View From Here: Mentoring

View From Here: Mentoring: In a rush she spewed her thoughts. Her commitment to serve specific people with particular problems was apparent. She was passionate. Thi...

View From Here: News or Academy Awards

View From Here: News or Academy Awards: Well, the choice was not that, really. The news was over. We watched a bit of the national news, then “60 Minutes” and naturally switched...

View From Here: Crossroads

View From Here: Crossroads: Walked into a restaurant Sunday evening – actually late afternoon, 4 pm. Staggered in with 7 other people from church. This is our 8 to E...

View From Here: Of, For and By the People

View From Here: Of, For and By the People: 330 million people in our nation. Each with their own idea of the world and how it should be. Focus closer to home, and they have other i...

View From Here: Of, For and By the People

View From Here: Of, For and By the People: 330 million people in our nation. Each with their own idea of the world and how it should be. Focus closer to home, and they have other i...

View From Here: Power Without Values

View From Here: Power Without Values: Lindsay Graham is loaded for bear. He wants Andrew McCabe before his senate committee to grill him and determine how enemies of trump in ...

View From Here: Presidential Communication

View From Here: Presidential Communication: A serious president does not Twitter, Facebook or stage rambling press conferences. A serious leader plans his thoughts meticulously, so...

View From Here: Ego Trump

View From Here: Ego Trump: Democracy is all about the people of a nation speaking openly among themselves to learn what matters most to them, who articulates the i...

View From Here: Reality Show Values

View From Here: Reality Show Values: I have a rule in my entertainment choices – do not engage shows that manipulate feelings merely for plot strategy. You can tell which...

View From Here: Assessment Time

View From Here: Assessment Time: Chaos reigns in Washington DC. Entire Executive Branch departments are headed by appointees sworn to follow the Oval Office inhabitant, ...

View From Here: Re-ordering Priorities

View From Here: Re-ordering Priorities: Each of us benefits from clearly identifying the priorities that steer our life. Focusing on what’s most important pays great dividends....

View From Here: Judging Intent

View From Here: Judging Intent: We have many new women serving in Congress. Many of these are young and diverse in their ethnicity, world view, and religion. They have ...

View From Here: Women Talent

View From Here: Women Talent: I was asked once if I were a feminist. I pled guilty and asked ‘why not?’   I have a mother, sister, grandmothers, aunts, great aunts...

View From Here: Car and Cast

View From Here: Car and Cast: The driver makes his way to pick up two passengers, then the third. They are related – father, mother, son. Son is 34 years old; mom is ...

View From Here: Racist or Not?

View From Here: Racist or Not?: I remain surprised each time a racist comment or action is uncovered for view. I wonder if I am racist in any way. I think on these two ...

View From Here: Writing in the Moment

View From Here: Writing in the Moment: I am creating this post in real time. It’s 6 am on Friday, February 8. It has been a busy week – both for action and thinking. My mind h...

View From Here: State of the Union

View From Here: State of the Union: For those of us paying close attention, we already know the state of the union. We do not need the sitting president to tell us; certain...

View From Here: State of the Union

View From Here: State of the Union: For those of us paying close attention, we already know the state of the union. We do not need the sitting president to tell us; certain...

View From Here: NEXUS Results

View From Here: NEXUS Results: Last evening was our first public discussion of issues that matter. We had 5 souls brave an ice storm to join the process. We discussed ...

View From Here: Discovery of Many Truths

View From Here: Discovery of Many Truths: Tonight, we attempt to bridge divides. Tonight, we will gather and talk about issues that matter to us. Tonight, we will dare to nudge...

View From Here: Look Who’s Talking?

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

Look Who’s Talking?

So a governor’s graduate school year book from 34 years ago shows an egregious lack of values and judgment. Political imps find the year book and air it to embarrass a political foe. Try to get him to resign. Out of the woodwork comes a chorus of voices ordering him to resign. Even the sitting president labels the governor disgraceful, shameful. He who embodies shameful and disgraceful is saying this!

I have no opinion on the sitting governor. I do not know the facts. His statements have muddied the situation so his handling of the matter appears clumsy. I’ll leave his decision to him and his staff.

But I do have an opinion on the sitting president.

He is a clear and present danger to himself and to his nation. He has steadfastly unmoored the national protocols and government processes. They are left dangling in confusion and chaos. He has exposed our nation to the dangers of international intrigue and would be warrior kings (China and Russia). He has unrooted markets for natural minerals and raw materials. He has upset supply chains the world over. He has mired our nation in a pile of debt without end. He spends without limit and eliminates tax revenues by the trillion. And then complains about the red ink.

He has defined ‘up’ as ‘down’ and in as out. No wonder confusion reigns.

It is time to put a stop to all of this. The Constitution contains language protecting the nation from a president who is unable to govern himself or the nation. This language is not of impeachment but of safety and caution to protect the person from himself and to protect the nation from him at the same time.

It is time for the legislative and judicial branches to enact those constitutional powers.

We are in danger. The nation stands in peril. Action is needed and now.

Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi are the primary leaders of this mechanism. Court supervision will be necessary. The time is now. The policy and procedure is available. Research it and implement it.

This is not about political party or ideology. It is about preserving America’s future.

View From Here: Look Who’s Talking?: So a governor’s graduate school year book from 34 years ago shows an egregious lack of values and judgment. Political imps find the year...

View From Here: What’s Believable?

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019

What’s Believable?

I was raised in a home of facts. Dad was an engineer. Mom was a Minnesota farm girl. They were married in Minnesota, moved immediately to Chicago for a new job, then a few years later moved to California for yet another new career opportunity. Still engineering for Dad.

World War II happened. My brother was born in Chicago before being moved to Pasadena. Carol and I were born a few years later so we are native Californians.

We experienced ocean beaches, mountain vistas, car rides throughout southern California and later moved to the Mojave Desert. Dad’s engineering work called him to many places. Naturally we accompanied him.

College was a constant background in our life. Both our parents experienced higher education. Our grandparents, too, on my father’s side. Mostly Congregational ministers; for many generations. Thus fact-based discussions were the norm. disciplined speech and conclusions were highly valued.

College followed my high school graduation, and then two more stints at the graduate level. Worked for the University of Illinois, too. Education. Logic. Facts. Research. Defining problems. Seeking solutions and alternatives to those problems. Working in teams of people who wanted problems solved.

So, it is no surprise that I avidly consume public information and news developments. I also came to write news, expository articles, too, explaining why things happen. Physics and the immutable facts of the world. Logic.

Imagine my frustration reading today’s news! Very little is factual. Mostly opinion. Problems ignored. Problems defined out of existence. Focus instead on nonsense topics. All the while the actual problems continue their journey toward unknown disasters. Disasters await; we just don’t know their dimensions. Logic informs us. Logic demands our attention. But the powers in high places do not respond to these calls for action. They are deaf, dumb and blind.

That leaves who in charge?

In a society such as ours, a democracy, I think we the people are in charge. But who takes up the leader’s baton at such times? How do we escape anarchy or tyranny?

Normally, the democratic method follows vigorous debate, selection of the fittest people, and an election schedule is filled with ballots for candidates legally included in the process. The election occurs and those winning election take the reins of our government.

This did not happen correctly in 2015 and 2016. Ever since then things have gone even more awry. This is not sour grapes. This is logic, fact, and informed people making sense of what is wrong.

A lot is wrong. A lot needs attention. Many of us have researched, written and spoken of these things. still nothing is done to repair what is broken.

What has happened to the American Idea? Was it so weak, so fragile, that ignored for a little while it disappeared? What will restore it? Can it be restored?

All hard questions to ask; even more difficult to answer. But they must. Be answered.

Maybe the cold weather has gotten to me. I feel hope slipping away. Tell me this isn’t so!

View From Here: What’s Believable?: I was raised in a home of facts. Dad was an engineer. Mom was a Minnesota farm girl. They were married in Minnesota, moved immediately t...