Amidst the chaos created by the COVID-19 pandemic and America’s failed federal response to it, we’ve had another major, culture-shifting series of events that has changed how the nation deals with issues of race. I’ll reference to it as the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.
BLM has been around for years, in response to over-aggressive and often fatal police interactions with black men and women. More recently, a series of these avoidable, deadly interactions has been captured on video by either security cameras or individuals, the most notable being the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The BLM movement is now everywhere, manifested in large protests across the country. White people are now beginning to understand the systemic, often unseen and unrecognized racism that pervades in the U.S. There’s been a renewed effort to eliminate not only the racism, but the symbols of it, including things like the confederate flag and confederate statues.
Of course, ‘fixing’ 300 years of systemic racism isn’t going to happen overnight. There’s still BLM resistance from the overt and covert white supremacy folks, and from the president, although saying that is redundant. The current federal government, along with some states, would still much prefer to maintain the status quo privileges of the white Christian male.
What's equally infuriating about it is the simpleton argument from the opposition that 'all lives matter' as if that negates the BLM cause. Here's the best analogy I've seen to counter this: If your house is on fire, should the fire department come and pour water on all the houses on your street? Because all houses matter, right? Of course all houses matter, but the one to focus on is the one that's on fire. How hard is this for people to understand?
Private businesses will have to lead on this for now, as individuals are drawn to those showing more action, especially with their dollars. Following the money – it’s the American Way.
When we look back on 2020, we’ll primarily consider the pandemic and how it changed society. However, the longer lasting impact of 2020 will be how the BLM changed the way people view racism.
Friday, July 17, 2020
Friday, June 26, 2020
The Stages Of Grief For Celebrations
One of the first college classes I took was Intro to Psychology. It's the kind of basic class you want to take if you have an undeclared major or an elective to fill, which is probably why it was mainly filled with freshmen and seniors.
It was an easy class, generally only requiring memorization for success, but it's surprising how much of it I still remember. One of those things is the psychological stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
[Technically, these were identified by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross as the stages of grief for the terminally ill in her book On Death and Dying (yes, I even remember that!) but over time they've been attributed to more than just terminal illness.]
I've often applied these stages of grief to other things. I once did an entire presentation to a large group about the years-long need for additional financing for a project, and I used the stages of grief as a simile of sorts. I suggested that in the past year, some in the room had moved from denial to anger to bargaining, but most hadn't yet made it to depression much less acceptance. So I told them I was taking it upon myself to depress them that day as much as possible so they'd get to acceptance faster.
Recently, I've been applying the stages of grief to how people are treating aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, we've got an executive branch of federal government that denied it, then got angry as it happened, and is so corrupt that it will never get beyond bargaining over it while people die.
However, it's particularly applicable to those who have/had planned gatherings of many people, whether it be graduation parties, baby showers, or weddings. First, there's a denial that the event can't happen. Then anger about how a rare pandemic could get in the way. Then there's the stage most are in, which is bargaining for a way to still make the event happen against needlessly exposing guests to the virus. Of course, this also includes bargaining with vendors over monetary deposits that may have been made.
Not everyone has managed to get through to the depression stage, and then ultimate acceptance that the event either isn't going to happen, or won't be happening anywhere close to the original plan. And not all of those who've managed to make it to acceptance are done; those proceeding with alternate plans are finding themselves right back at denial when those revised arrangements are also partly stymied.
It's a terrible year to have planned for any type of celebration, much less to try to execute said celebration. I'm glad I'm not in that group, but if I was, I'd try to get through the stages of grief as soon as possible.
It was an easy class, generally only requiring memorization for success, but it's surprising how much of it I still remember. One of those things is the psychological stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
[Technically, these were identified by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross as the stages of grief for the terminally ill in her book On Death and Dying (yes, I even remember that!) but over time they've been attributed to more than just terminal illness.]
I've often applied these stages of grief to other things. I once did an entire presentation to a large group about the years-long need for additional financing for a project, and I used the stages of grief as a simile of sorts. I suggested that in the past year, some in the room had moved from denial to anger to bargaining, but most hadn't yet made it to depression much less acceptance. So I told them I was taking it upon myself to depress them that day as much as possible so they'd get to acceptance faster.
Recently, I've been applying the stages of grief to how people are treating aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, we've got an executive branch of federal government that denied it, then got angry as it happened, and is so corrupt that it will never get beyond bargaining over it while people die.
However, it's particularly applicable to those who have/had planned gatherings of many people, whether it be graduation parties, baby showers, or weddings. First, there's a denial that the event can't happen. Then anger about how a rare pandemic could get in the way. Then there's the stage most are in, which is bargaining for a way to still make the event happen against needlessly exposing guests to the virus. Of course, this also includes bargaining with vendors over monetary deposits that may have been made.
Not everyone has managed to get through to the depression stage, and then ultimate acceptance that the event either isn't going to happen, or won't be happening anywhere close to the original plan. And not all of those who've managed to make it to acceptance are done; those proceeding with alternate plans are finding themselves right back at denial when those revised arrangements are also partly stymied.
It's a terrible year to have planned for any type of celebration, much less to try to execute said celebration. I'm glad I'm not in that group, but if I was, I'd try to get through the stages of grief as soon as possible.
Friday, June 5, 2020
Two Things At Once
If I had to wager on it, I would have bet a lot on something related to the COVID-19 pandemic as the top story on non-conspiracy news outlets for many more weeks / months. Only some huge natural disaster or mass killing event could possibly keep that from happening.
As has been the norm over the past few years, people are turning this into a combative, binary decision. That is, you either support the Black Lives Matter movement, or you support the police. This is incredibly stupid, because both things are possible!
Human beings can support two things (even more!) at the same time, even when those things seem to be opposites. Here, we have to support persons or color in their quest to be treated equally under the law, while at the same time supporting appropriate enforcement of those laws.
We're doing it now in an even larger way, as we battle a once in a lifetime pandemic with differing views on how that should be done. For example, it's OK to support wearing a mask and still support opening the economy.
But again, some want to frame all national decisions as a binary, political win/lose. It's dumb and counterproductive to look at everything through such a political lens. Unfortunately, that's what our current, leadership-less executive branch has been perpetuating,
Since we have a leadership void at the federal level, the only way to peacefully accomplish any of our collective goals is from the bottom-up. People must ignore the extremists, be responsible for taking care of others, and remember to vote out the unqualified, arrogant, complicit, idiots who've been in charge for the past few years.
It's a bet I would have quickly lost.
All it took was a video of a bad Minneapolis cop slowly killing an already-detained black man by choking off his airway. Now we have protests and quasi-riots across America, bringing attention to both overt and covert criminal racial discrimination that still exists after 250 years. (This is made even worse by having a mentally-ill U.S. president stirring the pot with his own versions of racism and divisive rhetoric. Apparently, calling a pandemic a hoax for weeks hasn't killed enough people already.)
All it took was a video of a bad Minneapolis cop slowly killing an already-detained black man by choking off his airway. Now we have protests and quasi-riots across America, bringing attention to both overt and covert criminal racial discrimination that still exists after 250 years. (This is made even worse by having a mentally-ill U.S. president stirring the pot with his own versions of racism and divisive rhetoric. Apparently, calling a pandemic a hoax for weeks hasn't killed enough people already.)
As has been the norm over the past few years, people are turning this into a combative, binary decision. That is, you either support the Black Lives Matter movement, or you support the police. This is incredibly stupid, because both things are possible!
Human beings can support two things (even more!) at the same time, even when those things seem to be opposites. Here, we have to support persons or color in their quest to be treated equally under the law, while at the same time supporting appropriate enforcement of those laws.
We're doing it now in an even larger way, as we battle a once in a lifetime pandemic with differing views on how that should be done. For example, it's OK to support wearing a mask and still support opening the economy.
But again, some want to frame all national decisions as a binary, political win/lose. It's dumb and counterproductive to look at everything through such a political lens. Unfortunately, that's what our current, leadership-less executive branch has been perpetuating,
Since we have a leadership void at the federal level, the only way to peacefully accomplish any of our collective goals is from the bottom-up. People must ignore the extremists, be responsible for taking care of others, and remember to vote out the unqualified, arrogant, complicit, idiots who've been in charge for the past few years.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Dear Graduating Class of 2020
Although it may be the most difficult time to be a high school or college graduate EVER, those kids still expect some words of wisdom, as in past years. Let's get to it.....
To the hard-luck graduates of 2020:
This must really suck.
It’s hard to imagine how it could be worse than ‘right now’ for a high school or college graduate, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not being able to make memories from that last month or so in school? Not being able to enjoy all of the traditions and hijinks of those final days of classes? Not being involved in all of the pomp and circumstance of graduation week? Not being able to have all that attention from friends and relatives at graduation ceremonies and parties, nor collecting the graduation presents?
This must really suck bad.
And there’s no getting it back, either. Oh sure, you might eventually have a ceremony of some sort. And you’ll probably get those graduation gifts down the road. But all of the fun – that’s just gone, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
This must really, really suck bad.
To make matters worse (especially if you’re a college graduate), you’re entering in to the worst job market of the past 90 years. Frankly, unless you have mad skills at developing pharmaceuticals for treating or curing viruses, there isn’t much out there for you right now – unless your life’s goal is to work in an on-line shopping fulfillment warehouse, a fast food restaurant, or a slaughterhouse.
This s-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-c-k-s.
Can anything be salvaged from this incredible misfortune to make you feel better? Sure, there are lots of things that might perk you up. For example, since you’ll either be unemployed or taking online college classes or both, your parents are a lot more likely to let you save money by living with them rent free. (Actually, I could only think of that one thing, and it has as many downsides as upsides.)
Let’s face it, Class of 2020 – you’ve drawn the short straw. Civilization, with an assist from national governments, has failed you. You only have one option: Determination.
Put your mind to it, and you’re going to get through this, along with the knowledge that you can succeed even when starting from one of the lowest points in United States history. That’s a great rallying point, assuming you don’t use it to start a second Civil War, and further assuming we still have a functioning society.
Years from now, you aren’t going to be that upset about the events that didn’t occur, but you might be upset that you didn’t use the events that did occur as a springboard for what might have been.
To the hard-luck graduates of 2020:
This must really suck.
It’s hard to imagine how it could be worse than ‘right now’ for a high school or college graduate, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not being able to make memories from that last month or so in school? Not being able to enjoy all of the traditions and hijinks of those final days of classes? Not being involved in all of the pomp and circumstance of graduation week? Not being able to have all that attention from friends and relatives at graduation ceremonies and parties, nor collecting the graduation presents?
This must really suck bad.
And there’s no getting it back, either. Oh sure, you might eventually have a ceremony of some sort. And you’ll probably get those graduation gifts down the road. But all of the fun – that’s just gone, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
This must really, really suck bad.
To make matters worse (especially if you’re a college graduate), you’re entering in to the worst job market of the past 90 years. Frankly, unless you have mad skills at developing pharmaceuticals for treating or curing viruses, there isn’t much out there for you right now – unless your life’s goal is to work in an on-line shopping fulfillment warehouse, a fast food restaurant, or a slaughterhouse.
This s-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-c-k-s.
Can anything be salvaged from this incredible misfortune to make you feel better? Sure, there are lots of things that might perk you up. For example, since you’ll either be unemployed or taking online college classes or both, your parents are a lot more likely to let you save money by living with them rent free. (Actually, I could only think of that one thing, and it has as many downsides as upsides.)
Let’s face it, Class of 2020 – you’ve drawn the short straw. Civilization, with an assist from national governments, has failed you. You only have one option: Determination.
Put your mind to it, and you’re going to get through this, along with the knowledge that you can succeed even when starting from one of the lowest points in United States history. That’s a great rallying point, assuming you don’t use it to start a second Civil War, and further assuming we still have a functioning society.
Years from now, you aren’t going to be that upset about the events that didn’t occur, but you might be upset that you didn’t use the events that did occur as a springboard for what might have been.
Friday, May 8, 2020
Berky Meeting Nuggets 2020 -- Pandemic Edition
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic got real in the U.S., an event I really wanted to attend was ruined. It was the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha, which only offered online streaming of this year's meeting.
You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times in the past 20+ years I haven't personally attended 'Woodstock for Capitalists.' It's more festival than meeting, taking up an entire arena and adjoining convention center, although the centerpiece is always Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger sitting on a stark stage answering questions and making comments for about six hours.
I watched the entire stream, which this year consisted of Buffett and heir-apparent Greg Able talking on that same stage for almost five hours. (How does the 89-year-old Buffett do this, or anyone for that matter, without taking a break?) It wasn't the same, of course, but they tried.
The main thing missing was Vice-Chair Charlie Munger, who didn't participate at all this year. The highlight of most Berky meetings is listening to Munger's acerbic wit as he answers questions, usually ones for which Buffett probably said the same thing in a more extended, eloquent way.
I don't really have any specific nuggets this year. Every question, answer, and comment was pandemic-related in one way or another. Buffett was optimistic on America's long-term future, having already survived a civil war and a years-long economic depression. However, he didn't sound very optimistic about the next year.
He was probably just bummed that he couldn't have the usual fun annual shareholders meeting this year, and given his age, their aren't many left for him to lead.
And clearly, we both missed Charlie.
You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times in the past 20+ years I haven't personally attended 'Woodstock for Capitalists.' It's more festival than meeting, taking up an entire arena and adjoining convention center, although the centerpiece is always Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger sitting on a stark stage answering questions and making comments for about six hours.
I watched the entire stream, which this year consisted of Buffett and heir-apparent Greg Able talking on that same stage for almost five hours. (How does the 89-year-old Buffett do this, or anyone for that matter, without taking a break?) It wasn't the same, of course, but they tried.
The main thing missing was Vice-Chair Charlie Munger, who didn't participate at all this year. The highlight of most Berky meetings is listening to Munger's acerbic wit as he answers questions, usually ones for which Buffett probably said the same thing in a more extended, eloquent way.
I don't really have any specific nuggets this year. Every question, answer, and comment was pandemic-related in one way or another. Buffett was optimistic on America's long-term future, having already survived a civil war and a years-long economic depression. However, he didn't sound very optimistic about the next year.
He was probably just bummed that he couldn't have the usual fun annual shareholders meeting this year, and given his age, their aren't many left for him to lead.
And clearly, we both missed Charlie.
Monday, April 20, 2020
All Fo(u)r Twenty
Today is 4/20, making it a perfect time to again comment on the movement to decriminalize and expand the availability of cannabis in America. You know, marijuana, the drug that is safer than alcohol but treated like cocaine.
We're up to ten states now that have legalized marijuana in some non-medical way. Ten now, but what will it take to get to twenty and beyond?
Unfortunately, while the polls continue to show an increasing majority of Americans support marijuana legalization, the federal government and most states still don't allow it. They don't even allow medical marijuana usage, which has an even larger majority of American support.
So, what gives? Let's just use my home (red) state of Iowa as an example. It has a Republican governor and legislature, so even though legalization is popular overall, it isn't so popular inside their conservative constituencies. The Rs basically have a bend-but-don't-break attitude, where they act like they're doing something without actually doing anything.
For example, Iowa does some medical cannabis usage through a few approved dispensaries, but prescriptions can only be filled with minimal amounts of THC. It's so little, in fact, Iowa isn't even considered a medical marijuana state. This in spite of calls by doctors and pharmacists to increase the maximum THC dosage.
This is the worst, dumbest way to do things, because lots of effort produces zero positive results. People / patients aren't getting better, and the state gets no tax revenue. The fact that a neighboring state (Illinois) this year legalized cannabis just makes it even worse / dumber, since motivated Iowans simply drive across the border. The result is, the people get what they want, but another state benefits from the commerce.
In the end, Iowa and other non-cannabis states would be better off financially just not allowing any marijuana usage, rather than limiting it the way they are. Of course, if they legalized it, those states would see a multi-million dollar tax revenue bonanza -- but since the Rs don't want to look so bad politically, they do things one drip at a time, showcasing the insanity of their ways
One small irony in all of this is that Iowa does consider its dispensaries to be essential businesses, so they remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wouldn't it be nice if there was an effective, natural drug that could help everyone through the pandemic, not only physically but mentally? And regulated selling of that same drug could create millions in tax revenue being lost by the state due to the same pandemic?
Maybe by next 4/20.
We're up to ten states now that have legalized marijuana in some non-medical way. Ten now, but what will it take to get to twenty and beyond?
Unfortunately, while the polls continue to show an increasing majority of Americans support marijuana legalization, the federal government and most states still don't allow it. They don't even allow medical marijuana usage, which has an even larger majority of American support.
So, what gives? Let's just use my home (red) state of Iowa as an example. It has a Republican governor and legislature, so even though legalization is popular overall, it isn't so popular inside their conservative constituencies. The Rs basically have a bend-but-don't-break attitude, where they act like they're doing something without actually doing anything.
For example, Iowa does some medical cannabis usage through a few approved dispensaries, but prescriptions can only be filled with minimal amounts of THC. It's so little, in fact, Iowa isn't even considered a medical marijuana state. This in spite of calls by doctors and pharmacists to increase the maximum THC dosage.
This is the worst, dumbest way to do things, because lots of effort produces zero positive results. People / patients aren't getting better, and the state gets no tax revenue. The fact that a neighboring state (Illinois) this year legalized cannabis just makes it even worse / dumber, since motivated Iowans simply drive across the border. The result is, the people get what they want, but another state benefits from the commerce.
In the end, Iowa and other non-cannabis states would be better off financially just not allowing any marijuana usage, rather than limiting it the way they are. Of course, if they legalized it, those states would see a multi-million dollar tax revenue bonanza -- but since the Rs don't want to look so bad politically, they do things one drip at a time, showcasing the insanity of their ways
One small irony in all of this is that Iowa does consider its dispensaries to be essential businesses, so they remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wouldn't it be nice if there was an effective, natural drug that could help everyone through the pandemic, not only physically but mentally? And regulated selling of that same drug could create millions in tax revenue being lost by the state due to the same pandemic?
Maybe by next 4/20.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Compliance Versus Defiance
In the midst of the enormous health crisis that is the coronavirus pandemic, it’s sad there is so much political fire being exchanged. It’s actually necessary due to the disgraceful way the executive branch has denied the pandemic and mismanaged the response, but it’s still sad.
Not to pile on the sadness, but at the 30,000 foot level, there is a least one new political truth that has been brought into sharp focus. That is, that Democrats have become the party of compliance, while Republicans have become the party of defiance.
It hasn’t been like this since, well, ever. Democrats are supposed to be the liberal ones, fighting against the status quo. Does anybody around here remember the battles (both real and figurative) of the 1960s and 1970s, not to mention the progressive, Medicare-for-all movements of the now? And Republicans have always been the party of don’t-change conservatism, supposedly more obedient to the law.
The pandemic changed that. When it came time to follow the advice of the medical experts, to take precautions, to stay home, to avoid people…..it was Democrats who were quick to comply. Meanwhile, led by the misinformation of their chief executive and conservative media, the Republicans were slow to act. They thought they were smarter than the experts, who weren’t going to tell them what to do.
Only three or so weeks into this thing, we know compliance saves lives, while defiance costs lives. While it’s been awful to have watched this happening in real time, there may be one very small consolation – defiance is more likely to thin the herd of the defiant ones, at least for the future.
Not to pile on the sadness, but at the 30,000 foot level, there is a least one new political truth that has been brought into sharp focus. That is, that Democrats have become the party of compliance, while Republicans have become the party of defiance.
It hasn’t been like this since, well, ever. Democrats are supposed to be the liberal ones, fighting against the status quo. Does anybody around here remember the battles (both real and figurative) of the 1960s and 1970s, not to mention the progressive, Medicare-for-all movements of the now? And Republicans have always been the party of don’t-change conservatism, supposedly more obedient to the law.
The pandemic changed that. When it came time to follow the advice of the medical experts, to take precautions, to stay home, to avoid people…..it was Democrats who were quick to comply. Meanwhile, led by the misinformation of their chief executive and conservative media, the Republicans were slow to act. They thought they were smarter than the experts, who weren’t going to tell them what to do.
Only three or so weeks into this thing, we know compliance saves lives, while defiance costs lives. While it’s been awful to have watched this happening in real time, there may be one very small consolation – defiance is more likely to thin the herd of the defiant ones, at least for the future.
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