January 13, 2017

Request: Phil Beaver works to establish opinion only when the-indisputable-facts-of-reality have not been discovered. He seeks to refine his opinion by learning other people’s experiences and observations. Please use the comment box below to share facts and opinion.

 Our Views:  Well stated, Bonin.

And what does Washington Mardi Gras cost taxpayers? End that long-standing political perk.

When I was robo-calling for Jay Dardenne for governor, one person said she and her husband were for Dardenne until they learned he had taken a European trip for his birthday. I thought it was a false claim, but no longer trust Dardenne because of his spurious comments against John Kennedy. But I'm only one vote and one campaign caller once in my life.

However, there is nothing false about Gov. Edwards' audacity. And Mike Edmonds with his comment about saving a life tacitly invokes: it only takes TOPS funds from a few students for us to make this trip. As though that trip will save a life! What audacity against taxpayers!

Today’s Thought. I mean no offense to readers who love this long-standing feature. I am offended by the absence of ideas that could promote appreciation for trust and confidence in the-objective-truth (I now pay my subscription cost but may not always so subjugate myself).

John wrote, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Dean wrote, “This is real Christianity.” Neither John nor Dean nor The Advocate represent my Jesus.

I nudge The Advocate to appreciate the-objective-truth rather than trying to impose dominant opinion:  Either drop the Dean-biased business plan or also support public-integrity.

Walt Handelsman liberal democracy cartoon.  Honest caption: "Does the media's mic lie?"

 DOTD (Mackey).   “ . . . oil for my truck [with] a bad sensor.” Huh? Buy oil then check dip stick?

Tax Returns (Babson).   Honest caption: "Does the media mic lie?"

Landry (Harris).  Interesting opinions. I think Landry is gathering firsthand information.

Sessions (Rouchell).  With all those recommendations by black colleagues, the Congressional Black Caucus may elect to fade into the trash bin of history. Of course they can stick around and respond about Troy Brown and James Meredith, below.

Supported Living (Blaney).  Legislators who partner with lobbyists, such as those for the nursing-home industry, and create constitutional amendments for the people to vote on ruin the civic culture most people would like to have. There’s no more ruinous partnership than the religion-government-partnership, or Chapter XI Machiavellianism.

Check the pope’s business of importing Central Americans through Mexico into America to be assisted by Catholic Charities here. Gov. John Bel Edwards seems divinely happy for Louisianans to pay the Vatican’s expenses for rescue work in Central America.

“Christian love and justice,” applied to civic morality are conflicting terms. For example, when I object to prayer in civic meetings, I am instructed to respect the disrespect. I nudge a civic people toward appreciating each other for broadly-defined-civic-safety-and-security, hereafter Security, for our lives in this place.

Troy Brown (Page 1A). Why didn’t The Advocate interview the Louisiana Black Caucus for their opinion? 

I’m reminded of James Meredith’s claim, “[Since 1966, duty] and responsibility are . . . the part the black race has failed to pay any attention to." At Meredith’s level of Civil-Rights justice, the leader of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Cedric Richmond could weigh in.

Derbonne resigns (Page 1A). When a career public servant resigns, it is a deep-seated civic statement, and taxpayers should be very concerned. I hope for more information and some input from state ethics personnel.

Pipeline (Page 1A). Getting this essential transport function off the roads would be in the public interest. I nudge to approve the pipeline.

Gov Edwards travel. Also Medicaid. Also school grades.  (Page 8A).  Beyond audacity and disdain for Louisiana people.

N.C. crazies. (Page 8A). N.C. legislators know enough about Navy contracts to terminate them near completion or is this political grand-standing? 

Gun gratitude (Page 10A). Two articles: store owner and driver.

Dana Milbank column. I wish Milbank would work for substance rather than cuteness. In all those political one-up considerations, comparing the Senate not considering a lame-duck president’s Supreme-Court nominee to not considering the nominee of the new administration seems insincere. The Democrats had every opportunity to win the 3084 of 3141 counties Trump won, substantially so that a non-Democrat would nominate the next Supreme Court justice. Writers need to write with integrity, no matter how prominent they may be.

Stephanie Grace column. Grace has not learned the lesson from Solomon: think from the-indisputable-facts rather than from emotional opinion or claims. 

Provision for health care may come from the party that needs health care. When an irresponsible party (whether intentionally or by default) wants another party to be sole provider, there’s conflict and potential for economic failure. Edwards and Grace side with the irresponsible party, and Jindal stood up for the other.

A civic culture is achievable. It must have a majority civic people, and people who can choose may choose sides. We think 2/3 of people want a civic culture. The other 1/3 dissent for reasons they understand. Respecting health care, Edwards and Grace seem to be in the 1/3 dissenters: Those who would have the 2/3 pay all the bills. Jindal would have those who can pay, pay. Is that heartless? I don’t think so.

Michael Gerson column. This is one of those columns worth clipping and saving for scholarly and experience-based opinion. However, IMO, it does not invoke the greatness of the USA’s long-neglected potential. Through freedom from oppression, colonial Americans took the liberty to live the individual-independence they perceived, declared war to establish independent states, then organized and established a nation for civic morality. Factually wrenching civic morality from English common law (Blackstone) and its religion-government-partnership (factional Christianity) has begun.

People cite the founders often, then express ideas that don’t reflect a definition of “founders.” I think of the founders as those 39 of 55 delegates from 12 of 13 states who signed the 1787 preamble to the draft constitution for the USA. The preamble is a civic agreement to achieve seven goals (2017 applications IMO follow): integrity, justice, collaboration, defense, prosperity, liberty, and child-security. Just now, I may be beginning to perceive reasons for the order of goals.

Gerson extols perseverance, charity, manual work, civilization, faith, and accumulation of those characters. He nudges for stubbornness, non-surrender, dignity, and empathy. I appreciate Gerson for pointing out the importance of accumulation: We want our children to advance the seven goals beyond the status during our lives in this place.

I have sought advice from Trump in my letters of December 2, 2016 and January 9, 2017. I am anxious to hear his inauguration speech. No way would I second guess his choices.

Coursera forum on sociology. facebook.com/groups/classicalsociologicaltheory/?multi_permalinks=1744139969246222&notif_t=group_activity&notif_id=1484295370439681

What do you . . . think about the growing inequality and Pikettys premise that as long as growth is bigger than inequality this shouldn't be a problem?
Phil Beaver I think the premise of tax redistribution is false, and a book written to support the premise is a useless distraction. What's increasingly missing in private lives is save & invest. It is a civic problem.

Income inequality is inherent in a free-market-economy. The successful, risk-taking entrepreneur, of necessity, builds in profit to cover the risks he or she is accepting. Without profit, there is no economic feasibility in innovation.

Most entrepreneurs have a labor element in their requirements for success. Labor may receive enough wages to both pay the costs of living a life and save & invest for private, financial security. The successful entrepreneur appreciates the person who fulfills the labor component of the enterprise, and therefore both pays an adequate wage and oversees the employee's save & invest program. The employer either informs the employee of the obligation to accumulate wealth or controls the wealth accumulation, for example, by dedicating part of wages to a 401-K plan.

In the politics of social-democracy, proponents "want it all and want it now." They do not subscribe to the work and save & invest formula for personal financial security. But government cannot assure a person's finances for life without work by the person. That is so, because government is the person. In other words, a nation is comprised of its persons.

To wrap up my short response, I make three points: 1) until now, it seems the only way to have innovation is with a free-enterprise system; 2) the system must have profit offsetting risk and save & invest as part of labor; and 3) persons must take personal responsibility for save & invest in order for government to be viable.

Just as freedom from oppression starts with earning a living, justice starts with personal, iterative collaboration for civic morality. Morality is a civic obligation, so practicing and promoting save & invest is a civic duty to each person.

libertylawsite.org/2017/01/13/so-so-city/#comment-1514369

[Your comments on “La La Land”] were delightful, and I want to re-read the Shakespeare you cite and the Woody Allen movie, which I have not seen.

Don’t forget, Gosling's character was hung up on past jazz artists until Legend’s character forced him out of his comforts.

Also, I so enjoyed the many presentations of “Mia & Sebastian’s Theme.”

Moreover, I watched this wonderful fantasy with MWW now in our 48th year. 

Commitment to bond and to monogamy for life are often not easy. There are unexpected challenges that seem to demand separation. However, choosing fidelity enables rewards that in “La La Land,” are only dreams. Of course, I can say that only because each time I ask, MWW either agrees or we consider modification. A new spouse is never an option.Today, she agreed, so no changes suggested.

I think mutual appreciation with commitment is the door to love.

Manners of the Heart. I read important parts of the website at mannersoftheheart.org/  and think it is a potential companion for A Civic People of the United States. However, I would not choose to sign the pledge as is. 

Wanting to iteratively collaborate, as always, I called the office, and founder Jill Rigby Garner happened to answer. We talked a little and then she needed to go to a meeting. In saying a little about my background, I stated that I had discovered that I am person who trusts and am committed to the-objective-truth, and that makes it difficult for people to converse with me. 

When I asked her how she liked the title of my work, she asked for explanation of the modifier “civic.” I explained that it comes from the preamble, which is civic rather than secular as labeled by the 1788 Protestants, then 99% of free inhabitants. I stated that we nudge civic morality rather than social morality or religious morality in civic settings---these people in this place. 

Something triggered her to ask if I am familiar with Louisiana Family Forum. I said, “Yes. I write in opposition to Gene Mills all the time.” She said, “Well then we have no further need to talk. I’m on the board of LFF.” I think I reasoned with her that brick walls are not a good policy for civic causes and in a fairly reasoned follow-up, she took my number and agreed to call when she wants to. 

I look forward to iterative collaboration and believe, more than before the conversation, that our work parallels, hard as it may seem to perceive that that is so. I want at least 2/3 of Baton Rouge inhabitants to practice public-integrity.

Phil Beaver does not “know”. Phil trusts and is committed to the-objective-truth of which most is undiscovered and some is understood. Phil Beaver is agent for A Civic People of the United States, a Louisiana, education non-profit. See online at promotethepreamble.blogspot.com.