Why Shared Values Matter More Than Ever

(Illustrative Only).

These are members of the hypothetical
Feather Party reaffirming
their commitment to the Constitution, 
three independent legs of government,
and serving the people by
upholding social contracts. 
They have concerns they may
go on a list somewhere
for believing in certain
self-evident truths or thiinking
independently from current dynamics..
 However, they believe it is important
to serve people and help their country.
The Constitution

Just in case you wanted to 
know what a Social contract was
What is a Social Contract?(Article)

*The hypothetical Feather Party
is philosophical discussion
on coordinating independents
and doesn't exist at this time.
It is an exploration of the
potential impact of a third party.
 The learning party doesn't 
work with special interests, 
caps donations, and 
doesn't allow straight
party votes. They want
each person to vote their
conscious through
an agreed upon decision making
matrix. Would it work?

It’s important to learn how to build systems that work well for everyone. Societies depend on shared values and rights that protect all people equally. The hypothetical story of the Clan is meant to teach how things can go wrong when those values are ignored or not of importance. We can learn to better support our systems by bringing in new perspectives and ideas outside of the two party system that often vets those ideas.

In the story, a minority family was targeted so others could benefit from them. What was taken from them wasn’t just material—it could affect their family for generations. Some of the people involved even worked with a few court officials they knew professionally and socially to protect themselves and enrich their friends. Those they disageed with, challenged wrongdoing or blew the whistle were not safe from the harm, and corrections were slow or nonexistent.

Some who took part also committed other wrongdoings in other incidents and were given easy deals to hide the bigger issues. The main lesson isn’t about the Clan itself but about the failure of oversight and the lack of values that allowed misconduct to continue. When hate and corruption take over, even basic rights and constitutional protections can be ignored. In theory. Remember its a philosophical example.

Let us explore a more modern example, questions about Epstein’s island. Many documents appeared, people asked questions, and investigations closed. Some think foreign influence may have been involved on the island. Maybe it’s true, maybe not. Without independent investigation (free from party influences of either side), we may never know. This doesn’t mean everyone, or anyone, who knew the couple or visited the island did something wrong, but the risk of intentional manipulation to visitors has a reasonable possibility (Agree or disagree? That is your choice).

Even with these concerns, many good people and officials act with honesty every day. They deserve our respect and support. Strong checks and balances, training, diverse recruitment, and community trust help keep institutions healthy. Yes, there is bad in the world, but there is a lot of good too.

So what do we do? We elect leaders with strong values—people who care deeply about their country, their oaths, and the common good. Will real change happen? Maybe. Is it needed? That is up to you. Time will tell. No matter how one decides we must stay hopeful and trust that the next generation will continue the work and avoid the mistakes we made. Hope is essential.

Your patriotic job is to be a good person: support what is right, value integrity over partisanship, respect others, strengthen your community, share your independent thoughts and pass on good values to your children. When values disappear, history shows that societies can fall off track. They sometimes never find the path again so be careful with your votes and your time.

Be your best self version. Think carefully about what you believe. Support the people and principles that move us forward. You are part of a national family—help yourself, help your neighbors, and work for a better future. Most o all vote your conscience and be informed enough to cast that vote wisely. Vote like your children’s and grandchildren’s futures depend on it—because they might.

*This is a philosphical discussion so take with a grain of salt, rearrange the elements, and come to your own conclusion. There is no right or wrong as long as you have thought about it yourself and came to your own conclusion. 

Firefighting Drags and Carries (Firefighting Video)

Volunteer firefighting is a true donation of time and effort to the community. The men and women who do this type of work foster and contribute to a better society. Because of that commitment, ongoing training is essential. One useful way to train is by watching instructional videos—especially when you already have enough hands-on experience to visualize how each technique translates into real-life situations.

What stood out in this particular video is the simplicity and practicality of the methods shown. The webbing pieces they use are common, and the way they assemble both harnesses and body straps to carry a person is straightforward and effective. After watching the process a few times, you realize how quickly these tools can be made in the moment, even under pressure. Many firefighters already carry webbing and a carabiner, so they typically have the basic gear needed to create these setups.

I also appreciated the demonstration of using a Halligan as a step to climb into a window. By tying webbing to the tool and pulling it tight, it becomes a secure foothold—and the equipment can then be pulled up with it. It’s a clever, practical solution that shows how versatile standard tools can be.

If You Want to Donate

If you're interested in supporting an outstanding Upper Peninsula firefighting department and team, feel free to contact me to the right and I can connect you with the right people. Donations would be tax-deductible. This department is noteworthy for bucking national trends: it has a remarkably strong group of young volunteers—far more than most fire departments. Their success might offer a valuable model for any other department wondering how to engage and involve younger generations in community service. Most departments are struggling in this regard. 

The Unemployment Rate December 2025 (Zak Thinks of Ways To Hedge Technology and Participation for Shipbuilding))

(Illustrative Only)

Zak likes to build ships.
He has a crew of different
types of people and knows
how to increase employment
and participation. 
He hedges diversity, taps
natural motivation and 
trains. He understands
economics and knows his
workers are more than numbers
so he tries to stay engaged,
be a listening ear, attend their
kids bday parties and lets
employees determine 
where to donate 15% of
company profits to help
the people.

He wants to bring manufacturing 
back to our communities by
fostering entrepreneurship.
Believes most ideas are thrown
away because of partisanship
and special interests influence.
Change is needed as we have a use
for new ships but we struggle to
fundamentally adapt and 
improve competitiveness.
Midwest Manufacturing

He joined the hypothetical
Feather Party of free
minded thinkers who 
want a more direct
connection to the 
decisions in government. 
He thinks his model
could help boost 
GDP, raise wages, 
and maintain competitiveness
with new technology and a new
way of thinking. 
Sometimes people who bring new ideas
are often ripe for mistreatment. 
He doesn't care because
he wants to help his
nation and answers to
the needs of the people.
Freedom of thought is
fundamental to our futures.
Economic Development
Through Needs Fulfillment

*the hypthetical Feather Party
does not exist at this time in history.
It is a philosophical discussion
on collecting independent 
thinkers for political service,
not working with special interests,
using agreed upon decision making
matrix and capping donations
to improve decision making at 
the top for the next generation
through the use of critical 
thinking, evidence, ethics and
upholding social contracts.
They seek to tip votes and 
bring new options. It is not against
but for.

The December 2025 employment report indicates a relatively stable labor market. There isn’t much new hiring, but there also aren’t major layoffs, which suggests a steady—though not strong—environment. Hours worked declined slightly, while wages increased slightly, both of which are notable trends.

Going forward, it’s important to watch which industries are expanding and which are contracting. Services remain essential, but growth in manufacturing and new product development would be a positive sign, as those sectors contribute to innovation and value creation. Different types of service growth can also reveal deeper market shifts, since industries with higher profitability—such as healthcare and elder care—tend to attract more workers and investment. Time and trend will determine if it is short or long lived.

The labor force participation rate is another key indicator. A higher rate means more people are working, which strengthens economic performance. Ideally, technology would support an increase in the number of workers involved in the economy, even if hours per worker fall. This becomes especially important as the overall population declines, since participation and GDP growth are closely connected.

It would also be beneficial to see increased participation among populations traditionally considered minorities. That represents untapped human capital, and greater engagement would bring new perspectives, stronger performance, higher tax contributions, and overall economic growth.

These areas—industry shifts, participation rates, and broader inclusion—represent some of the main challenges and opportunities moving forward.

BEA The Employment Situation December 2025

• Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by about 50,000 in December 2025, showing modest job growth.

• The unemployment rate remained at 4.4 percent with little change from the previous month.

• Job gains were concentrated in food services, health care, and social assistance, while retail trade lost jobs.

• For all of 2025, employment rose by 584,000 jobs, averaging 49,000 per month—slower than in 2024.

• Average hourly earnings continued to rise, reflecting ongoing wage growth.

• Employment figures from previous months were revised downward.

• A federal government shutdown caused missing household survey data for October 2025, affecting some comparisons.

• Labor force participation rate: 62.4%.

• Unemployment rates by race/ethnicity: White 3.5%, Black or African American 6.7%, Hispanic or Latino 5.2%, Asian 3.8%.

How It’s Calculated (U.S. Standard)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates the unemployment rate as:
(Number of unemployed people ÷ civilian labor force) × 100

Additional Link:

Unemployment Trading Economics Site

The Rocky Pier Picture

 If your interested in this picture send me a message to the right. Send me a message to the right. Let me know what your range is and what I can print for you. Since I do this for fun I will work with you to get you what you want.  I can call this one the Rocky Pier. Taken a few weeks ago on a nice sunny day. 

Rocky Pier

The Mystery of Mueller's Delicious Pizza Cheese (Word on the Street Escanaba)

(Illustrative Only)
Tony loves Muellers Pizza
and ran off with a piece 
to see why it tastes so good.
He paid his bill and asked
 for a doggy bag and 
put a slice in it, and shoved
it in his jacket hopeing no
one would see him. He
barely escaped without
being detected by
acting normal. 🙃
 

Tony had an unusual fascination with Mueller’s Pizza. No matter where he traveled—Paris, Rome, Toledo—the moment he rolled into town, he sprinted to Mueller’s like a man who hadn’t eaten in weeks. He’d sit down, take one bite of that glorious cheese, and immediately wonder why it tasted better than every pizza he’d ever had, including the fancy ones with ingredients he couldn’t pronounce.

(This story is more for fun but the actual story 'Word on the Street' section is labeled below. This story is inspired from the actual.)

Determined to solve the mystery, Tony launched a full-scale investigation. He tried cheese spectroscopy, cheese DNA testing, cheese genealogy—basically everything but hiring a private detective in a mozzarella-colored trench coat. Nothing worked.

Then one day, a tiny old lady who’d lived in town since dinosaurs roamed the Earth whispered a clue. The cheese, she said, came from special Wisconsin cows—legendary cows—raised by a man she once knew, who crafted cheese so good it could make a statue shed a tear. She even told Tony where to look.

So Tony packed up his dog sled—because why not its winter—and mushed his way to Wisconsin. He interrogated cheese factories across the state. Most of them shrugged. A few offered brochures. One tried to sell him curds in bulk for his trip home.

At last, he stumbled upon a small artisan cheese maker. A true cheese wizard. A shaman and wise man of cutting the cheese. A man who understood flavor, texture, and the emotional journey of dairy. He told Tony, “This isn’t just one cheese. This… is three cheeses. Slow cooked. Blended like a symphony. And made only for them.”

Tony begged. He pleaded. He tried every tactic short of bribing him with breadsticks. But the craftsman refused to reveal the recipe. And so Tony returned home defeated, his quest unfulfilled.

But he learned something along the way: Mueller’s pizza is one of a kind. That’s why it’s a beloved icon of Escanaba. So if you ever find yourself in town, stop by Mueller’s. The staff is friendly, the cheese is ridiculously unique, and great memories put the whole place together (I used to work there doing delivery as a teen).

Word on the Street: Word on the street is that someone wanted to discover why Mueller's cheese was so delicious. They saw a cheese label, went to Wisconsin, and traced the cheese back to its source. There, they found that the cheese was a slow-cooked, flavorful multi-Wisconsin cheese made just or them—and that’s what gives it its unique taste. (Could be true or untrue but that is the basic story.)

*A few people were standing around talking about the delicious unique taste of Muellers Pizza and we thought it would be an interesting idea to share Escanaba unwritten stories. Write the true story in 'Word on the Street" and then make a fun narrative. It might help some of our local businesses as well gain exposure for some of the local legends history that doesn't make it into the books. Muellers is a local icon and many people have good memories there. If you have an interesting possibly true legend you heard from a few different people about Escanaba send me a message to the right.  Al Capone up next...

Stanford Economic Projections 2026 (Sally Thinks of Solutions and Concerns)

(Illustrative Only)
Sally joined the hypthetical
Feather Party that doesn't
exist at this time in history.
It's a philosophical discussion on 
a third party of independents
that do not work with special
interest, cap donations and vote based
on an agreed upon annual
 decision making matrix. Each member is 
encouraged to vote their 
conscious and party line
votes are not allowed. 
It might be nice for
the young to develop their own party
and raise their own concerns.
 
She remembers growing up
poor and wants to help others.
She is tired of the political
stagnation and lack of 
focus on what matters. 
She believes the dream should still
live on but that will require
a new way of thinking about
a modern world.

She knows people need opportunities
and she supports small local businesses,
education, the arts
as well as the redevelopment of
small towns through export
oriented products.

Her economic research tells
her that a balance of different
types and sizes of businesses in the market
makes more sense but she
has a hard time getting through
to other politicians who are 
caught in their older ways of thinking.
In some cases financial interests.

She thinks it is time for change 
and wanted to work with other free people to
solve the problems entrenched
interests have historically struggled with.
She supports broad based capitalism
rooted in performance and merit
and not the most connected.
Money needs to flow more freely from the top 
to the botton and she can't think of any better
way than to foster entrepreneurship
and adjust government policy.

The shift in labor growth from production to service also suggests we may not be as
 innovative and productive
in new products as we should be to increase
growth beyond what emerging
markets have done. In theory, an emerging
market within a stable seasoned market
through economic cluster development.
Something emerging markets might not be
able to do because they can't hedge
an existing mature business infrastructure
to support smaller creative destructions
of innovative development.

Similarly, connected folks hanging
on an island further solidifies the concern 
over social influence on economic exchange
as well as decision making capacity.
She would like an independent
investigation into foreign influence on the island. 
It could present an unkwown
 economic and social risk.

Her hope is to serve average people through
a more direct line to get their voices heard.
She knows she will be a target for doing
the right thing to help her people but honor
is important here.

Each member comes with their own
perspective and they
can work within the same party.
It is ok to disagree with each. If you
don't like what Sally thinks vote for
a different free minded thinker.
Its simple. You vote the quality of character, 
the ideas, and the solutions.

*For philosophical discussion.

2026 is shaping up to be an interesting year as various policies and changes begin to show their long-term effects. Some people will see these policies as beneficial, while others will disagree, and economic research will play a key role in helping clarify which approaches work best. Real-world outcomes will also reveal the value of different economic ideas, and perspectives will naturally vary across different schools of thought. 

There are many outside factors that can’t be controlled, and those will shape results as well. Projections are useful because they help outline what the coming year might look like, but they are never perfect. They rely on past behavior, and unexpected events can shift assumptions quickly. COVID altered long-standing expectations, and AI technologies are reshaping them again, so even the most reasonable forecast can change based on what actually happens. It is normal.

The best approach is to read broadly, stay informed about how policies interact with economic conditions, and form your own conclusions as new information emerges. I like this projection. It seems well rounded.

The following bullet points are taken from US Economy 2026 Stanford Projections

• U.S. economic growth remained solid in 2025 thanks to consumer spending, real wages and stock market gains, but uncertainty persists on key fronts.

• Federal Reserve faces a stagflation challenge in 2026 if inflation stays above target while job growth weakens, complicating interest rate policy.

• Decisions about tariffs — and whether the administration maintains or rolls back the current high tariff regime — will significantly influence prices and domestic production costs.

• AI’s impact on the workforce has been limited so far; adoption remains uneven and full effects on jobs and productivity will unfold over many years.

• Labor market shows slower job growth and rising unemployment, with modest growth expected in 2026 but downside risks remain, including potential effects from AI adoption.

• Health care costs have become central politically, with recent policy shifts leading to higher insurance premiums for many Americans and likely shaping reform debates.

• Rising federal deficits and debt present fiscal challenges, with debt service costs poised to increase and crowd out other spending.

• Financial markets show signs of a possible AI-related valuation bubble, with stock prices of AI-exposed firms high relative to fundamentals; a correction could dampen growth.

• Affordability concerns (housing, health care, utilities, etc.) remain politically salient, with debates over regulatory barriers and policy solutions likely affecting 2026 outcomes.

• Electricity price increases, driven by multiple factors including grid costs and demand, contribute to cost-of-living pressures and are difficult to resolve quickly. 

Learning from the Clan: A Philosophical Story on How to Stand for What is Right (Lady Justice Imprisoned In Body and They to Dancing Shadows)

The Story of the Clan is important because it shows why institutions must have strong checks and balances to function at an optimum. This hypothetical, philosophical story illustrates how hate, bigotry, corruption, and coordinated misconduct can emerge when conditions are ripe. Take with a grain of salt to spark thought. In the story, victims were targeted for years, and many people knew it was happening. A few corrupted officers, conflicts of interest in the courts, and systemic bias rooted in partisan beliefs and attitudes toward certain religions, races and values allowed the behavior to continue for years with 5 waves of hate.

(Illustrative Only)
Lady Justice as 
a victim and
a prisoner of
hate and corruption.
They didn't like her 
opinion that all
are created equal and
endowed with rights.
The body and spirit are different
forms.
Another retaliation list.

She is imprisoned and gaged for
standing for justice while
they are imprisoned to
the dancing shadows on the wall.

The Hidden Meaning
Allegory of the Cave

These bad actors do not represent the many good officials who serve their communities with integrity. Most are heroes who deserve support and we can give that to them through reform with checks and balances. The perpetrators in this case are not those trustworthy souls but the corrusive parasites on the good intentions of justice. Meaningful reform would reinforce good officials work by removing harmful individuals while protecting civil liberties and human rights. Unfortunately, that reform has been slow, even though it would ultimately increase trust, reduce crime through community collaboration and strengthen human capital. Confusion on purpose. Slow and unimpactful seems intentional and wrongdoing is rarely corrected.  Not what our forefathers and mothers would have envisioned when they wrote in certain guarantees-that should never have been so cheaply auctioned to the first partisan bidder or unchecked hate group. There is a reason why they are undermining the rest of us.

The value of this story is that it shows how social and political networks can distort justice outcomes. When people repeatedly turn a blind eye to misconduct in order to favor their race, religion, political perspective, friend group, or ideological circle, injustice becomes normalized. In this story, victims had few rights, children weren’t protected, the elderly were manipulated, corrupted officials coached perpetrators, allegations of sexual misconduct, coordinated bullying, and other self-serving behaviors. Freedom of religion and speech openly violated. Hate incentivized through backroom deals with sweetheart arrangements to avoid accountability. Yet decision-makers did not correct in what a reasonable person would see as neglectful collusion. A type of low grade coordinated cleaning, there are other words to describe this behavior. The goal was to eradicate a family for financial gain. Victim rights now a dirty word! Another list....

Eventually, the truth enters the collective conscience, and declining trust becomes a natural consequence. They don't care about longterm implications as they have been immunized. The smallest compromise comes forward to please the political interests but the root of the problem remains. We may need a new generation of leadership with greater commitment to The People and stop the madness of intentionally dark decision making. Our forefathers/mothers reminded us of the need for new generations to protect against exactly this. It is always wiser to govern with a broad moral perspective and uphold the oaths, rights, and principles that should never be discarded for personal or ideological gain. It makes no difference one's personal perspective or which political persuasion as these issues are bigger and broader and more important than their needs. It is generational.

Even so, people engaged in wrongdoing often provoke others, use aggression, and retaliate when boundaries are asserted. When people ask them to do what is right and want their boundaries respected the perpetrators call allies (corrupted officials and flying monkey friends), file false complaints, coordinate stories, and rely on a system that has historically had its moments of conflicts of interest to protect insiders. A closed system. Not always but sometimes. Complaints about such behavior have long fallen on deaf ears even though they are against the grain of why the country was started and the liberties that were supposed to be protected at all costs. Some are not doing their jobs in serving the people.

The best way to protect future generations is to reinforce a higher moral conscience—something that becomes difficult when people believe that certain “out-group” members deserve no rights or value. Doing the right thing is not particularly popular in certain circles right now. Dehumanization apparent and unfortunately the decision to foster wrongdoing clear. Collectivization sets in. The victims know they must protect others. The behavior seen beyond disgusting. They stand in peace and kindness. Shielding wrongdoing for years creates second-class citizens, even when those citizens have contributed more to their country than their persecutors ever will. Or the self focused decision makers. Hate and corruption are powerful forces, especially when some of those missusing authority forget the meaning of it all and why we are here. Generation to generation contracts need to be preserved.

"Injustice often arises... through chicanery, that is, through an over-subtle and even fraudulent construction of the law." - Aristotle

*This is a learning story that one can ponder on what a worse case scenario might look like. You can change around the elements and come to your own conclusion. No right or wrong answer in philosophy. Feel free to discard as philosophical dribble.