The Story of the Clan: Why Morality Still Matters to the Development of Society? (Educating the Mind and Heart)

Let us discuss the importance of morality to society through a learning story. One such example is a hypothetical, theoretical, philosophical thought experiment entitled The Story of the Clan. The clan is a group of people associated through friendship and employment, but they also exert influence over local institutions that impact justice outcomes. The story is one of moral exploration for yourself and for society.

"Educating the mind without
educating the heart is
 no education at all."-Aristotle

In this example the vast majority are good faithful people serving their community but it takes a few bad apples with no checks and balances to throw off the balance of the system (a risk that could be avoided). Since it is a learning thought experiment we can sort of explore some of these dangers in a safe way so find your own conclusions and create your own judgements. There is no right or wrong answer as long as you thought about it.

Over time, the clan becomes skilled at creating narratives about others. They have a long history of bullying and targeting people, initially through subtle “wink and nod” behaviors that are quietly tolerated. Eventually, these actions escalate into full-blown corruption, and some members are later caught engaging in serious wrongdoing in other places. Given sweetheart deals to protect the clan and avoid positive adaptation of the system (Negligence of multiple duties and oaths).

What is important to note is that these behaviors were not unknown. Whistleblowers and victims came forward repeatedly with concerns and evidence. Instead of being protected or taken seriously, they were dismissed, marginalized, or, in some cases, placed on secretive lists for community removal. Even individuals who had served their community and society honorably were treated as expendable if they threatened the clan’s interests in defense of the health of the whole society.

The central objective of clan aligned officials was never to support society as a whole, but rather to protect the clan itself. Loyalty to the group outweighed truth, justice, and the well-being of the broader community. This dynamic illustrates how institutions can fail when they prioritize self-interest over public responsibility. The good news is that good, noble, honorable, and patriotic officials and people reversed the trend knowing it is in everyone's interest to support morality.

This story teaches an important lesson about the necessity of placing people in positions of authority who are committed to a societal mission rather than personal or group power. From the founding of the country to the present day, there has been an ongoing pursuit of freedom and a better future. People will sometimes derail that but research has shown in general society is improving. 

Morality plays a critical role in whether a society can successfully achieve those goals. A commitment to ethics, fairness, integrity, and community helps attract talent, build trust, and sustain social cohesion. Social and economic development can result from doing the right thing and creating a sense of direction. Without these moral foundations, even strong institutions can erode and lose sight of the purpose they were meant to serve.

You can read the information below in the following article on how morality impacts economics Why moral leadership matters now more than ever

• Moral leadership is in high demand but short supply, and it significantly enhances business performance and workplace relationships—managers who exhibit strong moral leadership build stronger connections with colleagues and help organizations orient toward long-term success rather than just formal authority or short-term metrics.

• Moral authority must be earned through behaviour, not title, and in a world shaped by crisis and uncertainty, moral leaders build trust, inspire others, and help people find meaning in their work, making it essential for organizations to invest in fostering a culture of moral leadership.

Botanical Pond Photography

 

You may be interested in this picture I took a few days ago. I gave it the name Botanical Ponds. I can create various print sizes so send me a message to the right. Somewhere around $60 with free shipping.  Could be a little less or more depending on the size you want.

I can also get on a few products if you want. 

Escanaba City Council Meetng (January 15th, 2026): Boilers, Solar Rays, and The Downtown

Paying attention to what is happening in local governance helps one understand how things are forming and coming out. A few things came forward that was interesting to watch. 

 Boilers, Whitetail Solar Farm, 26'-27' Fiscal Budget, marketing, etc.

January 15th, 2026 City Council Meeting

Rethinking Strength Training: Why I Shifted to Lower Weights and Higher Reps (Fitness Training)

(Illustrative)
A few thoughts come to mind
when thinking of fitness:
Consistency
Stressing the body
Lung capacity
Balance
Stabalizer muscles
Recovery
Protein
Variety
Fiber
Gyms in Escanaba

Recently, I’ve adjusted my workout routine to include higher repetitions at lower weight. There are several reasons why this approach can be beneficial.

First, there is the issue of injury prevention. I haven’t had a workout-related injury in a long time, but by training at around 70% of maximum effort and focusing on volume rather than maxing out, the risk of tearing or damaging muscles, tendons, or ligaments is reduced. I know many bodybuilders who have ended up needing knee replacements or other medical interventions simply because they consistently overloaded their bodies until, one day, something gave out.

Second, lower weights with higher repetitions tend to involve a stronger cardiovascular component. Your lungs adapt by becoming more efficient at taking in and using oxygen, which is especially important if you participate in sports or endurance-based activities. Oxygen capacity often plays a major role in overall endurance and performance.

There are also studies suggesting that lower weight, higher repetition training can be just as effective—or in some cases more efficient—for building muscle than one- or two-rep maximum lifts. If that’s true, the resulting muscle may also have greater density and functional strength.

Overall, this approach seems to make sense if your goals are to reduce body fat, build or maintain muscle, improve endurance, and lower the risk of injury. Compared to the traditional high-weight, low-rep style of training, lower weights with higher reps offer a balanced and sustainable alternative.

I have a fitness trainer license and can help you achieve your goals. Consider sending me a message to the right and we can set something up. Staying in shape is much related to having a sense of direction and consistent. A personal coach can make a diffference. 

The Benefits of Lower Weights and Higher Reps.

Detroit Capital Hub: A Few Thoughts On Adapting to Rural Places Like Escanaba (Tomas is Thinking About How to Help Whippersnappers Launch Businesses)

This article came up the other day on an entreprenurial hub in Detroit, and as I read it, I started thinking about how its ideas might apply to places like Escanaba, Michigan—communities that are becoming emerging hotspots. For those unfamiliar with Escanaba, it is a vacation destination that truly experiences all four seasons. Right now, residents are navigating winter, which I’m sure has been a memorable experience over the past few days. Beyond frolicking in the snow there are also interesting things happening and learning how other places foster entrepreneurship is helpful. 

(Illusrative Only)
Tomas has run many
business, read books, and is
a successful angel investor. Jane 
wants a mentor to ask questions
about her new Widgets business
on ludington St. that attracts tourists
and serves her local community.
Many of her products are exported. 
She wants someone to bounce ideas
off. She knows Tomas
has the experience, kind of a crusty
 salty dog and he likes
giving back to these young 
whippersnappers.
He comes down to meet them
in a group once a month to 
talk shop. Incentivized by
free donuts and coffee!

There has been meaningful new investment in the Delta County area. Downtown has seen growth, the marina has expanded, and there has been industrial investment as well. Most importantly, the community itself is coming together to build something special. That matters because economics has both a social dimension and an economic one, with the economic side largely derived from social factors. Decision-making sits at the center of this relationship, as economics is fundamentally about how decisions are made.

One could even extend this discussion into neuroeconomics, which examines the cultural and emotional precursors to economic decisions. There are certain root assumptions that lead to purchase lines and that is similar to how psychographics can be used to attract customer (Yikes sorry I go down a path sometimes....😬) However, that level of analysis is not the point here. The real focus is on observing what is working in other places and asking whether similar approaches might make sense locally. 🤷

For example, in a hubs (keep in mind the hub and economic clustering this blog talks about), supporting entrepreneurship requires intentional outreach. That might include creating accessible web resources, forming local groups focused on entrepreneurship, and hosting discussions where local leaders—or even speakers from outside the region—share how they started their businesses. It also means helping entrepreneurs navigate red tape, identify financing options, and find appropriate spaces to operate.

Beyond startup support, long-term success depends on helping these businesses grow sustainably. This is where small and existing businesses can work together to improve outcomes for everyone by developing export-oriented markets. The more products and services that can be sold beyond the local area—especially through collaborative efforts or associations—the more revenue flows back into the community. Increased sales lead to higher tax revenue, which can then be reinvested locally, reinforcing a positive cycle of economic development.

A summary of the Detroit article that highlights some of the features. A few key points (I did this summary using AI because I was playing with information synthesis. Seems fairly useful.)

• Detroit Capital Hub is an online platform that connects Detroit entrepreneurs and small business owners with local CDFI lenders.
• It was developed by the City of Detroit and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation to simplify access to capital.
• The Hub matches businesses with CDFIs offering loans ranging from about $1,000 to $250,000.
• Participating lenders collectively provide millions of dollars annually to support small business growth.
• The platform also helps entrepreneurs access technical assistance and business support resources.

Detroit Capital Hub connects entrepreneurs, small businesses with Detroit CFDI lenders

Safeguarding Justice: Lessons from a Hypothetical Collapse

Continuing the discussion on the story of the clan and how corruption impacts society, those impacts can be economic or social in nature, but they are often a mixture of both because the two phenomena are deeply connected. This is why challenging corruption leads to social development and economic enhancements. When corruption is used to promote in-group wealth while simultaneously suppressing social participation, it creates a compounding harm that naturally affects the broader society. Time will answer that question....

(Illustrative)
Corruption can actually be traced
and successfully challenged
with knowledge. Having
better management of complaints that
can give information for improvement
 and protecting whistleblowers
 is important. Those that
don't have a reason they don't.

In the story of the clan—which is a hypothetical, philosophical thought experiment illustrating a near total failure of justice—a corrupted judge works alongside corrupted officials and a pseudo-group of bigots (not a full definition because most might be descent people but cultic clans are often run by a few personalities) to deliberately target people. While the story highlights racial and religious differences as key motivators, political differences can also serve as triggers for similar abuses in the future. These tight, insular social networks allowed manipulation of the system and fostered a sense of entitlement over institutional outcomes, as well as over what they defined as “local.”

However, their definition of “local” had nothing to do with people who had lived there for generations, nor with genuine community belonging. Instead, it was rooted in deeply embedded perceptions of superiority over others. Racial, religious, political and social perceptions determined "local". This mindset enabled exclusion, domination, and abuse under the guise of authority. It was going on for years and victims, whistleblowers, concerned officials were simply forced silent and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Eventually, the clan court was exposed because the evidence against them became overwhelming. They placed witnesses on target lists, ran through moral red lights, and neglected the fundamental societal protections earned over generations of struggles. They fabricated intentional stories against the victims, permitted people including clan officers to become aggressive and potentionally violent. They issued threats. They endangered children. They manipulated the elderly. They mistreated good people. They operated without any meaningful checks or balances within the system. None of this happened by accident—it was systematic and deliberate.

At the same time, if we are willing to recognize what is wrong, we must also recognize what is right. The vast majority—80%, 90%, even 99%—of officers and officials do the right thing. They act with honor and nobility. They are our heros who helped to start the process of reversing the wrongdoing (In our story it will be reversed and corrected as the obligation to protect future victims is more than the obligation to protect hate networks or corruption.) We want to recruit more diverse people into these roles and see them succeed, because most of them are fundamentally good people committed to public service.

However, the problem arises when the bad actors are allowed to continue their behavior without correction. Religious freedom, freedom of speech, illegal serach and seisure, and lots of other fundamental rights were thrown away. When misconduct goes unaddressed, it creates a fundamental breakdown. These actions violate human and civil rights and misuse taxpayer resources for grotesque and criminal purposes. There is a difference between the purpose of law and how it is applied by highly socialized practitioners. Thus, philosophy can help you find the true north.

Such behavior rarely exists in isolation. In this story, corruption was also found in other areas, and some of the same actors faced consequences elsewhere—often receiving sweetheart deals when caught. Other victims have expressed their concern only to be ignored and witnesss and whistleblowers silenced through coordinated harm thereby allowing the network to continue. This tells us that the patterns are known and that similar forms of corruption have been challenged by others within and outside those networks.

As we become aware in this thought experiment of a court defaulting on justice, we also become aware of the risks involved. These situations often begin with small initial failures that, if left uncorrected, evolve into larger and more entrenched defaults. History shows that once systems reach this stage, meaningful correction becomes far more difficult. This is why multiple opportunities to correct were often ignored because it is easiest to put it on the victims (by intent). It creates much broader long term risks that could have been avoided if leadership had a higher moral conscious.

The good news is that the vast majority of people still believe in doing what is right. Many are willing to think critically about these issues. Most importantly, this story is meant as a learning tool. You do not have to agree with it. You can discard it, change its elements, or reinterpret it entirely. If it saves just one more victim, or helps the next targets overcome neglect of duty, then it has done its job. Maybe its in this example or maybe it is somewhere else. 

The sole purpose of the story is to encourage thoughtful reflection on institutional integrity—on what it takes to preserve rights, protect future generations, honor past sacrifices, and continue the cause of freedom. It is not meant to provide a definitive conclusion, but rather to prompt you to reach your own. Honor that which is doing well and correct that which is dysfunctional. Be knowledgeable of the current trust levels in the polls and elect people who have a commitment beyond party and to the success of the nation. Be kind and peaceful and share your expectations of what you think would be most helpful for society.

If you believe these failures do not exist, that is acceptable. If you believe they do exist and that institutional trust erodes when they are ignored, that is also acceptable. What matters is being purposeful in your thinking. And if you see room for improvement, then the responsibility lies in electing and placing people in positions who can strengthen these systems—not undermine them, not weaken them, but improve them—so that it becomes easier to hold bad actors accountable while protecting the rights of those who do the right thing. 

Since this story is for learning purposes one might want to see what some of the experts say and what their studies reveal. Learning is not always agreement so make your own decisions. 

Systemic Corruption as a Meso-Level Phenomenon: Severe Abuse and Strategic Gain

Research a WWII Veteran: The National WWII Museum

Illustrative of WWII 
Trench

Veterans are an essential part of our history. Across generations, they have served to help secure the freedoms many of us experience today. We cannot fully understand our future without knowing our past and making sense of the present.

At times, it is important to look back—to our fathers and mothers, our forefathers and foremothers—to better understand the sacrifices they made. Many families have relatives who served in World War II, and some of them, sadly, never returned. Their stories are part of our collective memory and deserve to be remembered.

This database offers an opportunity to search for the names of those who served and to learn more about their lives and service—details you may not have known before. For relatives, some of this information may be available at no cost.

If you are interested in learning more about your own family history, this database is worth visiting. Thank you for taking the time to explore and remember.

National WWII Veteran-Research a Veteran

*part of a different project for vets.