February 28, 2017

Phil Beaver works to establish opinion when the-objective-truth has not been discovered. He seeks to refine his opinion by learning other people’s experiences and observations. The comment box below invites sharing facts, opinion, or concern.
Note:  I often connect words in a phrase with the dash in order to represent an idea. For example, frank-objectivity represents the idea of candidly expressing the-objective-truth without addressing possible error or attempting to balance the expression.

The Advocate:

Our Views. Was it necessary to include “. . . politics that grow more divisive by the day?” I hope it’s wrong, but that’s The Advocate’s assessment and perhaps errant prediction. The editors seem to expect liberal democracy to overthrow the republic. 

  

We the Civic People of the United States perceive that “the public good” that eluded James Madison before Federalist 10 is: broadly-defined-civic-safety-and-security, hereafter Security. We want to collaborate on “broadly-defined,” perceiving that a super-majority, perhaps 2/3 of citizens want Security. Security is possible through the-objective-truth rather than dominant-opinion. The-objective-truth may be discovered rather than constructed. Readers who do not understand these words and phrases may contact us through cipbr.blogspot.com. But back to the republic.

Quoting Madison, “The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest. The effect of the first difference is, on the one hand, to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations. Under such a regulation, it may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose.”

Madison’s assessment of the moods in the thirteen independent states on November 22, 1787, does not seem too different from today: confusion over social morality rather than civic morality. “Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public and private faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.”

In a civic culture, the majority iteratively collaborates for Security, so that every real-no-harm person and association of persons may flourish according to private-liberty. If indeed the majority wants security, then the dissident minorities comprise a collective. Dissidents may include people who are ignorant, opposed, criminal, or evil. The former may be influenced by example and education to join the civic culture. The latter must be constrained with statutory law and statutory law enforcement that seeks civic justice rather than dominant opinion.

Let February 28, 2017 commemorate the Mardi Gras during which Louisiana took its proper place in history. Let’s lead the USA to a civic culture at last: a nation that promises civic justice rather than social justice.

(BTW: The Advocate may caution us against Barack Obama’s Organizing for Action (OFA) dream anytime they choose. My guess is that OFA would like the USA to change from a republic to a liberal democracy or perhaps the Alinsky wish: endless conflict. Perhaps Obama sees himself the USA’s first dictator. How can The Advocate remain silent about such matters? Here’s an erroneous Google hit: cccadvocate.com/tag/community-organizing-and-action/.)

Happy Mardi Gras and President Donald J. Trump’s First State of the Union Address. His presidency is a servant of the American people rather than an ideology. It won’t be easy, but President Trump will get the job done on time in budget.

Today’s thought. Proverbs 22:24-25. Does David mix issues when he talks of civic anger and “snare to soul”?

With David’s advice, how could someone overcome first impressions, get acquainted, and learn the ways of a man who turns over tables and drives people out as in Matthew 21:12? Did Matthew mix issues when he helped claim Jesus was divine?

Perhaps a political movement---Christianity---hid from believers a man’s message, Jesus’s message: You have the psychological power to perfect your person. (I prefer Emerson’s rather than Dean’s thoughts but also think Dean should think for Dean.)

 

Pension costs (Waguespack). I agree.

 

“There is a $38 million increase in K-12 schools pension costs this year alone.” The state is now honoring promises to adults at the expense of children’s futures, an act of questionable civic and statutory morality. Perhaps sacrificing children’s future for adult maintenance is plain immoral.

 

“We must work together to advance Louisiana’s pension systems to make them more accountable to today’s workers and taxpayers.”

I sent Waguespack’s message to my state representatives. I’ll do what I can to help.

 Outrage (Fournet). Perhaps some attorneys (and lawyers for that matter) are not required to read history or comprehend what they read.

 

Popular justification for outrage based on “Tea Party tactics” is reference to 2009. See for examples talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/teabaggers-try-to-shout-down-health-care-reform-at-town-halls and a similar complaint at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/24/opinion/my-night-in-town-hall-hell.html?_r=0 . But it is a “politically correct” tool of liberal democrats who demand rather than communicate. The 2009 Tea Party was not just another OFA operation.

 

Its namesake, the Boston Tea Party in 1773, is part of the inspiration for the revolutionary war. For a short review, already underway, war was declared in 1776. The 13 states won independence in 1783. The people in nine of the thirteen states authorized the USA in 1788 with plans for the First Congress to amend the draft constitution. Four of the remaining independent states joined the USA, with North Carolina and Rhode Island ratifying the constitution a year or two after operation began. Vermont joined the USA on March 4, 1791, in time to debate ratifying the negotiated constitution for the USA, ratified on December 15, 1791.

 

Here’s Time Magazine’s review of ten historical protests: content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2096654_2096653_2096692,00.html . Some of the causes selected by Time represent conflict for the sake of conflict. Protesting the duly elected President Donald J. Trump seems unworthy of the Time list, especially right after they called him “the person of the year” for his unexpected victory. Trump is so honestly humors: he told us at the Dow hangar that he preferred “man of the year” and asked for a show of preference. I was one of two who wanted “person”: I think President Trump is first a person. 

 

Fournet’s objections to Tea Party protests are alright but unmoving, IMO. When I am trying to collaborate with someone and they stonewall or ridicule me, it is alright but unmoving. Heck, because some people don’t accept my plan to live another 48 years, radicals ask me to drop dead; one added, “And get it done in the next thirty minutes.” That’s just another form of fruitless protest; I want to iteratively collaborate.

 

Cal Thomas column. Except for being a bait and switch, this is a copy column.

 

The bait: Yani’s year old remarks released at twitter.com/ReaganBattalion/status/833347036644777985 and Yani’s subsequent resignation npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/21/516473521/after-comments-on-pedophilia-breitbart-editor-milo-yiannopoulos-resigns .

 

The switch: to conservatisms of Russel Kirk, William F. Buckley, Jr. and Ronald Reagan being about ideas rather than emotion and exclusion. I will offer alternatives to Kirk’s ideas. I like Reagan’s desire to iteratively collaborate with friends. Gore Vidal exposed Buckley’s civic immorality on August 28, 1968: youtube.com/watch?v=ZY_nq4tfi24. I want a civic state by the people rather than a police state by the government nor an opinion state by the church. Vidal promotes freedom of assembly and expression. Buckley wants dominant opinion without iterative collaboration. This debate persists in 2017 because people stonewall each othter.

 

Thomas erroneous conclusion: A political winner can exclude people who have experiences and observations about emotional ideas. 

 

I want to iteratively collaborate so as to create a civic culture based on the-objective-truth rather than dominant opinion. I want public-integrity. I want to talk to both Thomas and Yani.

Michael Barone column. Barone navigates his bad path to a reasonable conclusion and encouragement of hope for my vote. (That’s correct. I never claimed I am right or that I know the-objective-truth.)

 

I would prefer “constitutionally legal” rather than “meekly obeyed,” since the judge unconstitutionally evaluated the president’s authority. Also, the Flynn firing protected my vote: I want President Trump to fire people who lie. 

 

I don’t care for attempts to evaluate the president by people who are not accustomed to integrity as a measure of propriety. Style and substance are not germane to public-integrity-accomplishments for the people.

 

However, my hat is off to Barone, who through all his negative spin, he arrived at “a free people” and “you have to admit there’s significant substance.” I prefer to think of it as accomplishments despite the liberal democrats and fundamentalists of whatever extreme among both the GOP and the DNC.  

Eugene Robinson column.  Robinson is a civically-immoral-dreamer, IMO.

 

“Now the [GOP] embraces core elements of Obamacare as the new normal.” True: an element is medical care. That’s about it.

 

“Barack Obama already won the war.” Establishing a civic culture in the USA is not a war: it is a collaboration for ultimate justice by the people.

Another inmate escapes (Page 1B). Where’s Jimmy LeBlanc. Why is he not fired or resigned?

 

Bike-share (Page 1A). To Marie Couvillion Frank: Good tip—perhaps bike-shares at LSU including the lakes, at Southern, and in Midtown. Otherwise, I oppose the additional risks to bikers. To put it another way, I encourage the Metro Council to constrain this proposal as long as the city is not inviting to bikers.

Broome (Page 1A). Not even accepting the committee reports is not encouraging news. No wonder we have not had “a discussion” of the possibility for a civic culture in Baton Rouge. We can’t even get past church and dialogues on race.

Private email (Page 2A). The Associated Press reminds us that Secretary Clinton used private email on the job. She is now a private citizen. So what?

IS battle plan (Page 2A). When President Trump was a candidate, he said he never reals his strategy. That’s all I need to know, and I request the media to collaborate with President Trump for Security. No speculations and no anonymous sources, please.

Worst ranking (Page 3A). The situation could be turned around quickly with civic collaboration to discover the-objective-truth.

Russia ties (Page 3A). The DNC does not seem to realize that President Trump works for the people, not the DNC’s enemy. To the extent the DNC has ideas to help the people, the DNC can gain political power.

Ross for commerce (Page 3A). The cabinet slowly comes together. In the meantime, the administration’s accomplishments are astounding IMO.

Jewish centers and graves (Page 7A). This atrocity is an par with a terrorist attack and all law enforcement should treat it as such.

Sequestered jury (Page 7A). Lawyers and judges seem to perpetrate celebrity favor with audacity and immunity, IMO.

Security officials executed (Page 8A). Wow!

Can the Oscars be Trumped? (Page 8A). Hollywood does not make much money from me, but did see the losing movie.

 
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, an education non-profit. See online at promotethepreamble.blogspot.com.

February 27, 2017

Phil Beaver works to establish opinion when the-objective-truth has not been discovered. He seeks to refine his opinion by learning other people’s experiences and observations. The comment box below invites sharing facts, opinion, or concern.
Note:  I often connect words in a phrase with the dash in order to represent an idea. For example, frank-objectivity represents the idea of candidly expressing the-objective-truth without addressing possible error or attempting to balance the expression.

The Advocate:

Our Views. Urging “the new president” to partner with DOTD is a little crazy . . . and arrogant.
 

I guess liberal-democrat writers don’t expect readers to respond to “President Barack Obama,” vs “the new president.” The Advocate foolishly discounts the people who voted for relief from Obama's organization-for-conflict-unto-eternity. Perhaps The Advocate partners with Obama’s OFA, headquartered in Chicago. Ahh Chicago; the city that gave us Al Capone, Saul Alinsky, and Barack Obama: brutality, violence, and audacity, respectively.

 

I’m reminded of Gov. Edwards partnering with the pope during President Trump’s inauguration. How can Louisiana’s No. 1 expect favor from The Advocate’s and Louisiana's “Trump”?

 

It is good to see The Advocate suggesting that DOTD consider partnering over several years, but I suggest DOTD partner with President Donald Trump.

 

One problem is that Louisiana officials respond to special interest politics and thereby squander public funds. I want the 20 cent gas tax, if and only if pain and misery suffered by Louisiana’s No. 1, the people, would be lessened very soon.

Respecting the Loyola Streetcar line after two years’ operation, “So far, the streetcar expansion has proven a boon for economic development, yet has not and will not achieve a high-quality transit service as designed.” See http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/politics/article_928b253f-3a9e-5adc-9a8a-e1b51690e717.html . “The $53 million project was partially funded by a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant.” See http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_dbef6c7a-2926-5235-a539-7baa126b62c0.html . I could not find data on the “boon for economic development.” A streetcar from LSU to downtown would be nostalgic and probably help BRAF. Money from Louisiana’s No. 1 should benefit the people.

The I-10 FastLane grant of $60 M for two new lanes from Lafayette to Henderson is expected to cost roughly $300 million. Politicians touted that the state would now have money for “a new Washington Street I-10 exit in Baton Rouge.” See theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/article_2c4e311e-59a9-11e6-a624-2bdd0bf7e8eb.html .

Actually seeing these two projects started would lend Gov. John Bel Edwards a touch of much needed civic credibility.

Today’s thought. Psalms 51:17. In this case, both David and Dean address “the Lord” as “God.” That’s a leap of interpretation I would not take.

IMO, be faithful to: perseverance, self-reliance, and humility. My Scots-Irish ancestors taught, “Better people faced worse events.”

 

Town meetings (McIlwraith). Ms McIlwraith, IMO, citizens may collaborate for civic safety and security rather than claim “We all know . . .” I think Powerpoint can be a very powerful communications tool. 

The presenter must be explicit and the listener must be attentive, thoughtful, open-minded, and ready to share related personal experience and observations. The presenter asks, “Are there questions or comments?” The listener clarifies comprehension of the issue and the presenter’s solution. Then, the listener becomes speaker and the Town-Hall host becomes listener. He or she either benefits from the former listener’s experiences and observations or receives approval of the solution offered. If the former listener has suggested a better statement of the problem or a better solution, the host commits to further action on the better ideas. That is a process I call iterative-collaboration, which I advocate for a possible better future.

 

I am glad you took time to “speak truth, or at least our truths.” For a better future, citizens may iteratively collaborate to discover the-objective-truth. That is not a casual, three-word phrase collapsed to one idea by the dashed connections. Every modifier I’ve ever seen—your, my, our, absolute, ultimate, nature’s, the people’s, God’s---none of those modifiers impacts the-objective-truth. For a soft example, people who lie to each other cannot communicate. For a hard example, the earth is like a globe rather than like a plate. For a brutish example, conceiving a child with no intent to care for him or her is immoral. Again, bringing it to the Powerpoint presentation, health care to support uncontrolled adult appetites is unsustainable. 

 

Anyone who wants dialogue may talk. Some politicians demand “respect,” but I think elected officials should earn appreciation without thought of respect. But the same is true of citizens: a citizen may earn appreciation by iteratively collaborating for the-objective-truth. 

 

Obama organizations, instigated and supported by OFA in Chicago and Washington do not seek appreciation: they seek conflict unto eternity, as promoted by Saul Alinsky, d. 1972. 

 

Alinsky learned from Al Capone, also in Chicago. See nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/02/obamas_activist_group_ofa_left.html, thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/02/17/leaked-emails-dem-state-leaders-think-obama-s-new-organizing-army-is-grade-a-bullshit.html , ofa.us ,  facebook.com/OFA.LA/ , en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizing_for_Action .

Clown (Gacharna). To T. Steven Bell. Obama was an organizer, took an audacious breather as president, and has returned to organizing. He's encountering rebuke from some democrats. See nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/02/obamas_activist_group_ofa_left.html .

  

President Trump is an administrator who offers integrity and ether gets integrity or not. We saw that when Michael Flynn lied to Vice-President Pence, when NATO committed to getting up to date on their 2% of GDP contributions, and when Russia failed to convince the administration that they will back off their European and other aggressions, so Russian sanctions are still in force.

That’s a clown I’ll vote for again if I get the chance.

 

Byron York column. Mainstream media spun Pence apologizing for Trump. York quotes NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, “I expect all allies to make good on the promise that we made in 2014 to increase defense spending and to make sure to have a fairer burden of sharing.” and “. . . we agree that the alliance can, and should do more, in the fight against terrorism.”

 

Mainstream media obfuscates the truth. Obfuscating the truth is lying.

Melinda Deslatte column. I do not know if the spin is coming from Deslatte, but it seems so. If so, she may be expressing social morality when what the people need is civic morality. Deslatte writes of “tax reform,” whereas what Louisiana needs is spending reform. I tentatively question Deslatte’s integrity.

Clarence Page column. Either Page suffers a liberal-democrat mind or he cannot recognize a lie when he writes it. “In fact, if the leaks are real, the news is real, too.” Real leaks are often lies, and Page either knows that or . . . you tell me. I can’t read Page’s mind. (BTW, he claims to read President Trump’s mind.) Page long-since forsook integrity.

David Ignatius column. Russia did not convince President Trump that they would back off their aggression, so sanctions are still in place. Ignatius spins that for the pseudo-news of Michael Flynn’s conversations rather than President Trump’s fidelity to the people in firing Flynn for lying. I suspect Ignatius’s integrity.

Jeff Sadow column (Feb 26). To Matthew White: First you call me a donkey when I'm a bygone elephant. Then you speak of "citizens of Louisiana starving" and witness for "most people," notwithstanding the obesity facts: ://nola.com/.../2016/09/louisiana_obese_adults_diabete.html . At least you left me out of "most people" so I can utilize the facts.
 
You write like a flailing-liberal-democrat. But that’s OK. I write like I voted for President Trump and wish you and me well notwithstanding the GOP.

Judge Pitcher (Page ID, Feb 25). Each time I read about “the Rev. Fred Jeff Smith, pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church,” I am reminded of liberation theology, dating from the 1960s in Latin America.

See theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/faith/article_5c93d0f8-e271-11e6-a2d3-f3a78dd096a1.html . Smith said:

  

 

Historically, our (black people) view of Jesus is from the perspective of the oppressed. We have a history of oppression in this country. We have people trying to use the Bible to continue and to justify that oppression. Our theological view is primarily one of liberation.

[Luke 4:8,] "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free" [supports] the liberation theology position.

That's the position that Jesus took. And, if we are disciples of Christ, that's the position we should take, not for ourselves but for all people. Anyone that is oppressed, Jesus saw it as a ministry to relieve them of that oppression. It's that position in general that African-Americans have historically had in their approach to Jesus. (White people) don't have that history. They don't have that connection with historical oppression in this country — nor in their religion. Therefore, their approach to Jesus is from the standpoint of the oppressor.

 

 

I have no problem with Smith’s beliefs for Smith, but hold them in error relative to public-integrity.

 

Regardless of liberation theology or any other Christian opinion, I think it is immoral to apply religious morals in civic courtrooms. Civic morality should be judged according to statutory law and statutory law enforcement. If statutory law needs reform, let’s get the job done. I appreciate officials who practice public-integrity.

Coastal restoration (Page 1B). To Tom Ledet: It’s been only a week since we learned this program got fast tracked. The dolphin news foretells serious delay, but I am glad to know of it now. I wonder how many dolphins are at risk.

 

Building levees seemed essential, but my goodness what unintended consequences. I wonder if coastal restoration is the right approach and scanned this information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River_Delta#History_and_growth_of_the_Mississippi_River_Delta and thelensnola.org/2017/01/03/latest-coastal-restoration-plan-says-thousands-of-homes-may-have-to-be-elevated-or-bought-out/ . Again, if I lived in proximity to the coastline, I'd move rather than count on government wisdom and timing.

 

I suppose the state has considered drawing a line on the coast with levees to keep the land in, giving up the land outside the levees, but have no idea if my assumption is correct.

New bridge (Page 1A). Locate the new bridge for efficient truck traffic to/from New Orleans, IMO, close to I-10, west of the current I-10 bridge.

 

If tolls are involved, toll both the new and the old bridges.

 

Regardless, these parish president debates are old pseudo-news.

Federal dollar loss (Page 1A). Federal dollars confuse Gov. John Bel Edwards. If these dollars can be lost, he’ll lose them.

Chicago seminar (Page 2A). Do I smell Obama’s Organizing for Action (OFA), headquartered in Chicago?

Christians flee in Egypt (Page 2A). There’s no evidence that Christians in the USA are at risk, the “nice guys” tell us “brutes.”

ACA fallout (Page 5A). The Associated Press is way out of date. There were adverse side effects when ACA was signed on March 23, 2010. Constraining the misery and loss has begun.

New Dem Party (Page 7A). “ . . . opposing President Donald Trump’s policies,” without considering each policy relative to the-objective-truth, evaluating how they might help both the “nice guys” and “the brutes,” considering possible alternatives, offering any better policies for Trump to consider, and continuing iterative collaboration until the USA is pursuing the-objective-truth is civically immoral.

Ungodly abuse (Page 8A). With 43 witnessing to the abuse, I do not understand why Jane Whaley and her husband are not behind bars. The first notion that comes to mind is that it would start and ungodly statutory control of the clergy leading to mayhem in the religion-government-partnerships that prevail in the USA.

 

Other dialogues:

Nikki Haley (politico). I had not read anything recently about our UN work. 

 

I very much like the consideration to drop out of the Human Rights Council. It has been out of control for years. See politico.eu/article/us-considers-quitting-un-human-rights-council-donald-trump-united-nations-nikki-haley-rex-tillerson-foreign-policy/ . It is a very serious consideration, because when a party stonewalls the opposition, they cannot communicate. However, if the opposition is merely negotiating for you to agree, planning to renege at their convenience, stonewalling is an option. Trump understands negotiations, and he chose Haley. My presidential vote is looking good.

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, an education non-profit. See online at promotethepreamble.blogspot.com.