Why Can't They Be Just Like Us? (The hypothetical Feather Party)

That conversation at the club recently captures a frustration that resonates with a lot of people today. The idea that everyday citizens—with all their diverse backgrounds, mill workers and doctors alike—often manage to hash out practical solutions through conversation, while national politics feels trapped in a cycle of partisanship and special-interest funding, touches on a very real tension in modern democracy.

(Illustative Only)
Common Sense
from 
Common People.
We are good,
we are kind,
we want what
is best for others,
for our children,
and we work
out our differences
to ensure that happens.
We are a force of good
and truth.
Most of all
we cherish each
others lives, sorrows,
and joy. 
We are 'The People'

Why can't they be just like us? ...a question that rose to the top of conversation.

The hypothetical "Feather Party" thought experiment highlights a classic democratic ideal: that the ultimate safeguard of a society is the common sense, shared decency, and long-term perspective of everyday people who have to live with the consequences of political decisions. When people feel that the system is driven more by fundraising, party loyalty, foreign interests, special interests, and elite networks than by local realities, it’s natural to wonder what politics would look like if it were built from the ground up by independent thinkers who answer only to their communities.

Democracy should be ground up and not top down. Our forefathers and mothers warned us of this. (Whether it is or isn't is not the point, this is a discussion on possibilities.)

At the same time, turning that kind of philosophical idea into a functioning political reality comes with its own unique set of challenges. Independent movements often face huge structural hurdles—like ballot access laws, primary systems, and the sheer cost of modern campaigning—not to mention the challenge of building a unified legislative agenda when members have fundamentally different ideas about how to achieve society's best interests. Still, the underlying sentiment—that a healthy democracy relies on leaders who are connected to the everyday experiences of ordinary people—is a cornerstone of political debate.

If we can sit around and treat each other with kindness and maintain our loyalties and values why can't they? Vote your conscious for the best and brightest and not the most "vetted". Our future depends on it. 

*The hypothetical feather party is a philosophical learning discussion so take with a grain of salt and feel free to accept, reject or change. As long as you own it and your vote. 

Americans Prize Party Loyalty Over Democratic Principles

• Only 3.5% of U.S. voters would vote against their preferred candidate to punish them for undemocratic behavior.

• High political polarization causes voters to prioritize party goals over democratic norms.

• Candidates in most congressional districts can break democratic rules without losing enough votes to lose an election.

• Standard surveys overestimate real-world support for democracy because they ignore the political cost of voting across party lines.

Graham, M., & Svolik, M. (2020, August 11). Study: Americans prize party loyalty over democratic principles. Yale News. https://news.yale.edu/2020/08/11/study-americans-prize-party-loyalty-over-democratic-principles

Working on the Starting Block Dive (Swim Coaching)

 Coaching Update & Athlete Progress

I’m currently refining some fine-tune coaching techniques to help our swimmers level up—specifically focusing on dive mechanics.

(Illustrative Only)
The old fashion
way of learning
to swim. Days
Of the past.

Right now, we are working on optimizing block entries. A few of our athletes are entering the pool in slightly too much of an "L-shape," which creates unnecessary splash and drag. The hope is to help them adjust their entry angle to create a smaller footprint, maximize streamlined momentum, and find that "sweet spot"—not too shallow, and not so deep that momentum is wasted. We’re also perfecting their underwater transition: timing precisely when to initiate dolphin or flutter kicks and managing the exact distance before surfacing.

The dedicated focus is already paying off! Reviewing stats from last weekend’s meet, my athletes shaved 2 to 4 seconds off their times. In competitive swimming, cutting multiple seconds is a huge achievement, and seeing this kind of rapid progress is incredible.

Find your feet, take your mark, go!!!

I'm a certified fitness instructor, yoga trainer, firefighter, lifeguard, and play multiple sports so if you have interest in some fitness coaching/training let me know in the message box to the right. Likewise, if you would like to donate or support our team, let me know and I will gladly connect you with the right point of contact. 

Homemade BBQ Chicken (Cabin and Boat Cooking)

For those who love to cook, I thought this was a fun and interesting experiment. I recently made my own barbecue sauce because I had some chicken on hand.

(Illustrative Only) 

When you're cooking in a cabin or on a boat, you don't always have a fully stocked kitchen, so you stick to the basics and what works. Following traditional methods makes sense because they were developed over time by people outdoors who didn't have modern amenities. In many ways, I prefer keeping my cabin less updated—not just because it fits the rustic decor, but because I enjoy living with a bit of simplicity (It is not exactely roughing it but once I get a little money together to buy some acreage for my wooded hobby farm-as a current plan-I may put a trailer or winter tent out there while working on it and stay in my house just outside of town. Sort of glamping if I want to spend the night working on the property. There is going to be a lot of clearing, digging, building, etc. to set it up over a number years. Hopefully most of it hand done so when I pass it on to the next and after generation they can say "gramps built that by hand".).

Onto building supper.......

For the quick barbecue sauce, I used:

• Ketchup as the base

• A little pepper for kick

• A touch of honey for sweetness

• A little chili sauce

• A splash of Worcestershire sauce

• Garlic salt to taste

• A squeeze of fresh lemon for brightness

I mixed everything together, smeared it all over a whole half-chicken, and let it marinate for 24 hours so the skin and meat could fully soak up the flavors.

The next day, you can cook it in the oven, in a pan, or on the grill. Next time, I’m thinking about making the same marinated sauce and trying it over a burn barrel for smoking. As long as you use clean wood, a mesh top, and some tin foil, you can actually smoke-cook that chicken right over the fire. I imagine that smoky flavor combined with the spiced marinade would be incredible.

Looking for Wellness or Fitness Guidance? Eating well is a massive part of overall health—studies even show that nutrition can be more important than working out alone, though both are crucial.

As a licensed fitness trainer, yoga instructor, coach, firefighter, and athlete, I love helping people reach their goals. If you need any virtual coaching or advice, feel free to send me a message!

It is 35 Degrees Out and We are Still Horse Riding

It’s 35° out this morning, but I’m not foal-ing around—we had to get out on the trail! ❄️🐴

To be neigh-borly, full disclosure: these aren’t my horses. Owning one is a bit un-bridled for my wallet, so I just lease my buddy Ranger. He’s an un-stall-able partner, and honestly, I’d buy him in a heartbeat if his owners would pony up a sale price.

Lately, I’ve been trying to hold my horses during the canter. Balance is everything—especially when playing horseback sports or prepping for mounted hunting. Lean too far forward or back, and you're just stirrup-ing up trouble and bouncing out of the seat!

Delta County is packed with historic farms and fantastic riding trails. If you’re moving into the area, don’t rein it in—our equestrian community is super welcoming, and you'll make friends on stable ground in no time.

If you’ve been stuck at your desk all day, take this as your sign to saddle up and get outside!

And if you want to get your body in shape for riding, don't worry, I won't hold you back! Between being a personal trainer, yoga instructor, and firefighter, I can help you build the core, hip flexibility, and leg strength you need. Giddy-up into my DMs for virtual coaching! 🤠💪

A few good tips from this video....

NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI)-Housing as an Economic Indicator

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There was a time

when we didn't need

a complex maze of

construction codes for

simple structures

that seem to cater to construction

companies more than

individual builders. 

These two might 

have been able to 

build a house for 

under $10 grand

and another $15 grand

for a little forest. 

Just fyi on

housing economics. 

How the Fed studies and

 understands housing’s key

 role in the economy

Housing remains an important indicator of the nation’s economic health, reflecting not only the strength of the housing market but also the financial well-being of American families. Changes in home sales, construction activity, and housing affordability can offer insight into how households are managing rising costs and broader economic pressures.

The recent dip in housing market activity aligns with other economic indicators suggesting a shift in overall economic performance. Inflation, mortgage rates, construction costs, and the rising price of single-family homes continue to influence the housing market, making homeownership increasingly challenging for many families.

Economic policy may also play a role in these trends. While oversight and regulation can help maintain stability, excessive management of economic systems may create unintended consequences that affect growth and performance. Understanding these factors is important when evaluating the causes of changes in the housing market.

Ultimately, improving economic performance and addressing the nation’s debt remain important considerations for long-term stability. Housing affordability and construction costs should remain central to this discussion, as changes in the market directly affect the average family and their ability to achieve and maintain homeownership.

NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI)

• Measures U.S. homebuilder confidence in the single-family housing market.
• Evaluates current home sales, expected sales over the next six months, and prospective buyer traffic.
• Uses a 0–100 scale; scores above 50 indicate optimism, while scores below 50 indicate pessimism.
• Builder confidence is influenced by mortgage rates, construction costs, inflation, and housing affordability.
• Helps predict housing market trends and changes in residential construction.

National Association of Home Builders. (n.d.). NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/housing-economics/indices/housing-market-index

Firefighting: An Opportunity to Make a Difference

One might wonder whether firefighting could appeal to a new category of people—not just working-class and middle-class workers, but also young executives.

We often think of people as one-dimensional. If someone is a young executive just starting their career, we assume they need to spend their entire working life chained to a desk, as though that’s all they’re capable of doing. But we were built with bodies and physical capabilities, too.

Over the years, I’ve met many executives who are in excellent physical shape. They’re looking for opportunities not only to maintain their fitness but also to put it to constructive use. Firefighting could be an ideal way to do both.

Whether through part-time work or volunteering, firefighting offers an opportunity to serve the community. While you may not make much money doing it part-time or as a volunteer, the need for firefighters is significant—and growing in importance as climate change contributes to increasingly severe wildfires and other emergencies, often while department budgets are shrinking.

For some, firefighting might be a rewarding way to contribute on the side. For others, it could become a full-time career. The statistics below offer some interesting points to consider. Although overall firefighter numbers have been declining, the need for capable, well-trained firefighters certainly hasn’t disappeared, especially as we continue to see devastating forest fires and other emergencies.

I do some part-time firefighting myself, alongside other commitments, and I see firsthand how important these efforts are.

If you’re interested in supporting a fire department that is growing and attracting younger people, consider helping us invest in the future. We need funding for training, equipment, and other essential resources. There are many ways your contribution can make a meaningful difference in our community.

We also support smaller cities and towns throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the surrounding region. As our efforts grow, we’re becoming known as a regional training hub, helping strengthen the capabilities of departments across the area.

Your donation could go a long way toward building a stronger, better-equipped, and better-trained firefighting community.

If you’d like to help, simply send me a message using the contact option to the right.

Thank you for your support!

You may be interested in reading this...

State of Firefighting 2026

Escanaba Spooktacular Trunk or Treat-Spooky Economics Through the Conjouring of Ghosts, Witches and Goblins

Escanaba recently put on a Trunk-or-Treat and it was awesome. There was a fire truck, local businesses came out, and kids and families were having a great time. This is exactly what you want to see in a community, especially in a vibrant downtown area like Lundington Street. A lot more fun stuff going on these days.

This event was put on by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). If you are looking to start a business downtown and invest in our community, the DDA would be more than happy to take your call or email. Escanaba DDA

(Illustrative Only)
Spooky Economics
through Ghosts, Witches
and Goblins

Beyond the immediate fun, let's consider the economic benefits. As established in research, social connections and economic development are closely intertwined. Events like this create social ties, helping people get to know and understand one another.

 Typically, stronger social engagement leads to stronger economic development—as people feel more connected to their community, they get involved and drive positive outcomes.

This is why economic growth often follows social growth. Tightly knit, highly social communities tend to be economically stronger and foster more startups.

 Escanaba has a fantastic opportunity to leverage both its sense of community and its potential in startups and tourism to become a thriving regional hotspot.

Be sure to review the study below for additional insights. I hope everyone had fun at the event—and to the kids out there, don't eat too much candy!

Escanaba Spooktacular Trunk or Treat draws roughly 2,000 people

Social Capital And Economic Mobility: Non-Technical Research Summary

• Friendship networks in the United States are heavily stratified by socioeconomic class, as individuals tend to form connections primarily with peers of similar income levels

• Children who grow up in communities with higher economic connectedness—meaning greater interaction between low- and high-income individuals—exhibit significantly higher rates of upward income mobility in adulthood

• Other dimensions of social capital, such as community cohesiveness and civic engagement, do not show a strong association with upward economic mobility

• Differences in economic connectedness can account for the established relationships between upward mobility and factors like neighborhood poverty rates and racial segregation

• The class-based social disconnection is driven equally by income segregation across various social settings and by friending bias within those settings

• Both exposure and friending bias are influenced by institutional structures and policies, meaning they can be modified through targeted local interventions

Chetty, R., Jackson, M. O., Kuchler, T., Stroebel, J., Hiller, A., Oppenheimer, S., & The Opportunity Insights Team. (2022). Social Capital And Economic Mobility: Non-Technical Research Summary. Opportunity Insights. https://opportunityinsights.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/socialcapital_nontech.pdf