Dehumanization, Partisanship, and the Mind (Story of the Clan)

(Illustrative Only)

Dehumanization is a dangerous force in any society. It has existed throughout human history, rooted in our tendency to group people, label them, and then treat some differently. Once we do that, it becomes easier to justify behaviors that would normally be unacceptable and/or illegal.

Partisan politics can make this worse. Parties create categories, expectations, and pressure. Ideally, people would vote based on their own beliefs, debate ideas openly, and work toward real consensus. But party pressure often pushes people to support individuals, actions, or legislation simply because their group expects it—not because they freely agree. Instead of bottom-up decision-making, it becomes top-down.

The philosophical Story of the Clan illustrates this problem. In the allegory, hate and corruption were tolerated as long as they targeted people that had been dehumanized. Actions that would never be taken against people of one group suddenly became acceptable. Once people learned to justify those actions through rumors and mistreatment, they struggled to stop or correct them. The depth of systemic breakdown clear. 

This leads us back to the purpose of law. Law is meant to be universal—it cannot violate constitutional rights. Not legally anyway. Yet the way we apply law is where inequality appears. People may say they believe in equality publically, yet unconsciously treat groups differently because of learned biases tied to race, religion, politics, or identity. Without awareness, these biases push the outgroup to be treated unfairly therby robbing them and society of full development. 

Lesson: Once we categories we can treat differently.

This happens in politics, disagreements over opinions, and even in areas connected to freedom of speech or religion. Without critical thinking, we repeat these mistakes again and again. This a major reason why certain choices are made, agreed upon, enacted and then historically regretted as the full scope of hate becomes apparent. Most not allowed to propose alternatives or voice their opinion leading to collective delusions and group think. The victims must eat the cost of other's choices.

Let us dig a little deeper....

The study below is useful because it looks at free word associations—how quickly our minds connect words and ideas without conscious thought. This reveals the hidden assumptions we carry from culture, personality, upbringing, social groups and political identity. When people consume only self-selected information, those assumptions harden, creating deeper justifications for harmful behavior through more group think.

The consequences are real: lost human potential, unequal treatment, and people being pushed out of opportunities or having rights eroded. Top performance can't be achieved without broad stakeholders. The best and brightest from any race, religion, politics, etc. should be encouraged without unfair restriction or mistreatment. It is our primary purpose and values that count and not the superficial difference or parties. Without wisome one might loose their best and brightest and weaken the whole.

The study is worth reading. It offers insight into how our minds form these automatic connections—and how becoming aware of them is the first step toward fairness.

Lesson: Once you become aware of your bias and can acknowledge that bias is part of human nature you can overcome them and make better decisions.

Imagined otherness fuels blatant dehumanization of outgroups

• The article introduces imagined otherness, the idea that people think another group sees the world very differently from a typical human, which increases dehumanization.

• Researchers studied Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. to see how this perceived difference in worldview relates to dehumanizing the other group.

• In a study with 771 participants, the more someone believed the other party’s thinking differed from a typical person’s, the more they dehumanized them, beyond simple dislike.

• A second experiment showed a causal effect: prompting people to see the other group’s worldview as very different led to higher dehumanization.

• The findings show that imagining another group’s mindset as fundamentally different can reduce how human they seem, helping explain dehumanization in political and social conflicts.

van Loon, A., Goldberg, A., & Srivastava, S. B. (2024). Imagined otherness fuels blatant dehumanization of outgroups. Communications Psychology, 2(1), Article 39. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00087-4

*This is a philosphical, hypothetical, thought experiment that one can change the elements, debate and come to their own conclusion. Take with a grain of salt.

Freezer Archaeology: The Pie Edition (Camp Cooking)

(Illustrative Only)
Andy Jones embarked on 
an archeological dig in
his freezer and found 
blueberries. 

I found some blueberries hiding in the back of my freezer—probably from a decade when people still said “YOLO.” I figured I should either use them or give them a proper Viking funeral, so into a pot they went. I tossed in a little pectin, some lemon juice, white sugar, a splash of brown sugar, and a bit of cinnamon. Warmed it up, mixed it around, and cooked it until it stopped looking confused.

Then I grabbed another bowl and did the pie-crust thing: flour, cold butter (a stick or two, depending on how brave you feel), a pinch of salt, and a little brown sugar. Rolled it into two balls—one for the crust, one for the fancy lattice on top that says camp chef all over it.

Threw the whole operation into the oven at about 350° for maybe 30–40 minutes—basically until the crust looked cooked but not like it had just escaped from a wildfire. Pulled it out, let it cool, and boom: blueberry pie. Super simple. Honestly, I’m not sure why I used to think cooking was some mystical art. Now I just look at the portions online, wing it, and if it turns out weird, I know exactly which questionable decision caused it.

I had a slice last night—tasted pretty darn good. I’m gonna give some to my neighbor. Someone at the shuffleboard tournament last night even said, “I wish I was your neighbor,” which I’m pretty sure means my camp cooking has officially achieved local celebrity status. My bread did!

Economic Growth, Community Engagement, and Crime Trends (In Theory)

(Illustrative Only.)
Meant to be a little
philosophical in nature.

Nerdy Nick is just
sitting home because 
it is cold and trying 
to solve an economic
puzzle just for the heck
of it. Life is
boring, you just gotta 
go find stuff to do. Maybe,
maybe not? 😶

Kind of like a Haiku poem☝

Perpetual Sustainable Development
Economic Development in History
Morality and Law
Digital GDP
Evolutionary Economics

Let's continue the discussion on economic and social development. Economics measures activity, but it is an imperfect, quantitative tool. Today, data allows us to explore relationships between different factors such as economic growth, community engagement, and crime trends in much more detail. The world has change significantly and new opportunities are presented.

In this hypothetical theoretical example, we see that economic opportunity through investment, community development, quality of life improvements, and strong local leadership can positively impact society. One might think of what a model like this might do if formalized and possibly be applied in other places (In theory).

The Pearson correlation coefficient shows a fairly strong relationship between development and a reduction in crime. However, some of the data comes from estimates, so trends may change as more accurate  numbers come out. We need to see if increases in household income and reductions in crime continue over time.

Reducing crime often happens when development creates a sense of community (i.e. why start ups and industry and build from each other in positive ways. One might call this broad based capitalism.). People begin to respect and support each other. Social development shows up as growth in community engagement, organizations, and enjoyment of the local environment. This has many benefits: it prevents future victims of crime, lowers policing costs, and allows people to act, transact, and build with confidence (The underlining assumptions).

Many factors influence these outcomes, but research typically focuses on a few at a time because studying everything is complex. It can limit understanding and reduce knowledge transfer and innovation. In our data-rich world, new insights may challenge traditional economic assumptions. We saw this during COVID, when predictions were made, trends shifted, and then moved back toward stability.

The data discussed here comes from multiple sources and was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. While this is just an initial look—done over coffee—it aligns with what we hoped to see. More detailed analysis will be needed to fully understand the trends as well as accuracy. 

You may read was a Pearson corelation coefficient is and what the computer pumped out with the data....

Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC)

• The Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), or r, measures the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two numerical variables.

• Its value ranges from -1 to +1. +1 means a perfect positive correlation, -1 means a perfect negative correlation, and 0 means no linear correlation.

• A positive r means as one variable increases, the other tends to increase. A negative r means as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.

• The closer the absolute value of r is to 1, the stronger the linear relationship.

• PCC is often used in data analysis and research to summarize relationships between paired data.

 Analyzing the relationship between socioeconomic factors like household income and crime rates in a specific area of this example, reveals some compelling statistical trends. Based on the income data provided and historical crime reporting trends for the region, here is a statistical breakdown. The following was what the analysis showed. Kind of cool. Time answers all questions....

---

1. Correlation Analysis

The calculated Pearson Correlation Coefficient between median household income and crime rates in this period is approximately $-0.65$.

• Interpretation: This indicates a moderate to strong negative correlation.

• The Trend: Statistically, as median household income increased, the reported crime rates generally trended downward. This aligns with standard economic theories suggesting that higher financial stability reduces the "economic necessity" drivers of property crime.

2. Key Statistical Indicators

Metric	Value	Significance
Total Income Growth	$+10.86\%$	Income rose from $\$40,926$ to $\$45,369$ over 14 years.
Mean Income (Avg)	$\$39,715$	The "pivot point" for the local economy over this period.
Income Volatility	High (2012–2014)	The sharp dip in income during these years coincided with a measurable uptick in local crime reports.

3. Socioeconomic Observations

• The 2014 "Tipping Point": 2014 represented the lowest income point ($\$34,641$). Statistically, this period correlates with the highest relative crime frequency in the last decade for the area, particularly in larceny and burglary.

• The Post-2020 Shift: Interestingly, while income dipped in 2020, crime rates did not spike as drastically as in 2014. This suggests that government stimulus or local community support programs may have acted as a "buffer," decoupling the direct link between low income and crime during the pandemic.

• 2024 Projection: With the 2024 income estimate reaching an all-time high of over $\$45,000$, statistical modeling suggests the community is entering its most stable socioeconomic period of the 21st century.

Integrating Tourism, Industry, and Talent in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Seed Model and Transactional Theory)

(Illustrative Only)

Starting a new
store downtown on
Ludington street might 
complement tourism,
exports, quality of
life, and in part
support retention of 
talent that
feeds other industries
such as wood products, stamping
and ship building. 
Transactional Subfactors
Investing Start-ups
MultiClusters
Tourist Micro Manufacture

 Economic development in medium and small towns is becoming increasingly important, especially in places like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Communities such as Escanaba are experiencing steady growth in recreation, tourism, and local industry. People are more active and socially engaged, with rising attendance at music events, expanded use of golf carts, increased sailing activity, and higher visitor numbers at the yacht harbor. These trends suggest that the overall direction of the community is positive. 

Each part of the local economy influences the broader system. Industries such as shipbuilding, metals manufacturing, and wood products shape infrastructure needs, and that infrastructure in turn supports smaller and related businesses. Economic clusters do not always form around similar industries; they can also emerge through co-development when different sectors strengthen one another. 

A healthy social environment, strong tourism base, and a variety of activities make a community more attractive to workers and help employers recruit and retain talent. Added to this are important assets like a strong trades college or programs that support entrepreneurship and small business creation, both of which can significantly influence long-term economic performance.

In small communities of around 10,000 people, economic resilience is essential. When one industry faces challenges, others can help absorb the impact. Natural fluctuations occur across sectors, and the mix of industries helps stabilize jobs, tax revenue, and opportunities. The study mentioned earlier fits well with these ideas by showing how outdoor recreation can support economic growth, environmental protection, and community well-being. These factors can help form an economic cluster, whether it develops naturally—as appears to be happening in Escanaba—or is intentionally structured around a particular industry.

(As a side note, I'm working a transactional cluster theory that improve innovation. This study seems to support a similar concept.)

The SEED Model for Sustainable Economic Development in Small Rural Towns via Outdoor Recreation

• Small rural towns often struggle with declining populations, limited infrastructure, and reduced economic opportunities.

• The SEED model focuses on creating a collaborative ecosystem of local stakeholders to drive sustainable development.

• A project champion is essential for organizing partners, coordinating efforts, and securing resources.

• Outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism can act as catalysts for economic diversification and community revitalization.

• Sustainability requires balancing economic growth with environmental protection and community well-being.

• Success depends on shared vision, strong relationships, and education that builds local capacity and long-term commitment.

Eggs and Spinach on Bread

What can you do with that bread I made the other day? Simple—make breakfast. I sliced the loaf, put the pieces in a pan, and grilled them lightly on both sides. The bread has a subtle yeast flavor, which I absolutely love. There’s nothing better than fresh bread with that hint of yeast, the kind you get at a good restaurant.

After that, I cooked some eggs and sliced them thin so they’d layer nicely on the bread. Then I added a little garlic salt, tomatoes, spinach, and a bit of cheese. The whole thing came together perfectly. It took almost no time, but it looked like something you’d pay $15–$20 for at a restaurant. I kind of impressed myself, even though it was all simple, straightforward stuff.

Why does a guy like me enjoy cooking? For one, I like knowing exactly where my food comes from—it feels healthier. But it’s also become a hobby. I can cook most things, especially if I have a recipe, and at this point I can even make a lot of dishes without looking anything up. After you’ve done it a few times, you get a feel for proportions. Sausage, bread, poultry, pies—I can handle most of it. I haven’t made many cakes, mostly because I’m trying to avoid them, but maybe I’ll try that in the future.

What I don’t want to do is rely on boxed mixes. I want to know how to make things from scratch. It just feels better—and it tastes better, too. Got to get my garden going.

Fresh Eyes: How Independents Could Improve Decision-Making?

Let’s consider whether third parties can help with difficult issues in society, from policy debates to cases like Epstein. Historically, third parties haven’t done very well, but there’s growing interest in voting based on conscience. Major parties can get stuck in 50/50 gridlock, and a third party might help break the deadlock.

In the Epstein case, each party pushes its own narrative, shaping what people believe based on selective information. A neutral third party could provide a fresh perspective, perhaps weighing facts objectively. They could separate those directly involved from those indirectly connected or uninvolved.

Protecting victims is essential—they deserve rights and there appears to be a trend in undermining victims for more connected members. At the same time, people with no involvement in the misconduct shouldn’t be unfairly damaged. An independent perspective could increase trust because they owe no loyalty to anyone except the general will of the people, societal contracts, future generations, etc (In Theory).

That’s why one might imagine a hypothetical “Feather Party”—not tied to special interests, powerful networks, or big donations. Members would make decisions using clear principles that consider social, economic, and long-term effects. People outside the main networks (cognitive loops) often have a better perspective that could align more with the average person. Maybe not....

Connections among powerful people aren’t inherently bad, but they can concentrate wealth, power, and influence while not always putting the public’s needs first. One could even raise a concern on how much involvement and/or influence foreign actors have on these networks. The risks that are inherent in global networks and decision making. 

Some argue that only educated or wealthy people should make decisions, but today most people are informed and capable of thoughtful judgment. In some cases the wealthy and most connected are not the best people to serve the average. The time of peasantry is done and most people seem much more insightful than the sometimes skewed narratives we hear. So things should change to ensure everyone is pointed as true north as possible. They have greater not less responsibility.

This is just a discussion. We could keep things as they are, reject third parties, or explore ways to improve decision-making and public trust.

This is an interesting article,

Ways Independents Contribute to Bi-Partisanship

Art, Neuroplasticity, and Mild Desperation: Painting Acrylic

 Art is fun. It’s something to do when you’re sitting around pretending to be productive. Plus, it forces you to step away from the computer before your eyeballs turn into little square pixels. I’ve got a beach painting going right now. I think it’s a beach, anyway. Might throw in some ducks… or seagulls… or whatever bird shows up in my imagination first. I’ll decide later. That’s called “artistic mystery.”

These masterpieces below? Yeah, they’re mine. Don’t worry, I’m not claiming they’re museum quality—unless there’s a museum somewhere dedicated to “Hey, at least they tried.” But they’re expressions of something, and that counts!

Now, if you feel a sudden urge to buy one, act on that feeling immediately. They’re piling up like I’m running a secret warehouse for unsold paintings. If nobody buys them, they might end up in a fire pit, and nobody wants that kind of emotional scene. So make me an offer—seriously, I’m not picky. Half goes to charity, half goes to me so I can buy more canvases and continue this cycle of creativity and mild chaos.

And here’s a fun fact: making art actually boosts neuroplasticity. Doesn’t matter if you’re an executive, a regular person, or someone who thinks a “palette” is something you grill burgers on—your brain benefits. Art helps you think flexibly, see things from new angles, and move shapes around in your mind like you’re the CEO of imagination.

If you’re a sports person and you’ve been laughing at “art people,” calm down—sports are good too. It’s the full, well-rounded human that matters. You can throw a football and paint a tree. Amazing, right?

Anyway, if you want to buy one of these paintings, hit me up. If not, start your own art adventure. Worst case, you create something weird. Best case, you hang it up and pretend to be mysterious and deep. Win-win.

If your interested in any of my neuroplacity art feel free to send me an offer to the right.

• Art-trained individuals performed better on creative tasks like design and divergent thinking.

• Their brains showed stronger activation in areas involved in imagination and cognitive control during creative thinking.

• They demonstrated more efficient and flexible brain network activity when generating ideas.

• Long-term visual arts education appears to reshape brain organization in ways that support creative problem solving.

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