It is self-evident that in this age, we, more often than not, treat each other less kindly. We all bear responsibility for this, not just the Executive Branch, though that is also quite evident. When did we start calling each other names as though we were in 4th grade (an insult to 4th graders?)?. We can blame it on social media, and in some respects that is appropriately assigned; after all, it is easier to slander, libel and otherwise insult someone digitally than face-to-face. The number of hate crimes have doubled since 2015. Cyberbullying has increased in concert with digital media use. We seem to be in a pandemic of anger. Parallel to this is the erosion of commitment to and trust of cultural norms of ethics/morals and institutions. This includes questioning and adulteration of Constitutional principles, lack of faith in government institutions (Executive, Legislative and Judicial), in scientific/medical/health expertise, in the value of education. I think that the root problem is the latter, and that there has developed a dumbing of America (See Susan Jacoby’s book The Age of American Unreason ). How many children are read to by their parents? Why are books and learning secondary to proficiency at sports? Why is higher education only looked upon as failing to result in higher incomes instead of a vehicle to widen one’s life experiences, enhance humanistic knowledge and critical thinking skills, broaden our appreciation of arts and diverse cultural understanding? Why is the label “being woke” a buzzword for not caring about others? Why are we always looking for reasons to be ticked off? The loss of civil knowledge is well documented.

We are a lonely society with loss of 1) a sense of community, 2) a willingness to engage in dialogue without rancor, 3) an understanding of the power of conversation , respect and compromise to bring us together. David Brooks, on his editorial on retiring from the NY Times, spells out much of this from his traditionalist perspective. Thich Nhat Hanh expresses in a Buddhist perspective of “sangha” (community) as essential to a practice of extending compassion.

So, what do we do? How can we just “be” in a state of awareness of our connectedness and heal our anger and ignorance? Wow, a bit too big a bite for this old guy. How do we rebuild a sense of community, of confidence in our institutions, a belief in acquisition of knowledge, and a wonder for all that we can’t understand conceptually? Well, it starts with each of us, recognizing that peace of mind begins in our own minds, our hearts. We must reignite the awe and compassion that our respective spiritual/humanistic traditions have presented to us from wisdom ancestors. We cannot rebuild communities before restoring our sense of kindness and wonder.

When I talk about “community at scale” I mean our larger national and worldwide community beyond our neighborhood and tribe. In my next blog I want to take on a difficult issue that relates powerfully to our social disintegration and anger: immigration. Stay tuned.

To preface my remarks, my “solutions” are conceptual, not vetted in detail. They are starting points requiring chewing, debating, investigating operational approaches.

Develop a domestic Marshall Plan.

From a macroeconomic perspective the economy may be performing well. But the overall picture glosses over the details of individual sectors and communities that have experienced economic collapse due to foreign competition or the march of technology. I encourage you to follow Paul Krugman‘s blog in this regard. We have supported, via tax credits, incentives and subsidies, numerous sectors and industries over the years under the influence of powerful lobbies and monied political interests. Perhaps some of this has been justified. Some complain about the socialization of the government for the benefit of the underprivileged (welfare families–Google “welfare families” for an AI overview) with accusations of fraud (most fraud is with Medicare and it is providers, not recipients, that are the major offenders; Google “welfare fraud prevalence” for AI review), yet are oblivious to the largesse meted out to well-heeled and protected industries, e.g,, fossil fuel and industrial/large scale farming.

We support our families, our communities, our “tribes.” We are exhorted to be charitable, to help those less fortunate. During disasters–fires, floods, hurricanes–we pitch in to provide assistance. It is interesting that the poorer families give more in proportion to their income than wealthy families; perhaps that is related to their compassion driven by common suffering. Why is it, that as a nation, we seem to lose sight of our mutual obligations in defense of our own personal well being? If our society can afford to support, why is there such resistance to uplifting the less fortunate through similar inventive means? “No more taxes” is the usual cry. Over 250 years ago it was “No taxation without representation,” referring to the imposition of the Stamp Act and other taxing mechanisms by British Parliament without consideration of the Colonies’ input. For some, all taxes are bad; get real. Not only do taxes support the structures of governance, security, infratructure, etc., but also allow us to share our fortunes for the benefit of others. (“Mankind is my business,” “Do unto others,” “Give in secret”). Many, however, feel that even in this democracy, they are taxed without representation, thanks to the complexity of the tax code, the many exceptions granted to others, and the absence in Congress in their role as fiduciary representatives of all of their constituents under Article 1 of the Constitution. With that aside, I continue…

How do we act compassionately for the economically distressed populations? How do we provide them opportunities to reverse the downhill slide and widening gap in incomes and services (e.g., health access). We are the richest nation on earth and in history, yet we can’t or don’t want to figure out large-scale interventions? The idea of “a rising tide lifts all boats” is a nice adage if you ignore the ones on the rocks. In a sense, modern capitalism has done a remarkable job at historically reducing worldwide poverty; all the more reason to use its benefits to attend to marginalized groups. What are some of these groups? How about young people in inner cities with no jobs except the drug trade? How about West Virginia coal miners? Rural southern family farmers? Rust belt workers? Native Americans? North Carolina textile and furniture workers? Shame on them for not picking themselves up from their bootstraps, like the upper 0.01% have done. We must have a drastic and comprehensive program of opportunity creation, education, training, and long-term sustenance. We did it for Europe and Japan after WWII; why can’t we do it for ourselves?

I certainly do not have the brain power and expertise to offer a full-fledged solution. I can conceptualize in a broad context that I hope will resonate with some of you and encourage a wider dialogue and exploration of perhaps a market basket of viable approaches. There are some models out there: The Marshall Plan, Job Corps/Peace Corps, WPA, CCC. But this isn’t about giving someone money to dig a hole and fill it. Here are some elements to flesh out the concept:

1. Gather workable information. You can’t go into West Virginia and say, “This is what we are going to do for you.” First identify the communities in need; this is not hard, the data is there. Have a process of engagement to enlist them in telling their stories and asking what their economic environment might require to bring them forward (interviews, focus groups, town halls, etc). What do they have to offer the larger marketplace based on their history, skills, geography? What would they see as desirable occupations to move into, to train/educate for? What philanthropists and businesses would be willing to invest in a given community given appropriate incentives, short and long-term; how could communities match with existing businesses to add innovation and character to marketable offerings (kind of like matching medical students with residencies!).
2. Develop a nationwide structure for establishing and operationalizing the process. It should be given a legislative (and national cultural commitment) establishment similar to the Federal Reserve, not beholden to either the Executive or Congressional interference as long as it meets the defined mission (similar to the Carver Model of Governance).
3. It must be fiscally feasible. With the current national debt and tax structure, it cannot be funded by fiat money. Broader disruptive changes need to be made. There should be a minimum tax that all individuals and corporations pay; no one should pay zero tax. Most of us pay more than we think is our share; many pay nothing. This is not to say there should be no exemptions for personal or business losses, or no form of subsidization; let’s be fair, as Warren Buffett has simply and eloquently exposited. We can offer incentives to private industry to commit to the project, just as we have with fossil fuel and agribusiness, but to benefit the “small guy.”
4. As JFK so ethically stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you but for what you can do for your country.” The Vietnam war and the draft left a lingering powerful distaste for mandatory national service; I know, I was drafted and served in a combat infantry reconnaissance unit there. But the concept of national service needs a revival. One benefit I recall from my service was that there were thousands of young men from predominantly rural backgrounds (they were preferentially drafted prior to 1968 and then the lottery), that were given opportunities and training in the military that turned their lives around (if they survived). One of my sergeants was a “Tennessee Ridge Runner” (his description) with no skills or even respect back home. He ascended to 1st Sergeant partly due to his phenomenal sense of direction and presence–didn’t need a compass. In the military he got discipline, respect, training and advancement. Tragically he was killed shortly after “re-upping” to a higher rank–a victim of an ill-conceived conflict. But I digress from my point that young folks who are awash in today’s society could benefit from a period of national service providing discipline, training and inculcating a civic sense of responsibility. So, as a part of the new “Marshall Plan,” I would recommend mandatory 1-year of national service of whatever type appropriate to the individual. As part of that service there would be mandatory class in civics, at the end of which the student should be able to pass the same test required of immigrants. The service itself should be integrated into the overall plan to facilitate the individual entering the workforce appropriate to their community or chosen locale. The service would not have to be military; inner city, hospital, rural agriculture, elder care, foreign service, etc. This would provide productive activities for a number of youths trapped in the inner city miasma. It would provide an opportunity for high school or college graduates with a dose of reality and inculcate a sense of accountability for their society. I know this is a very hard sell. But when do we make some tough decisions to bring our children and grandchildren into a world of compassion beyond the digital device?
5. This is an opportunity for us old farts, we very fortunate folks, to develop a future that speaks of inclusion, not division.; that demands compassion, not selfish insatiable greed. I may not have this right, but maybe some of you can come up with some better ideas that move us in a more inclusive, caring direction that can be operational beyond just wished for, that can inspire all of us to do better than we are doing now!

What’s an old fart doing writing a blog. Who cares? I just have a few things to get off my chest and howl into the digital wilderness. Biases and qualifications first, then principles.

My world view is one of inclusiveness and is epistemologically rooted in experiential and verifiable causes and effect. We are all, living and dead, animate and inanimate, intimately interconnected. I am a compassionate realist (I love you but don’t screw with me). I suffer no fools, including myself. I am allergic to spin. I would like to have a conversation about solutions, not problem creation. Can my life experiences be of any assistance…what can I pay forward?

We are in a tough place. Here are the main existential problems as I see them.

1. The unsustainable growth of marginalized groups in an environment of severe widening separation of resource availability.
2. A loss of institutional and cultural supports to facilitate community at scale with the continuing rise of anger and ill-will toward others. (los of civil knowledge and civility in general).
3. Human abandonment of respect for the sustenance of our World in favor of greed/aquisition.
4. A return to the historical cyclic rise of power, corruption, personality cult, dominance and oppression as a raison d’être.
5. The continued threat of nuclear proliferation.
6. Unfettered digital generation creation.

I guess that’s enough, and scary enough, for now. My next post will relate to potential solutions for item 1.

The principles of the blog are: Be as honest as possible, be compassionate, call out voices of divisional spinning.

I hope you will share in a conversation of solution generation, without rancor, with respect for your fellow beings (even those who vehemently disagree and disparage), If no readership develops, I will rant unabated on my own, as one would expect from an inconsequential old fool. And I will laugh in the face of absurdity, Ha!