Delta County Board of Commissioners Meeting (2/13/2025): To FOIA or Not FOIA is the Question?

This meeting was about a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in a wider partially open long winded discussion. Basically, they are discussing what must and what doesn't ned to be released. There are multiple different stakeholders seeking different insights with the information. What is FOIA? and What Makes a Good FOIA Request?

Happy President's Day (History and Resources)

Today is President's Day. Let us honor the tough job and appreciate our histories. 

A few resources,

History of President's Day

Presidential Libraries 

Archeology and Wine

Human Rights and Corruption Approach Doesn't Work Well (Hypothetical Discussion on Hate and Corruption)

We have been exploring a hypothetical philosophical discussion on hate and corruption and the allowance of such poor behaviors to protect corrupted networks that encourages mistreatment of others. The example included so far included 1. Default in Systems designed to protect the public, 2.) Dehumanization of targets and targeting and 3.) Acceptance of societal position based on superficial characteristics (not based in merit, history or true patriotism). The example is meant to explore the worst-case scenario so we can build a model on how hate and corruption works in modern life. Maybe find a few ways to avoid if needed in the future. 

The background is that a local group called "The Clan" are represented and embedded into local institutions. It is well known that that certain members of the socially connected clan are protected throughout the system including the courts (i.e. serving a homogeneous conception "local" versus the intent of law. Also an indication of why partisanship should not be encouraged among judges.). Those who complain or encourage integrity are put on target lists while any investigation into perpetrators is blocked (information on formal complaints intentionally shared). Retaliation, threats of violence, and aggression against whistleblowers are common. Multitudes of victims including rape victims (the lost suicide note rumor), sexually exploited women (shallow displays of manhood common indicating a cultural problem), out-group members (typically minorities), financially exploited, mistreatment/exploitation of vets (respect for oaths and Constitution is low), etc. have come forward and subsequently ignored.

What makes this philosophical example interesting is that there are no checks and balances and despite the many complaints and the breaking of social contracts there appears to be an intent to ensure no positive change that will protect the public is created. No reversals of corrupted decision making, no true investigations, and no intent on strengthening declining trust in the institution. The clan decision makers (the people we don’t want serving the public) and their self-interested ideologies seem to be undermining the institution at the expense of society but also at the expense of the majority of good men/women who faithfully serve the public with integrity (the people we want serving the public).

The approach that those who are trying to ensure the systems work well used human rights violations as one framework for understanding corruption. However, words like human rights and civil rights are openly mocked within clan circles and officials. Due to extreme ideologies of hate let us pretend there will never be an objective investigation into misbehaviors and continued victimization of people will continue forward into the foreseeable future (at least until the corruption can't be denied. An indication of intentionally poor decision making that harmed the public and could have saved victims). This is where people may see different purposes within the same system. A strong and functional system creates an environment where society can flourish 

(i.e. in this example there was 20 years of econonomc decline that mirrors the clan rise to power. A reversal occured around the same time that corruption was being exposed. Sheds light on the idea that corruption costs society much but isn't fully calculated. Human capital management discussion is going to come forward at some point and how corruption and hate impact that.)

The study discusses human rights as an avenue of challenging corruption. I'm not so sure it would be a good approach and in this hypothetical example human and civil rights are not seen within as having any particular value (other indications of undermining freedomod speach and religion). Thus, one might not want to use it as a full strategy to deal with openly protected misbehaviors. Moral conscious appears to be very low and in this example many of the decision makers have already made compromises that allowed a clan based corrupted network to warp outcomes. Thus, human rights/civil rights frameworks are not going to morally move the needle alone if that moral conscious is not a trait fully developed in decision makers inventory of values.  Where values, the law, and the intent of the law are not in alignment there must be another way. Time answers all questions. In this hypothetical example we are going to write a positive ending where the system learns to correct itself based on the highest standards of justice passed from one generation to the next.

"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." Albert Einstein

*This is a hypothetical philosophical example for learning purposes so take with a grain of salt. Such things are unlikely to happen in real life. Human rights and corruption: Problems and potential of individualizing a systemic problem

Anne Peters, Human rights and corruption: Problems and potential of individualizing a systemic problem, International Journal of Constitutional Law, Volume 22, Issue 2, April 2024, Pages 538–561, https://doi.org/10.1093/icon/moae038

The Motivations of Corruption (Thought Experiment on Corruption and Hate)

Corruption is a disease on any society and undermines institutions and public trust. Not to mention the loss of resources that could be used for public good. Thinking about the sources of corruption and some of the motivations for engaging in such acts we find that it revolves around self-interest, ideologies, and social expectations.

Let us think of a hypothetical situation for philosophical purposes where a member of society is targeted to financially and socially reward in-group members. In this example the laws no longer function as intended because the decision makers, the investigators and the perpetrators were part of the same social networks (known as The Clan). 

(It's just a learning example so take a breath. We know this is unlikely to happen in actual life in most situations and places.)

Multiple incidents of self-enrichment by using aggression against out group members and manipulation of the sick and elderly were apparent. Investigations were blocked from review, but corrupted officials opened investigations into victims who complained. Social and ideological pressures were high leading to rigid group adherence. 

Numerous others came forward and the corrupted actors couldn't cover it up any longer. Decision makers ignored whistleblowers and more victims were created. Except this time people became conscious they were not the only victims. Informal chatter turned into complaints.

This philosophical example clearly highlights the potential upside we might have in thinking of appropriate checks and balances.Group think can run down a pattern and when mixed with motivations that underline corruption then we are unlikely going to see natural adjustments. It may be necessary to change the structure to change the culture where corruption has been embedded.

 You can read the following study,

Exploring the path to corruption-An informed grounded theory study on the decision-making process underlying corruption

Manara MU, Nübold A, van Gils S, Zijlstra FRH. Exploring the path to corruption-An informed grounded theory study on the decision-making process underlying corruption. PLoS One. 2023 Sep 21;18(9):e0291819. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291819. PMID: 37733675; PMCID: PMC10513331.

Most Small Businesses Optimistic for 2025 (Business and Economy)

The vast majority 73% of small businesses are optimistic about the economy this year. Some are planning on expanding or opening new product lines. Rising cost and lower operating budgets were part of the problem. Approximately, 57% of respondents to the survey indicated that the economy is worse this year.

Overall there is more reason to be optimistic than not. New tariffs can be good or bad so we will have to see how that turns out. What we can say is it's going to change the business environment and for some more helpful and for some not so much.

Manufacturers might see some positive changes while import oriented businesses might feel the opposite. There are some other risks and potential rewards as tariffs rise and adjust supply chains. Hold on and let us see where the roller coaster comes to rest. Strap in! I don't think anyone knows for sure what is going to happen. If anything it's going to shake things up.

73% of small business owners optimistic about 2025 economy

Can One Create a Stock Strategy From Academic Research?

Reviewing research helps one think about when, where, and what factors lead to stock growth. I have created this portfolio about a year ago to put just a little tiny bit of money in and just see if it can grow. At present it is at 67% percent growth rate split among those that grow and those not growing showing a type of hedge (It was higher growth rate at one point but less stable).

In general I stared with an idea of investing in trends and then started to incorporate any research studies I found into my thought process. At least if they make sense. That so far has been a mixed blessing as it appears that market trend, company management, legislation, and resources are fundamental.

The Lesson: Read about stock strategies but ensure the fundamentals are covered.

*Disclaimer: I'm not a stockbroker so check with them. You make your own choices.

As my eyes skim the literature I should keep in mind ll these studies are great but the fundamentals do not appear to have changed.Can Investors Create Profitable Trading Strategies Based on Academic Findings?

The Benefits of the Devil's Advocate (Management Science)

One of the most dangerous risks to strategic management decision making is group think. The best decisions are those that can assess the environment accurately and then make decisions that meet the challenges of that environment and exceed them. That won't happen if people cannot assess and share their knowledge openly in a way that leads to accurate decision making. Where group think is common a devil’s advocate can break the bounds of group rationality.

Think back to some of the major blunders in history and you will find group think as the fiend of fate. In organizations that decline we find a narrowing of perspectives that leads to less and less variety of thought. That variety of thought is what explores the many seen and unseen opportunities an organization may miss because they cannot fathom the options. They can see with their eyes, but they cannot "see" with their understanding.

Organizations often decline quickly if full of "yes men" and "yes ladies" because of that narrowing of exploratory thought. As dominant personalities influence group choice then we see the variety and often quality of new ideas decline thereby minimizing the options. Economics and strategic thinking are choice and if one cannot see the possibilities, they cannot choose those options while their competitors might be able to.

The devil's advocate takes the role of the outsider. He/she thinks of all the alternatives to a decision to uncover breaks in logic, falsities, and erroneous perspectives that force the group to consider alternatives they may not be able to find on their own. It is an official role because from a self-interested and group dynamic people like to say yes and get the rewards. The devil's advocate is rarely the loved person in the room, but they may be the most important player.

Closed-mindedness and insulation in groupthink: their effects and the devil’s advocacy as a preventive measure.

Akhmad, M., Chang, S. & Deguchi, H. Closed-mindedness and insulation in groupthink: their effects and the devil’s advocacy as a preventive measure. J Comput Soc Sc 4, 455–478 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42001-020-00083-8