Delta County MI Board of Commissioners Meeting (3/11/2025): FOIA Requests and Costs

This meeting didn't have a lot of variety of topics but did discuss in detail the cost, exempt nature of some requests, legal opinions, etc. As one watches they naturally will come to understand how these requests work and the amount of hours and cost associated with them. FOIA requests are a transparency tool but are not free. 

One thing you do see is that despite people having jobs they are committed to serving the county's needs. The effort to find meeting times with busy schedules is notable.  

33 Economic Clusters Commit to Growth, Jobs, Emission Cuts

For about 5 years I have been looking at, studying, and figuring out ways to recreate organic or focused clusters in unique locations. Such locations have natural and geographic benefits that make them ripe for developing natural cluster. When studying a phenomenon, one would need to read the literature and prior research. This is important because people have already looked at various aspects of factors that lead to growth.

Below you will find an article discussing coordination of clusters to strengthen jobs, growth, and reduce emission. Clusters are designed to innovate and further industry advancement. Alternatively, they could be developed to maintain stability under various market factors if growth is not the central goal (more organic).

Improved employment and higher wages are common in clusters as people are trained for available jobs. You will often find trade schools and universities that feed talent. Since the industries are seeking to be cutting edge they are going to pay for top labor/professional labor. Human capital is an essential component for innovative industries.

The commitment to lower emissions is another topic that seems natural to clusters. While these clusters made a special commitment to reduce pollution the very local proximity of resources, density of networks, focused investments in clusters makes them generally efficient and environmentally friendly per output (product, patent, ROI, etc.). One would have to look at specific studies if they are available but in general efficiency and waste are inversely related.

World Economic Forum 33 Economic Cluster Collaborate

Being Happier and Healthier in 2025: Consider Giving to a Volunteer Fire Department

"151 Fire truck at Cedar Burn Fire, Mt Hood Nat'l Forest" by

  Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region

is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

You decided that you want to make a commitment to being happier and healthier in 2025. I hear it all the time from friends, family, people I know, etc. that they want a new version of themselves. The problem is that many of them fall back into the same rut. In order to make meaningful change they might consider small acts of kindness, volunteering and donating to institutions like firefighting.

To be fair it can be any institution they can contribute to but since I volunteer firefight/PT I think this is a good one for people to contribute and donate. I try to raise enough money to buy some new equipment and perhaps even a leadership/training course for the community (last one is more of an idea but the equipment is needed as soon as funds can be raised.)

There are a couple of articles and studies you may want to consider,

If you want to be happier then consider the benefits of volunteering, donating and other acts of kindness. Happier 2025 Altruism

We can also consider that people who volunteer are in better shape, have less depression and greater life enthusiasm. Health Benefits of Giving

Whether its volunteering, donating, raising awareness or small acts of kindness you will feel a lot better about yourself. People complain all the time how negative things are or how they want to do something new but then don't consider the opportunities in front of them.

For example, the vast maority 87% of communities are protected by volunteer firefighting and volunteers constitute 65% of firefighters nationwide. The Next Era of Firefighting. These community-oriented guys and gals are out there every week training raising their skill level and are able to support multiple towns and entities in a rural location. You must give them credit for that!

This is something I do but you can consider joining, volunteering, or donating to any number of organizations. It helps to make your communities self-sufficient. If you are interested in helping your local fire department, a company with resources, etc. please send me a message to the right and I will point you in the right direction. Tax free non-profit.

Corruption Index Release: Keeping Communities Thriving (Hypothetical Thought Experiment)

Corruption can be a drag on any economy, damage trust, reduce social cohesion, and often creates victims wherever it leaves its footprint. Ensuring resources and systems are used for their highest and noblest purpose goes hand in hand with reducing corruption anywhere it is exposed. When it has been challenged and overcome, you will also often see an improvement in a sense of community as well as improved economic prospects and trust of institutions. Reducing corruption helps to improve free exchange and institutional performance.

To help highlight how such corruption might work on a ground level we have been using a philosophical hypothetical thought experiment for learning purposes....

In this example a Clan of corrupted officials engaged in years of unchecked misbehaviors that included threats/violence, putting kids at risk, sexually exploiting women (maybe guys as well🤔), alleged rape of an underage teen girl who thereafter committed suicide, alleged missing drug money, misuse of public resources, retaliation against whistleblowers, helping their friends enrich from misbehaviors/manipulate, silencing concerned citizens, disrespected vets, created secret hit lists, manipulated the sick/dying, so on and so forth. The bad stuff one can conjure!👿

These are a few horrendous examples one might think of when considering the stuff some people can justify and do without appropriate checks and balances. Due to that lack of maturity and seriousness from some decision makers, the misbehaviors went on a long time impacting not only the economic health of the area but also the way in which people act and interact with each other. They did more then steal from institutions, rob from the joy of life of victims but also stole from the future of their community (Selfish "super cool" people). 

What makes this hypothetical discussion important is that despite almost no support the community and faithful officials became fed up with the incorrectly applied immunities and started to report and successfully challenge hate, corruption, bullying and negligence. In this case, a net was created to help them bust themselves through their own goal directed behaviors, actions, and choices. If one understood how bullies, bigots and bankrupted souls deal with someone saying "no" is pathologically jump to well used tools that were successful in the past. Except this time evidence was collected and decision makers could not simply sweep it under the carpet with a dismissive shrug. 🤷

The goal was to ensure the system adapted to a higher functioning state to ensure it focuses on serving  the community as well as create pressure on bad actors to not be slaves to hate, corruption,  social networks and unwritten Clan rules. Five stages have been determined thus far and a 6th may emerege which appears likely as we restore democratic principles with kindness and in the spirit of universal values of freedom. 

People can forgive, but they should never forget the victims and the damage these people did to their community. Resilience is necessary to preserve our futures and the health of the whole.

What we can learn from this philosophical example is that power of good and being always faithful to our principles ensures the sun comes up every morning to illuminate our way into the future. The light of liberty shines bright thawing the coldest hearts of hate supports, segregationists and decision makers who lost their compass. More importantly that the power rests in our everyday kitchen table conversations and the good will of noble people/officials who truly serve others. Darkness may dim our prospects for a short time but will never snuff the lamp; least we all lose our way. 

Reporting corruption and actively expecting officials to do the same sets the social expectations of good governance. We need less legal experts and more people who understand the purpose of justice (They are similar but not the same. One is a technicality and the other its true North compass). The best and brightest are those who swore and oath and live by it, do their best to fulfill an institution's purpose with integrity and don't sell out greater values for the lower values to help friends, clans, hate networks, corruption, or anything else that undermines our institutions. Time answers all questions......

Corruption Index In the Review of 2024

Corruption Index Statement

A couple questions:

-Why does corruption persist so long after it is well known?

-Why might we want to pick leaders, judges, decision makers, administrators, etc. with higher value systems?

-What is the relationship between corruption and fraud, waste, and low economic performance?

-How might communities protect their community from corruption when they do not have adequate support?

-Does democracy and the will of the people have its own power beyond top-down mechanisms?

-When we know there are victims, and we don't correct what does that say about our commitment to the health of institutions, health of the community, and the next generation?

*This is a hypothetical philosophical theoretical discussion for learning purposes so take with a grain of salt. It is meant for discussion to explore the concepts of freedom of religion, speech, patriotism, oaths, community, etc.

Manufacturing and Mining Rise: A Local Example (Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization March 2025)

Manufacturing is growing in the U.S. and that is a good thing. Manufacturing matched with modern technology can increase growth. Furthering that with advanced human capital and labor skills could also help to develop capacity (invention, innovation, creation). Likewise, there has been some improvements in infrastructure over the last few years which will help to encourage lower transactional costs.

Consider that mining 90.3% of capacity which is above its historic trend of 86.5% new mines to help fuel manufacturing can help. As complex global issues interplay, we may have some limited supply so having a better balance with domestic production can help.

Let us consider a town like Escanaba as an example. I will also start writing about San Diego and other places (i.e. tourism up in San Diego and Escanaba as other revenue sources). For the moment I'm just talking about Escanaba. However, I like to write about both for my and whoever else is interested.

There has been some discussion of opening a mine and possibly a port in the region (We are not yet discussing the increased investment environment of the area). High levels of capacity utilization indicate a need for additional mining. There is also additional need for ship building which would utilize similar capacities (complementary) but that is also a different discussion.

We can discuss ideas as they relate to a port, improved airport, and other activities for a different day.
Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization March 2025

-Industrial production increase .7%

-Manufacturing output increase 0.9%.

-Durable manufacturing index increased 1.6 percent

-Motor vehicles and parts rose 8.5%.

-Mining gained 2.8% at 90.3% capacity (This is important for the UP).

-Capacity utilization went to 78.2%

Civilization and the Significance of History to Modern Society

Reading is a little of a pastime for me and I have over the years collected a many great books. Sometimes a few too many so I need to offload some. Get more and sell the one's I read. This book is on the history of civilization and covers Vikings to Eistein. There are a lot of great pictures and artwork because that is also part of our history and how we process information from a psychological level. 

EBAY $20 Free Shipping

Those who read history begin to understand some of the patterns of society. How ideas are formed, how they impact stages of development, and how ideas are changed and adjusted over time. Even the U.S. is more of an idea then it is a physical place based on freedoms that were not common in many other places at the time. 

Education and history help us understand who we are and where we came from. The many ideas thoughts, challenges and triumphs that have led to our current place. While the book doesn't necessarily talk about the U.S. it does talk about our broader development as a society throughout history. 

It is definitely worth the read. Typically, I give around 50% of my profits for any hobby activities, art, etc. to charity. I'm going to try and give 100% (Don't quote me if I'm a few dollars off or something). Certainly, I get the benefit of a dinner or two, attend a charity event, so on and so forth. Generally, I like to donate to orphans and local issues. It isn't much money but it does contribute.

“A diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” James Madison to George Thompson, 1825.

This is an interesting piece that does help highlight how being an educated citizen helps lead to better decisions and fostering of a strong democracy. The Significance of History in Educated Citizens

U.S. Treasury Purpose and Monthly Receipt of National Income and Spending

The U.S. Treasury helps monitor and manage our economic system. Because we are such a large organization as a nation, we do need a mechanism to strengthen overall economic resilience and maximize opportunities. That requries a lot of thought, research and coordination. Someone has to be at the helm of the financial ship to adjust and change to the trough and crest of economic waves.

The U.S. Treasury states their purpose is,

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's mission is to maintain a strong economy and create economic and job opportunities by promoting the conditions that enable economic growth and stability at home and abroad, strengthen national security by combating threats and protecting the integrity of the financial system, and manage the U.S. Government’s finances and resources effectively.

You can check out the U.S. Treasury website at US Treasury.gov

For more details on income and receipts for the U.S. Government you can take a look at Monthly Treasury Statement These statements help understand how much money is made and where as well as how much is spent and the type of expenditures. You can review Feb. 2025 Treasury Statement

In general, the U.S. Treasury department impacts interest rates, savings, spending, investing, etc. through policy development and managing resources effectively. If you are a business owner, investor or want to understand fiscal matters and how they impact you then it is helpful to read up on their activities.

*As a side note. In the right column I started a link list of important websites. It is just this one at the moment but as I sort of read through some things I will place those important economic related webpages to the right for your perusal.