Self improvement

The Power of Ownership

As a fan of Jocko Willink, his podcast (Jocko Podcast), and his first book (Extreme Ownership written with Leif Babbin) I refer to his principals to help me with perspective. Jocko constantly talks about playing the long game when dealing with other people at work, within a family, or almost any circumstance. Jocko often speaks of the importance of being able to detach and control your ego in situations so that you can arrive at good decisions and solutions. He says that you know that your ego is taking control when you get emotional or are focusing on your personal interests instead of the team. The driver for taking the longer view (as I understand it) is being able to claim ownership for what is happening in your life and surroundings rather than making excuses or seeking to place blame elsewhere. To own it you have to think about all of the ways that you could make things better for yourself and those around you. I highly recommend the Jocko Podcast and the book Extreme Ownership. The book is about leadership, but the first person you have to lead is yourself.

Opinion

The Lesser of Two Evils

This week has news that forces every voter to consider what it means to vote and why you make a choice. Trump continues to push the justice system towards collapse as he protects co-conspirators while seeking to legally punish those who oppose his autocratic and illegal behaviors. Mike Bloomberg is making the news for statements that seem to show him prejudging African-American communities with past comments about stop and frisk as well as redlining. Bernie Sanders is a socialist who voted for a crime bill that many believe was used to target black men. We do not know who the ultimate candidate for the Democrats will be, but we have a choice to make. Donald Trump has shown himself to be a short and long-term threat to freedom, civil rights, and life on earth who will do anything to protect his fragile version of reality. The person who will run against Trump will not be perfect, but freedom-loving people will need to turn out in massive numbers to stop Trump in 2020.

Opinion

A mindless budget

Trump released his budget and it reduces funding for social programs while increasing military and border wall spending. Trump does nothing to address the deficit spending trend that he has increased throughout his administration, and he reduces funding to the Environmental Protection Agency. The budget represents a long term attack on the American people with cuts to environmental, medical, and social services while failing to address increasing debt. Trump is irresponsible with other people’s money while trying to protect his odds of being re-elected by goosing the economy with borrowed money. He has successfully attacked American institutions like the Justice department, intelligence agencies, etc., but he has not worked to improve any infrastructure besides the border wall that antagonizes our neighbors. If he were an agent for a foreign power you could not expect more damage to America’s long term strength from a single politician.

Opinion

Generating Hope

Democrats talk about generating enthusiasm amongst people who have not voted before, or who do not turn out regularly for elections, and Republicans talk about appealing to their base. There are more Democrats than Republicans, but they are not in the right states to win the electoral college. It is only when there is enthusiasm that irregular and new voters turn out in the numbers to take the swing states that add up to electoral victory. In time there should be enough demographic change for the will of the majority to be reflected in the electoral count, but we are not there yet. It is critical for every citizen to study the issues and do more than vote from the gut. A president who is a habitual liar is trying to spin an illusion for a reason, and is a massive threat to our republic. Vote in 2020!

Opinion

Fighting Back

The current president has bullied his party into doing what ever he desires without facing anyone willing to stand up to him until Mr. Romney today. Democrats are being forced to fulfill the role of standing up to the bully. Our society is morphing into an organization that does not deal with the truth, but makes excuses for cowering in front of the bully. If the bully lies the party members pretend he is not serious, or that they have not heard what he said. If the bully commits illegal acts; party members pretend that the behavior was not serious or that it was not meant as it appears. The character of America is on the line. You cannot claim to be moral or ethical while tolerating a stream of lies, criminality, and corruption from the people you support for positions of power. Democrats will have to fight for our republic, and some of it will not be pleasant. Speaker Pelosi tearing up a copy of a speech filled with lies is an example of pushing back against the bully with more than just words.

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Opinion

Staying focused

As the election season moves forward it is important for voters to stay focused and balanced about the opportunities and threats of decisions. People who lock onto one candidate and feel that if their person is not elected they will quit the process should consider why they cared about a candidate in the first place. Is it the person or what they stand for that is important? Is the election about a person or a new direction, respectful leadership or personality based programs and events? Citizens who want change from our current occupant of the White House have to play a long and a short game that provides the best probability for their ultimate goal. Emotions are not likely to lead us to the change we seek in 2021. Support your candidate but be ready to vote for the best option for hope and change in the general election of 2020.

Opinion, Self improvement, Words to ponder

Black History Month

February is Black History month. It is a time to remember the many people who risked their lives to push for greater freedom to a group of people targeted for harassment and marginalization by the larger society. I think of heroes from Fanny Lou Hamer to Crispus Attucks who not only dreamed of a better day for African Americans but bravely risked everything to make it happen. The courage of heroes is necessary to overcome the strength of evil ideas that gain acceptance because they are expedient to the larger society. Everyone wants to feel special and advantaged in life but the question is who are you willing to handicap to get that feeling? Minorities around the world have been victimized by the answer to this question. Human beings have grown in their ability to see those who are not like them as people deserving of dignity, but we live in a time of increasing insecurity and tribalism. What will the future look like for human dignity? The answer to the question seems bleak right now, but I remain hopeful that there are many more heroes among us who will lead humanity toward the light.

Opinion

A trial with no witnesses?

America in 2020 is a place that reveres criminals and conmen and runs from the truth. We are a nation at risk. People who call themselves leaders or representatives pass laws that they do not uphold at the highest levels. American citizens are held to higher standards of behavior and legal jeopardy than their leaders. I hope citizens of all backgrounds become resolved that no one is above the law, and the law is not mocked by the people responsible for it. The question that keeps coming up in my mind is: Why do so many see the current occupant of the White House worth the undermining of our country? The upcoming vote will be incredibly consequential.

Opinion

Loss of a Star

The death of Kobe Bryant strikes many of us hard because he was an example of a successful man growing as a person and father who left us too soon. Kobe was not perfect, but he did work hard to make himself better throughout his adult life, and it showed. The prodigal son is the story of a lost young man finding his way to the path of righteousness. A classic story of what it means to be human includes falling and getting back up while helping others do the same. Kobe did this and it makes the world a better place for him having been here. God bless Kobe’s family and all of the families who lost loved ones in the crash.

Self improvement

The case against Trump

The impeachment managers for the House of Representatives have presented a strong case that the current president deserves to be removed from office for his failure to carry out his duties, and undermining our republic. Trump has done everything he can to keep the truth from coming out, and then he states that the Democrats have no witnesses. Citizens will likely be the final deciders on Trump in the elections to come in 2020. The United States may have to survive the humiliation of a major political party (the Republicans) participating in a coverup by not calling any witnesses for Trump’s impeachment. I hope our country emerges stronger than ever and more committed to democracy after this nightmare is over.