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People's Power

1/28/2021

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Offshore oil and gas exploration in Atlantic waters came up during a recent discussion about centrist political policies. I had offered a centrist concept for publicly mapping our offshore oil and gas once using the safest technology available rather than permitting five different corporations to each conduct their own secret seismic testing. Government agents acknowledged that publicly mapping our resources was a better option, but it wasn’t the way things were done for decades in other areas. Activists on the political left and right were not willing to think beyond party line positions.

Another centrist solution I proposed was giving States the Right of First Refusal on any new oil or gas leases off their coast. States could contract with drilling companies to responsibly extract our public resources and pay dividends to citizens. I proposed a similar plan for harnessing offshore wind energy instead of subsidizing global corporations to build windmill farms in our public waters. Once again, those involved on the left and right united in opposition to this commonsense compromise.

Left, right, and center could have come up with a comprehensive offshore energy policy that benefited everyone and the environment if enough concerned citizens were willing to work together. Energy production platforms could have been built as permanent multi-use structures that made ideal artificial reef habitat. These platforms could also harness tidal energy, facilitate research, and provide safe refuge for mariners. The sustainable harvest of energy from public waters could have generated an endless stream of revenue to be shared by citizens. This could have been a model for blending free-market and common-good principles.

​We should learn from past mistakes as our government plans to spend trillions of tax dollars going green. These public investments could empower and enrich individuals or corporations. Letting lobbyists and politicians think for us WILL result in Americans paying the bill so global corporations can charge us for using OUR public resources. Would you rather pay for or profit from harnessing the People’s Power?  
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House Party

1/21/2021

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​Our House of Representatives is supposed to be America’s governing body that most closely represents the interests of regional constituencies. Lobbyists, campaign contributions, and party politics often override constituent concerns. House elections are held every two years with mid-term elections historically having fewer voters showing less party loyalty. This next election cycle offers an opportunity for us to try something different. Concerned citizens could set up secure websites in each Congressional District where voters can discuss issues and hold votes. We could elect articulate apolitical public servants that agree to do what a 2/3 majority of suitable quorums decide. The supermajority requirement ensures thoughtful deliberation that empowers individuals. We should pick new public servants every election to limit the corrupting influence of power. Details could be worked out as enough people start thinking about the Public Servant Party concept that could also be applied in local elections. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to peacefully practice self-governance within Constitutional guidelines using modern technology. We the People can bring civility and common-sense back to American politics while setting an example for freedom-loving people across the globe. 
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MLK Homage

1/18/2021

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We all have unique experiences that form our view of others. I was born in a segregated hospital. My earliest memory of colored people was as a scared fifth grader going to public school for the first time. Some colored kids were nice to me when nobody else was. A tragic experience several years later hardened my heart. Even then, I tried being polite to everyone regardless of race. Time healed that wound and softened my heart. I realized the wisdom in Dr. King’s words about seeing individuals rather than groups. I learned that ignorance breeds anger just as gentleness is born of wisdom.
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It’s easy to lump groups of people together based on race, religion, or political affiliation. We all interact with people who are in a group we may not understand or even like. Individuals will almost always be respectful of each other without focusing on petty differences. A group mentality allows us to label other groups and justify treating them disrespectfully. Most conflict can be avoided by simply seeing others as individuals and treating them with the same respect we expect. Kindness and bitterness are equally infectious. Spreading kindness and showing respect are easy ways to be the change we want to see in our shared world
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January 17th, 2021

1/17/2021

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Symbolic Tree

The tree holding a tattered flag in this picture seems symbolic of the political divisions in America today. It started strong long ago as one solid base before splitting with the left and right sides growing further apart over time. This widening divide will eventually cause that tree to break apart and die prematurely. The tree could live a full life if there were something tying the two sides together. The more ties there were, the stronger the tree would be. Enough ties could even make the entire tree stronger than if the two sides had grown as one all along.

Middle America needs to find some ties that bind us together before the far left and right political extremist tear our Nation apart. A natural desire to be free is the universal tie that binds all of humanity. We need to have a serious discussion about what justifies imprisoning a person and taking their freedom. We need to find ways of securing economic freedom for everyone without infringing on the rights of anyone. We need to preserve and promote the individual liberties that collectively make us free people.

Focusing on freedom of the individual can create countless ties that bind us together. We can come through this time of turmoil stronger than ever if enough reasonable people are willing to think about what unites us more than what divides us. Waiting for politicians to solve our problems will only cause the left and right divide to grow wider. Now is the time for concerned citizens to put aside petty differences and work together toward a common goal of remaining free. Will you do your part to help bind us together so America’s symbolic freedom tree can continue to flourish and spread little liberty seeds across the globe?
  
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    This blog is about ways we can preserve and promote the individual liberties that collectively make us free people. 

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