December 31, 2017

Phil Beaver seeks to collaborate on the-objective-truth, which can only be discovered. 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.
 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 June 21, 1788 preamble:  We the civic citizens 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. Composing their own paraphrase, citizens may consider the actual preamble and perceive whether they are willing or dissident toward its principles.   

Our Views (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_cf6dfff8-e3a7-11e7-9196-4b9b35addc5c.html)

Recalling national and local political failures, The Advocate writes, “We hope . . . that the call of tasks not completed and obligations unmet will bring a renewed sense of mission to the people’s business.”

The Advocate could show during the Month of January that the personnel who comprise The Advocate have seen the light:  the press may be free only if responsible. And the employees individually accept personal authority to collaborate for responsible freedom in each Baton Rouge, EBR Parish, Louisiana, the USA, and the world.

In its actions for the people of Louisiana The Advocate would report the news rather than express favor for Gov. John Bel Edwards, Christianity, LSU, the Democrats, AMO collectivists such as Together Baton Rouge, other minister coalitions, the Vatican, liberal-democracy rather than American republicanism, or any other faction The Advocate (I think erroneously) deems advantageous to The Advocate’s business plan.

On the other hand, The Advocate might choose to support the American dream that is represented by the agreement that is offered in the preamble to the constitution for the USA: private liberty with civic morality. “Civic” refers to adult citizens who collaborate for mutual, comprehensive safety and security so that each individual may, during their life’s journey, responsibly develop their personal preferences, whether religion, the Vatican, Protestantism, liberation, racism, gender change, or other personal interest is involved or not.

  

Evolution informs humans that theirs is the species whose each individual has the potential physical and psychological power to accept the authority to establish responsible freedom.

  

While death is inevitable, in a civic culture, free-markets; governments to provide the country’s infrastructure and foreign relations; states to provide local infrastructure and constrain dissidents; cities to coordinate education and other public services; and responsible private-associations conform to statutory justice, which a civic people continually improves as injustice is discovered.

Of course, the above is only one citizen’s statement, developed in EBRP library meetings, about a possible, achievable, better future; it can be improved only after consideration and further collaboration.

The key is the individual’s personal authority regarding responsible freedom rather than the missions of the city, parish, state, national government or the self-vaunted press.  

 

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

  

Productive money (Dan Fagan)

 theadvocate.com/new_orleans/opinion/dan_fagan/article_c3c61ac8-ebef-11e7-b82b-a3ecf5b18659.html

Fagan, I guess by willingness, made the case plainer than any columnist I have read. Most importantly, the $1.5 trillion perhaps erroneously predicted to come from deficits will go to the people instead of the government. However, the GOP expectation is that GDP will increase and wipe the $1.5 trillion deficit out.

  

The overall impression I get from Fagan’s essay and my work is as follows. The people are served by a free market, but the government does not trust the people so it arbitrarily interferes. Unfortunately, the people are divided: a civic people vs dissidents, and the civic people need force and coercion to either reform or constrain the dissidents. Therefore, they need government for a monopoly on force plus to serve the people in their states in defense against foreign impositions and for infrastructural needs. The government overplays the powers the people grant them when they arbitrarily interfere with the free market, for example, by redistribution.

  

Some of the dissidents do not understand that just as a person must earn their living, each individual has the authority to collaborate for responsible freedom. Either by persuasion or willfully, they dedicate their vote to someone else’s cause rather than inform themselves of the issues and vote for their personal freedom. Many people think applying to the government for all kinds of freebies is freedom, never realizing that they are subjugating themselves to the people who persuaded them to apply for the subsidy.

Democrats like Gov. John Bel Edwards profess they “do the right thing,” persuading people to sign up for food and justice, when in actuality he is robbing them of their personal authority to establish their responsible, personal freedom. Beware the people who claim they are doing the right thing for you: they are robbing you of your authority for responsible freedom.

  

Phil Beaver does not “know” the-indisputable-facts, or actual-reality. 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.

December 30, 2017

Phil Beaver seeks to collaborate on the-objective-truth, which can only be discovered. 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.
 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 June 21, 1788 preamble:  We the civic citizens 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. Composing their own paraphrase, citizens may consider the actual preamble and perceive whether they are willing or dissident toward its principles.   

Our Views (Dec 30)

The Advocate seems to extol Louisiana as a death destination for people with developed appetites and no purpose for life beyond age 59 or so. With a newspaper like that it’s no wonder many Louisianans die young.

Today’s thought, G.E. Dean (Psalms 32:10 CJB), The Advocate, December 30, 2017, page 5B

Today’s thought, G.E. Dean (Psalms 32:10 CJB), The Advocate, December 30, 2017, page 5B

“Many are the torments of the wicked, but grace surrounds those who trust in Adonai.”

Dean says, “You have a choice. Which will it be?”

David describes the wicked as unprotected by grace. A Christian apologist debates “grace” in jspark3000.tumblr.com/post/127070305176/what-is-the-definition-of-grace. Lyricist John Newton, in "Amazing Grace," expressed that by grace fear both came and left. Merriam-Webster informs us grace is “unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification, a virtue coming from God.” Regeneration from what regression? Regression coming from God? Fear coming from God---for removal by God?

David also expressed private action: trust in God. Did the wicked emerge from the womb not trusting God? If not, how do God-trusting infants acquire that commitment? Would trust in the fact and integrity of their own person be an alternative? Which of these options threatens the child with tyranny? Is tyranny born of mystery? Are mystery and integrity to personhood both viable routes to civic morality? If so, why demand a choice? And which choice has the better performance record?

Dean knows what he writes and why. I think his purpose is tyranny over the minds of humans---an attempt to usurp an individual's civic authority. He wants to employ the unknown to coerce the choice of trusting mystery rather than developing integrity. Dean’s unstated mystery is promise of a good afterdeath regardless of behavior in life. But the reader has the psychological power to read, consider, and respond. What choice is Dean referring to? Life or afterdeath? Concern for the afterdeath is a personal choice which the individual may expose to tyranny. On other words, some God-choices rob the person of self-discovery. Considering the world population and the evidence of civic peace, Dean's coercion is not working: mystery for afterdeath as an incentive for behavior in life is a failure.

My experiences and observations indicate that humans emerge from the womb neutral to information, understanding, commitment, and energy, but with insatiable drive for authority. For example, authority over his or her hands and feet, potentially to walk in a year. Less psychologically powerful species develop the physical faster; for example, a fold walks within hours or minutes of delivery. Only the human species has the slowly developing physical and psychological potential to control personal energy---his or her energy. The infant begins feral, but I think pure---blameless---perhaps conceived in unblemished appreciation if not love. Yet the infant's body has not completed the wisom-building parts of the brain before age 23 (female) or 25 (male).

With coaching in comprehensive fidelity, he or she may pursue and embrace about three decades of personal development in order to embark on a lifetime of fidelity. Personal autonomy is a key recognition that may come near age ten. Fortunate is he or she who emerges a young-adult with human understanding and intent to responsibly discover his or her personal preferences during the private use of his or her personal life; to realize responsible personal happiness rather than the happiness imposed by a tyrannical person or ideology. By so doing, he or she may collaborate at the leading edge of humankind’s civic morality. Such a culture cannot be constrained by one man or one ideology.

Happily, this awareness---personal authority for civic morality---may happen at any age. The mere recognition unlocks the full power and intent to avoid repetitive losses and misery. There’s no need for regret or blame for the path to personal awareness, yet each person must accept in like intensity the sorrow if past harm is recalled. However, accepting the personal authority for human good will empowers an achievable, better future.

If a person arrives early, near age thirty, with these first principles for human living, he or she thereafter seeks self-discovery by working both to earn a living and to collaborate for civic morality; to collaborate for human justice in both public and private connections; to enjoy self-discovery perhaps in the seventh or eighth decade of life. In other words, just as a person must work for food, a person must collaborate for civic justice. “Civic” refers to mutually-just human connections, both public and private; both direct and indirect; both domestic and foreign. In other words, each human may take personal authority for comprehensive fidelity to statutory justice. That is, on discovering civil or social injustice, the individual may express both the need for reform and a viable practice, whether statutory law is required or not. With a majority of people so motivated, the culture may continually expand the envelope of civic morality, allowing dissidents to either reform or suffer constraint, as possible.

In a civic culture, written law and law enforcement are continually improved so as to conform to the-objective-truth rather than to mystery or to dominant opinion. Faced with statutory justice (as opposed to dominant opinion) and its exemplary consequences, the evil person’s physical and psychological power motivates him or her to reform so as to preserve personal freedom; mysteries are insufficient to sustain human integrity and discipline. Spiritualism becomes a matter of private comfort and hope in a world of unknowns. But private, heartfelt concerns are not imposed on other people. The cunning use of other people’s spirituality to abuse their lives---their brief opportunity for responsible freedom---may be lessened; human misery and loss may be lessened. The power of civic, personal authority is that the individual neither tolerates nor imposes tyranny over the minds and hearts of people. Repeating, the person neither imposes nor brooks tyranny, coercion, or violence.

It seems these considerations would suggest that “grace” transfers to God the human responsibility for civic freedom. Leaving civic morality to God seems a lazy, mysterious approach to human integrity and discipline. For 3000 years the Biblical mysteries have been utilized by political regimes. The Christian factions have conflicted for over 1700 years. So far, mystery does not seem a viable option to inspire the physically and psychologically powerful human being to acquire integrity and discipline. Perhaps personal authority to establish responsible civic freedom through civic morality offers an achievable, better future. In other words, perhaps private liberty with civic morality is possible. Perhaps widespread human authenticity is the only path to integrity.

Comprehensive fidelity is an alternative that can be acquired by experience and observation. Fidelity is a choice that cannot be taught or imposed but can be coached and encouraged. The preamble to the constitution for the USA offers the people the civic agreement to so develop civic morality. The preamble’s agreement, was created by the unique world events that led to the establishment of the USA on June 21, 1788. It offers governance by people who accept civic authority rather than by the cities, the states, or the nation.

 

But the civic agreement has been erroneously, tyrannically suppressed as “secular” by 228 years under theism, beginning with Congressional, legislative prayer in April-May, 1789. The US Supreme Court’s affirmation of this tyranny in Greece v. Galloway (2014) means nothing to the individual who wants to accept authority for civic morality; private liberty with civic morality; fidelity in human connections, both public and private. A person in charge of his or her civic authority cannot possibly be niggling: the court is a failure. When most people practice integrity, discipline, and fidelity, the local, state, and federal governments must serve the people.

While I condone neither David’s way of thinking nor Dean’s, one cannot be human without considering comprehensive integrity, discipline, and fidelity. Every human has a choice, whether the USA carries the political burden “under God” or not.

Accepting authority for personal civic morality rather than civilization’s tyranny is a private decision. I think civically moral behavior is possible for both believers and non-believers. However, the believer's institution must conform to statutory justice for living, in order for the believer's path to survive. In justice, there is no place for attempting to usurp a person's civic authority.

     

Letters

A Christian can be civically moral (Perilloux) (Dec 30)

A “civic” person collaborates for mutual, comprehensive safety and security.

Einstein informed us that civic people do not lie to each other so they may communicate. Civic people hope to influence dissidents to justice to reform because of the better way of living they may observe in a civic culture. A civic person would not approach a civically moral person and say: “Your public behavior is Okay for your lifetime, but your person is doomed in the afterdeath. I know how to save your afterdeath for favored status.”

A Christian knows their afterdeath will be favored, but would not dare predict another person’s afterdeath. Civic persons do not lie to each other, and they privately hope each person will enjoy a favorable afterdeath.

Froma Harrop (Hebert) (Dec 30)

Harrop seems to have no appreciation for writers.

  

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

  

Fascism not favored (Walter Williams) (creators.com/read/walter-williams/12/17/fascism-and-communism)

Merriam Webster informs us that fascism exalts nation and often race above the individual. In the USA, movement is toward communism through taxation and regulation.

President Trump has attacked both taxation and regulation during his first year. The people who want private liberty with civic morality may support further reduced taxation and regulation. However, to make America great, a civic people may end the policy of theism-politics-partnering---may separate civic morality from church; collaboration for desirable life from prayer for favorable afterdeath.

  

Congressional Black Caucus harms its constituents (Jeff Sadow) theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/jeff_sadow/article_45cc32d8-eb59-11e7-9557-8b5d0a016e2b.html

I agree.

Also, every citizen ought to be voting for his or her personal interest rather than for someone else’s cause.

Alabama (Bernard Goldberg) townhall.com/columnists/bernardgoldberg/2017/12/19/if-only-the-gop-had-nominated-a-conservative-dogcatcher-in-alabama-n2424194

Goldberg does not seem to realize that President Trump is getting things done despite both the GOP and the DNC. I expect his success to continue, because most Americans understand the unique combination here: freedom-from oppression and the liberty-to pursue personal happiness rather than the dictates of some person or some ideology.

Goldberg is just another clueless liberal-democrat. I wonder if it occurred to him that some readers would modify: “So the [Democratic Party] wasn’t really going to be celebrating even if [she] had won in [the USA].”

Phil Beaver does not “know” the-indisputable-facts, or actual-reality. 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.

December 29, 2017

Phil Beaver seeks to collaborate on the-objective-truth, which can only be discovered. 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.
 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 June 21, 1788 preamble:  We the civic citizens 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. Composing their own paraphrase, citizens may consider the actual preamble and perceive whether they are willing or dissident toward its principles.   

Today’s thought, G.E. Dean (Matthew 26:41 CJB)

“Stay awake, and pray that you will not be put to the test — the spirit indeed is eager, but human nature is weak.”

  

Dean says, “Pray. It saves a lot of pain and heartache.”

  

This reminds me of fellow-citizen George Washington’s June 8, 1783, as general to the Continental Army bid farewell and included a message to the citizens who had been freed from England’s tyranny. Some did not accept the authority to establish responsible freedom, and some of them moved back to England. Those who would stay and agree to form a nation that might survive could put into action Washington’s four Pillars. See loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/amrev/peace/circular.html . He ended the letter with prayer to his personal God, which I would not feign to define.

Alas, in April and May, 1789, the first Congress, to deify their elections, imposed legislative chaplains to as to resume legislative deity English Parliament enjoys at the legislative expense of the people. Their purpose was to save “a lot of pain and heartache.” America has suffered legislative prayer ever since, and after 1700 years of pain and misery perhaps it will soon end.

I do not recommend following Dean.

    

Letters

Vote for your personal interests and never for someone else’s cause (Russo) (Dec 29)

I hope there will eventually be a more serious license to vote. For example, require a written test every eight years to confirm that the person is a civic citizen rather than a dissident to justice.

The test would constantly change, but could include one constant: Require the person to write his or her personal paraphrase of the preamble to the constitution for the USA and sign a commitment to collaborate for it to happen.

Government Street (Kunstler) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_2236f3ae-e725-11e7-a341-73698d71c1c1.html)

If most people who frequent Government Street agree with Kunstler, they have my support.

An economist expects benefits from the tax plan (Chenevert) (Dec 29)

This letter expresses the prediction I would expect from a CPA.

I hope people who left the work force will re-educate themselves for the profession they always wanted, so as to help the people achieve the possible. Also, I would influence them to think that a profession is merely a vehicle for life, during which time their purpose is to responsibly discover and achieve their personal preferences---achieve freedom during their chance at life.

  

Phil Beaver does not “know” the-indisputable-facts, or actual-reality. 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.

December 28, 2017

Phil Beaver seeks to collaborate on the-objective-truth, which can only be discovered. 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.
 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 June 21, 1788 preamble:  We the civic citizens 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. Composing their own paraphrase, citizens may consider the actual preamble and perceive whether they are willing or dissident toward its principles.   

Our Views (Dec 28)

The Advocate seems hell bent to increase my taxes! Shame on The Advocate.

I want the state to reduce spending. I hope Legislators listen to me and convince Gov. John Bel Edwards to stop spending, because it’s the right thing to do when you don’t have the money and are obligated to the people of Louisiana rather than special interests.

Shame on The Advocate for the opinion that Gov. Edwards cannot be blamed. He’ been a stubborn tax and spend legislator for six special sessions and has announced the same attitude as a threat for the future.

Today’s thought, G.E. Dean (Matthew 26:75 CJB)

“Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Dean says, “Peter was broken about his sin. Are we?”

Peter might have been aware of John 6:39, “This is the will of the One who sent me: that I should not lose any of all those he has given me.” Perhaps on John’s ideas Peter doubted both antinomianism and the goodness of his origins.

We did not control the ovum and the spermatozoon from which we came. We were conceived by a man and a woman who by evidence were bound in monogamy and dedicated to the children they might conceive. We have done the work to understand the-objective-truth and thereby admit that we do not know what we do not know. Yet, we live according to the-discovered-objective-truth.

Why should we accept anyone’s doubts about our origins, where the person is ancient like Matthew and John or living, like Dean. Why should be doubt whatever is responsible for our physical and psychological power and authority as an authentic human? Knowing that we don’t know, why should we act now for the inevitable termination of what we did not begin?

Some people choose to doubt their origins. I choose to trust-in and commit-to my destiny, untainted by what I do not know.

    

Letters

State services are going to be pushed back to the states (Knight) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_bbdd6cca-e6cd-11e7-b719-e73caac85d4f.html)

For the past seven decades or so, the states have treated the federal government as a money tree, and political regimes have cooperated.

It seems the Trump administration will push programs back to the states. Thus, get ready for some earnest pleas for money from state and local governments. If most citizens are like me---do not want to pay more taxes, the states may have to stop spending money they never had.

The consequence may be that by the end of the Trump administration the federal debt will have stopped climbing by $ 0.7 trillion per year and be ready to revers and pay off the debt.

If my hope becomes reality, the “wealth transfer” will come from elimination of waste. Each of us may do our part by exercising the authority both to work for personal living needs and to collaborate for mutual freedom.

Begging woe (Defelice) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_eb3ec66a-e6cf-11e7-ad52-57b8eeeaf45a.html)

I agree. Also, I think the media are begging woe and a reckoning is due.

The Louisiana constitution defends free expression better that the First Amendment does. It clarifies that the speaker may be held responsible for consequences. Thus, someone who yells “Fire!” inciting injuries may be held liable.

The media have the opportunity to volunteer responsibility in order to preserve freedom. The media operates as “Anything is permissible as long as the-objective-truth has not been discovered.” They may be backlogging lawsuits that will start to appear and then avalanche.

To Matthew White: That's outrageous! Calling a Beaver "sanctimonious ferret." With beavers, construction, fidelity and monogamy are neither choices nor opinion: It's just the way things happily are.

Separation of church and state (Purrington) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_621b07d4-e6cc-11e7-be2e-533304815ceb.html)

Purrington expresses typical confusion of Christianity with civic morality. Also, after 230 years failure, the USA still needs to separate church and state.

Christianity is about believing your personal, favored afterdeath. Civic morality is about taking the personal authority to responsibly live (and let live) in freedom. In other words, in civic morality, each person has the mutual freedom to both live morally and accept afterdeath, whether the individual expects dust, reincarnation, life or something else. I am comfortable-with and am preparing-for dust. In other words, I want to die in fidelity to what and whom I know (not much or many). What a Christian or other religion, ancient or modern, knows does not impact my afterdeath.

To put it another way, in civic morality, one person does not attempt to impose on another a belief in a specific afterdeath. What’s important in life is appreciating the other person for civic morality while not questioning or even considering their belief regarding the afterdeath.

The civic agreement that is offered in the preamble to the constitution for the USA, might help clarify the exclusion of religion from civic morality. No phrase in the preamble implies religion, theism, or Christianity as a qualification for the agreement. The agreement does not express interest in an individual’s personal preferences such as religion or none. The authority of each individual to collaborate for mutual, comprehensive safety and security for themselves, their children, their grandchildren, and beyond into perpetuity is offered. On this agreement, inhabitants are divided into two associations: the civically moral and the dissidents.

In the 230 years since the preamble was created, the inhabitants in this land have changed from 5% of 80% free residents able to vote and 99% of them factional-Protestant. The demographic is now 100% able to vote and only 14% in the traditional factional-Protestant associations. Religious morality has no chance of establishing civic integrity or statutory justice. A view of religious distribution between Republicans, Democrats and Independents is shown graphically at pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/23/u-s-religious-groups-and-their-political-leanings. The religious factionization of America is both amazing and wonderful.

Note that the entries are arranged by increasing difference: % Republican less % Democrat. The arrangement would be almost the same if based on declining % Republican were it not for some outstanding Independent associations, like Jehovah’s Witness at 75% Independent. The cluster of 4 above and 3 below “All US Adults,” is interesting, especially the closeness of “Catholic.”

The last entries are also notable. Traditional black associations are 90% Democrats. Some black associations think skin color is pertinent to theism, and thus, might be more racial than religious. Unitarian Universalist (UU) seems intolerant of Republicans and especially Independents at the lowest in the table, 2%. While their US identity emerged from Christianity, I am not certain UU would call themselves “Christian.” Also, they seem to condemn history’s slave-buyers but exonerate the slave-sellers. One is automatic oppressor and the other is automatic victim.

It seems public conversations would be empowered by the term “factional Christianity.” Thereby, writers might be less inclined to generalizations like “[is it] possible to be a Christian and a Republican at the same time?”

To JT McQuitty: As always, reading your posts is rewarding.

The first reference reminds me that the bell curve promises extremes beyond 2 sigma both above and below. The art of social sciences is to choose a mirage, design experiments that include the variables that create the mirage, manage the experiments so as to emphasize the red variable, conduct the experiments, gather the data, interpret the statistics and present the statistical views that favor the mirage. According to social science, it is untenable that Donald J. Trump is president of the USA, and social science is working on the proof.

While W.B. Shockley seems beyond several sigma negative, Albert Einstein was perhaps as much positive. Einstein gave us the first principle that that civic people don’t lie so that they can communicate. See Einstein’s essay at samharris.org/blog/item/my-friend-einstein.

The second post reminds me of a realization I expressed at a recent library meeting. The USA’s focus on skin color matters isolates us from global competition for civic morality, which is founded on STEM rather than social sciences and other religious pursuits. The Congressional Black Caucus has contributed to America’s regression during the past five decades.
 

Fortunately, most citizens understand the American dream: transitioning through the two to three decades required to establish personal authority so as to enter young adulthood with the preparation and intention to discover and keep fidelity to responsibility for freedom. 

  

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

  

Alabama (Froma Harrop) (creators.com/read/froma-harrop/12/17/alabama-was-a-win-and-not-just-for-democrats)

I voted against David Vitter for governor for civic moral reasons and am very disappointed in my vote for John Bel Edwards. Next time, I will give more serious consideration to a Libertarian vote.

I have always opposed Roy Moore’s defiance of separation of church and state. Four of the Ten Commandments are religious ideas and may oppose civic morality, in other words, collaboration for mutual comprehensive safety and security.

  

However, I wanted the people of Alabama to decide. Despite all the outside influences, I think they did decide. We’ll see how it turns out.

However, I think the overall election process has been helped:  Political parties are on notice that they need to offer candidates the people may vote for.

One serious problem that needs to be fleshed out, though, is the right to vote. Each citizens should claim the authority to vote for the candidate whose platform will help them responsibly achieve their personal dreams rather than someone who requires subjugation to their cause.

  

Trump’s accomplishments (Byron York) jewishworldreview.com/1217/york122017.php3

I appreciate York’s continual support for President Trump’s accomplishments.

However, I think it takes hubris to continue to advise him to change. If the president operated in a world of polished people, polish might be in order. In fact the brutes in the swamp can begin to behave with polish anytime they perceive an advantage. I such a culture, President Trump’s polish might come out from under his defenses.

I have written before that it seems to me anytime someone honestly decides that integrity will serve them, they may discover Trump’s integrity. However, Trump continually shows that he appreciates Matthew 7:6.

Journalism (Jules Witcover) baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-op-1226-witcover-graham-20171220-story.html

I don’t often go to the movies. However, I’d like to understand journalism in this world of writers for the press or just for money. I cannot name a journalist. No one seems to want a responsible and free press let alone a free and responsible press.

Phil Beaver does not “know” the-indisputable-facts, or actual-reality. 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.

December 27, 2017

Phil Beaver seeks to collaborate on the-objective-truth, which can only be discovered. 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.
 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 June 21, 1788 preamble:  We the civic citizens 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. Composing their own paraphrase, citizens may consider the actual preamble and perceive whether they are willing or dissident toward its principles.  

Our Views (Dec 27)

The Advocate helped me realize for the first time that press-writers are right in there with ministers in the competition for used-car-salesman reliability. (I cannot name a journalist---someone who reliably records events. That may be because there is so much I do not know, but sometimes I observe conflicts with the-objective-truth.)

In this instance, The Advocate publishes, “Baton Rouge voters might prefer that Landry . . . Sterling.” I think most Baton Rouge voters are more civic than The Advocate employees who published that claim. By civic, I mean citizens who collaborate for statutory justice rather than dominant opinion. I think most Baton Rouge citizens: are dismayed that Mayor Kip Holden’s claim that Baton Rouge is inclusive was not accepted and promoted by the media; that Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards convicted on world-wide TV two police officers who had not been indicted; that lawyers rushed in to set up a multimillion dollar suit, exciting their victims---the Sterling family; that “matters” groups from around the country came here at extensive expense to the city and state; that evil was motivated to visit Dallas then Baton Rouge; that LSU President F. King Alexander created personal promotion with the infamous “Moment or Movement?”; that, so far, President Obama’s promotion of divisive “lives matter” and his dreadful comment in Dallas continues with immunity; that local statutory justice was put on the shelf so that the federal authorities could be in control, leaving Louisiana and Baton Rouge to investigate the investigation; that the federal conclusion was insufficient to absorb the shame (the woe cannot be recovered).

Did the federal investigation discover who called 911 and why? I think Landry should take the time required to answer the unanswered questions, and I bet most voters could care less about The Advocate’s business plans regarding Sterling. Shame on The Advocate.

The Advocate justifies releasing prisoners with the hyperbole “bankrupted the state.”

Louisiana releasing prisoners, without the reform programs other states have provided, motivates The Advocate to call on their partner in civic injustice. “Religious conservative[s] often experience Louisiana’s incarceration crisis through prison ministries.” Do prison minsters teach and coach prison administrators like Burl Cain? Does The Advocate suppress this view to help their own partnership? Why not keep the people alert to actual reality?

I am tired of my perception of The Advocate’s work. I would like to see my hometown newspaper at work for the people instead of special interests.

Our Views Dec 26 (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_679faa10-e759-11e7-a074-930e0ac94614.html)

Yesterday, I objected to Boxing Day (a commonwealth practice) as particularly un-American due to fox hunting not being for sustenance. The commoners who came to this country learned hunting (and fishing) for food from the indigenous people. Today, I am learning more about The Advocate’s St. Stephen promostion and assert that on that basis it is even more un-American.

Further to my claim that America is independent of the British Commonwealth, America is independent of the Vatican and its fickle, factional, feudal system of saints. St. Stephen might be the patron of Serbia, a couple towns in Italy, a town in each Belgium and Germany, and Owensboro, Kentucky. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patron_saints_of_places.

The latter reference lists patrons of countries: St. George for England, St. Andrew for Scotland, St. Patrick for Ireland and, beyond Britain, for examples, St. Michael for France and the Virgin Mary for the USA. Again, we’d need to apply to the Vatican for modern listings. (I’ll never forget MWW’s comment in the late sixties: “Oh, no. Just when my personal religion is being considered the Pope disqalfies some familiar saints!”) The patron system is important to many Louisiana Parishes.

Folks in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana have an indigenous remembrance. “In 1810, President James Madison claimed West Florida as part of Louisiana and sent William C. C. Claiborne to claim the territory. Claiborne established the boundaries of the Florida Parishes. He created St. Tammany Parish and named it after the Delaware Indian Chief Tamanend (c.1628-1698), who made peace with William Penn and was generally renowned for his goodness. Among the nine Louisiana parishes (counties) named for "saints" (see "List of parishes in Louisiana"), St. Tammany is the only one whose eponym is not a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, the ecclesiastical parishes of which formed the basis for the state's civil parishes. In fact, Tamanend is not known to have been a Christian, and was certainly not a Roman Catholic. However, he became popularly revered as an "American patron saint" in the post-Revolutionary period (long after his death).” See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Tammany_Parish,_Louisiana.

America can be great because of its unique past collaboration for goodness. By educating both the young and the immigrants to the neglected American promise, a better future may be made possible. The neglected American dream is stated in the civic agreement that is offered in the preamble to the constitution for the USA. The preamble invites human collaboration for mutual, comprehensive safety and security for everyone, including dissidents. In other words, a culture of statutory justice. Dissidents either reform to the culture’s example and statutory law or suffer constraint.

Dissidents include those who want to change the American republic, for example, into a European model or Christian style democracy. The Advocate opines for themselves, but I consider many of their causes, including Boxing Day, un-American. The Advocate might respond that I am just not among the elite---a modern Tammany proponent rather than a Cincinnati patron. I argue that on the basis of trust and commitment to the agreement stated in the preamble, I represent the elite American.

Members of the British Commonwealth cannot possibly understand the promise that is offered Americans and the future greatness that can accrue to the world. Most Americans may encounter, consider, and accept the authority to personally take the responsibility for human freedom in both public and private human contacts each person needs or wants. Just as a person must work for food, a person must work for statutory justice.

We know that neither government nor theism seeks to deliver statutory justice: The authority to discover and establish statutory justice rests with willing persons.

  

Today’s thought, G.E. Dean (Psalms 32:1 CJB)

“How blessed are those whose offense is forgiven, those whose sin is covered! How blessed those to whom Adonai imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit!”

Dean says, “It is a joy to be forgiven by the Lord. He will forgive you too if you repent and turn to him.”

David seems to support antinomianism. Dean seems to think offense might involve guilt. Either view seems unreliable to me. Humans have the authority to conduct themselves so that other humans depart needed/wanted connections, whether public or private, in mutual appreciation.

    

Letters

Actual reality vs emotions (Edmonston, Dec 23) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_a2e2f16c-e66f-11e7-a9c8-ab0e63bdd067.html)

To Al Fletch:  Your response seems an example of “social science” reason for existing---fooling the public: in this case, attempts to benefit from social engineering by the USA to favor the ethanol industry and consequential special interests such as high compression engines. In other words the articles you site have statements by vendors and universities using statistical statements to convince the public, omitting the negative facts. Additionally, they overlook the comparative costs from potential energy to delivered energy, wherein ethanol is the loser: That’s why only Brasil and the USA use it.

For example, car manufacturers do the best they can with bad legislation. “Ethanol contains approx. 34% less energy per unit volume than gasoline, and therefore in theory, burning pure ethanol in a vehicle reduces miles per US gallon 34%, given the same fuel economy, compared to burning pure gasoline. However, since ethanol has a higher octane rating, the engine can be made more efficient by raising its compression ratio.  Based on EPA tests for all 2006 E85 models, the average fuel economy for E85 vehicles resulted 25.56% lower than unleaded gasoline.” See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel#Dehydration. Thus, the economy loss was decreased 25%. The 75% loss is being legislated for what? “Renewables”?

The Oak Ridge study says, “(note that full useful life emissions have not been measured) on the FTP, and also within the 4000 mile (6400 km) US06 emissions limits. Emissions of hydrocarbon-based hazardous air pollutants are higher on Federal Certification Gasoline while ethanol and aldehyde emissions are higher on ethanol fuel.” Quite obviously, if you aren’t using gasoline the instantaneous emissions from gasoline are less, but if you’re consuming more fuel to make up for the lower energy ethanol, emissions go up. And you have to contend with ethanol’s affinity for water and the consequential 90-day storage limit.

Who in the world is using ethanol? “The world's top ethanol fuel producers in 2011 were the United States with 13.9 billion U.S. liquid gallons (bg) . . . and Brazil with 5.6 bg . . . accounting together for 87.1% of world production,” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel_by_country. “The first production car running entirely on ethanol was the Fiat 147, introduced in 1978 in Brazil by Fiat. Ethanol is commonly made from biomass such as corn or sugarcane,” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel. Obviously, America is influenced by the corn industry and Brazil is influenced by the sugarcane industry.

“A study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development found there was no economic or environmental benefits to ethanol fuels, and the sole motivation for E85 was to subsidize the corn industry. Total CO2 emissions for the production and use of E85 was higher than total CO2 emissions for the production and use of gasoline,” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85.

Rep. Graves has the ability, desire, and performance of acting for the people (except imposing minister’s sermons in town meetings). What is your interest and motivation, Mr. Fletch?

 

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

  

A liberal-democrat hope (Lanny Keller) (theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/lanny_keller/article_7deebaf0-e677-11e7-b49f-f7a3a28c17ba.html)

How can The Advocate support Gov. Edwards' failure to make the people of Louisiana No. 1?

I understood the announcement. I understood the poll reports---they're images of the polls that have Hillary Clinton president of the USA. Did the poll include even one flood victim still displaced? Any policemen? Any Baton Rouge residents?

I have personal authority about fact vs fiction; promise vs performance; honesty vs integrity; success vs failure; leading vs reacting.

Mr. K's surprising conclusion seemed more mysterious prayer than objective hope: “[The] 2019 governor’s race might not seem like a sure thing for the GOP.”

I’m scratching my head again, Mr. K.

To Julius Dooley:

I appreciate "TRUTH" and would like your detailed explanation. I think “Truth” seems to deify, but all caps does not. I work on "truth" all the time.

I gave a talk in 2006 or so, "Faith in the Truth." Today, I write about trust-in and commitment-to the-objective-truth, which can only be discovered.

I learned that many people equate "faith" with "religion," and therefore, they cannot understand my message. So I use "trust-in and commit-to."

The content of the talk might suggest the-objective-truth to some people, and one person, Harold Weingarten, a teacher in general and PhD in chemistry, asked, I recall, "What truth are you advocating: absolute truth, ultimate truth, God's truth, or Phil Beaver's truth?"

Over the subsequent decade, I considered alternatives and found that all of them, including Harold's four require evaluation: For example, one cannot conclude the ultimate truth has been reached without some sort of process with a conclusion based on evaluative criteria. Also, none of the standard short cuts---revelation, reason, proof, disproof, or tradition---hold up to discovery.

The study we refer to as “science” is a process but not a conclusion or product, even though a technology or invention may result. When the study is over, the student fully expects a future discovery to change the view of the-objective-truth. Inventions become obsolete.

Even “objective” and “actual” are insufficient modifiers and “reality” is insufficient. I concluded that the article "the" is essential and wanted to invite the reader not to separate words essential to my expression: the-objective-truth.

The-objective-truth exists and can only be discovered, and humankind is the only species with the physical and psychological power for discovery. For example, civic people do not lie because they want to communicate. It seems everything in the universe began 14.8 billiion years ago, beforehand there may have been only potential energy, and knowbody knows if "why?" is a valid question. Humankind continues to study the "how".

Because of grammar, the individual human may accept the authority to discover the-objective-truth either by experience or observation. Fidelity to the-objective-truth cannot be taught. Yet a (willing) student can be coached to discover and benefit from comprehensive fidelity to the-objective truth.

I would appreciate your comments on these ideas, too.

Phil Beaver does not “know” the-indisputable-facts, or actual-reality. 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.