October 27, 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 write.

Note 1:  I often dash words in 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" refers to citizens who collaborate for the people more than for the city.

A personal paraphrase of the preamble by & for Phil Beaver:  We the willing people of nine of the thirteen United States commit to and trust in the purpose and goals stated herein --- integrity, justice, collaboration, defense, prosperity, liberty, and perpetuity --- and to cultivate limited services by the USA, beginning on June 21, 1788.

Composing their own paraphrase, citizens may consider the actual preamble and perceive whether they are willing or dissident toward its agreement.   

Our Views (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_c9e04b6a-b82b-11e7-9790-afd0439d43c7.html) 

 I appreciate The Advocate’s views. Their support for Louisiana students may be applied to raise the TOPS GPA standard to 3.0, as recommended by Rep. Franklin Foil in 2016. I commend both the legislature to take that action at its earliest convenience and Gov. John Bel Edwards to sign the act.

“What are the reasons [administration opinion did] not prevail? A commitment to quality education. [The] root of the matter is not [administration] politics, but the quality of the education that schools provide.”

“[Performance reports are] not for the benefit of officials, but to provide an insight for parents and [civic citizens] into the quality of education.” Note: “civic citizen” differs from “taxpayer” and “concerned citizen,” both of which may be politically passive, by always taking action for civic justice (Aristotle, modified).

“Louisiana must be competitive. To promote [Louisiana] ‘grade inflation’ . . . as the plans from Edwards and the others did, does not serve today's students.”

  

Today’s thought, G.E. Dean (Psalms 18:30 CJB)

“As for God, his way is perfect, the word of ADONAI has been tested by fire; he shields all who take refuge in him.”

Dean says “We can depend on God and His Word.”

It seems evident that God’s word is mysterious by human perception. Maybe Dean’s ideas apply in a world beyond the Earth or on Earth by perceptional powers only Dean has.

  

Letters

Nanny state for crime (Olivier) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_2c30a484-b9c3-11e7-8e48-23aff13b1c43.html)

 Political pollsters opine that you can tell what TV a person is watching by asking his or her opinions. The pollsters hire social scientists to design the questions used to pigeon-hole the person.

If someone questioned Olivier to help create his list, it must have been a social scientist hired by the crime-pays crowd. See npr.org/2013/02/01/169732840/when-crime-pays-prison-can-teach-some-to-be-better-criminals and telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10119005/Crime-pays-and-its-fun-say-crooks.html.

Do most civic citizens believe there are some citizens who think crime pays? If not, why not?

  

Contradiction (Barkerding)

(theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_767909ba-b9bd-11e7-9067-432b058e54c5.html)

I nominate Barkerding’s letter as self-contradiction example of 2017, so far.

One thing I grant him though: He clearly expressed favor for Clinton vs Trump. A true liberal-democrat might have been too confused to choose after Bernie exited. Did Barkerding vote for Clinton?

  

Columns. (The fiction/non-fiction comments gallery for readers)

  

Subjugation of men (Cal Thomas) (foxnews.com/opinion/2017/10/24/cal-thomas-metoo-my-daughter-and-granddaughter-too.html)

“Perhaps the best way to address this is to put more women in charge — the right kind of women.”

With thinkers like Thomas, the eternal battle for subjugation is destined to continue. How does a civic culture predict a girl will make “the right kind” of woman?

One clue may be the question, perhaps at about age eleven:  What distinguishes a woman from a man? If she answers, a woman knows that during her fertile years she may deliver 400 viable ova.

If she intends conception, she takes care of her body and mind so as to care for her ova. That includes developing friendships with authentic men, perhaps leading to bonding in intimacy with a committed, capable man. Thus, her viable ova are not exposed to the ruin of life without parental love.

If she does not intend conception, “right kind” of woman may take other directions.

  

The-objective-truth (Michael Gerson) stltoday.com/opinion/columnists/national/michael-gerson-conservatives-disappointing-defense-of-our-post-truth-president/article_c04f82a3-871e-57f1-b013-263320ca0200.html

I must come back to this column, because it opens many vital issues.

First, writers err to evaluate “truth” without using an expression like the-objective-truth, the one I use. It exists and humankind works to discover it. Intellectual constructs to avoid it, like reason, faith, imagination, etc. beg woe. The second noble work is to comprehend, understand, and make best use of the-objective-truth.

Quoting Gerson, “When there is no objective source of truth — no commonly agreed upon set of facts and rules of argument — political persuasion becomes impossible.”

So, the political rule is: iteratively collaborate to discover and utilize the-objective-truth. When the-objective-truth has not been discovered, the possible responses to an idea are: yes, no, and we don’t know. If a consideration is critical, for example, N. Korea actually intends a nuclear strike, options are carefully specified for examination relative to the-discovered-objective-truth rather than by dominant opinion.

 

Attempt at influence by innuendo (Stephanie Grace) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/stephanie_grace/article_eb863fe8-ba6c-11e7-9f05-7b08530e5639.html)

Lately, it seems BRAF has discovered the brick wall of dialogues on racism and church, perhaps Together Baton Rouge and Mayor Broome combined. I'd like to see an achievable, better culture.

We have worked for five years in EBRP library meetings and elsewhere to propose a better culture. We learn from good dialogue and bad. The constant un-civic carping in this forum by GM King, Gary King, LSU (youtube.com/watch?v=iMUePlSNXEY), is a bad exprience that deserves acknowledgement: it recently helped us to the statement, "In civic justice, the-objective-truth invites a human being to not publicly favor a doubtable opinion yet humbly pursue personal interests, hopes, and happiness." (That Phil Beaver is an idiot is doubtable, and the personal hope seems un-civic.)

Using that principle and more ideas we work with daily, a civic people (who we think includes at least 2/3 of Baton Rouge residents) may establish in Baton Rouge an achievable, better way of living.

 

Baton Rouge privations (Lanny Keller) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/lanny_keller/article_85939b04-b9bd-11e7-9947-e7aff51df7f2.html)

We recently visited downtown-night and felt it had declined in the past couple years. Mr. K seems realistic in stating “Baton Rouge is a long way from urban paradise.”

However, a visit to N. Blvd at Third Street at noon followed by a stroll to the river is exhilarating. I think comprehensive safety and security is critical.

Yesterday, I had an epiphany: The Advocate, with a single owner, seems rare in a nation with media conglomerates, some foreign owned. Mr. K reminded me he’s been working 40 years to provide responsible news. The conversation helped me understand why my person innately continues as full subscriber after 50 years: Independence in this competitive culture is hard to maintain.

We perceive achievable ways to improve the culture and will take all the help we can get.

Louisiana Constitution (Arif Panju and Anya Bidwell) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/article_2e8b3fac-b8f9-11e7-a519-87cf3b5a4fd3.html)

The Louisiana Constitution is better than the laws of the USA respecting protection of personal property. Hopefully, the La Supreme Court will keep it that way and publicize citizens’ rights.

The La constitution is also superior respecting freedom of responsible expression. For example, if someone who yells “Fire!” in a crowded place may be held liable for consequential injuries.

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.