A blog that explores life and society. Mostly pieces on business, economics, arts and other interests. A place to showcase activities and explore ideas.
ESCANABA, MI-Energy is a primary driver of many prices, and CPI is up 0.6%. Other areas seeing increases include vehicles, education, airline fares, and medical care.
Illustrative Only Has alternative energy risen in price?
Would use of alternative energy protect price, supply chaings, and national energy independence?
Interestingly, medical care costs seem to rise almost consistently. Employment costs are increasing, wages are going up, and insurance premiums continue to climb. This could point to a potential bubble, driven in part by an aging population but also by inefficiencies and incentives within the insurance industry.
Either way, consumers should expect to see some higher prices ahead.
Consumer Price Index Summary: September 2026
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.6% in September 2026, following a 0.4% increase in August.
Overall consumer prices rose 3.7% over the 12 months ending in September, up from 3.4% in August.
Gasoline prices increased 9.1% in September, accounting for more than half of the monthly increase in overall consumer prices.
Energy prices rose 5.2% in September and increased 20.4% over the previous 12 months.
Food prices remained unchanged in September. Grocery prices decreased by 0.1%, while restaurant and other food-away-from-home prices increased by 0.2%.
Housing costs, measured by the shelter index, increased 0.4% in September and 3.2% over the past year.
Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, increased 0.3% in September and 2.6% over the past 12 months.
Other categories that experienced price increases included used cars and trucks, airline fares, education, recreation, and medical care.
ESCANABA, MI-A review of this 2026 poll shows that education remains important to most people and continues to be viewed as a key to personal growth and societal progress. While affordability remains a significant challenge, people still value higher education and want the opportunity to achieve their goals.
In my experience, grit is one of the biggest factors in success. Set a goal, pursue it with determination, and dedicate time every day to making progress. Whether in education, business, or life, consistent effort and perseverance can make a meaningful difference.
The path to success may not always be easy or affordable, but having a clear goal and the determination to keep moving forward matters.
Interesting statistics—and an important reminder that education and perseverance remain powerful tools for building a better future.
The State of Higher Education: Valued but Out of Reach
Only 25% of adults without a college degree believe that most people have access to quality, affordable higher education, representing a 10-percentage-point decline over two years.
Despite affordability concerns, 73% of adults without a degree believe earning a two- or four-year college degree is just as important today as it was 20 years ago.
Student loan debt remains a significant concern, with 82% of borrowers reporting moderate or high levels of worry about their ability to repay their loans.
College graduates generally believe their education was worthwhile: 71% say their education was worth the cost, and 93% would choose to earn their degree again.
Colleges have opportunities to improve the student experience by providing better career guidance and mentorship. More than half of alumni wish they had received career coaching, while many report that student debt has delayed major life milestones. (Gallup, n.d.)
Let us imagine a hypothetical society where wrongdoing becomes normalized and insider or powerful people protect one another from accountability. For this thought experiment, we will call it the “The Allegory of the Clan” example. Take with a grain of salt as it is a mental exercise and it is ok to interpret and reinterpret the information to have it fit within your mental filter and world view.
The Allegory......
In this scenario, people suffer years of mistreatment, including harassment, corruption, hatred, and sexual assault. Victims file complaints, but their concerns are repeatedly dismissed, and the courts fail to provide meaningful justice. Some officials may make honest mistakes, while others may intentionally misuse their authority to protect friends, advance political interests, or benefit themselves.
(Illustrative Only)
Imagine that judges face political pressure to rule in favor of certain people because doing otherwise could harm their careers. If personal relationships and political loyalty begin to influence decisions, the problem becomes bigger than individual cases. It becomes a threat to the fairness and independence of the entire system.
The central issue is public trust. When people believe institutions protect insiders rather than serve everyone equally, confidence in those institutions begins to decline. The damage to trust can be generational if it dips too low. So exploring moral conscious is encouraged.
Not every complaint is legitimate, and not every court decision is wrong. However, institutions must be willing to acknowledge mistakes, investigate credible allegations, and correct injustices when they occur. Judicial independence must also come with accountability. No one should be above the law, including judges and other public officials.
Allegations of politically motivated investigations, suppression of free speech, discrimination against religious practices, or the improper enrichment of personal associates should be examined fairly and based on credible evidence.
When institutions fail to protect people's rights and dignity, society must consider meaningful reforms. These may include independent investigations, stronger oversight, transparent decision-making, and electing leaders who prioritize the public interest over personal or political loyalty.
The goal is to enhance performance and perceived-actualized integrity. A healthy society requires courts and public officials who act fairly, protect individual freedoms, and treat people equally under the law.
Ultimately, rebuilding public trust requires honesty, accountability, and a willingness to correct past mistakes. We must neither accept every accusation as fact nor dismiss credible evidence of wrongdoing. Instead, we should insist on fairness, evidence, and equal treatment for everyone.
When institutions stop serving the people fairly, reform becomes necessary to protect justice, human dignity, freedom, and future social contracts. Or not? 🤷
*The Allegory of the Clan is a hypothetical philosophical thought experiment so take with a grain of salt. Feel free to accept, reject, change, challenge, agree, disagree, etc. with premises as long as you took a moment to think about it.
ESCANABA, MI.-Recent trends reveal a slight decline in small business optimism as local enterprise owners navigate a challenging economic landscape. Although labor costs have dropped, finding qualified workers remains a top concern for employers across the region. Compounding these workforce challenges, are sales, inflation, and an uncertain market.
We can help support small businesses by creating an environment where they can succeed does more than bolster the broader financial foundation—it sustains the vibrant main streets, downtown corridors, and local enterprises essential to building thriving communities.
NFIB Small Business Optimism Trends September 2026
NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 0.8 points in September to 97.9
The Uncertainty Index rose 1 point to 90, above the historical average of 68.
Who doesn’t love a good sailing analogy? It’s helpful to follow economic news and data releases to understand how people perceive the economy and what they expect might happen. There are still inflationary risks, which supports the case for restrictive monetary policy. At the same time, policymakers must remain flexible and adjust their approaches as market conditions evolve.
(Illustrative Only) Produce more and spend less.
Ultimately, one goal might be to develop human capital to the greatest extent possible and find ways to combine human creativity with technology in the modern economy. A highly creative and skilled workforce often requires ongoing education and retraining. Companies also have a responsibility to ensure they are maximizing the value of human contributions within their systems.
There is a significant push toward adopting new technologies, and while that is important, we must not overlook the human element. Economies are interconnected systems, and each component has a role to play. When one part falls out of balance, it can hamper the broader system.
By maximizing human capital and finding new ways for institutions to support and develop it, we can strengthen overall economic fundamentals and positively influence a wide range of economic outcomes.
(Illustrative only) Making their way from Rapid River to the big markets in Escanaba. Access to markets and shipping transportation can lead to improved exports and employment prospects.
Trimming the Sails: Communicating My Reaction Function
Cleveland Fed President Beth M. Hammack used a sailing analogy at the NABE meeting to explain how monetary policy adjusts course while navigating toward maximum employment and price stability.
She emphasized that a policymaker's reaction function provides a transparent framework for evaluating incoming economic data rather than a rigid rate path forecast.
She noted that current economic conditions warrant maintaining a restrictive monetary policy stance to return inflation to the 2 percent target.
She stated her policy stance remains conditional, open to adjusting if labor market conditions weaken significantly or inflation pressures reaccelerate.
DELTA COUNTY-MI. Staying on top of the local news helps us understand what’s happening throughout the county. There are a lot of interesting developments, including a new kayak rental kiosk, which sounds like a great idea and something I could see myself using. Other important topics include open meeting issues, preliminary fiscal year 2026 revenue and millage discussions, contracts, financials, veterans’ issues, audits, and health insurance.
(Illustrative Only) The squirrel community of Pioneer Park.
I was reading something on what fiscal health and came across this. Thought it was sort of interesting as we think of ways encourage thriving in our communities. Posting doesn't mean agreement or disagreement, or anything else, it just means it is interesting. Decoding the Relationship Between Economic Growth and Fiscal Health
Easier said then done.
These are important issues, and it appears the county is diligently navigating the challenges. So far they appear to be on a descent path. We have to remember that every level of government has bills to pay and expenditures to manage. Ultimately, the goal is to bring in more revenue than is spent. While governments aren’t businesses, maintaining that kind of financial discipline is essential to long-term fiscal stability.
When a county generates a surplus, it can begin building resources for projects that may generate additional revenue, improve quality of life, and enhance the community as a whole. That’s a natural part of sound financial management, and some communities are better positioned to do this than others. Delta County has a lot of untapped potential. i.e. something like investing in marketing to attract start-ups and small manufacturers could lead to greater revenue growth in the future.
Overall, the region’s various levels of government seem to be making progress, but it’s important to continue paying attention. Strong fiscal management can help attract investors, and the right investment can make a meaningful difference in a community’s future.
Forget bills, Who wants bills? 🤮Yep we all got bills.
Pioneer Trail Park: A new kayak rental kiosk (the first of its kind in the Upper Peninsula) has been installed near the boat launch for public and traveler use, featuring smartphone payment options and annual memberships.
Cornell Township Addressing: Finished new addressing and ordered fire signs; form letters and checklists are being mailed to affected residents.
Legislation: Noted Michigan Senate Bill 271, which would amend the Open Meetings Act (OMA) to allow public officials to participate remotely in meetings if an in-person quorum is met (though remote attendees cannot vote).
Financials: Shared preliminary fiscal year 2026 revenue and expenditure reports.
Veterans Affairs Committee Bylaws: Approved amendments updating upcoming vacancies and establishing a four-year term requirement, ensuring open public advertisement for expired terms rather than closed renewals.
Meeting Cancellation: Voted to cancel the upcoming October 20, 2026 meeting due to a lack of agenda items.
Bill Approvals: Approved the payment of county claims totaling $1,320,512.00 via roll call vote.
2026 Millage Apportionment Report: Accepted the report detailing tax and millage rates, noting estimated allocated operating revenue of $8,111,878.16, extra-voted funds of $5,095,327.40, and bond debt of $799,668.45.
Contracts & Agreements: Approved a Trane contract master agreement for building services at $28,037.92. Renewed the MSU/SAF airplane static display loan. Approved an airport hangar tenant request for rent adjustments corresponding to prior maintenance costs, aligning with standard CPI adjustments by January 2027. Amended the Surveyors contract for seven additional corners.
Budget Resolutions: Rescinded and subsequently re-adopted via roll call the 2026–2027 general budget resolution to correct millage figures.
Health & Federal Policies: Adopted a hard cap resolution for employee health insurance benefits and approved Finance Policy 9.10 (Federal Awards) and Policy 9.24 (County Land Sale Purchase Policy) to streamline single-audit compliance and land transactions.
Rule Changes: Introduced proposed amendments to change procedural rule updates from 10 days to 5 days (matching board packet timelines) and reorganized section 4.5 ("functional areas"), setting final discussion and votes for the October 13 meeting.
Board Appointments: Reappointed a member to the Data Board. Appointed two members to the Building Authority (with a Commissioner abstaining).
Audit RFP Award Discussion: Reviewed six responses for the audit RFP, highlighting favorable, comprehensive inclusions.
ESCANABA, MI.-Gather ‘round, ye poets, eccentrics, thespians, and lovers of all things theatrical! There’s an audition happening tonight for the show below, and I thought some of you might be interested in giving it a go.
I have the pleasure of knowing many of the actors and being involved, and I’m always happy to spread the word about the great work they do. Unfortunately, I’ll be traveling, so I won’t be auditioning myself this time. (Alas, even the most dedicated thespians must occasionally exit stage left for real-life obligations. 😄)
But if you’ve ever fancied treading the boards, unleashing your inner drama queen or king, or simply seeing what happens when creative people gather in a room with scripts and significant amounts of caffeine, this might be your moment!
And if performing isn’t your cup of tea, you can still support the organization by buying a ticket to a production or making a donation.
Community theater is about so much more than putting on a show. It brings people together, provides an artistic outlet for local talent, teaches us something about ourselves and society, tackles challenging life questions, and gives the community a shared experience. It also helps support local restaurants, nightlife, and tourism. In other words, the benefits extend well beyond the footlights!
Honestly, this is one of the strongest community theater organizations I’ve encountered—even compared with theaters in much larger cities. The talent, creativity, and dedication are genuinely impressive, and it’s a real gem for our community.
So, who’s ready for their dramatic close-up? 🎬 Check out the audition information below, get involved, grab a ticket, or show them some support. The arts thrive when a community shows up for them—and every great production starts with someone willing to take a chance!
Movies will make you famous; Television will make you rich; But theatre will make you good.” -Terrence Mann
