

I looked at the budget and there are lots of pages to it so unless your interested in this stuff...zzzzzz. Yet the budget impacts lots of things in our lives from the roads we drive to the services we receive. 

Resources are constrained and that will likely continue until we find new sources of creating revenue. Growing economies have lots of more resources and options when compared to those that are shrinking. 

While we are in a global shift it is helpful for Michigan to think about its resources and how those resources help people struggling today and how to best prepare the field to give them opportunities in the future. 

Taxes and budgets focus societal resources to places where we think they are needed (i.e. to roads or education). Budgets are actually statements about our values in terms where and how much we should allocate resources (bread or butter).

Because resources are limited (in demand) we have to be wise about how we use these resources. This isn't particular to this budget (I'm not making a judgement on the budget because I haven't reviewed it in detail and at the moment unable to make an educated judgement) but to all budgets.

So we have lots of things that need to happen such as getting people ready (training/education) to handle new jobs and limit the economic disparity between the low unemployment for highly skilled workers and the high unemployment for less skilled labor.

We also have long-term helpful things that the money could be allocated for such as developing our revenue base (resources and jobs) through attracting new global businesses, encourage manufacturing and coordinate local/state efforts to attract and develop lots of young start-ups (assuming we want new businesses).

A final passed budget is a collective choice. Let us wait and see what happens. 🙈🙉🙊

Fed Chair Jerome Powell Presents State of Labor Market at Economic Club of New York

Fed Chair Jerome Powell Presents State of Labor Market at Economic Club of New York. The unemployment rate in January added up and calculated would be 10% in January. Decline opportunities for high quartile is 4% and those at the bottom are at 17%. The labor market for high wage individuals improved while those at the bottom decline. This indicates that we are in two different economies that include the virtual and the real. Those that are in the real world economy are suffering because the pandemic closed them down but those in the virtual world are not suffering on the same level (This is why education reform is needed so that each of societal members can have opportunities in technological advancement and its future jobs.) 

There appears to be a direct connect between illness and the economy. When the pandemic is in full swing there is a decline in economic activity. Much of this has to do with closing business to maintain health and safety standard. This is why there is always a risk/reward line where too much closing can impact the economy and opening up too far can lead to increased pandemic illness and have a longer tail of economic slow down. Once this is over we will be able to look at different policies and see which appear to be most advantageous for the future (closing down or adjusting business/social practices). 

Inflation rate is expected to be 2 % and if it is below that there will likely to monetary stimulus. There are some long term projections that the U.S. will have a slower economy because of aging policies. What wasn't discussed, probably because it is difficult to formulate, is that the U.S. competitive position has declined and without some adjustments in how we approach the market and the need for innovative young businesses we are likely to decline more. The high tech savvy Millennials who have interest in business would be the generation that could turn this around. 

There was some discussion on "society wide" coordination needed to create sustainable maximum employment in the future. This has been needed during a time of hyper politics but the pandemic highlighted our truer competitive position and how policy changes are needed. 

Michigan Hate Crime Reform: Standing Up to Hate: Michigan Could Use Track and Solve Strategy

Groups that have difficulty self regulating are often the same groups that feel they are above the law. There is a sense of self-entitlement among group members but at the same time one gets the feeling that they are not truly independent to be their full better selves while still associated with group norms. Groups that engage in hate based behavior maintain central incorrect premises and are unable to allow for dissenting viewpoints. Michigan is struggling to deal with these issues as riots, threats, supremacy beliefs, and other hate oriented behaviors are not understood well and there isn't an effective plan put together. There are options to dealing with these issues and the state should consider a track and solve strategy.

Healthy Debate: 

The ability of groups to self-correct and avoid hate based behavior requires healthy internal debate and mechanics. When this self correcting mechanics through internal debate are absent, the loudest voice wins. That means members are no longer able to choose their own paths without punishment. Such groups pose a long term risk from their inability to engage in healthy debate.

Living by a False Narrative:

Groups often live by a social narrative that helps them define their existence and purpose. When the narrative is false or misguided the group begins to define themselves as different than, better than, and more entitled to certain benefits. When such narratives lower the rights of others or encourage hate actions against others they pose a risk to society.

Social Learning

It is difficult to change because their beliefs and behaviors are acceptable to the social networks they associate with. The group lacks healthy internal dialogue and has an inflated sense of importance leading to internal and external distortion. Many times such groups are led by a person(s) who projects his/her own internal dysfunctional to overly trusting group members. Without addressing these issues quickly the group helps other to engage in hate as well.

Why is Justice Important?

Michigan doesn't really know the extent of hate based behaviors and its ultimate impact on society. We can say from economic theory nearly half of the society's skills have not been fully maximized. We may talk about individual hate based events that were grotesque enough to warrant Federal attention but we don't understand the vast majority of cases due to incorrect coding and prosecution. What we can't say with any clarity is how did these groups form, what behaviors did they exhibit, and how many other victims (children and adult) are out there because we don't have appropriate measures (If we don't track we don't really know). This is why I advocate for accountability at various levels mental health, misdemeanor, and felony options leads to greater tracking and flexibility when dealing with issues. As effective options are explored and new research realized we can formalize them into a coherent response to hate. We now know that not dealing with these issues when they first rise on a local level means risking the stability of the republic down the road.

Michigan State Board of Education Meeting (02-09-20)

 The Michigan Board of Education had their most recent meeting. You can read more about what they do HERE. Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Plan HERE.  January meeting minutes HERE. Current minutes are not out yet. The Agenda has a lot of grants and stuff on it HERE. Some discussion on pandemic metrics and face-to-face instruction.

Circular Economy. Another step to ecological sustainability?

The circular economy is an important part of where we are going as a nation. The circular economy means that we take things from our environment and in some way should return them back to natural state (non toxic) through new technology and recycling. As we produce more products we will also find ways to break them down for other uses or back into the natural world in a sustainable way. You can read a description HERE.

One of the many reasons why businesses have not done this transformation is because they must 1. ) see the need; 2.), have the technology, 3.) have the incentive. 

In other words, they must see that this is something consumers want and that will be reflected in how consumers purchase products and the expectations of the market are. If people buy these products and if there is some type of preference for green products there will be a market (or artificial) need. 

At the same point, the technology must be available to make a reasonable transition. There is a need for green industry that can create affordable biodegradable products and other items that will make their way back into the environment in a safe manner. There appears to be lots of room for a green evolution and development. 

Finally, they need some type of incentive. Yes...more taxes might be one incentive but a more effective one is market driven where natural self-interest pushes a green evolution. This is why calculating and understand the total cost of products is helpful in determining true value for consumers (i.e. assessing a "clean up" cost/fund to cheaper international products that dump pollution kind of thinking). 

Another greater article entitled 'The Great Reinvention: A Business Case for the Circular Economy' offers some additional insight. 

2nd Day Trump Impeachment (Feb. 10, 2021)

Biden Meets with Business Leaders on Proposals (Feb. 9th, 2021)

 This was from yesterday but still very important to understand. Presidents often meet with business elites to help vet and create policy. Industry often has something to say about current policies and solutions to problems they have been struggling with for some time. Large companies should be one source out of a number of sources when dealing with complex issues like a budget or policy making (Trump and Biden meet with industry leaders).

While large corporations are convenient and willing to provide input it is often beneficial to ensure that you have multiple pathways to gaining information. For example, small business associations, law makers, scientific literature on prior implementation (even in other countries), etc...add up to create a triangulated point of view using multiple vantage points. 

Triangulation is excellent for improving validity as it takes into account independent sources of information that can be cross analyzed. In this case, going to business outside of lawmakers themselves provides for some meaningful input to choose between options. A few more and one could say they looked at it (i.e. any problem, policy, budget) from different industries and perspectives. 

Governor Whitmer Press Briefing Feb 9th, 2021 (Budgets and Vaccines)

Governor Whitmer discusses a number of things as they relate from budget to schools. A pretty good outline was provided on the key points by Click on Detroit. The Michigan COVID Recovery Plan and debate with legislature was mentioned. We will have to watch how it turns out.