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Saturday, March 14, 2026

Economic Dashboard Over 20 Years:Could Broad Based Capitalism Improve Innovative Development, Community Resilience and Trust? (hypothetical Feather Party)

(Illustrative Only)

Grandpa Todd joined the
hypothetical Feather Party 
of independent voters because
he wants to protect rights,
pass on generational
American values,
resilience of communities,
and opportunities for the
younger generation which
may be dwindling. 
With so much money on top
it seems as though
some may have forgotten
why they were elected. 
New ideas are needed.

Shhh don't say
that too loudly as
you might go on a
partisan's list. There
may be reasons why
that is becoming more
common as well.
Freedom
of speech.🤫

Would a larger independent
party help reverse the trends?
Would it keep people a 
little more focused on
serving normal people if
leaders were drawn from
communities?

*the hypthothetical Feather
Party is a philosphical discussion,
doesn't exist at this time, 
is made of independent voters
that tip partyline votes, focuses
on the young generation, encourages
new ideas, seeks to
connect democracy to
communities, doesn't work
with special interest, limits
campaign donations, and each
member is encourage to vote
their conscious based on a
shared decision making matrix.
Some will support one thing
and others will support 
other things. A place
for intellectuals, logical thinkers,
scientists, and those who
want a shared sense of purpose.

There are several trends worth considering and thinking about from a philosphical perspective. Based on an initial review of available data and a brief check of sources, there may be areas where economic and political leadership could improve to help ensure the nation remains healthy and develop in ways that enhance the lives of average Americans.

It is important to note that the presence of trends does not imply causation. The information below would need to be thoroughly scrubbed, reviewed, and supported with deeper analysis to reach precise conclusions. However, from a high-level perspective, and given the variety of sources from which the information is drawn, the likelihood that these observations are at least broadly accurate appears reasonably strong.

Organizations must find solutions to problems and that starts with voting in the best and brightest and not the most partisan, special interest vetted or connected here or internationally. 

Philosophical Questions: 

1. Could broad basec capitalism improve economic performance and trust? 

2. If wealth is being concentrated is it possible that a broader based capitalism could help your communities rebuild?

Feel free to make your own conclusions as ultimatey each of us must be able to take in information and decide for ourselves. We don't need others tellings us what we need as we are an educated intelligent people. In earlier times when we all lived in a village and worked toward shared benefit we could not afford to not exlore adaptive ideas. Or rely on a few top down perspectives that impact all of us but haven't necessarily panned out well. Let us try bottom up management for a change. 🤷 Vote your conscious.

Several notable trends over the past 20 years include:

  • Increasing trade deficit

  • Rising concentration of wealth

  • Declining trust in government

  • Increasing mergers and acquisitions

  • Increasing perceptions of corruption

  • PACs on the rise

  • Growing ideological partisan voting

  • Declining economic freedom

  • Increasing movement of wealth overseas (..likely underreported due to private data.)

  • Rising national debt

  • Declining perceptions of freedom of speech

Broad-based capitalism, in theory, may help reverse some of these troubling trends. Maybe or maybe not? Achieving this may require a larger independent voting bloc that is less influenced by money in politics and the partisan ideologies often tied to that money. From a broad-based perspective, more wealth generation should occur within the hands of average Americans and within local communities.

Broad-based capitalism is closely related to broad-based capital markets, meaning a wider distribution of investors (i.e. small and medium) and capital across many industries and across firms of different sizes. i.e. the firms in your community. The concept focuses on maximizing market participation and wealth creation across the full spectrum of businesses, communities, from microenterprises to large corporations.

This approach could also influence innovation by engaging a broader base of human capital (See how the concepts are related to maximize benefit to the most amount of people? We cannot afford to leave any demographic behind.). Research has suggested that smaller firms often generate more innovation per employee than larger firms. (Small and Large Firm Innovation) We can tap that power to rebuild.

Encouraging wider participation in entrepreneurship and capital formation may therefore strengthen innovation across the economy. That could mean higher household income levels as decisions and income are closer to the people who earn it. Innovation in the development of human capital is especially important because, when widely distributed throughout society, it can create cascading “butterfly effects” that support long-term economic and social progress. In Theory.

Trade Deficit

Data Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

YearTrade Deficit
2005-$714B
2006-$762B
2007-$705B
2008-$709B
2009-$384B
2010-$495B
2011-$549B
2012-$537B
2013-$462B
2014-$490B
2015-$500B
2016-$502B
2017-$552B
2018-$621B
2019-$442B
2020-$982B
2021-$1.18T
2022-$1.31T
2023~-$1.18T
2024~-$903B
2025~$901B

Concentration of Wealth Top 1%

Federal Reserve Distributional Financial Accounts data

YearShare of Total U.S. Wealth Top 1%
200426.9%
200928.1%
201430.4%
201930.4%
202430.8%
2025~31%     

Trust in Government

Data Source Pew Research Center

Pew Research Center regularly asks whether people trust the government to do what is right “always or most of the time.”

Year% Trust Government
2004~36%
2010~24%
2015~19%
2019~17%
2021~24%
2024~22%
2025~17%

U.S. M&A Deals by Year

Dealogic/SIFMA and industry reports

Dealogic/SIFMA and industry reports.
YearNumber of Deals
20058,214
200610,265
200710,696
20089,067
20097,315
201010,148
201110,562
201212,228
201310,223
201410,632
201510,509
20169,774
201710,390
20188,327
20199,870
2020~11,000
2021~16,000
2022~17,000
202315,643
202413,697

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) – United States (2001–2025)

Data Source

Scores are on a scale of 0 More Corruption –100 Less Corrupt. Data Source

YearCPI Score
200176
200277
200375
200470
200576
200673
200772
200870
200975
201071
201171
201273
201373
201474
201576
201674
201775
201871
201969
202067
202167
202269
202369
202465
202564 (latest)

Number of PACs in the U.S. by Year (1990–2024)

Data Source

PACs counted include all federally registered committees making contributions to congressional candidates (i.e., connected, non‑connected, corporate, labor, etc.) — this count does not include Super PACs and hybrid PACs separately, though some are included under nonconnected categories when they report. Data Source

YearTotal PACs Registered
19902,869
19923,067
19943,099
19964,518
19984,593
20004,496
20024,573
20044,864
20065,012
20085,220
20105,512
20127,311
20147,548
20168,666
20188,663
20208,855
20229,271
20249,233

Party Unity (Percent of Votes That Were Partisan) by Year


A general upward trend
Data Source 


2023-2025 appear to bump up completely but data seems incomplete and from other sources.


YearHouse (%)Senate (%)
2003~52~67
2004~47~52
2005~49~63
2006~54~57
2007~62~60
2008~53~52
2009~50~72
2010~40~79
2011~76~51
2012~73~60
2013~69~70
2014~73~67
2015~75~69
2016~73~46 (note: incomplete/estimated)
2017~76~69
2018~59~50
2019~68~54
2020~70~64
2021~63~79
2022~53~83


US Economic Freedom Score (approx. 2006–2026)

Heritage Foundation. It scores countries from 0–100 based on factors like property rights, government size, regulation, trade openness, and financial freedom.


Data Source and Data Source

YearScoreGlobal RankCategory
2006~82~4Free
2010~78~9Mostly Free
2015~76~12Mostly Free
2018~75.7~18Mostly Free
2020~76.6~17Mostly Free
2021~74.8~20Mostly Free
2022~72.1~25Mostly Free
202370.625Mostly Free
2024~70.1~25Mostly Free
202570.226Mostly Free
202672.822Mostly Free

Estimated U.S. Personal Wealth Held Offshore (2005–2024)



Data Source and Data Source
Likely underestimated as information is private. It would be nice to see which countries that money is going and what their policies are that they attract this private capital. We might be able to retain that money here. 

(rounded estimates, trillions USD)
YearOffshore wealth
2005$0.9T
2006$1.0T
2007$1.06T
2008$1.1T
2009$1.2T
2010$1.4T
2011$1.6T
2012$1.8T
2013$2.0T
2014$2.2T
2015$2.5T
2016$2.8T
2017$3.1T
2018$4.0T
2019$4.1T
2020$4.0T
2021$4.1T
2022$4.2T
2023$4.2T
2024~$4.3T

U.S. Federal Budget Deficit by Fiscal Year (Approximate)


Data Source

(Figures are in billions or trillions of U.S. dollars (USD))

Fiscal Year (Oct–Sept)Federal Deficit
2005$318 B
2006$248 B
2007$161 B
2008$459 B
2009$1,413 B (~$1.4 T)
2010$1,294 B (~$1.3 T)
2011$1,300 B (~$1.3 T)
2012$1,077 B (~$1.1 T)
2013$680 B
2014$485 B
2015$442 B
2016$585 B
2017$665 B
2018$779 B
2019$984 B
2020$3,132 B (~$3.1 T) pandemic spike
2021$2,772 B (~$2.8 T)
2022$1,380 B (~$1.38 T)
2023$1,690 B (~$1.69 T)
2024$1,830 B (~$1.83 T)
2025$1,775–$1,780 B (~$1.78 T)
2026 (est.)~$1.55 T projected 

Freedom of Press/Speech



Scores: 0 = best, 100 = worst.
U.S. trends (approximate rank and score):
YearScoreRank (out of ~180)
200515.520
201017.222
201519.041
202023.344
202425.145



at No comments:

US Trade Deficit Improved in January 2026: Solutions To Long Term Trade Are Lacking

(Illustrative Only)

Ibrahim and Janice
want to start a store
on Ludington Street in 
Escanaba hoping to
help local craft makers,
and producers, get their
products on the shelf and export.
They do a lot of online marketing
and connecting to international
distributors. 

Tax revenue stays more
local to rebuild
our own community.
Making sure it is easy 
to start business downdown 
is helpful. Connecting
the right resources
can do wonderful.


In the short term, there is some positive economic news on the trade front. The trade deficit decreased by about $54.5 billion in January 2026, while exports increased to roughly $302 billion, which represents a positive short-term shift. The specific reasons behind this change have not yet been fully analyzed, but in general, it is encouraging when people create products and sell them—especially in overseas markets. At the same time, it is important to think about buying American-made products that support local communities, help families, strengthen downtowns, and build our internal economic capacity. That also includes investing in American businesses and communities.

However, when we look at the longer-term picture over the past 20 years, some concerning trends emerge. The United States has generally been losing ground in producing and exporting new products and services. Simply put, we are buying too much and not selling enough. Addressing that imbalance will require a more innovative way of thinking about our economic future. Unfortunately, many policy solutions over the past decade or so have been relatively short-sighted. Perhaps it is time for some new ideas because some of our state and federal politicians struggling with generating new solutions. If you have one, consider sharing that politicians and officials who if they are supporting average folk should consider those when they have merit. Much better than repeating old slogans as though they were theirs. Doesn't matter the party or the politics. We build our community and nation by solving problems in the best interest of everyone.

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, January 2026

  • Data Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
    The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services decreased to about $54.5 billion in January 2026, down from a revised $72.9 billion deficit in December 2025.

  • U.S. exports increased to approximately $302.1 billion in January, reflecting a rise of about $15.6 billion from the previous month.

  • U.S. imports totaled about $356.6 billion in January, which represented a decrease of roughly $2.8 billion compared to December.

  • Goods exports increased during the month, particularly in industrial supplies and materials and capital goods.

  • Consumer goods exports declined, partly due to lower pharmaceutical shipments.

  • The deficit in goods trade narrowed as exports increased and imports slightly declined.

  • Imports of consumer goods, vehicles, and industrial materials fell during the month.

  • Imports of capital goods increased and reached a record level, reflecting demand for technology and equipment.

  • Trade in services continued to grow, with both exports and imports of services reaching record levels.

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026, March 6). U.S. international trade in goods and services, January 2026. https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/us-international-trade-goods-and-services-january-2026

Data Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis



at No comments:

Friday, March 13, 2026

Justice, Accountability, and the Common Good (The Story of the Clan)

(Illustrative Only)

Injustice is a willful act
in the same way that justice
is a willful act. 

A wise man once said, 
"You can commit injustice
by doing nothing."
Marcus Aurelius

Lou has lived a full
life. A piece of advice
for people. Always
strive to do the right 
thing as a man's (woman's)
choices are a reflection
of their soul. 

He returns back to his
book knowing nature
has its own system of 
resolution. Time
will answer all questions.

What reflects your
world? 


Access to justice is essential for a healthy society and for building the foundations of economic and social development. Most people simply want to live their lives without being mistreated or unfairly hindered. Because individuals hold different political, racial, ideological, or religious beliefs, these perspectives can influence how they see the world and how they treat others (Initially called a 'filter model' by Donald Broadbent in 1958 in which some information is selected for attention and others ignored. i.e. your mirror. That leads down a train of development on cognitive distortion.). A justice system provides a process for addressing wrongdoing and gives people a way to seek recourse when others fail to follow basic principles of fairness, such as the Golden Rule. ðŸª™

Problems arise when unofficial beliefs—such as ideas of superiority based on religion, politics, or identity—begin to influence official actions (Mix power with congnitive distortion and you got a real issue.) When this happens, people may start treating those outside their group differently, which can lead to unequal outcomes. If this occurs over a long time it will have a long tail negative impact difficult for scientists to measure (It can be imperfectly measured if you look at broader sociological trends.). These dynamics can also have economic consequences, because societies function best when people share core values such as fairness, accountability, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and respect for the rule of law. 👆

A philosophical allegory called The Story of the Clan helps illustrate this point. In the story, widespread injustice occurs because of bigotry, extremism, corruption, and discrimination based on race, religion, and political views. Those who are harmed have little recourse because of the fear of retaliation prevents them from reporting wrongdoing. Even when the harm becomes known, those responsible refuse to correct it, remove incentives for misconduct, or assist the victims whose futures were diminished, ultimately harming the broader good of society. Institutions should never be partisan or sheild wrongdoing. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that corruption is more widespread than initially believed and that additional victims were morally dimissed or undermined. Others complained of similar Good Old Boy networks and retaliation only to have their concerns muffled. In some instances, perpetrators are rewarded while misinformation is spread about the victims, contributing to their dehumanization. 

However, the story also shows that positive change is possible, as the sacrifice and courage of individuals and the integrity of oath-faithful officials eventually inspire others to pursue fairness and rebuild a commitment to justice and shared values. Although it can be difficult to change the minds of those who have decided their answers before hearing the questions (pre-cognitive bias), people can still foster greater unity even when decision makers pursue their own agendas, and the story ultimately points toward an adaptive outcome in which lessons learned help protect future victims where past harm resulted from biased and selective thinking. In other words, while they cheated victims, They also cheated society creating a long-tail of outcomes. Further, they also know that people are aware and that limits future wrongdoing due to fear of being exposed. Awareness changes things and improves deeper understanding of justice and the necessity of togetherness and shared values. A hard sell in some connected circles but the people know the benefits of a sense of community and shared paths forward.

This is an interesting piece on access to justice and democracy, 

Access to justice and economic development: Evidence from an international panel dataset.

  • The study examines the relationship between access to justice (ATJ) and economic growth using an international panel dataset covering multiple countries from 1970–2019.

  • Researchers created a new dataset measuring access to justice by analyzing the number of judges per capita across countries.

  • The analysis uses econometric methods (including instrumental variable techniques and dynamic panel models) to address potential causality and endogeneity issues.

  • Results show that greater access to justice has a significant positive effect on economic growth across both developed and developing countries.

  • The economic benefits of improved judicial access are stronger in poorer countries, suggesting legal capacity may be especially important for development.

  • Access to justice supports growth partly by increasing government accountability and improving overall institutional quality.

  • The positive relationship between access to justice and growth appears independent of factors such as legal origin, rule of law traditions, or level of democracy.

Deseau, A., Levai, A., & Schmiegelow, M. (2025). Access to justice and economic development: Evidence from an international panel dataset. European Economic Review, 172, 104947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2024.104947

at No comments:

Thursday, March 12, 2026

From Trails to Main Street: Connecting Outdoor Recreation and Local Business In the Upper Peninsula (Tommy Thinks of the Economics of Start-up Recreation in Delta County)

(Illustrative Only)

Tommy is a local artist
and gardener. He has
decided to start a 
small business selling
flowers from his and other
farms through custom made
flower pots with 
paintings on them. He
has a flowerpot line for local 
outdoor scenery and
one for funny cartoons. 

Outdoor tourists love to look in
the window, see the process,
buy them. He has been selling
them online and can't 
keep up so he is starting 
to scale his business. Online
sales and exports have risen.
His business contributes
to local tax revenue, 
artists are getting paid 
for their designs
(they get a percentage
of each pot sold
with their designs),
money circulates locally,
and once he scales he might
be able to hire a few
more people contributing
to the lives of others.
He might call it
Pot-Pics Inc.

He has a few thoughts 
on broad based capitalism
that fosters micro, small, 
medium businesses that
can balance with corporations
and lead to increased
wealth for average folks,
rebuild downtowns, and
foster higher quality of life.

Outdoor enthusiasts
are a little bit of free spirits.
A few ideas below
that ultra rich and 
the politicians they 
donate to may not
like....

Adventure Tourism
Rebuilding Downtown
Tourism Experience
Tourist Micro
MultiClusters
 Outdoor recreation is highly important for places like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As the release below shows, a portion of Michigan’s economy is tied to outdoor recreation. In the Upper Peninsula—especially in Delta County—there are many outdoor opportunities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, golf, hiking trails, bike trails, fishing, and recreational boating. The area is also about an hour from several ski hills, making it an outdoor destination. The Upper Peninsula as a whole attracts visitors who come specifically for these experiences.

To maximize the benefits of outdoor recreation and tourism, it is important to recognize that the economy is not driven only by local residents who enjoy these activities. Tourists who travel to participate in outdoor recreation are also consumers and contribute significantly to the local economy. As shown in the chart referenced in the report, parts of the outdoor recreation economy include arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services, but it also includes manufacturing and retail trade.

One way to think about developing downtowns in tourism-oriented communities is through a cluster approach. Outdoor recreation enhances quality of life and attracts visitors, but it also helps retain residents, attract new industries, and bring in knowledge-based workers. These factors together help strengthen and grow the local economy and make the community a more attractive place to live. It is one component of multiple components that can help a community stay resilient if one industry suffers but other local industries thrive therefore supporting all the industries and the economic and social health of the community (i.e. not being overally reliant on a single industry but enhancing the hedges of different industries to support and grow off of each other. In Theory.)

Manufacturing and micro-manufacturing can play an important role in this ecosystem. Small-scale production helps create export opportunities, generates local wealth, and contributes to branding the area. For example, local businesses might produce custom golf carts, golf clubs, fishing poles, polo mallets, snowshoes, candles, or specialty foods such as fudge. These products involve both a manufacturing component and a retail component, which supports multiple parts of the local economy.

This means tourism is not only about bringing people to the area but also about creating the products and experiences they purchase while they are here. When products are made locally, visitors often enjoy seeing them being produced, such as watching craftspeople work through a storefront window. Encouraging startups and small businesses downtown to engage in micro-manufacturing or craft production can enhance both local life and the visitor experience.

Marketing also plays a role. Affinity marketing recognizes that visitors who come for one activity often have related interests. For example, someone visiting to go fat biking may also need equipment such as helmets or clothing, or they may need bike repair services. Having specialized retail and service businesses that cater to these needs can help capture additional economic activity.

There is also an opportunity to think about behavioral targeting. Visitors who enjoy outdoor recreation often share other interests such as attending theater performances, art shows, live music, breweries, seminars/trade shows, or community events. Communities can design experiences that connect these activities—for example, allowing people to bike around downtown while attending music or cultural events. Policies such as allowing golf carts or ATVs on certain streets may also support this broader approach to enhancing the outdoor recreation and tourism experience.

Overall, outdoor recreation can serve as both a quality-of-life asset and an economic development strategy. Communities that connect recreation with tourism, retail, small-scale manufacturing, and cultural activities can capture greater economic value while strengthening their identity and attractiveness as places to live and visit.

Outdoor Recreation Economic Statistics, U.S. and States, 2024

  • The U.S. outdoor recreation economy contributed $696.7 billion to U.S. GDP in 2024, representing about 2.4% of total U.S. GDP.

  • The sector generated about $1.3 trillion in total economic output and supported approximately 5.2 million jobs across the United States.

  • Outdoor recreation includes three major categories:

    • conventional activities such as bicycling, boating, hiking, hunting, and fishing

    • other activities such as gardening and outdoor events

    • supporting activities such as tourism, travel, construction, and government spending.

  • Boating and fishing were the largest conventional outdoor recreation activities in the United States, generating about $38.4 billion in value added.

  • Major industries connected to outdoor recreation include arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services, retail trade, and manufacturing.

  • In Michigan, outdoor recreation contributed about $15.1 billion to the state economy in 2024, reflecting the importance of activities such as boating, fishing, hunting, and trail recreation to the state’s tourism and manufacturing sectors.

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026). Outdoor recreation economic statistics, U.S. and states, 2024. https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/outdoor-recreation-economic-statistics-us-and-states-2024

at No comments:

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Escanaba City Council Meeting (March 5th, 2026): Escanaba Yacht Club and City Manager Position

(Illustrative Only)
I'm just putting 
here to help visualize. 
You can look on their webpage
for their actual logo and information. 
Consider joining. 
EYC Webpage
A couple of primary ideas came out of the Escanaba City Council meeting. Two of the biggest topics were the hiring of a new city manager and the discussion surrounding the Escanaba Yacht Club (EYC).

City Manager Position

The current city manager, who is leaving, appears to have done a solid job for the city. From my perspective, there are no complaints. He seems to be a capable young professional who did what he needed to do while creating opportunities both for the city and for his own career. It is always encouraging to see talented people come into a community, contribute positively, and continue to grow professionally. While it would be ideal for communities to retain that talent long-term, the transition also creates an opportunity to bring in new skills and perspectives that may support the next phase of the city’s development.

As the city looks for a new manager, the council appears to be focusing on the right priorities. Housing is a major need, particularly downtown housing. In addition, the city needs to continue attracting startups and investment, especially businesses downtown as well as manufacturing and industrial development in the area. At the same time, it should continue building on the growth in tourism that Escanaba has experienced over the past few years. Interesting article on Hiring Executives -SHRM

Escanaba Yacht Club

The second major topic was the Escanaba Yacht Club and the discussion about the value it brings to the community. It was a productive conversation because it gave the yacht club an opportunity to highlight what it currently contributes as well as what it could potentially contribute in the future. Several ideas were discussed that could strengthen its role in the community. The conversation is what is important.

One idea that came to mind while reflecting on the discussion involves partnerships with the nearby Gladstone marina and sailing community. For example, the Escanaba Yacht Club has facilities that could potentially be used as classroom space for sailing or boating education. Courses could combine classroom instruction at the Escanaba Yacht Club with hands-on sailing experiences on larger private boats that volunteer to take people out, while also partnering with Gladstone for practical training using smaller boats from the boat house (Gladstone Sail School). In this way, both communities could benefit by working together and developing a stronger regional sailing and waterfront program (EYC Webpage and GYC Facebook).

(Illustrative Only)

For just a moment
the world stops.

Tourism sells experiences.
Strong communities
create experiences.
Positive affectivity 
and improved spending
can support businesses
on Ludington Street
that can foster 
investment, tourism,
and tax revenue.

Trajectory of American
Yacht Clubs
As a side note, I am considering joining the Escanaba Yacht Club. I'm already a member of the GYC . Membership reciprocity between clubs can be helpful when traveling, since many yacht clubs honor each other’s memberships. I also like hanging out with people. Local memberships are also relatively affordable around 100 ish compared with clubs in other regions, which can cost thousands of dollars to join.

Another idea is to strengthen the tourism and visual identity of the waterfront. Decorative flags or banners with the Escanaba Yacht Club logo could be placed along the east side of Ludington Street to help beautify the area and highlight the connection between downtown and the waterfront. When combined with the marina, beaches, and other downtown improvements, small visual enhancements such as flowers could help strengthen the attractiveness of several blocks of the downtown area.  A certain level of co-branding with the city in Great Lakes tourism and sailing venues (Ideally Escanaba, Gladstone, Delta County and businesses can create cobranding.) One even consider a monthly activity or sailing column in the local newspaper.  That could inturn lead to investment on that side of the city to enhance the investment that is already coming in.

Overall, when considering the value that yacht clubs can bring to a community, it can be helpful to think beyond traditional expectations and explore broader possibilities related to tourism, education, partnerships, investment, socialization and waterfront development.

Bullet Point Summary for March 5th, 2026 City Council Meeting Notes:

  • City council uses a consent agenda to approve routine items together unless a council member or citizen asks for a separate discussion.

  • The March 5, 2026 meeting agenda included approval of minutes from the February 19 and February 24 meetings, agenda adjustments, conflict of interest declarations, and public comments.

  • A public hearing was scheduled to present the final report and close-out of a Community Development Block Grant awarded to LeverEdge Chiropractic PLLC.

  • Council considered approving Resolution 26-04 to support a charitable gaming license request from New Life Community Center to allow large fundraising events.

  • Council reviewed a request to approve a special event permit for the RRN Block Party on July 24, 2026, including closing the 100 block of South 11th Street and allowing alcohol sales under state and local rules.

  • Administration requested approval to hire Pemble Concrete to redo epoxy flooring at the Public Works facility for $7,940.

  • Council considered purchasing a playground from GameTime for West Side Park for $15,318.06.

  • Council planned the first reading of Ordinance No. 1317 to amend winter parking restrictions, with the second reading and public hearing scheduled for March 19, 2026.

  • Council scheduled discussion on next steps in the city manager hiring process after interviews held on February 24, 2026.

  • At the February 19 meeting, council approved electrical safety training for water and wastewater staff up to $6,000.

  • Council approved the purchase of a wastewater treatment plant mixer for $17,500.

  • Council adopted a resolution allowing golf carts on certain city streets with restrictions such as 30 mph speed limits, daylight operation only, and licensed drivers age 16 or older.

  • Council approved a $137,814 contract with Roy Ness Contracting for public safety locker room and bathroom upgrades.

  • Public comments at the February 19 meeting focused on issues related to the Escanaba Yacht Club.

  • A February 24 special meeting was held to interview candidates for the city manager position and discuss topics such as downtown development, housing, utility rates, inflation, and communication with residents.

at No comments:

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Shared Morality May Help Reduce Hate and Corruption While Securing Our Future

(Illustrative Only
Eagle Eye, the Northern Star,
and Basic Societal Values.)

Representing the morality,
morals, codes, oaths and the very
purpose of our existence through
the generations. Some
have given up everything to do
the right thing and some
will always protect wrongdoing.
Who we choose to lead us
will determine our futures. 

Vote your conscious and be
your own person. 

 Let us continue exploring hate and corruption through the learning Story of the Clan. In the story, a group of people spread hateful rumors to benefit themselves socially and financially. Over time, the situation grew worse as some corrupt officials misused taxpayer resources to target people they disliked, including those with different political views or those who spoke out against corruption such as whistleblowers. This pattern continued for years. Eventually the situation had an opportunity to be corrected, but only after significant struggle to uphold shared values such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to pursue happiness. The victims upheld their oaths while a minority of officials undermined theirs (The clan courts gave good old boy free passes and struggled to understand the essence and purpose of law. Even confusing the prupose of the institution.). In practice, these values sometimes became subjective depending on who benefited and who was harmed, suggesting that the system still has room for improvement.

 ( Shhhh Don't say that too loudly. You could go on a list for extremist targeting. 😕🤷).

In the story, the turning point came from the many public officials who honored their oaths and acted with integrity became tired of open protection for corruption and the large group of victims this network created (This is proof most are good people and enhancing policing by removing bad apples is needed. Politicians and their hand picked "yes men" may give cover to criminal wrongdoing.). What nearly undermined the system, however, were a few corrupt individuals who abused power and targeted minorities and others in the community. Some were eventually caught engaging in wrongdoing, though a few received lenient outcomes, again highlighting weaknesses in the system.

An unwritten pattern seemed to emerge: quick to harm and slow to correct. Policies and procedures were originally designed to create protections, but they could be manipulated by individuals or groups with agendas. From a systems perspective, this suggests the need to review and improve policies so that they better serve the public good and prevent misuse. While they may mostly work ok someone with knowledge can navigate them indicating long-term corruption and many other unknown victims (False information and fake investigations).

The research below adds an interesting perspective. It suggests that groups organized around shared moral values are not necessarily the ones most likely to harm others. While people sometimes misuse religion or politics to justify harmful actions, the study indicates that shared moral beliefs alone do not automatically lead to hostility toward other groups. Perhaps one could say shared moral values strengthen the system (Some officials will struggle with why we say these oaths and make pledges.)

This raises an important philosophical question. What happens when societies anchor themselves in shared values such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the principles found in the Bill of Rights? Ideally, these values encourage people to support their own communities while still respecting the rights of others. Can it lead to greater economic and social growth as people improve interaction, movement of information, business dealings, social engagement, etc.? Or is cohesion a wasted idea only talked about by poets and dreamers?

From this perspective, when individuals or groups harm others, it may indicate a disconnect from those shared values. It raises questions about where loyalties lie—whether with the broader public good or with narrower interests such as personal networks, partisan loyalty, or the protection of corruption. Regardless of a person’s role—whether a judge, public official, a politician or private citizen—misusing systems of power suggests the need for continued reflection and striving for the next rung of development. 

Feel free to make your own opinion and that is fine as long as you took a minute to think about it and don't harm others. This hypothetical, philosophical, thought experiment is designed to encourage you think and delve into possibilities. It is you who must determine whether something deeper is sparked in your moral conscous. You will then be free to vote that conscious. 

"He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened." — Lao Tzu

Helping the ingroup versus harming the outgroup: Evidence from morality-based groups

  • The study examines when preference for one’s own group leads to harming another group.

  • Earlier research using real social groups suggested that groups based on shared moral beliefs may increase hostility toward outgroups.

  • This study used artificial groups in three experiments to remove the effects of past conflict or polarization.

  • Participants played the Intergroup Parochial and Universal Cooperation (IPUC) game, which allowed them to choose between helping themselves, helping their group, harming another group, or helping both groups.

  • Results showed that morality-based groups displayed less selfish behavior and more cooperation overall.

  • There was some increase in helping the ingroup, mainly because participants expected their own group members to cooperate.

  • The study did not find evidence that morality-based group membership increased harm toward outgroups.

  • The findings suggest that shared moral beliefs alone do not necessarily lead to hostility toward other groups.

Grigoryan, L., Seo, S., Simunovic, D., & Hofmann, W. (2022). Helping the ingroup versus harming the outgroup: Evidence from morality-based groups. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 103, 104436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2022.104436

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