When trying to grasp the nature of a phenomenon it is helpful to think of all the different ways in which one could "see"👀 the problem. Selecting the methods with the most promise for exploration is an important strategic consideration. Where there are no existing ways to measure you may need to use multiple measurements in multiple ways to explore the edges of a concept (thereby defining it). Sometimes you will need to invent new ways (advancing scientific methodology) to reach into latent variables (You can read about latent variables HERE).
The blog discusses current affairs and development of national economic and social health through unique idea generation. Consider the blog a type of thought experiment where ideas are generated to be pondered but should never be considered definitive as a final conclusion. It is just a pathway to understanding and one may equally reject as accept ideas as theoretical dribble. New perspectives, new opportunities, for a new generation. “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”—Thomas Jefferson
Friday, April 16, 2021
Data Triangulation-Validity, Measurement and Perception
When trying to grasp the nature of a phenomenon it is helpful to think of all the different ways in which one could "see"👀 the problem. Selecting the methods with the most promise for exploration is an important strategic consideration. Where there are no existing ways to measure you may need to use multiple measurements in multiple ways to explore the edges of a concept (thereby defining it). Sometimes you will need to invent new ways (advancing scientific methodology) to reach into latent variables (You can read about latent variables HERE).
Thursday, April 15, 2021
Fed Chair Powell Discusses Economic Changes at the The Economic Club of Washington, DC
If you like business you should keep up with the news. Federal Chair Powell, oversees the Federal Reserve and in turn the Monetary Policy the government uses to influence the markets. The video discusses the changes in the economy and the way in which we are approaching new market factors as they emerge. Powell indicates our economy is shifting toward a more digital existence and further discusses how the Federal Reserve relies one data from other sources that they use to make decisions. Personally, I think that base of our society has shifted (See Expected Covid Eco Adjust and Covid Economic Projections and U.S./MX Orient) since COVID and will need to consider emergent economic models to better narrow the gap between our economic understandings of the past and the unfolding economic phenomenon of the present (See Digital GDP Govt. and Theory of Transactional Clusters and Perp. Sust. Dev.). We can also say that older economic models based in physical good transference and human behavior in the physical world (Kantian perception) will be integrated with new understandings of how we conduct commercial human behavior (i.e. economics) in the virtual world where products have no physical reality. The video discusses human capital development, inclusive economy, and the reliance on private sector investments as potential strategies.
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Geological Core Samples Find Storage Location at KI Sawyer
Kind of cool to watch what is going on in the U.P. I suspect as we begin to return manufacturing back to the U.S. we will also likely need to have additional resources/research on new metals for development in core advanced industries.
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
GOP Memo Indicates Changes in Party Focus and Demographics
Congressman Jim Banks release a memo indicating fundamental changes are occurring within the GOP's demographics. You can read a little more about who Jim Banks is HERE (It should be noted that when I include a name I'm not endorsing and/or not endorsing as its only further neutral contextual information for understanding). Reading memo's like this and/or other activities helps you stay aware of the political landscape and the future strategies as they unfold and influence others. I couldn't really find a way to get the actual document to upload but you can take a look at it below. A number themes emerge out of the document.....
1. The different sectors and demographics support different parties.
2. Shift toward working class and small business supporters.
3. Its interesting that Mitt Romney received so much interest from Wall street in 2012.
4. A greater discussion on how political changes impact current options/strategies.
5. The 100's occupation donor graph is super cool! Marketers use that stuff like that all the time!
Document: RSC Working Class Memo https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?beta=true&id=20613471-working-class-memo-up
I thought about politics once and then I took notice of the conflict between political entities and wasn't sure that more political division is helpful (Republicans and Democrats). I've met some really great politicians (on both sides) who truly believe in what they are doing and act in ways that they believe help the country (See Political Moral Persuasion). At the same time, I've met some politicians I would not trust managing our nation and/or any of its assets (We owe loyalty to our nation/constitution before any particular party or group. There is a whole chain of logic that would sort of show that this creates the best long term outcomes. The party defines the approach but the fundamental values and general principles of democracy must be central to all decisions. Take notice of the key terms of what makes a country a democracy). I got a sense of the underlining logic some politicians use to justify their points (This is personality within politics and/or any organization and not necessarily any particular person or party). Not that simple logic isn't used to sell ideas but that the meaning of their words within conversation indicates a pattern of thinking (We all have patterns of logic but some are way more complex than others based on their personal development and sophistication🤔. See Meta-Cognition:States of Awareness).
So, I'm not sure what the future holds for me but I will say if I ever get involved it will be more out of necessity (or forced) than anything. It can be difficult to agree 100% on this side or disagree 100% on the other side because life is a series of contingencies with different outcomes (I can't even imaging standing on a podium trying to explain the dangers of mutually exclusive thinking while discussing something like taxes, healthcare, conflict, and/or necessity of bi-partisan policies. Saying stuff like I agree with 75% of that policy but might be willing to change to 60% if XYZ ends up being true so I think if we focus on unexplored option C we can really do some good things for the people of this country and do so at half the cost.🤔 See Welfare Theorem. Likewise, saying I economically lean Republican (fiscal responsibility) but Socially Democrat (human capital inclusion) might not sit well with those who need sound bite/byte all THIS or all THAT answers. My base would probably take it as non committal, versus thoroughly exploring options with quantitative aspects, and go home thinking I'm kind of dim witted! 😬😱😣). I suspect most American working families don't care much about the verbal sparing in so much as they care about what decisions are being made (i.e. evidence based management). At this point in history (and its just a point built from other points within a trajectory), Its probably better to stay more neutral and focus closely on what I believe our country needs as it faces emerging crisis (We are defined by our ability to adapt to environment changes 🙈🙉🙊).
The political disagreements within the Republican Party does create some instability for the party itself; and in turn its options. There are the "Old Guard" Republicans and there are the "Trump" Republicans (They will either work it out or split). Each has their own brand appeal but together they conceptually blend into a total brand image of the party (quick recalled impressions). That brand image has changed over the last 10 years as new ideas and concepts make their way into the party. I would agree with the memo in the sense that there are demographic shifts and that will influence the base (that is nor isn't an endorsement of the memo...its just an observation). What we will likely find is new ads focused more on working families and small business owners (...and should be way more diverse in their appeal).
Like all of you (🙋💫) I'm sitting and on the edge of my chair waiting to see what happens next!
Army Throws Support Behind Pepper Sprayed 2nd Lieutenant
I'm 100% behind police and I'm 100% supportive of reform methods. No one should ever take my words to mean I don't have great respect for the function of policing. The vast majority of officers are good people who are trying to protect the public. From first hand account I can count on my hands and toes+ all of the great officers but it only takes one person to infect a unit (i.e. police unit) and in turn sour its members. I also know first hand the destructiveness rogue police officers can have.
Reform isn't against policing. Reform is FOR policing, for the Constitution, and should be a mechanism to support honorable officers and remove "bad apples" who owe loyalty to no one but themselves and their false ideologies (See Institutional Ethics). Hats off to our Military and its ability to stay focused on the true values of our nation (See Adaptive Military Learning and Military Management Knowledge). As an institution, it has done well seeing the power of cross-cultural collaboration and should continue to hire different people from different backgrounds to hedge its adaptability. I've always said that if there was an institution I trusted in this country its the military (See Military Honor Through Centuries).
You can read the article HERE.
Like many of you, I was concerned by the video of LT Nazario’s traffic stop in December. He represented himself and our Army well through his calm, professional response to the situation – I’m very proud of him.
— SMA Michael Grinston (@16thSMA) April 12, 2021
Monday, April 12, 2021
Fed Chair Jerome Powell: Discusses Digital Currency
Federal Chair Jerome Powell discusses digital currency. He says they are testing digital currency and its viability. The U.S. doesn't need to be first but it does need to do it right. There is no expectation to raise interest rates anytime soon as some big sectors of the economy have not fully recovered. These sectors are still suffering and expect to suffer into the near future. Optimism is high and people believe the economy will come roaring back.
Originally I suspect it will still take about 10 years to develop an international digital currency and for companies to adopt new currency methods. Watching this video, and the background activities, I would suspect we are closer than we think. Perhaps we will have an initial currency system within the next 5 years. That will further embed the U.S. into the Digital Economy.
Why is this important for business minded people? Well, it will impact how you will conduct business. Instead of using multiple different systems to exchange money the government will have their own medium of exchange. How you collect money, pay bills, and do other things will be radically different if you can do from your phone as easy as handing someone money.
There is a pretty good discussion of the interview in The Business Journal
Sunday, April 11, 2021
Secretary of State Antony Blinken Discusses Vaccine and World "Hot Spots".
Friday, April 9, 2021
Video on Aerospace and Defense in the U.P.
The U.P. has a budding aerospace and defense industry that will become increasingly important for the future. I'm an advocate of maximizing the benefits of Delta County to create economic clusters that improve upon multiple industries at once (i.e. multi-clustering). There is human capital available in the area and with new U.P. investments it is possible to turn DC into a shipping, small manufacturing, and tourism area.
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
IMF: US to Lift Global GDP-Can We Sustain It?
The IMF projects the U.S. will be biggest global growth influencer this year. Its great that we can lift the global economy out of a crisis but it is better that we turn government investment into long term growth. That will require us to think more about sustainable economic development and how key infrastructure investments improve the economic capacity of "actors" (commercial activity) within the system. In the Information Age we will have much better statistics and metrics that will provide information on how to improve the infrastructure in a way that leads to net positive economic outputs (based on relative development trajectories) through stronger business and government coordination (See Perpetual Sustainable Economy).
The IMF states, "Global growth is projected at 6 percent in 2021, moderating to 4.4 percent in 2022. The projections for 2021 and 2022 are stronger than in the October 2020 WEO. The upward revision reflects additional fiscal support in a few large economies, the anticipated vaccine-powered recovery in the second half of 2021, and continued adaptation of economic activity to subdued mobility. High uncertainty surrounds this outlook, related to the path of the pandemic, the effectiveness of policy support to provide a bridge to vaccine-powered normalization, and the evolution of financial conditions." (IMF, April 2021, para 2)