May 24, 2017

Phil Beaver works to establish opinion when the-objective-truth has not been discovered. He seeks to refine his opinion by listening when people share experiences and observations. The comment box below invites readers to express facts, opinion, or concern, perhaps to share with people who may follow the blog.

Note 1:  I often dash words in a phrases in order to express and preserve an idea. For example, frank-objectivity represents the idea of candidly expressing the-objective-truth despite possible error. In other words, a person expresses his “belief,” knowing he or she could be in error. People may collaboratively approach the-objective-truth.
 Note 2: It is important to note "civic" as in citizens for the people more than for the city.

 The Advocate:  See online at theadvocate.com/baton_rouge.

  

Our Views (Pence visit). My hometown newspaper, The Advocate, often disappoints, because they constantly represent themselves as liberal democrats in a nation that is a representative republic. Yes, citizens vote, but that does not constitute "our democracy."

In this case, there are so many mendacities of omission and accuracy. For example, President Trump and V.P. Pence visited here on August 19, 2016, as competitors for the GOP nomination and potential independent candidates for the election. I recall Gov. Edwards, arrogant with media reports that Hillary Clinton would succeed Barack Obama, did not show up. “John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, says he won't be involved in Trump's visit. The governor spokesman says Trump was welcome but not for a "photo-op." See knoe.com/content/news/Trump-visits-Louisiana-to-tour-damage-by-flood-Clinton-calls-Gov-Edwards-390717441.html . Gov. Edwards’ support for flood victims never improved, and that’s the main problem I’m concerned with, even though I am a flood victim only to the extent of perhaps strange weeds in my back yard.

As a civic person, which in my usage means citizen of the people more than citizen of the city, state, country or world, I want the Vice President of the USA to talk with the Governor of Louisiana every chance they have. I want my hometown newspaper to represent the people, as they do in some research, like prison management, tax subsidies, etc., rather than a political bias. I know I know: I don’t always get what I want (The Rolling Stones).

I realize my views are not ordinary, but I deny that most people do-not-want and would-not-contribute to voluntary public-integrity. Most people are good and want to constrain the bad actors: we want civic safety & security.

Today’s thought (Psalms 119:71). David wrote perhaps 2600 years ago when humans had no idea what caused natural phenomena: high winds, flash floods, hurricanes, tsunamis’, earthquakes. They did not even understand tranquil movement of clouds hiding and then un-hiding the sun or the moon.

Today, most people are certain that natural phenomena are the consequence of objective physics: energy, mass and space-time rather than a study. We look to objective understanding rather than mystery to prepare for the inevitable unexpected consequences of physics.

Albert Einstein expressed that ethics comes from the same source, and his one example is that a civic people do not lie to each other so that they may communicate. Liars cannot communicate. See “poor” Einstein’s essay on why we don’t lie at samharris.org/blog/item/my-friend-einstein .

Letters

Sociology of Louisiana’s N.O. film subsidies? (Mayer). Mayer’s book is so new I could learn much. However, there is an abstract at researchgate.net/publication/314177054_OPEN_ACCESS_Almost_Hollywood_Nearly_New_Orleans_The_Lure_of_the_Local_Film_Economy .

I oppose the film tax credits: paying 100 cents for a 22 cent an hour job doesn’t make sense.

Lawyers (Morrison). Something tells me some of the prison reform puts money in the pockets of lawyers. I have the same impression about ministers’ pockets.

Thank goodness the sheriffs, police, and DA’s were in there speaking for public safety---for the people.

I have no idea if passage of the bill would help the people or not, but I regret prison reform without services in place for mental patients and other good people in need of help rather than imprisonment.

USA subsidizes Canadians’ pharma (Shepard). Good point on pharma. President Trump has initiated NAFTA renegotiation for the USA’s benefit. We’ll see.

Gambling proceeds (White). Good question. Also, White brings to mind that a citizen should be able to go to one website where any question about the budget can be answered easily. A hidden state budget empowers the governor and legislation to pick the people’s pockets and ministers keep the people praying for relief rather than taking action.

Democrats (Windham). Valid point. Readers would not learn that belief from the media, who ought to report the facts surrounding such important events. Here’s a republican’s view of “the facts,” russp.us/racism.htm . Even today, the Democrats influence blacks for party advantage rather than to actually help them.

  

Robert Saumuelson column (moving to 3%/yr GDP increase). Your economics just don’t make the right assumptions.

For example, rather than increasing immigration, it seems Trump intends to put the inner cities to work rather than at war with each other. The Democrats are desperate to keep the inner cities enslaved to welfare.

What’s your recommendation, Samuelson? Challenge people to accept freedom-from oppression and work to achieve the liberty-to live according to personal preference, or increase immigration?

Dana Milbank column (free press taunts). It’s not President Trump who has indicted the liberal-democrat press.

It’s the civic people of the United States. Milbank-arrogance reminds me of Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 response to the threats of the Confederate States of America: don’t ignore the ultimate justice of the people. “Civic” refers to persons who collaborate for the people more than for the city, state, country, the world, the press or the religion.

We’ll see how the people’s justice deals with the fabricated, liberal-democrat attack on the people. I hope some of the lie generators will be forced out of business and writers for them will be forced to seek productive careers.

Pence and Verma guest column (Obamacare). President Trump’s plan to help the people is to reduce federal tax and spend policies, and move governance back to the claims of the preamble to the constitution for the USA.

The preamble offers a voluntary civic agreement: we willing people in our states, in order to collaborate for the purpose and aims stated herein, hereby specify and establish a limited central government with representative-republican government rather that monarchy, democracy, or any of the other governments in world history. Herein, “civic” refers to citizens who collaborate for justice for the people more than for the city, state, nation, world or other entity.

Pence & Verma write: “The approach taken by the House bill is innovative and state- and patient-centered: States that believe Obamacare’s existing thicket of regulations is sustainable can leave that system in place. But if states show they can do a better job of improving choices and lowering costs via more flexible regulations and well-funded high risk pools, they can do that instead.”

“The Republican principles embodied in the House’s bill are not the only things we need to fix America’s health care system. But they would be a huge step toward a system that is finally patient-centered and lets states take the lead on ensuring patients have access to high-quality, affordable, innovative care.”

Patient-centered rather than insurance-centered health care is in the best interest of the people more than the government. My vote for President Trump and Vice-President Pence has enemies in strange places, but I hope the civic people win the conflicts.

I just heard Gov. Edwards’ remarks on VP Pence’s landing in Baton Rouge. Edwards seems to understand what’s coming: responsibility for Medicaid in Louisiana. Time to get to work rather than whine.

Rep. Cedric Richmond column (Pence an enemy). Stonewalling is a form of mendacity.

The Congressional Black Caucus has outlived its utility. Richmond could be the hero that admits reality and begins to collaborate with the people for the people. That’s what President Donald Trump is delivering, and his administration is performing in concert.

The people rather than their personal Gods, are ultimately responsible for justice. We know that, and we are beginning act on that discovery, after 229 years of neglect.

People, whoever they are, who continue to lie will find themselves unable to communicate.

To David Martin: Well said. 

I wanted to post my comment as a reply to yours. But you are too eloquent to suffer my expressions, and I cannot mimic yours.

Lanny Keller column (Broome edict on hate). It is difficult to accept, but it seems Keller was unaware of Broome’s simultaneous declaration of Malcolm X day.

Otherwise, The Advocate, always exercising “freedom of the press,” might seem guilty of lying by omission.
 

BTW: Anything in the interest of Together Baton Rouge, apparently the local AMO group, seems likely to hurt the people. (Anyone interested in signing someone’s pledge of respect?)

  

Schools (Page 1B). I am grateful for all the school personnel have done for the children.

  

Tax breaks cap (Page 1B). I think it is good for the parish to deal with this issue. It gets the cost of tax breaks closer to the affected people. I look to the Metro Council to protect the people.

  

Anything in the interest of Together Baton Rouge, apparently the local AMO group, seems likely to hurt the people.

Classical literature for prisoners (Page 1B). This program is far more effective than the bemusing-mystery-of-religions as a means of rehabilitating people, not only prisoners. I am so glad to see this. Bravo!

Broome hypocrisy (Page 1A). I quickly expressed my frustration with Dupuy’s action and did not guess Broome’s conduct.

The police are charged to be perfect in a community that behaves with every kind of barbarism one can imagine. Abusing children, busing women, abusing each other.

The mayor's community routinely uses slang that is blackballed, and gangsta rap is routinely accepted. It seems a vigilante community. The mayor demands police cooperation!

The $175 K/yr mayor mistakenly nominates an easily dispensed candidate to be her administrative assistant (where was her advisory committee), but holds a police officer to be error-less of loose talk.

A friend who voted for her told me he is very disappointed. She seems to be pure politician who rose to high political positions but with no common sense. No wonder her platform was dialogues on racism and church!

Since I am white and neither theist nor atheist, it is accepted in these parts to stonewall my steady work for voluntary public-integrity. I think the people steadily progress toward ultimate justice.

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