XXXX. The Patchwork of American Life

This piece was written earlier this year. To illustrate the passage of time, our daughter is now driving herself to school, I’ve changed jobs, and we’ve got two cats in the house.

I took my daughter to school this week and witnessed her throwing away half of her Lunchable because she thought the ham circles looked strange. I leaned over and took a look. Better safe than sorry, the circles got tossed. While driving back, I passed a construction site where workers from all nations were erecting a new block of apartments, replacing an old single-story brick complex that used to occupy the same site (I only know this because an old college fling lived on the back side of the property). Piles of tree limbs and carcasses of great oaks and pines lined the streets from the recent storm. The road is still slick with rain, and I noticed excessive play under the right wheel whenever I turned the vehicle. I make a mental note and add it to the list of items to follow up on. The list is always in my head, never getting any shorter.

When I returned home, I spotted our cat down the street. He is a chunky tom, born feral and then adopted. He just showed up one day. He likes us now and it's pretty cool that he comes when called. He increased his pace slightly and caught the attention of a mockingbird, who started chattering and dive-bombing him. He paid no attention. King of the Jungle. His true preference is to be outdoors on patrol, defending his territory. Because of his frequent altercations with other cats, we've started bringing him inside during the night.

On a normal workday, I would not be petting the cat. Instead, I'd be rushing into the office, my mind already racing through the day's priorities. My first task would be to check if anyone is waiting for something—charges, purchase orders, policy check-offs, and similar items. I use a system of flagging and tracking to stay on top of time-sensitive tasks in my daily transactions. As I navigate the diverse needs of my colleagues, I've learned that some staff like interaction while others prefer autonomy. Work typically unfolds as a combination of emails, online meetings with teams, signing oodles of documents, and trying to keep small things from becoming out-of-proportion problems. Bureaucracy often nurtures dictators and drama queens.

But today is different. I’m not at work, just thinking about it. Instead of immersing myself in the usual hustle, I'm writing and observing the titmice and cardinals at the feeder outside my window. Despite our efforts, the squirrels come as well. This change of pace allows me to notice the nuances of nature that often escape our busy lives. The titmouse on the other side of the window is particularly intriguing, making subtle movements to get a better look at me and determine if I pose a threat. As I watch, I realize that the life of a bird must be filled with stress, constantly on alert for threats from all directions. This observation leads me to reflect on the humans who fall into this prey or predator notion of living, always on edge in their professional and personal lives, ready to pounce before being pounced upon.

This moment of contemplation makes me acutely aware of how most small moments in life pass unnoticed, as much of our existence has become transactional. We spend time working to pay bills and not for fulfillment. It wasn't always this way. The colony model, which influenced the development of work in America, emphasized collective responsibility and community. Everyone had their role and worked together to keep the community running smoothly. While we may romanticize the idea of the tough, independent cowboy on the open range, the fact is that most work had humble beginnings in small, local groups. Take Benjamin Franklin, for instance. This renowned American author, printer, inventor, and Founding Father initiated his career as a trainee under his brother James, learning press operation and collaborating on one of the initial independent newspapers in pre-USA. This apprenticeship model was typical of the time, fostering close-knit professional relationships. Out of this grew libraries, fire departments, dutch ovens, bifocals, book clubs, and civic movements.

In contrast, today's work environment often requires humans to muddle along in rote and robotic work, many times outside what was studied for or what one is naturally gifted for. A lack of health insurance or real opportunity keeps Americans tied down to such jobs for economic necessity without spiritual fulfillment.

I can't help but sense that we're becoming more comfortable in this separate and unequal system. Down here in the South, we live by slogans, where freedom is more about being at the right level of the caste system. We even allow quaintly-named villages with their own fiefdoms, fiat, and tricked-out golf carts. Separate but equal all over.

There is hardly an indicator of compensation or standard of living where states of the South lead, yet we accept it as the best we can do, a far cry from the collaborative spirit of earlier American inspiration.

We grow up influenced by the motto of American greatness, but I’d like to make it more of a reality. It's well past time to reconsider our approach to work, promote lifelong education and apprenticeship opportunities, promote and support communities where we can age in place, and maintain a high quality of life that doesn’t come at an equally high cost. We can draw inspiration from both our historical roots and successful models from around the world.

Until then, we’ve still got our myths and legends to rely on.

• What happens when we lose a lot of white males to conspiracy theories?

• Civics is also about modeling the behavior you want to see. Dependability, reliability, loyalty. Good show by Disney.

• Readers and the books that opened their minds.

Several thoughts arise from this discussion. First, the test should neither be excessively easy to pass nor unduly difficult. More importantly, the testing process should be perceived as a culmination rather than a mere confirmation. I would much prefer a nurse who has undergone extensive, apprentice-like, on-the-job training for several years over one who simply achieved a high score on a test. My own experience with testing has been varied. I undertook examinations for a teaching license, one of which focused more on theory and classroom management than anything else. The semantics of the questions reminded me of a particularly challenging law school test I took years ago, on which I received a score that limited the schools I could get into.

Testing in America has increasingly become a shortcut for genuine education. We should return to the foundational principles of education, where quality time in the classroom and hands-on skills were paramount. Apprenticeships were once an expected and integral part of certain disciplines. In many respects, this emphasis on testing has become a lucrative venture for companies, while the quality of education and civic engagement in the general populace has deteriorated.

The Washington Post recently had a clever and humorous survey online to discover which premier league football team to follow. I ended up with Crystal Palace. (Side note, if you have not seen Ted Lasso, treat yourself. It is wonderful.) I like the appeal of Dublin's Bohemians here and their strong commitment to social activism. It makes them more than just a soccer club, and despite the pushback of the last few years, businesses have a social responsibility to make a profit without creating problems.

The Bohemian team identity resonates with fans who value community engagement and inclusivity. It’s a reminder that any game, any sport, is also an opportunity for growth. There is more to life than winning, and there are some prescient statements here on the aspects of being a good human, or how books and football go together.

I may have finally found a football team to cheer for.

Business does not suffer in the United States. There is plenty of money that is made despite systemic issues. Public service has plenty of bloat, but it is oftentimes caused by private monkeying. The truth is, neither has a lock on perfection. Without each other, the private and public sectors cannot thrive, as they are intrinsically linked. Just as we manage our finances, choose life partners, and nurture our gardens, a healthy democracy demands equilibrium.

The persistent push to prioritize private interests over public goods undermines our collective values. As this article covers, public resources have been exploited for profit for far too long, revealing the unsustainable nature of such practices. Minnesota's reforms is a scenario all too familiar in many regions. The levers of public programs can be co-opted without true public oversight. Agency inspectors and auditors can sing to an unsung tune of one person with a wink and a nod. The answer is to trust, but verify with outside sources like good journalism and third-party watchdogs, not to mention personal character and integrity, and to stay involved.

This piece was a fascinating dive into tipping culture. I've often found myself in the very scenarios described, where tipping seems to be expected at every turn. Sometimes, it's a welcome addition, filling a gap I always wondered about. Other times, it feels over the top. When it comes to house calls, I make it a point to tip, no questions asked. I even try to tip the waste and recycling crew annually, though my contribution feels like a drop in the bucket compared to their year-round efforts. In essence, I'm still grappling with the right approach. The minimum wage, especially as protected by the Restaurant Association, feels outdated to me. I question why it remains separate from the general minimum wage. The influence of these powerful groups raises my suspicions. If it's beneficial for the worker, it should be beneficial for the country.

The picture you just scrolled over is your general aptitude test that will assess your perception skills and spiritual level. It will also tell me if you’re my kind of people. 🙂 Let me know in the comments.

I’ve read many times that some belief systems have a hard time seeing the connectedness of things until it happens to them. They don’t see outcomes until there is a personal stake; until they’ve experienced some kind of loss.

This is one of those.

The school choice or voucher system, whichever you want to call it, has long had two main goals: to support religious-based education and to make public dollars available for private profit. Of course, there has always been a racist element, specifically in the South, where integration led to school closures and people building their own schools. It is sinister and nefarious with very minimal insight into how tax dollars are spent. A perfect method for new school con jobs.

Our entire family are products of public school systems, with the occasional stint here and there in private, faith-based operations. The public school systems have struggled not because of teaching and books, but from purposeful and political destruction. I cannot help but chuckle just a bit at an article like this when all of a sudden, the chickens have come home to roost. Remember, its the “We” that’s important.

For several months now, I’ve been reading a multitude of sources sounding the alarm on what’s happening with young men. I wish this article had gone a bit deeper into particular events of the period that could be a factor. For example, if young men are becoming more conservative, is it an offshoot of the never-ending wars that made up most of the time period? Could it be the rise of the UFC, or the political success of a strongman type like Trump? Could it be the rise of Fox News that has patented division as a way to make a buck? Perhaps the educational system has done a poor job of teaching how to discern between fact and fiction.

We are all partly influenced by the environment we are in; school, work, family, and friends. This particular phenomenon dealing with men needs to be watched closely. From a civic duty point, I was concerned that very few of this cohort expressed any interest in running for office. When talking to members of this age group myself, I get back, what’s the point? It’s all about money or who you know. I’ll never have enough to keep up, etc.

Keep an eye on this troubling trend and consider what each of us can do.

Civic Champion of the Week

I typically don’t read books that deal with issues happening as we know them. I prefer to live in the moment of history and then read up after for more details. A family friend had just finished Oath & Honor and recommended it.

One thing I try to do in this newsletter is present the facts with the opinion. I don’t care what party or spiritual belief. I want to share the truth without the shit.

We are struggling with not accepting facts in this country, and that is troubling for an advanced nation. Liz Cheney’s book shared much more detail on Trump’s movement to steal the 2020 election. It makes me angry, but more so with the public servants in the agencies that were willing to follow along and upend the foundation of our country for selfish means.

Liz Cheney has emerged as a civics champion by prioritizing constitutional integrity over party allegiance. Her courageous decision to break from her party and vote to impeach Trump following the January 6th Capitol attack took some…strength. Despite significant political backlash, including losing her leadership position within the House Republican Conference, Cheney has remained steadfast in her condemnation of Trump. Her actions have highlighted the importance of truth and accountability in public service. Special note: I checked the book out online using the Libby app tied to your local library.

Thank you for reading, and please like, comment, and share with others. Hope to see you next time. Be a good human.