Justice, Trust, and the Rule of Law (The Allegory of the Clan)

Justice is fundamental to society, economic development, and social progress. It influences the opportunities available to individuals and communities and helps shape the direction of society. Although the justice system is only one part of a strong society, its effectiveness and supportive legitimacy are essential. We have a responsibility to improve beyond the political and special interests of the day to maximize its positive effects on society.

Let us consider,  

(Illustrative Only)

Lady Justice being
pulled by two
value systems.

Within any system is
good and bad because
the people within them
make decisions based
on their values. 
One pulls Lady Justice
to support the darker 
side of human nature
and the need of power. 
It offers power, political
positioning, praise,
, opportunity, riches
and a fast track. The other
offers nothing
but the ability to have
a moral conscious. 
Which type of personality
will choose what?
That choices has
been around back
into ancient time and 
history is marked by its
outcomes. Choose your 
path wisely. 

When public trust declines, particularly because of repeated mistakes, weak oversight, or apparent misconduct, the damage can extend beyond individual cases. Even when most judges, officials, and institutions act responsibly, a small number of individuals who repeatedly abuse their authority can undermine confidence in the entire justice system. 

The Allegory of the Clan can be viewed as a learning thought experiment about these dangers. It is modeled after Plato's Allegory of the Cave because the same underlining misuse of authority and higher moral insight are at play. The example illustrates how closed networks, favoritism, corruption, retaliation, and a lack of accountability can allow misconduct to continue making more victims. When individuals who report wrongdoing are instead targeted through false investigations or other forms of retaliation, the problem becomes larger than the original misconduct. It demonstrates how failures in checks and balances can threaten public trust and individual rights. The risk of collectivization rises. 

The appropriate response is not to condemn the entire justice system. Don't engage in black and white exclusive thinking. That is also unjust because some are doing some really great things and at least some of it functions well (Some will say more and some will say less so that is up to you to decide.). Instead, society should recognize and support the many judges, officials, and professionals who perform their responsibilities fairly and ethically. At the same time, reform should be supported when legitimate problems are identified or there are those undermining our societal contracts and values. 

The justice system cannot function effectively when individuals operate outside constitutional principles or use their positions to protect extremism, favoritism, or personal interests. Nationalism, ideology, and group loyalty can distort institutions when they are placed above fairness and equal treatment. When identity,  specifically distorted identity,  overshadow institutional purpose disequlibrium is created in the social realm. These will bubble up over and over until the problem is fixed. Its a natural system where misalignment creates dysfunction. With each incident of immunized and uncorrected violations of our shared values trust drops more. Its either rising, declining, or stuck. You can't forcibly mute logic, rationality and truth for long. Our founding fathers and mothers knew the risks of not anchoring values true north and they created the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Freedom of speech is about being able to see and discuss issues to improve the whole. If you can't see then you are effectively blind (...going back to the Allegory of the Clan and the Allegory of the Cave. Some decision makers have implicitly been socialized to beliefs that would make them blind to the rights, histories, contributions, and values of people they have dehumanized. The entitlement factor. )

Ultimately, justice should be grounded in fairness, merit, accountability, and respect for human and civil rights. Technicalities and procedural maneuvering should not become tools for protecting misconduct or rewarding insiders. A justice system that has the highest support must maintain meaningful checks and balances and ensure that no individual or group is above the principles it is designed to protect.

*This is a hypothetical philosophical thought experiment so feel free to discard, disagee, or propose alternatives. Take with a grain of salt. 

Legal Optimism: Restoring Trust in the Criminal Justice System

Explores ways to rebuild trust in the criminal justice system.

Emphasizes procedural justice and positive psychology.

Promotes learning from mistakes instead of focusing only on blame.

Introduces Just Culture Event Reviews to examine errors.

Encourages transparency, accountability, and organizational learning.

Highlights psychological safety as a foundation for honest discussions.

Hollway, J. (2018). Legal optimism: Restoring trust in the criminal justice system through procedural justice, positive psychology and just culture event reviews. National Institute of Justice. https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/legal-optimism-restoring-trust-criminal-justice-system-through-procedural⁠

Going Zen to Stay Focused and Improve Performance

Are there benefits to going Zen? Absolutely. You know what? We have a lot of junk in our lives—things that distract us and take up our time. We live in a world where people are constantly trying to market to us, and marketing is becoming increasingly sophisticated. They’re using AI and all kinds of technology to get our attention. At the end of the day, though, those things aren’t always adding value to our lives.

(Ilustrative)
Meant to be a touch
funny. Going 
zen while doing
other stuff.

Think about what you buy and what you spend your time on. That’s what you’re spending your life on. If you take a minute to think about what is truly important, you may begin to rethink some of those useless activities and things that don’t really contribute to your life.

Of course, it depends on how you view Zen. Meditation is one part of it. Slowing down can also be a form of meditation. Taking time to slow down and be reflective is part of the meditative experience. It opens up the possibility of seeing new ways to look at the world, the things around you, and what is truly important in your life.

There is also a connection to productivity. If you want to be productive, you have to cut out the things that don’t contribute to achieving your goals. Going Zen and becoming more meditative can help because it anchors you to the present. When you focus on the present while still keeping your long-term goals in mind, you are more likely to be successful because you are focused on what you are doing right now.

Whether you practice formal meditation or simply slow yourself down and think about what is truly important, being mindful can have a significant impact on your life and your potential performance.

I have a fitness trainer and yoga trainer license so if you need a little help achieving your goals let me know by sending a message to the right. 

Zen and the Psychological Significance of Meditation as Related to Believing

• Examines the psychological role of Zen meditation and its connection to belief.
• Explains how meditation can influence beliefs and personal perspectives.
• Discusses the modern use of mindfulness outside its original Buddhist context.
• Finds that meditation may reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Suggests that positive meditation experiences can strengthen belief in the practice.
• Argues that meditation has both psychological and philosophical significance.
• Highlights concerns about separating mindfulness from its traditional religious and philosophical roots.

Du, L.-J. (2022). Zen and the psychological significance of meditation as related to believing. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1033021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1033021

Delta County Board of Commissioners Meeting (9/1/2026): Parks, Bathrooms, Board Appointments, Aiport Advisory

Staying on top of local news is essential for keeping up with community developments. The area is focusing heavily on its parks, including recent upgrades such as a new bathhouse at the fairgrounds. Additionally, the airport is undergoing improvements, reconfiguration, and new board appointments.

Plans for a new dispatch center are also underway to help improve emergency response times and capacity. In other county news, the prosecuting attorney is now working remotely, several officials are attending an out-of-town conference, and work continues on local trail projects. Overall, local initiatives continue to move forward smoothly.

Delta County Board of Commissioners Meeting Summary

• Date & Location: Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 5:15 p.m., Delta County Service Center Boardroom.

• Attendance: Commissioners Melner, Johnson, Williams, Vanenheuvel, and Jensen were present.

Administrative & Operational Updates

• Federal Regulatory Changes: The Administrator reported on OMB-proposed changes under 2 CFR Part 200, highlighting potential administrative and financial impacts on county grants. MAC is advising outreach to federal legislators to delay the rule.

• Pioneer Trail Park Trailhead: Engineers determined the proposed non-motorized trail path connecting Escanaba, Wells Township, and Gladstone is feasible. Initial surveying using Hannahville 2% grant funds will begin.

• Park Emergency Response: Expressed appreciation to Brad Nelson and Joe Burby for assisting maintenance crews after a tornado struck O.B. Fuller Park.

• Fairgrounds Bathhouse: Announced completion of the DNR Trust Fund grant-funded bathhouse at the fairgrounds.

Board Actions & Motions Approved

• Minutes & Agenda: Approved August 18, 2026 meeting minutes and accepted the agenda with the addition of a Brownfield Authority appointment.

• Airport Advisory Board Structure: Adopted Option 2 to reconfigure the Airport Advisory Board into a 9-member body (2 County Commissioners, 2 at-large Delta County residents with specific skill sets, and 5 district-specific resident members).

• Board Appointments:

  • Airport Advisory Board: Appointed William Taylor and David Deno.

  • Construction & Zoning Board of Appeals: Appointed Rowan Hinsman.

  • Brownfield Authority: Appointed Rowan Hinsman.

• Engineering & Consulting Contracts: Awarded the Dispatch Center relocation and re-ventilation project to Matrix Consulting Engineers.

• Requests for Proposals (RFPs): Approved issuing RFPs for County Auditing Services (FY 2026–2028) and Investment Advisory Services for defined benefit accounts. Extended the submission deadline for the Opioid Task Force RFP to September 25, 2026.

• Administrative & Intergovernmental Actions:

  • Approved the 2026 Winter Tax Rate set at 3.6860 mills (L-429).

  • Approved an MDOT consent agreement ($600) for corner grading near the Chamber of Commerce.

  • Approved a Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney contract for remote legal support.

  • Approved out-of-county travel for the UPACC Fall Conference (October 15–16, 2026).

  • Approved a Letter of Agreement (LOA) regarding courthouse food allowance.

• Tabled Items: Deferred consideration of the Veterans Affairs Committee bylaws amendments to the first meeting in October 2026 to allow for further definition of term limits and vacancy procedures.

Institution Employment Report by BoA: Cooling Labor and Rising Lower Income

The Institute Employment Report, August 2026, from the Bank of America Institute shows that the labor market is cooling a little, although it remains relatively healthy overall.

Payroll growth was 1.5% in August, down from 1.8% in July. At the same time, lower-income households saw after-tax wage growth of 4.7%. This is important because we need lower-income wages to rise substantially.

There are ways to improve this, but it would require a broader discussion about how jobs are created, in-house training, education, and changes to policies and rules that could help maximize employment. We could go down a rabbit hole discussing how to help people enter the labor force and move progressively upward, but that would require a much larger conversation. It's a human capital discussion...one we sort of haven't solved yet. 

Another interesting finding is that the previous K-shaped pattern in wage growth has reversed. Job switching has also increased, and workers who change jobs are apparently receiving larger pay increases. The pay increase associated with a job change reached 12.5% in July.

Overall, this is a pretty good report. There are some risks and signs of cooling, but the labor market remains relatively healthy, and the improvement in wage growth among lower-income workers is encouraging.

U.S. Labor Market Momentum Cools in August, While Lower-Income Wage Growth Improves

• Payroll growth slowed to 1.5% year-over-year in August, down from 1.8% in July.
• The labor market remained relatively healthy, despite slower growth.
• Unemployment payments showed little year-over-year change.
• Lower-income households saw after-tax wage growth of 4.7%.
• Higher-income households saw after-tax wage growth of 3.5%.
• This reversed the previous “K-shaped” wage-growth pattern.
• Job switching increased in July, especially among weekly-paid workers.
• Weekly-paid workers, often hourly employees, saw the largest increase in job changes.
• The average pay increase associated with changing jobs reached 12.5%, the highest level in more than three years.
• Rising job mobility and larger pay increases for lower-income workers may be helping narrow wage-growth differences.
• The report cautions that Bank of America’s data is based on selected, aggregated customer information and has limitations.

Bank of America Institute. (2026, September 3). The Institute employment report: August 2026. Bank of America. https://institute.bankofamerica.com/economic-insights/monthly-employment-report-august-2026.html

US Average Wages Rise in August 2026. [How Might That Apply to Rural Places like the UP.]

Private-sector wages continue to rise, although the pace remains relatively slow. Some of the highest-paying industries include finance, information, utilities, and mining and logging—industries that could be particularly relevant to the Upper Peninsula.

[You can think of how mining & logging for minerals and metals are needed, the utility potential of the area (i.e. bio fuel, hydro, thermal, solar, wind, coal, gas, etc.). Information as a digital nomads 4 season quality of life hot spot, and fostering local banks and expansion of both local and other markets. These are just examples but nice to think about.]

(Illustrative Only)
Representing
some industries
that appear high
paying that
include left
tech, trains, forest-tourism,
mining, ship engineer, etc.
[Meant only to think
of and if you can
think of other industries
and jobs that relate
to the UP that is great.]
Attracting industries
that can be clustered,
greatest growth
potential,
and high wages 
can help. We musn't
neglect our responsibilities
to society, the environment,
and to each other
in that process. 
These have value
beyone what we appreciate
fully at the moment. We 
can improve industry, 
lives, and community
at the same time. 
Full Bloom Delta County
Strategy Formation
Welfare Theorem
Systems as Needs

The region has a long history of mining and logging, and Escanaba offers an interesting combination of transportation assets, including a deep-water port and connections to regional industries along the Great Lakes as an underutilized distribution center. Attracting companies in mining, forestry, manufacturing, mining, or even shipbuilding could create higher-paying jobs and strengthen the local economy. [These are things just to think about. We are exploring potential options and can prune later.)

However, economic development must also consider environmental costs. The goal should not be to return to the environmentally damaging practices of the past. Instead, new businesses should be encouraged to use sustainable forestry, responsible mining, and other practices that protect natural resources. It should contribute to overall health as profit is only one of a couple of metrics societal stakeholders are using. 

For the Upper Peninsula, the opportunity may be in finding the right balance: attracting businesses that create good-paying jobs while also protecting the environment. [One might call growth and health development a type of Perpetual Sustainable Development where investment that creates profit and the overall environmental health rise together when reinvested. i.e. sustainable. The benefits of business investment can be maximized in some cases. Economic-Social-Environmental Resilience ]If companies can contribute to higher wages, economic growth, and environmental sustainability, the result could be a win-win for workers, businesses, and the region.

 U.S. Average Wages Continue to Rise in August 2026

• Average hourly earnings, private nonfarm workers: $37.75
• Average weekly earnings: $1,298.60
• Average hourly earnings increased from $36.62 in August 2025 to $37.75 in August 2026, an increase of about 3.1%.
• Average weekly earnings increased from $1,252.40 to $1,298.60 over the same period, an increase of about 3.7%. 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026, September 4). Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted. U.S. Department of Labor. BLS Table B-3

Supporting the Good Justice Can Do for The Economy and Society (The Allegory of the Clan)

A strong justice system provides important benefits to both society and the economy. Such a system must continually evaluate and improve itself, reorienting policies around shared social contracts and essential values while protecting individual human rights, civil rights, and property rights. When justice and law enforcement function effectively, they create greater stability, improve business relationships, encourage innovation, strengthen social interactions, and contribute to a greater sense of peace and security.

(Illustrative Only)

We must always support
what is good. 

These benefits provide an important contrast to our philosophical thought experiment, the Allegory of the Clan, which illustrates what can happen when a justice system fails to correct itself and justice is no longer its primary objective. Partisanship, racial or religious targeting, corruption, and the misuse of public resources for ideological purposes represent conditions that undermine both justice and social trust. The purpose of the allegory is therefore not simply to identify what can go wrong, but to help us recognize the principles and practices that must be corrected when they occur and avoided.

To understand opportunities for improvement, however, we first need an anchor point: an understanding of what a functioning justice system contributes to society. From an economic perspective, this can be viewed at the transactional level. When individuals and organizations understand what is appropriate, what is prohibited, and what consequences follow from their actions, the system creates greater consistency and accountability. These expectations influence how businesses operate, how businesses interact with one another, and how individuals interact with businesses. At its core, economics is about interactions, and those interactions function more effectively when people can rely on consistent rules and fair enforcement. 

Those who divide weaken us from the inside while those who draw us together and identify to solve problems strengthen the future and fosters the preservation of rights for the next generation. We solve problems by learning. It doesn't matter their race or religion in a merit based system that is in alignment with our generational striving. The current generation always owes the next generation upward next rung momentum. Those who are not trying to do that are not qualified to lead. Pick the best and brightest over the most connected. 

The founders of the society recognized the importance of establishing institutions capable of maintaining justice and protecting individual rights. We should always praise what is good and the vast majority of people doing good. Our responsibility today is not simply to inherit those institutions, but to serve as their stewards in preserving and advancing. This includes supporting effective justice and law enforcement while encouraging young people to view these fields as opportunities for public service. A strong justice system is therefore more than a mechanism for addressing wrongdoing; it is an essential foundation for economic activity, social stability, innovation, and individual freedom. ....and yes we don't always pay them well and we should think about that and societal resource allocation issues (and teachers). 

*The Allegory of the Clan is a hypothetical, philosophical, thought experiment so take with a grain of salt. You may come to any conclusion you wish. No right or wrong answer. It is ok to come up with alternative ideas. It is meant only to get you to think. 

Upholding Prosperity: The Economic Benefits of the Rule of Law

• The rule of law supports economic stability and growth.
• Strong legal systems protect property rights and contracts.
• Legal certainty encourages business investment and entrepreneurship.
• Fair competition promotes innovation and productivity.
• Effective institutions can reduce corruption and improve public spending.
• Equal access to justice supports broader economic participation.
• Overall, the rule of law provides an important foundation for sustainable prosperity.

Dettman, D. (2024). Upholding prosperity: The economic benefits of the rule of law. American Bar Association. https://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/global-programs/news/2024/upholding-prosperity-economic-benefits-rule-law/

Employment Situation August 2026-Surprising

It’s exciting, although maybe not quite as exciting as we originally thought. It’s becoming a little more exciting because payroll employment is doing better than expected. That’s a different metric pointing in a different direction than some of the other indicators. The other indicators were suggesting that things were stable but slow, while this one is saying, “You know, not bad.”

It also looks like the service industry and manufacturing are showing increases, which is interesting. I guess new orders could be part of that story, based on another public release showing that manufacturing new orders are up. Government education also added 42,000 jobs. So, we’ll see where this turns. It is just fun to watch. 

Employment Situation – August 2026

• Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 162,000 in August, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%.
• Food services and drinking places added 59,000 jobs, while local government education added 42,000 jobs.
• Manufacturing employment increased by 16,000 jobs and has risen by 58,000 since December 2025.
• Information employment declined by 23,000 jobs, with losses in computing infrastructure, data processing, web hosting, publishing, and broadcasting.
• Average hourly earnings increased 0.3% in August to $37.75, representing a 3.1% increase over the year.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026, September 4). The employment situation—August 2026. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm