Protecting Others Through Reporting Corruption and Hate (The Story of the Clan)

(Illustrative Only)

Corrupt people and those
who lack values 
may not like you but
it is your duty to report
corruption for 
the benefit of organizations,
society, and communities.
A test of your inner character
is not what you say
but what you do under
tough situations. 
The worm a the core.

Hate and corruption harm both societies and organizations. When people see these behaviors, it is important to report and challenge them because they damage trust and fairness. People who engage in corruption often focus on their own personal gain rather than the well-being of others or the long-term success of the organization. Society and organizations suffer. 

So what often happens when corruption is reported?

Reporting wrongdoing can help stop it, but whistleblowers are sometimes targeted or blamed by those involved in the misconduct. This retaliation can discourage others from speaking up, which allows corruption to continue and creates more victims. No one really cares as long as the victims have been dehumanized or are seen as part of some invented out-group (i.e. the narrative). 

A philosophical thought experiment called The Story of the Clan illustrates this problem. In this allegory, corruption and wrongdoing are openly encouraged. People target a family, put children at risk, and manipulate the elderly. Clear financial gain for wrong doing. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that many of the associated individuals are involved in other harmful actions, leaving a trail of potential victims.

In the allegory, there is no effective safeguard. When official complaints are made, the members of the system share the information with the perpetrators instead of protecting the victims. An attempt to silence and punish. A warning to all those who seek to uphold their oaths or have a semblance of moral conscious. This protects the inner members of the group while social contracts and fundamental laws are ignored. More harm to others is allowed.

When systems fail to hold people accountable, or reverse illegal outcomes, corruption can become normalized even when laws exist to prevent it. This can lead to misused resources, growing inequality, and harm to communities. It also reflects a lack of respect for victims and for the future well-being of society. In our story there is a bright side. We learn about corruption and we push the system to adapt despite the kicking, screaming and attempts by "connected" members to maintain the status quo (for their benefit and everyone elses loss). 

It eventually is reversed in our learning story and we can talk about that.......

On the surface, there is no simple solution. Reducing corruption requires stronger policies, better oversight, and protection for people who report wrongdoing. Transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership help prevent corruption and protect future victims. While checks and balances are important, the character of leaders and the ability of institutions to stay aligned with their core mission ultimately determine whether justice and fairness are upheld.

This is meant for intellectual discussion so feel free to come to your own conclusion. In the meantime you may be interested in reading, 

Speaking up is golden: The importance of integrity for a safe reporting culture in organizations.

• Organizations often focus on rare risks like fires but overlook integrity violations such as fraud, misconduct, or data misuse, even though these occur more frequently and can cause serious damage.

• Creating strong reporting systems and integrity policies helps organizations detect unethical behavior early and reduce financial and organizational harm.

• A large share of fraud and misconduct cases are discovered through tips or reports, with many reports coming from employees who first notice problems inside the organization.

• When wrongdoing is reported earlier, organizations can respond faster, limiting the damage caused by corruption or unethical conduct.

• Building a culture of integrity encourages employees to speak up, which helps organizations maintain trust, accountability, and ethical behavior.

• Employees are more likely to report misconduct when they feel psychologically safe and believe their concerns will be taken seriously and handled fairly.

• Ethical leadership and transparent reporting procedures strengthen trust within organizations and improve long-term performance, employee engagement, and reputation.

Verbraeken, K. (2025, May 8). Speaking up is golden: The importance of integrity for a safe reporting culture in organizations. ICC Netherlands. https://www.iccwbo.nl/news/speaking-is-golden%3A-the-importance-of-integrity-for-a-safe-reporting-culture-in-organizations

Worker Productivity Up: Wages and Human Capital Growth Needed (Kitty and her Tea and Teacup Business)

(Illustrative Only)

Kitty remembers
a time when the average worker
still mattered and good
middle class wages were
plentiful. 
She is thinking of
starting her tea and tea
cup business in Escanaba
because of the sense
of community and skilled
labor force. 
She was once
a single mother and 
was not born from aristocratic
generational wealth so
she had to claw her way
to the top. She can
open her storefront
downtown on Ludington
and has room to scale.
It is her retirement company
she hopes to
give to her grandkids
as long as they uphold
the values of how
to treat workers.
 
She might call it
Ki-Tea Inc.

She pays good wages, shares
part of her company profits with
employees so as to max
productivity, and gives
raises for increased education. 
Anytime an employee
inovates and improves
 the productivity
of the process they get
a big bonus based
on the financial savings.
Tourist Micro 

She has a few ideas on
the economy that some of
the super rich don't like.
She knows we are all 
in this boat together.
She has lived a full life.
Life is too short
to worry about what
they want or
cater to unquechable
self-interest when
we can find win-win
situations. It is
her time to raise the people
around her. 
We all count in the process. 
That is what community
and indivisibility means.
Economic-Sociological Platforms,
Perpetual Sustainable Dev.
Digital GDP,
After Covid
Job Enrichment
Economics and Human Needs
The Welfare Theorem
 In theory

Worker productivity increased by 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025, with an annual growth of 2.2%. Higher productivity makes workers more cost-effective, and greater skill levels often lead to better outputs. Over the past 20 years, productivity has steadily improved.

Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how AI and new technologies might create significant jumps in productivity. Technology alone is not enough—human ingenuity, skills, and innovation are crucial to improving outcomes and maintaining competitiveness. This is why people should attend school, enroll in trade colleges, and get advanced education. 

As a large country, growth tends to be slower than in emerging economies. Enhancing infrastructure, optimizing work environments, and supporting efficient business development can improve human capital and organizational productivity. Wages, which have only grown 12–14% over the past two decades, also need attention to ensure living standards match skills.

Ideally, combining technology, skilled labor, innovation, and new business practices could lead to much higher growth. Achieving this requires a systemic approach: understanding how productivity, human capital, wages, and innovation interact, rather than analyzing them in isolation. By improving these factors together, supported by effective micro-level economic environments and data-driven insights, overall output and economic growth can be enhanced.

(As a side note corporate profits and executive wages seem strong but it appears that polices and approaches seem to move wealth up in concentrated capitalism while broad based capitalism that foster wealth generation might have a compounding effect. In other words, if we are worried about long term national competitiveness maybe we need to think about new approaches that maximize societal engagement and input.).

Productivity and costs, fourth quarter and annual averages 2025 (revised)

• Labor productivity in the U.S. nonfarm business sector increased at a 2.8% annualized rate in the fourth quarter of 2025.

• Productivity growth was driven by higher output relative to hours worked.

• Unit labor costs (the cost of labor per unit of output) increased at a 2.8% annualized rate in the fourth quarter.

• Over the full year from fourth quarter 2024 to fourth quarter 2025, labor productivity increased 2.8%.

• Unit labor costs rose 1.3% over the same year-over-year period.

• For all of 2025, productivity increased about 2.2%, reflecting steady gains in output relative to labor hours.

• Unit labor costs increased about 1.9% for 2025 overall.

• Strong productivity growth helps offset wage pressures because more output is produced per hour worked. 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026, March 5). Productivity and costs, fourth quarter and annual averages 2025 (revised). https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/prod2_03052026.htm

Year      Growth %

2005      2.7

2006      1.7

2007      2.6

2008      2.2

2009      3.3

2010      3.3

2011      0.9

2012      1.3

2013      1.0

2014      1.3

2015      0.6

2016      0.4

2017      1.2

2018      1.3

2019      1.5

2020      4.0

2021      1.9

2022     -1.4

2023      1.8

2024      2.7

2025      ~2.0

Wages grew modestly 12-14% purchasing power over 2 decades.

(Illustrative Only)

Kitty loves cats
and brought Snarls
Charles
home from the
Delta County Animal
Shelter (Feel free
to give donation to
them on their page.).

Her philosophy is
that tea teaches patience
and a cat teaches independence. 
Hence the name Ki-Tea.
Snarls comes up
with the best ideas
because he is a free
thinker.

btw Snarls Charles
thinks its the unsophisticated
dogs that break all the 
ordinances. I 
mean they are pack animals
and they chase their own tail
(A local discussion on animal
ordinances 🙃).

The Miligram Shock Experiment and What It Tells Us About Human Nature and Authority (Story of the Clan)

 Leadership and authority are related, but they are not the same. A person can have authority without truly being a leader, and someone can be a leader without holding formal authority. The ability of people to think for themselves and create leadership and authority are important for society. Find your personal perspective.

People often have a strong tendency to follow others. When this happens too easily, it can create dependent thinking where individuals stop questioning ideas or making their own judgments. A healthy, fully developed person can think independently. They may agree with leaders or authorities most of the time, but not on everything. Instead, they evaluate issues for themselves and form their own conclusions.

Leadership often develops from this kind of independence. People who think critically, weigh information carefully, and trust their own reasoning are better able to guide others and make balanced decisions. Those who are good at talking but dont don't develop an independent sense of self are following the herd no matter how eloquent the speech.

The “Story of the Clan” is used as a philosophical thought experiment to explore these ideas. In the learing allegory, a group of actors targets others with dehumanizing narratives based on race, religion, or other differences. They put children, intellectuals, the sick, elderly and the vulnerable at risk willfully and without regard to greater oaths or societal contracts. Individuals in the group accepted these stories and acted on them without much critical thinking.

As the situation unfolds, responsibility is often shifted onto the victims rather than addressing the wrongdoing. Even those in positions of authority find it easier to blame the victims than to correct the problem, suggesting a deeper issue.

The lesson is that many people simply follow the person above them, around them or within their ideological perspectives, believing it is in their best interest. But this kind of blind obedience can lead to harmful outcomes. It is often how bigotry, extremism, criminal networks, and cults form. Choices can be poorly made when group think takes hold and creates a misalignment between choice and environment.

Developing strong individuals means encouraging people to think independently while still working cooperatively with others. There are times when society must act collectively—for example, protecting constitutional rights, religious freedom, freedom of speech or overcoming a challenge. But there are also times when the group is wrong, and someone must be willing to step outside the crowd.

Those who can question harmful behavior and stand apart when necessary often show a higher level of personal development. However, challenging the group can come with consequences. Sometimes those consequences lessen when others begin to recognize the value of a different perspective and join in supporting it. Or it can be squashed and the problems continue.

Review Milgram Shock Experiment

• The Milgram obedience experiment studied how people respond to authority when instructed to harm another person in a research setting.

• Participants believed they were taking part in a study on learning and memory and were instructed to deliver electric shocks to a “learner” whenever incorrect answers were given.

• The shock machine ranged from 15 volts to 450 volts, increasing in 15-volt increments and labeled from slight shock to danger: severe shock.

• About 65% of participants administered the maximum 450-volt shock even though they believed the learner was in serious pain.

• All participants continued to at least 300 volts, despite hearing protests and signs of distress from the learner.

• Many participants showed visible stress such as sweating, trembling, and nervous laughter while continuing to follow instructions.

• The findings suggested that people may obey authority figures even when doing so conflicts with their personal moral beliefs.

• The study raised important ethical concerns and helped lead to stronger research ethics standards, including informed consent and debriefing.

McLeod, S. (2025). Milgram shock experiment. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/milgram.html

*This is a philosophical theoretical discussion so take with a grain of salt and come to your own conclusion.

Delta County MI. Board of Commissioners Meeting (3/3/2026): Drugs, Animals, FOIA, Judge Allocation, Data Centers

It was an interesting meeting with many voices heard. People raised concerns about the need to get hard drugs off the streets and discussed new ways of looking at these issues. The county will continue moving forward and, for the most part, has been overcoming challenges to improve social and economic outcomes.

-Discussion on change in judge allocation. 

-A separate side concern on justice outcomes. Getting hardcore drugs off of our streets. (UP Drugs)

-FOIA issues still coming forward.

-Allocation of resources and review.

-Data centers. Delta County Data Center Pause

-Animal ordinance and issues.

Concentration of Wealth in the US and Internationally Grows (Rich Sam Invents Palm Grease)

( Illustrative only)

Rich Sam thinks he invented
palm grease but
really it has been
around a long time.
He is rich so everyone 
tells him he is brilliant
and such a hard worker.
At least that is what
he was told at the
"Social Seminar" on the island
with his other rich
friends.
Sam was born wealthy
and connected.  He is
free to do what he wants, 
when he wants. Money
buys much more than
comfort and security. 

Poverty is exhausting. When you have very little, every decision becomes about survival. You worry about paying rent, keeping the heat on, buying food, or covering credit card bills. Living paycheck to paycheck leaves almost no room for planning the future.

It is easy to call people lazy when you are financially secure, but that view often ignores how different the daily reality is for those struggling. Conversations about investing in stocks, bonds, and assets are common among the wealthy. For many poorer households, the conversation is much simpler: how to make it through the month.

Many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and it is not always because of overspending. The cost of living is high, and unexpected expenses can quickly push people into crisis. Consider the first article below and the concentration of wealth.

Philanthropy is valuable, and generous donations help many people. But much of today’s extreme wealth is measured in billions of dollars. While talent, effort, and innovation play a role, economic systems and structures also make it easier for wealth to remain concentrated at the top (That is not by accident. Decision making are self-interested by nature. We all are in some ways unless one has a higher value system and took the time to reflect.).

Once someone reaches a certain level of wealth, the risk of becoming poor becomes very small. Wealth often grows through investments and financial systems that benefit those who already have capital. While investment is important for economic growth, its benefits do not always flow evenly to the broader population.

(Illustrative Only)

Dan and Denise 
are from the hypothetical Feather
Party that doesn't exist
at this time in history, doesn't
work with special interests,
caps donations, and allows
independents to make their own
choices based on an agreed upon 
decision making matrix. 
It is a philosophical discussion.
Party line votes are not
allowed and they owe no
loyalty to anyone except
the Constitution, their communities,
the next generation,
and to their moral conscious. 

They found out that unless
your rich or connected your
ideas don't count much and
the road to helping your people
is a long one. Most
doors are closed. Because
they didn't pay enough
for their suits they were
put on a list and
told to use the service door
to come in and vote. 
In previous systems
we called them poor
country knights. 
Lots of chivalry but
not a lot of jewels
or polish.

One way to improve this balance is by supporting small businesses, micro-businesses, and entrepreneurship. These businesses tend to circulate money locally, create jobs, and expand opportunity. A healthy capitalist system should allow people to build, create, and find pathways to prosperity—not consistently concentrate wealth at the top. To be truly generative that wealth should eventually break apart in a generation or so to distribute capital and allow new wealthy to rise creating circulation of ideas and people. A little more merit based approach that improves human motivation and capital for broader societal benefit.

(Ensuring the environment is free from manipulation is called broad based capitalism based on human ingenuity and natural motivation where people have opportunities at different levels of society. Micro, small and medium grow along with corporations generating broader wealth. It is in contrast to concentrated capitalism that ensures rich have opportunities others won't have. The earliest tenents of capitalism are based on individual entrepreneurship but that can become difficult if access if decision makers create clear barriers to market entry from other classes.The vetting proces and cost of political campaigns is a hindrance to higher group leadership and true north anchoring. Good ideas and companies may die on the vine before scaling or innovating industries thereby reducing prosperity for many other people. The rich live in a different world than we do and systems cater to their needs through their social connections. One leads to innovation and national growth and the other eventual decline and dependency. i.e. the downside of the cycle without rejuvenation. The economic patterns of the past are unlikely to be the patterns of the future. There will be more poor if natural effort and motivation is hindered. Early Capitalism)

Encouraging broader participation in the economy helps more people succeed. It is not about opposing wealth; it is about expanding opportunity so more people can build stability and prosperity.

Ultimately, society works best when we recognize that everyone has value. Policies and decisions should reflect the needs of ordinary people as well as the successful few. When people participate in civic decisions, including voting, they can support ideas and policies that strengthen opportunity for the broader community.

Wealth Inequality in the United States

• The United States has one of the highest levels of wealth inequality among developed countries.

• The top 10% of households own more than two-thirds of total U.S. wealth.

• The top 1% holds about 31% of the nation’s wealth, roughly equal to the wealth of the bottom 90%.

• The richest 1% own more than half of all stocks and mutual funds, concentrating financial assets among a small group.

• Wealth at the very top has grown rapidly, with the combined wealth of the 12 richest Americans exceeding $2 trillion.

Institute for Policy Studies. (n.d.). Wealth inequality. https://inequality.org/facts/wealth-inequality/

2025 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

• About 1.1 billion people across 109 countries live in acute multidimensional poverty.

• More than half of those living in multidimensional poverty are children.

• Around 64.5% of the multidimensionally poor (about 740 million people) live in middle-income countries, showing poverty exists even in countries with growing economies.

• Approximately 80% of people living in multidimensional poverty are exposed to climate-related hazards such as floods, droughts, extreme heat, or air pollution.

• Roughly 309 million poor people experience three or four climate risks at the same time.

• Poverty in the index is measured across three dimensions: health, education, and living standards.

• The index evaluates ten indicators including nutrition, child mortality, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, and basic assets.

• Common deprivations include lack of clean cooking fuel, inadequate housing, poor sanitation, undernutrition, and lack of electricity.

• Many countries have reduced multidimensional poverty, with 76 of 88 countries with comparable data showing progress at least once.

• The report highlights a growing connection between poverty and climate vulnerability, with poorer populations often facing the highest environmental risks.

United Nations Development Programme. (2025). Global multidimensional poverty index 2025. https://hdr.undp.org/content/2025-global-multidimensional-poverty-index-mpi

The Tomato Shrimp Bisque (Camp Cooking)

Who doesn’t love tomato and shrimp bisque? Unlike a traditional bisque, I skipped the milk—partly because I didn’t have any, but also because I wanted to avoid the extra dairy. Instead, I added a little more water, spices, and a bouillon cube to deepen the flavor. Because of that, the bisque turned out more red than the usual orange color you’d expect from a classic bisque.

I added garlic and onions, along with extra vegetables like peas and carrots. A little olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, pepper, and a few other spices helped round out the flavor. I also did something a bit unconventional and added noodles. It actually worked really well.

In the end, it became something of a cross between a bisque and a light shrimp chili—still brothy and simple, but with a bit more substance. It is something good on cold winter nights. 

It’s very easy to make. Just add everything to a pot, bring it to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer. Stir occasionally until the shrimp are fully cooked, the vegetables are tender, and the flavors develop the depth you want.

One thing you realize when you start cooking more is that many dishes begin with a base. From there, you can adjust and experiment however you like. Once you understand the base of a dish, you can start changing it and making it your own.

 

Plastics, Environment and Neuroligical Disease as Something to Think About in Environmental Sustainability

Plastics are everywhere—our TVs, cups, bottles, and countless other products. They’ve become deeply woven into modern life, so the solution isn’t simply to get rid of them. Instead, we need better materials and better systems. That could mean developing plastics that don’t break down into harmful particles, improving recycling, reusing more items, or building city systems that keep waste out of the environment (Wouldn't that be nice with some of preventable spillages.). It would be a major step forward if our waterways and wildlife weren’t constantly exposed to plastic pollution.

(Illustrative Only)

Even if they are 0 calories
and no carbs they may not be
healthy for you!

Awareness matters. When people understand the issue, they can push for alternatives and support innovation. We spend money on many things as a society including domestic and foreign issues, yet investment in safer, sustainable materials often lags behind. One breakthrough in plastic design could reduce environmental and health risks on a large scale—especially if companies see long-term profit developing something sustainable rather than short-term gain.

Plastics aren’t “the enemy,” and early on, no one/few predicted today’s issues. But research now suggests plastics may contribute to environmental damage and potentially to health concerns, including neurological or other disorders. We can’t ignore that evidence. Even if there’s debate, the growing body of research points toward real impacts. Is it enough? That is up to you....

Ultimately, we each have to weigh the benefits plastics bring against the harm they may cause. They have done much good and much bad. Simple steps—like reusing cups, utensils, and containers—can reduce our own contribution. A drop in the bucket. And at a broader level, we have a responsibility to support solutions that protect both current and future generations.

This study highlights some plastics issues,

Scientists uncover nanoplastics in brain tissue and question their role in neurological disease

• Researchers have identified nanoplastics in human brain tissue, showing that these particles can cross biological barriers and accumulate in the central nervous system.
• Findings suggest possible links between nanoplastics, neuroinflammation, and proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases, though causation is not yet established.
• Scientists emphasize the need for further research to understand exposure pathways, long-term effects, and how these particles may influence neurological health.

Malesu, V. K. (2026, February 17). Scientists uncover nanoplastics in brain tissue and question their role in neurological disease. News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260217/Scientists-uncover-nanoplastics-in-brain-tissue-and-question-their-role-in-neurological-disease.aspx