Delta County MI Committee of the Whole Meeting (03/13/2025): Labor Allocation and Financial Performance

Watching this meeting on duties and responsibilities is an interesting one. We have people working hard and indicating they are struggling to keep up. What we also find is a potential solution. Considering the cost of hiring some help is $10K additional cost per the conversation, one might be able to create efficiencies thereby self-funding. For example, if processes improve outcomes beyond $10k then this could be money well spent. A positive return could come through allocating that time for the person to find grants, management efficiencies, attracting/encouraging businesses (tax base), process improvements, productivity and general outcomes. If you are going to hire someone then we might think about how they are going to create net positives that can be measured in a way that adds to the bottom line of the budget and overall performance. Adding people to add people will just raise costs but having a good idea of how they can add significant tangible value is another. For example, one strong grant they find or some duty they don’t need to subcontract could save that money fairly quickly. Just like in business, government can be efficient if the right amount of people with the right skills, and purpose are put in the right place. 

This is the concept of a governance and net positives. Net positives occur when money spent leads to higher returns in capital and other factors like quality of life. However, to have net positives it is necessary to think of total value provided and how efficient/effective resources are being used. This is why government in general should always seek to use taxpayer money well through being good organization stewards. While government is not a business per se it does have costs and expenses that impact long term organizational value. People often list intangible benefits but one's that make the bank account bigger at the end of the day increase the value of good governance in a fiscally sound way. Be lean, be focused, and be impactful. If they can find a way to raise value over $10K, they are adding a positive governmental influence where others are laying off and that would be a feather in cap for perceptions of sound fiscal management that could be of interest to investors who want to do business in areas with such effective governance.

In a different example, if one added a person who could attract business, help people start businesses, resettle entrepreneurs into the area, helped streamline regulations, coordinated with the various business entities, etc. something like a $60K a year could bring a few million back to the government's coffers for paying debt, infrastructure improvements that lead to further economic/quality of life benefits while improving net positives in other areas. I think you sort of get the point overall that sometimes one might eliminate a position and sometimes one might add but value should be a major consideration. You have to run the numbers for any new position otherwise you get stuck with a hefty long-term bill and liability that drags good governance.

This is an interesting concept on improving financial performance through proper staffing. Improving Financial Performance HR

Ancient Spreadsheets of an Empire and Data to Value (History and Business)

History can tell you much about the world in which we live and how organizations function. We are essentially the same species we have been for tens of thousands of years so how our ancestors did things impact how we do them now. What I found interesting about the following article is that relatively successful empire was based in part on their administrative strength, data and resource use. There is something business people can learn from here.

Spreadsheets and Red Tape of an Empire

While they used tablets and stones we may use AI and graphs/charts. Essentially someone(s) has to make a decision over data. The use of that data can impact an organizations success by reducing inefficiencies and unnecessary bottlenecks in decision making (i.e. red tape).

This study indicates a more mild connection but that data analytics can have value for firms.

Research on Big Data and Business Value

In ancient times they may have written about what resources they had while in modern times we write about what resources we have. No difference other than the accuracy and technology involved. However, new information and data does impact the quality, accurateness, and effectiveness of our decisions even though the same mechanisms exist. i.e. the man in the machine or machine in the man.

Imagine if you had to trade in your Excel Spreadsheets for a chisel (...yikes on complaining!). 😬

What one can take from this is that if one is a manager/executive over resources they will want to consider organizing their entity in a way that understands available resources and how to use them well. That means we may need to build in data inputs and analyze data to capitalizing on opportunity (i.e. basic scientific principles).

If you seek to manage a larger organization you might consider knowing your organization well, learning the basics of data management, and best ways to utilize resources. If you don't understand your organization, it is doubtful you will effectively manage it well in the long run. Thriving organizations make the small and large decisions they need to obtain certain milemarkers.

 “Make the best use of what's in your power and take the rest as it happens.” Epictetus

Intellectual Humility and Gaining Knowledge (Education and Learning)

Learning can be active or passive. People who are curious and motivated to learn will dig deep into topics. This drive to understand leads scientists and gifted to discover new things, invent products, and make an impact.

The difference between those who believe they have all the answers and those who want to know answers and are willing to take information is profound over a lifetime.

“To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge” – Confucius.

According to this study reflection, need for cognition, intellectual engagement, openeness, open-mined and curiosity, less social vigiantism were associated with acquiring knowledge. There was internal drive that came into play. Links between intellectual humility and acquiring knowledge

Global Trade March 2025 Taiffs UN Report (Economy and Global Trade)

This piece is on global trade and tariffs. Much of the article focuses on the negative aspects of tariffs but that is dependent on the amount and length of such tariffs. Sometimes higher or lower tariffs are used as tools.

Other research indicates that short term tariffs can help domestic companies strengthen but can become less helpful if the companies protected don't adapt and produce globally competitive products within a reasonable time frame. There are some costs to them so one would want to use time well.

There is also an issues of countries using unfair subsidized products and dumping them on domestic market so sometimes tariffs help limit unfair practices and that can help protect US companies while they prepare to export. Prepare is the key term here.

There is no clear answer and some of that is dependent on consumer and global influences. Knowing when, how, how much, and how long to have a tariffs is part science and part art.

UN March 2025 Global Trade

A Connection Between Human Rights, Corruption and Economics (Philosophical Thought Experiment)

The world in which we live is a complex one with all types of intermingled parts, interests and influences. When thinking about a complex topic we may sometimes believe they are a result of purely isolated cause and effect factors. What has made some economies successful is the ability to raise human capital and innovation through human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and other freedoms that maximize societal contributions by as many people as possible. Using philosophical thought experiments we can better understand the underlining factors that can hamper growth and find ways to correct so as to improve performance in a healthy prosocial way. The name of the game is working for what is good, positive and helpful. Let us continue to explore this idea........

Keep in mind this is a philosophical discussion for learning purposes that has highlighted 5 stages that led to community resilience and through organic methods that further fostered economic growth. This improvement in economic health occurred because good people believed in their democracy and the essential value of fair treatment. Despite little support for the higher principles of justice by a minority of corrupted officials, community members bravely and actively reported incidents of hate and corruption, voted their conscious, and strengthened their and their kid's future through making important everyday decisions together. In turn, a sense of community formed, good officials were supported/strengthened so they could continue their noble work, quality of life improved and economic health returned after decades of decline (Corruption seen as a form of waste, inefficiency, and misalignment with organizational mission/value/purpose.)

In this hypothetical example, blatant mistreatment of some by a Clan (nefarious members) and their supporters (most more immature than malicious) exposed long stemming corruption of a network of officials who engaged in behaviors such as bullying, dehumanization, extortion, lying, aggression, sexual exploitation, putting kids in harm's way, mistreating the elderly, harming vets, misuse of resources, hate, etc..... all the bad things we can conjure (Remember that we want to use a worst-case scenario for discussion to analyze influences.). Corruption occurred not only against out group members (out group seen as anything different or challenging of clan members bad behavior) but also against other victims in a closed type of system. (…meaning group think and choices didn't have outside anchors and victims had no recourse.). 

Because these mischevious behaviors were ongoing for a long period of time, The Clan had a negative impact on the entire community and limited freedoms to the point that it impacted the health of the whole. Investigations into clan members were blocked, investigations into people who lodge complaints were opened and whistleblowers retaliated against to protect an embedded network. Clan immunities were well known by numerous people who talked openly of corruption while victims kept getting stuck with the bill through gross negligence. Left without support and help the community adapted upward politely, willfully, and in a positive way showing the root strength of democracy in action (people with good souls stepped up to improve their environment in a constructive way.). 

The paper below is interesting because it helps highlight how money, clans (groups, social networks, etc.), and power can be used to help enrich some in a way that creates victims and lowers the development of the whole. The competitive ability of systems rests in part on the genuine desire to create mechanisms to reduce corruption, encourage justice decision makers to think of central universal principles, and stand firm on a higher moral conscious versus technicalities that sometimes warp outcomes.  Freedom reduces corruption and improves the whole through economic engagement, trust, maximizing human capital, effective/efficient use of resources, in a way that improves the underlining speed of transactions related to information and resources that furthers innovation. People often swear oaths to certain principles related to freedom because of the higher moral conscious of doing. As a bonus they were rewarded through economic and quality of life improvements to the community. Earnest beliefs in oaths, pledges, commitments, and responsibilities helps create strong societies because people believe in furthering collective interests. When people work together, they can build great prosperous and free societies.

The article sort of highlights the benefits of good governance and moves into much depth on the topic in a way we can visualize. One doesn't need to agree or disagree with the article, but it carries with it some interesting information and detail. 

Human Rights, Corruption, Economics

*This is a philosphical hypothetical thought experiment for learning purposes. Take with a grain of salt. It is meant to foster discussion.

Understanding the Patterns of Local and Regional Growth (economic cluster research)

My research focuses on economic rapid transactional development that in part considers factors like finance, technology, investors, taxes, civics, transference of ideas (speech), so on and so forth as input factors. Reading about others research and ideas creates new ideas and helps further knowledge. 

This piece was a few years ago but did bring forward three points about regional development.

Understanding Patterns in U.S. Regional Economic Growth

1. Technology and incomes rose in some places.

2. Decline of manufacturing and rise of technology have change which locations grew.

3. Housing availability impacts growth.

Thoughts are that technology, and manufacturing should develop together to create maximum wealth, human capital that feeds skilled innovative labor, and housing (including quality of life) impacts resource/talent draw.

I write about a lot of places but do like Escanaba because one can better understand the input factors. Also, the people are really great and care about their community. It is also possible to see the impact of ideas in action that can impact other parts of the UP if they work out well.

Just in case your wondering, I'm proof reading my book but think I need to add a chapter on why various stakeholders would collaborate for mutual community-industry development.

Critical Thinking and New Knowledge (Everyday Philosophy)

Critical thinking helps us achieve goals and find pathways through competing information. One can learn critical thinking and they can practice it as a skill. In my experience critical thinkers can do a few things that others may not be able to do. 

1.) Look for alternative information and weigh its value. 

2.) Understand alternative logic and follow it to a natural conclusion. 

3.) Look into evidence to make evidence based decisions. 

Let me give you an example of everyday philosophy at work. The other day I was conversing with a group on whether or not a social club(s) are open to other religions and types of people as long as they believe in a higher power (Someone else brought up the topic so it wasn't my deal. I avoid those conversations like the plague. Politics, religion and cocktails rarely turn out to be good conversations.). I had a pretty good understanding because I read the rules and agreed with those inclusive values. 

The vast majority of people agreed that they are open to everyone under a few criteria (i.e belief in a higher power, doing good for the community, supporting democracy, treating people well, etc.). One person was sure they were correct and doubled down on the idea of my God is not the same as their Gods, only these people belong, so on and so forth. When probed the person understood very little of the other religions but emphatically questioned others knowledge. They had a special insight the rest of the people didn't have.

(Someone came to me after and said you are very truthful and handled the situation with tact. I could see from the nonverbal cues in the room that the people listening agreed. My response was something like I have seen a bigger world and the ugly and good it holds. I did not mention I was on the receiving end of hate before but I learned from that situation as well and the importance of supporting certain values. More importantly the type of people we pick to administrate our central values. Even a very religious person actively serving a religious flock agreed with me and you know they and their people are supporting essential truths. I was proud most present believed in their oaths and gained insight into the pain that creates divisions.  That person is not a bad person, baring that opinion, a descent person but perhaps a little misguided on some things. They walked away with the subtle impression that people in general don't share those exclusive opinions. Things someone else told them they didn't critically examine. Democracy and freedom was strengthened in a micro way that moment.)

Alternatively, a few weeks ago I was discussing economics and ways to improve communities. We listened to each other and agreed on some things and disagreed on some things but ultimately participants adjusted their opinon based on new insight and perspectives. Everyone discussing seemed to share collaboratively their thoughts and adjust when a good point was made. We socially learned to hedge and further our individual knowledge. An additive process that led to some reasonable conclusions. (On that day democracy was also strengthened but in a different way.)

One led to a higher thought process and the other led to more insight into an individual but also more shared knowledge on why organizational oaths are important. I believe that it is helpful to think through things and learn. I like to see people of different opinions and backgrounds constructively building a better world. Where misinformation and rigid opinions exist there seems to be a lack of new knowledge. Where people are open and when respectful there is social development that leads to community improvement.

I question my own logic all the time and many times I'm just not sure because I don't have all the info and still need to make a judgement call. However, over the years I have become more sure on some things through experience and insight. One should develop the ability to be open to ideas before they can evaluate them correctly to come to a conclusion. Sometimes you can understand many sides to an argument and understanding isn't always agreement. It is the little things that count.

This article is a little interesting,

Predicting Everyday Critical Thinking: A Review of Critical Thinking Assessments