Delta County MI Board of Commissioners Meeting (8/5/2025): Trains and UPSET

Two major points emerged from the meeting: the impact of drugs in the Upper Peninsula (UP) and the potential expansion of Amtrak service.

Amtrak – There was discussion about whether Amtrak might extend service to Escanaba. As a growing hub for tourism, business investment, and distribution—with a deep-water port and cruise ship access—such a connection could be highly beneficial. Making the business case for Amtrak will be essential, and collaboration among communities could strengthen efforts to secure expanded service. (An interesting thought.... do we have the facilities and local skill to draw additional repair or customization? Escanaba & Lake Superior Rail Road Company 💭)

UPSET – Removing drugs from our communities remains a priority. While our towns are picturesque and inviting, we must not overlook the toll drugs have taken on lives, families, and the workforce. Learn about UPSET

You may interested in some drug stats. Human Services Reports Michigan and Beyond the Bubble UP

America's Tall Ship the Eagle: Pictures and History

America’s tall ship, the Eagle, has a history stretching back to World War II and continues to serve today as a floating training laboratory for modern Coast Guard officers.

US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle Official Page

If you haven't already, consider Joining the US Coast Guard

US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle
A picture I took. I try and donate over 50%
of proceeds from the The Walking Path Gallery
for various causes and charities.

US Coast Guard Eagle Mousepad
and other items.

The Story of the Clan: Direct and Indirect Harm (Philosophical Thought Experiment)

Hate-based behaviors have a significant impact on individuals and act as a detractor to fully functioning systems and outcomes. Societies rely on coordination, and hate is a clear sign of direct discoordination. While hate is immoral, it also carries broader implications from a total-systems standpoint. When hate serves as a motivation and corruption becomes the avenue, the combination can produce a range of serious issues.

Protecting the equal weights
of justice helps all of society.
Constitutional protectors through
reflection and thoughtfulness.
The roots of justice are embedded
in the collective unconscious (In theory).

Our focus is on exploring the economic and social dimensions of hate and corruption, particularly in how their distortions—what we might call transactional distortions—can influence high-level decision-making. Such distortions may undermine the ability to address pressing environmental challenges and could ultimately have a broader impact on overall performance.

In our hypothetical, philosophical, and theoretical thought experiment, we examine a “Clan” that has warped the local justice system through social connections infused with extreme bigotry and coordinated hate. A loose association between community members exposing corruption and a broader stakeholder network of Constitutional protectors led to improvements in economic prospects and a stronger sense of community cohesion. In this example, normal patterns of hate and corruption were disrupted by good people acting in the public interest leading to system improvement.

However, official safeguards were absent and poor actors knew how to coach and exploit intentional loopholes to commit misbehaviors/crimes. Victims reported that these misbehaviors were well known to those tasked with administering justice. Witnesses, whistleblowers, and victims were placed at risk to shield and reward perpetrators while maximizing harm toward those who have not given up on the idea that public institutions should serve everyone equally. They are always faithful to what makes us an indivisible people.

Hate-related harm appears to operate on multiple levels, both direct and indirect. Direct harm includes acts such as targeted harassment, breach of contracts, and unlawful decisions. Indirect harm emerges when such behaviors become normalized in unwritten rules—where official values, such as human and civil rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion, are recognized in principle but ignored in practice. In such cases, what is said and what is done often differ greatly.

The study referenced below indicates that individuals may coordinate against those they perceive as committing a symbolic offense, reflecting poor intergroup attitudes and negatively impacting employment. This helps us understand how the poor behavior of some can diminish the economic utilization of human capital. The effects are likely far broader than many assume, especially when complacency leads to disregarding victims’ rights or minimizing the seriousness of such misconduct. The symptoms can be covered through corruption but the root issues that led to such problems may remain. Commitment to collective and shared values seems low in our example.

Differentiating Between Direct and Indirect Hate Crime: Results From Poland

*This is a hypothetical, philosophical, theoretical thought experiment to explore what hate and corruption can look like. We can write in a positive ending. Take with a grain of salt. 

The gifted and their long-term careers

Maximizing human capital is important ant the gifted provide some unique benefits to organizations. First, there is no single, universally accepted definition of giftedness, but most definitions relate to exceptional ability, high intelligence, and mastery across various domains of intelligence (including theories like Howard Gardner’s). You can review What is Giftedness? for more background.

Organizations that can harness this potential can achieve remarkable results by finding ways to apply exceptional skills in practical settings. However, gifted individuals must be matched with environments that recognize and foster their abilities—something society does not consistently do well. Too often, giftedness is confused with wealth the benefits of resources, leading to skewed programs and opportunities.

Exceptional talent often brings fresh perspectives on the world, which may not be welcomed by those with a narrower worldview, limited abstract reasoning skills, or less intuitive understanding of complex issues.

So—what happens to the gifted? According to Professional Situation of Gifted Adults  gifted adults generally perform well in employment, often demonstrate strong management and leadership skills, and report being generally satisfied with their careers. The study suggests that, overall, gifted individuals tend to do well in society. By extension, organizations could greatly benefit if they learn to attract, develop, and retain such talent—whether gifted or not.

Wild Fires Maybe Increasing Because of Climate Change According to NASA

The Forest Fire Painting
6X10' Acrylic

Wildfires are growing in frequency, intensity, and complexity alongside climate change. According to the website referenced below, there has been a noticeable increase in wildfires, which presents new challenges for communities, ecosystems, and emergency response systems. 

Key Points:

• Extreme wildfires have doubled globally

• Fire seasons are lasting longer

• Carbon dioxide emissions from fires are increasing

• Human activity remains the primary cause of wildfires

The website also includes charts and data on the size and intensity of recent fires, as well as links to NASA's real-time fire monitoring tools.

Wildfire and Climate Change-NASA

The Story of the Clan: Impact on Human Capital and System Performance (Philosophical Thought Experiment)

We’ve been using an example to explore how hate and corruption can impact communities. In this philosophical, theoretical, and hypothetical learning thought experiment, victims, witnesses, and others were targeted for the benefit of the perpetrators. Over time, some observers began to recognize the near-immunity of "The Clan" within local justice systems, as well as patterns of prior misconduct that went unchecked.

In our example, there are no effective safeguards in place because social networks and ideological biases have distorted the decision-making process. This can result in a “brain drain,” where the most talented individuals begin to disengage. As more people withdraw, both trust and organizational performance deteriorate. 

As the system weakens and corrupt officials promote coordinated misconduct, the need for change becomes increasingly urgent. Change should be welcomed when it aligns with and strengthens the organization’s core mission. Without proper checks and balances, however, the system has instead fostered and rewarded unethical behavior. 

(Remember this is just an example, The vast majority of officials do the right thing and act with integrity. We are exploring philosophically of what something might look like under a certain set of circumstances.)

It is critical to build high-functioning systems in which transactional relationships are rooted in clear expectations and shared assumptions. People must operate within a common framework of accountability and mutual respect. Hate and corruption erode the social fabric, and when these are reinforced by decision makers that turn a blind eye, the decline becomes broader and deeper.

We will eventually turn to the more positive side of our learning story. In the meantime, we should continue to reflect on how a toxic environment affects the performance of those who choose not to participate in the game of mistreating others. Corruption and hate are symptoms of deeper latent issues so they should be corrected when found. 

The reflection below underscores the high cost of corruption—particularly in its impact on attracting and retaining top-quality talent.

Corruption Drives Brain Drain

*This is a philosophical, theoretical, hypothetical learning thought experiment that is used to explore hate and corruption and its impact on our values and environment. Take with a grain of salt as we will write in a positive ending. 

How is the Interest Rate Set and What Does It Do?

The interest rate is a key economic tool frequently discussed by politicians, economists, bankers, and other decision-makers. It’s not an arbitrary figure—it reflects a calculated approach to managing the money supply and influencing economic activity.

One reason the interest rate is often described as a "brake" or "gas pedal" for the economy is because it directly affects the cost of borrowing. Push the gas too hard—lower rates too much—and you risk overheating the economy. Apply the brakes too firmly—raise rates too high—and you risk slowing things down too much. How the rate is set, by how much, and for how long are all central points of debate.

In general, lowering interest rates increases the money supply, making borrowing cheaper and usually accelerating economic activity. Raising rates restricts the money supply, making borrowing more expensive and slowing the economy.

Modern economic policy aims to find a “sweet spot” that supports steady, sustainable growth. Interest rates are determined by a group of experts—typically central bankers—who assess economic conditions and reach a consensus on the appropriate rate. The Federal Reserve Rate is chosen be the Federal Reserve Open Market Committe (FOMC).

You may want to look at the posted interest rates. Posted Interest Rates Federal Reserve

In depth article of Interest Rate

and 

How Do Interest Rates Work?