The Binding Values of Moral Conscious

Values play an important role in binding people together. They form part of the overarching framework of society, shared as root assumptions of people. Smaller groups, too, develop their own values. Whenever people gather and face challenges, some set of values inevitably emerges. They are constructed from generation after generation of learned knowledge that are applied to the struggles of today.

Representation of ancient
universal values being
shared in a group

The Story of the Clan is a hypothetical thought experiment designed to explore what happens when hate and corruption impact decision making and/or there are no backstops to misbehaviors. It is philsophical discussion so take with a grain of salt.

In such cases, the values guiding decisions may differ from the values of the community at large. Victims, perpetrators, and observers may each hold their own sets of values. A risk arises if  corruption or hate leads to choices that are generally not helpful for everyone else. 

Because people often define their values through the groups they identify with, individuals who engage in harmful behaviors may still be celebrated as champions by those who share their distorted views. The fish in the fishbowl.

The Story of the Clan illustrates how hate and corruption can impact some positions and groups—but also encouraging a higher moral conscious can strengthen social cohesion and even foster economic growth. In the philosophical example, the community ultimately rejected distorted clan-based values, to the frustration of those invested in maintaining them.

What becomes clear is that these distorted values were not accidental; they were cultivated within tight-knit circles that recognized the social and financial benefits of promoting them. Group members came to see each other as moral, despite the harm they caused—a cult-like mindset carrying itself toward its own natural conclusion. 

This thought experiment helps us examine how harmful values can form, spread, and sustain themselves, while also encouraging reflection on healthier alternatives. Fostering good values in our communities and encouraging people who reflect those shared values of togetherness to take leading roles can help. It is a slow process but it does strengthen binding as expectations are built upward from the communities in an organic and natural way.

At the heart of it is this: binding moral values gain strength through close relationships, but their content depends on the community that shapes them. Thus, encourage strong values on a community level so those with distorted values have greater social and moral incentives to realign. All people within the community have value and only through shared commitment to a bright future will people succeed.

The best advice, then, is to form your own values from a variety of sources. Look at the different societal values, your personal values, universal values, so on and so forth. Create a personal sense of perspective that uplifts your community as much as possible. Always try and do the best for the most amount of people and think about the long-term impact of those values for generations to come. Foster what is good in each other so that it can strengthen communal values. Support those who already have those values and have displayed those values consistently; versus when they are convenient.

This is a thoughtful idea on how accepting the most humble of values can lead to stronger leadership.

He who is not a good servant will not be a good master. Plato

You may be interested in this study on binding values. 

Binding moral values gain importance in the presence of close others

*This is a hypothetical, theoretical, philosophical learning thought experiment so take with a grain of salt. It is ok to disagree.

Sunset Picture: It is the small things that can brighten your day.

This is a photo I took in La Jolla a few years ago. Since I do a lot of writing, I thought selling some of my art could help support that work while also contributing to charitable causes. With my hobby projects, I’ve been aiming to donate around 50%—often more—to charity. It’s not a huge amount, but every bit helps.

Sunsets always make for striking pictures because they have a way of brightening our day. This one leans more toward a silhouette, but the sun glowing in the background adds a warmth and appeal of its own. When I look at it, I often think about the fish that might be swimming among the rocks. If you walk barefoot along the shore, you can see right into the water, and the moment you dip your hand in, everything begins to stir and come to life.

La Jolla and Sunset Painting
 For Purchase

Manage Money the Right Way: A Few Tips for Fiscal Success and Long-Term Happiness

Picture representing 
spending, saving, and goals.

Money is something many strive for because it provides access to resources and power. Yet, money is not everything, and lasting success comes from finding balance between today’s spending and tomorrow’s investments. Some people spend for prestige, while others practice restraint and prioritize their long-term goals.

Spending can feel good in the moment, bringing short-term satisfaction. But when overspending leads to debt, that pleasure quickly turns into stress. Those who balance present enjoyment with future security are far more likely to build lasting wealth.

Human behavior often leans toward immediacy—we want to feel good now. The famous marshmallow experiment showed that children who demonstrated self-control were more successful later in life. The same principle applies to financial decisions.

A Few Practical Tips:

• Match your spending to your income. Aim to put at least 15% into retirement and 10% or more into savings.

• Question the necessity of purchases. Many of us realize later that much of what we bought added little value.

• Reflect on how money influences your emotions and buying habits—there are often deeper patterns at play.

• Create a budget and stick to it.

• Explore alternatives. Many free or low-cost activities can be just as fulfilling as expensive ones.

• Ask yourself: Does your money work for you, or do you work for your money?

Studies consistently show that those who see money primarily as a source of happiness tend to be less financially stable. In contrast, people who view money as a tool for the future develop stronger, healthier financial habits.

Money Managers and Personality

100 Years of Veterans Affairs Research 2025

Veterans are individuals who truly walked the talk by stepping forward to serve an important cause—something many others might not have been able to do. They come from all walks of life and reflect the diversity of the American population. The video below highlights VA research and its impact in helping veterans recover and thrive.

I’m a strong supporter of research in general, and of veterans in particular. I’m sharing this because raising awareness of veteran-focused research is important—and because veterans represent one of the best populations to benefit from advanced treatments.

The Clan: A Thought Experiment on Corruption, Social Cohesion, and Economic Futures (Hypothetical Thought Experiment on Hate and Corruption)

Good citizens have long been understood as those who stand for justice and the protection of communal well-being. When corruption and hate permeate decision-making processes, they generate significant risks for future victims, while simultaneously imposing economic costs that constrain growth and undermine the long-term health of communities. The following discussion—referred to here as The Clan—serves as a hypothetical, philosophical, and theoretical thought experiment aimed at identifying mechanisms for social improvement where hate and corruption has left a mark.

Representing societal wisdom and light.
Platos cave. 
Chains of mental slavery.

It is necessary to acknowledge the persistence of bad actors within society. Individuals motivated by bigotry, racism, segregationist ideology, or hyper-partisanship often demonstrate a willingness to advance their beliefs at any cost (every society has some but the % is important). When such motivations are coupled with financial incentives and reinforced by social groups demanding strict adherence to harmful norms, the outcomes can become highly undesirable. The active protection of corrupt and hateful practices intensifies this risk, possibly embedding these behaviors within institutions. Conversely, historical and hypothetical examples demonstrate that collective concern and challenge against hate by community members can generate measurable improvements in social cohesion, economic vitality, and overall community well-being.

Within this learning narrative, a network of corrupted officials emerges as central to systemic dysfunction. Whistleblower reports were systematically dismissed, investigative processes obstructed, and complaints redirected to perpetrators. Witnesses and complainants became targets of retaliation, while those engaged in misconduct received material and social rewards. Women, children, elderly, minorities, and others were victims as indication of long-term patterns. Over time, complaints lost credibility within institutional frameworks, and efforts to question corruption were met with shielding mechanisms or, in extreme cases, coordinated aggression and exclusionary practices amounting to social cleansing. An extreme sense of entitlement that lacked substative beliefs in universal professed oaths and values.

Two critical concepts warrant analysis:

1. Financial and Social Incentives. Corruption and hate endure in part because they generate both financial benefits and social reinforcement for those engaged in such practices. Officials may leverage their positions for personal enrichment, while social groups may perpetuate hate-driven narratives, exploit vulnerable populations, or marginalize specific communities. Over time, these behaviors risk normalization, eroding the ethical and professional commitments of those tasked with protecting the public good.

2. Long-Term Consequences. Once corrupt and hateful practices become institutionally entrenched and openly acknowledged as a drag on the community, reversing their impact becomes increasingly difficult. Aggression may be used to suppress freedom of speech or silence dissent, yet the knowledge of misconduct remains widespread. The normalization of such practices erodes trust in institutions and creates lasting harm to the social fabric. New victims could have been saved and protected but like others before they were dismissed and dehumanized in a type of gross negligence.

These observations prompt two fundamental questions. First, would systems of governance and community life not operate more effectively, sustainably, and equitably if corruption were removed? Corruption represents a misallocation of resources that diminishes efficiency and undermines collective well-being. Second, what are the long-term consequences for human capital when some members of society are systematically excluded from participation, justice, and equitable treatment on the basis of religion, race, political affiliation, or other?

These are theoretical discusions but one can fathom the other implications if corrupted is shielded and protected and the status que is that certain Clan members are the beneficiaries of institutional outcomes not based on truth, justice or merit but on the misuse of authority and power entrusted by communities but put in the hands of those not qualified to yeild it. At some point the community will have to reclaim that power or accept that a certain percentage of victims in long-stemming patterns is just part of "business as usual". 

*Remember this is a philsophical, theoretical, hypothetical learning thought experiment designed to get people thinking but not necessarily find a final conclusion. One may agree or disagree with such questions but it is the process that they thought about it that counts and own whatever conclusions they come to. "I know that I know nothing"- Socrates

Sunset and Peninsula Painting: Arts Foster a Healthier Society

Sunsets, oceans, and nature are at the top of my list of interests. I believe art serves a greater purpose beyond personal enjoyment—it shares values, preserves culture, spreads knowledge, and inspires societal change.

This is a piece I painted below.

Arts as a Foundation of Society

Sunset and Peninsula Painting
In the Wooded Pathway Gallery

Surround Yourself with the Right Team and Succeed

Executives should be thoughtful about the people they select to be part of their leadership team. While it is natural to gravitate toward those who agree with us, that approach is not always helpful. A team composed of individuals with diverse perspectives generates stronger ideas, fosters critical thinking, and reduces the risks of groupthink—a dynamic that has crippled many once-successful companies.

Organizations operate in dynamic, ever-changing environments. When too many leaders share similar backgrounds and viewpoints, they tend to approach challenges from a narrow angle, creating a type of strategic blindness. True transformation and innovation arise from novelty, which is most likely to emerge from a diverse team.

Equally important is the personality of those you hire. You don’t want people who simply say “yes” to every idea, nor do you want individuals who rigidly reject others’ perspectives. Instead, aim for emotionally intelligent, knowledgeable, and critical thinkers who can balance ideals with practical execution. Debate is essential, but it must eventually lead to an actionable plan.

It can be tempting to hire people who provide little resistance or feedback, but in today’s world, leaders are hired for their expertise and problem-solving abilities. Hiring in one’s own image risks overlooking the talent necessary to help an organization adapt to shifting industries and marketplaces.

Finally, remember that teams must rely on one another and remain aligned with the organization’s mission. Leaders who are in tune with both employee needs and market trends are better positioned to generate meaningful solutions. The more members who deeply understand the organization at multiple levels, the better they can coordinate resources and drive progress.