Is it time to put an end to the party caucus system as a path toward the nomination of presidential candidates?
In my opinion, yes. It is the case that for those who participate, caucuses are hands-on democracy. But the vast majority of citizens do not participate. For those who do, one has a greater sense of accomplishment than casting a ballot, but the overwhelming majority of people are not part of the process.
One can say -- well, they could participate. Well yes, they could, but it would overwhelm the system of caucuses. Last night (February 3, 2020), Iowa held its caucus using the Iowa walking caucus with all its latest tweaks. With above average but not record turnout, apparently, the system was overwhelmed, the app did not work, and the results are greatly delayed. (The results have not yet come out as I write this.)
I came to a conclusion years ago that Minnesota should give up the caucus system. Finally Minnesota switched to a presidential primary, and the first one will be held on March 3, 2020. How significant it will prove to be is not clear.
I would argue that the party caucus is a vestige from a simpler society. Today everything must be verified, plus there are cyber security concerns that mandate that high level measures of security must be maintained.
A state party does not have the resources to ensure these extra security measures in the present era. I view a state party organization as akin to a small business. It has adequate money to function with a small staff, but not the staff or equipment to run an election (and the caucus process is a primary.election).
Running a primary adds an extra task to state government, but it can assume it. A state-wide caucus forces a small organization supplemented by hundreds and even a couple of thousand volunteers to assume new tasks and responsibilities with very little training.
It is time to rethink the party caucus. A compromise that will not damage Iowa's place would be to allow it to have the first primary in the nation.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Reflections on American Nutrition and Diet Plans
The United States is well known for having one of the lowest percentages of incomes going to food. That is the case, if one eats a diet of inexpensive, heavily processed food. If one eats a diet that avoids processed food, eats natural and organic products and if one has food sensitivities, the US diet is anything but inexpensive.
I have done a lot of research on nutrition. I also have been tested for food sensitivities. While I do not have many food sensitivities, I have some that have far-reaching implications. As a result, I seek alternative products, and my food bills have skyrocketed. My granddaughter, who often has several meals a week, with me has numerous food sensitivities that were making her sick. Therefore I have to keep her sensitivities in mind when I shop. That further escalates the cost.
The bottom line has far reaching implications. American food is cheap if one eats a basic diet heavy on processed and fast food. When we avoid processed and fast food, the American diet is as pricey as if we lived in Scandinavia.
I frequently travel to Europe and have the opportunity to enjoy healthy breakfast buffets in a variety of countries. These are expensive items. Similarly, to buy those items here is also costly.
To be gluten free, for example, is a costly choice. Although I do not have high sensitivity to gluten, I have chosen to avoid gluten laden items because I am supposed to avoid starches, flours, yeast, sugars, etc.
When Americans review their budgets, food often is a last choice, rather than a first choice. Our electronic toys are very expensive. Yet we prioritize them over the needs of our bodies for a healthy diet. As a country we eat greasy fast food or empty calorie-laden foods that are sweet and tasty rather than choices packed with good nutrition. But, at which price, in the long run? The price of health...
I have done a lot of research on nutrition. I also have been tested for food sensitivities. While I do not have many food sensitivities, I have some that have far-reaching implications. As a result, I seek alternative products, and my food bills have skyrocketed. My granddaughter, who often has several meals a week, with me has numerous food sensitivities that were making her sick. Therefore I have to keep her sensitivities in mind when I shop. That further escalates the cost.
The bottom line has far reaching implications. American food is cheap if one eats a basic diet heavy on processed and fast food. When we avoid processed and fast food, the American diet is as pricey as if we lived in Scandinavia.
I frequently travel to Europe and have the opportunity to enjoy healthy breakfast buffets in a variety of countries. These are expensive items. Similarly, to buy those items here is also costly.
To be gluten free, for example, is a costly choice. Although I do not have high sensitivity to gluten, I have chosen to avoid gluten laden items because I am supposed to avoid starches, flours, yeast, sugars, etc.
When Americans review their budgets, food often is a last choice, rather than a first choice. Our electronic toys are very expensive. Yet we prioritize them over the needs of our bodies for a healthy diet. As a country we eat greasy fast food or empty calorie-laden foods that are sweet and tasty rather than choices packed with good nutrition. But, at which price, in the long run? The price of health...
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Avoiding Depression and SAD
We are in the midst of a harsher than normal Minnesota winter. I have not suffered from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) over the years, but have numerous friends and relatives who have (regardless where they lived).
Today's blog is directed primarily to seniors who spend a lot of time indoors in the winter. This winter is especially risky for SAD, because of the snow and cold and because of the Flu epidemic.
Just a few tips to avoid symptoms.
1- Get dressed in the morning even if you are not going out at all. It is depressing to sit in loose fitting pjs or nightgown all day long. Get dressed and get on with your day. You have many things you can do at home. Regular clothes are more cheerful than your old pjs.
2- Avoid wearing drab worn out clothes that you would use to clean out the garage or paint. Looking at yourself in drab clothes (even a glance at the mirror) can make you depressed. Most of us can afford to wear cheerful clothes. This is not the time to wear a grey sweatshirt that you inherited from a family member and which you can not bear. Wear bright or pastel colors. Avoid grey and brown which are drab and depressing. Yesterday I wore I black shirt with little beads and with a yellow tee under it. Very cheerful.
Today I am wearing a white sweater, decorated in blue. Cheerful.
3- Cook a special meal. Bake a special treat. Tackle a cheerful project like organizing your favorite photos. Read a good book. All of these will cheer you up.
4- Pray for spring. Thank the Lord that you have a warm house and warm clothes in the grey winter.
5- Keep the house bright. Open the blinds. Turn on lights. If needed, there are special lights/light bulbs to counter sad, but they should not be necessary if you keep the house bright.
Today is very cold. We had snow overnight. But, the sun is shining and it looks very bright out, even though the streets and driveways are treacherous.
Look for signs of optimism -- the sun, your family, your friends, and dispel the signs of gloominess in your life.
Today's blog is directed primarily to seniors who spend a lot of time indoors in the winter. This winter is especially risky for SAD, because of the snow and cold and because of the Flu epidemic.
Just a few tips to avoid symptoms.
1- Get dressed in the morning even if you are not going out at all. It is depressing to sit in loose fitting pjs or nightgown all day long. Get dressed and get on with your day. You have many things you can do at home. Regular clothes are more cheerful than your old pjs.
2- Avoid wearing drab worn out clothes that you would use to clean out the garage or paint. Looking at yourself in drab clothes (even a glance at the mirror) can make you depressed. Most of us can afford to wear cheerful clothes. This is not the time to wear a grey sweatshirt that you inherited from a family member and which you can not bear. Wear bright or pastel colors. Avoid grey and brown which are drab and depressing. Yesterday I wore I black shirt with little beads and with a yellow tee under it. Very cheerful.
Today I am wearing a white sweater, decorated in blue. Cheerful.
3- Cook a special meal. Bake a special treat. Tackle a cheerful project like organizing your favorite photos. Read a good book. All of these will cheer you up.
4- Pray for spring. Thank the Lord that you have a warm house and warm clothes in the grey winter.
5- Keep the house bright. Open the blinds. Turn on lights. If needed, there are special lights/light bulbs to counter sad, but they should not be necessary if you keep the house bright.
Today is very cold. We had snow overnight. But, the sun is shining and it looks very bright out, even though the streets and driveways are treacherous.
Look for signs of optimism -- the sun, your family, your friends, and dispel the signs of gloominess in your life.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Reflecting on 2017 -- Is America Still a Global Leader?
In 2017, with a new administration, we witnessed an acceleration of a trend that had already begun, namely the retreat of the United States from global leadership.
One can go back in time to trace the origin of the retreat, but arguably it was present during the Obama administration when there was an acknowledgement of the arrogance that had emerged during the years of US "superpowerdom" (my term). The assumption of global leadership did not start out that way after World War II, but, gradually over time, the arrogance of power seeped in. The statement that the US was the one indispensable power (late 1990s) is a manifestation of that arrogance. That view has tended to underlie US foreign policy up to the present, and it has not publicly been negated.
Ironically, the assertion of the current US administration headed by President Donald Trump that the US has been shortchanged in a variety of negotiations and deals is both a reaffirmation of the "indispensable" argument and a retreat from that policy. It is a two edged sword.
The current administration does not accept the fact that to be the #1 power means one has to make a lot of concessions and in some cases seemingly lose power and advantage in the short term. The TransPacific Partnership (TPP) is a case in point. The goal was to limit China's influence in Asia. The US was willing to make some sacrifices short term to achieve its long term goal of maintaining power in Asia and containing the power of China, the largest, most ambitious power in Asia. The withdrawal of the US from TPP has created a power vacuum in Asia which China will cheerfully fill to the long term disadvantage of the United States.
For those of us who are students of foreign policy, this is a painful time, regardless how we view the US in the world. The international order which we have known our whole lives is breaking down. Whether we see the US as a winner or a loser in this process, we have to recognize that the world order which we studied, lectured on, and accepted as reality is breaking down. Uncertainty lies ahead.
This is just a preliminary analysis. I plan to reflect more on this in the future.
One can go back in time to trace the origin of the retreat, but arguably it was present during the Obama administration when there was an acknowledgement of the arrogance that had emerged during the years of US "superpowerdom" (my term). The assumption of global leadership did not start out that way after World War II, but, gradually over time, the arrogance of power seeped in. The statement that the US was the one indispensable power (late 1990s) is a manifestation of that arrogance. That view has tended to underlie US foreign policy up to the present, and it has not publicly been negated.
Ironically, the assertion of the current US administration headed by President Donald Trump that the US has been shortchanged in a variety of negotiations and deals is both a reaffirmation of the "indispensable" argument and a retreat from that policy. It is a two edged sword.
The current administration does not accept the fact that to be the #1 power means one has to make a lot of concessions and in some cases seemingly lose power and advantage in the short term. The TransPacific Partnership (TPP) is a case in point. The goal was to limit China's influence in Asia. The US was willing to make some sacrifices short term to achieve its long term goal of maintaining power in Asia and containing the power of China, the largest, most ambitious power in Asia. The withdrawal of the US from TPP has created a power vacuum in Asia which China will cheerfully fill to the long term disadvantage of the United States.
For those of us who are students of foreign policy, this is a painful time, regardless how we view the US in the world. The international order which we have known our whole lives is breaking down. Whether we see the US as a winner or a loser in this process, we have to recognize that the world order which we studied, lectured on, and accepted as reality is breaking down. Uncertainty lies ahead.
This is just a preliminary analysis. I plan to reflect more on this in the future.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Polling in the Current Era: How reliable are polls?
How accurate are polls? We are finding them less accurate and reliable than ever before. Our specialists are more sophisticated in profiling voters, for example, or trends, but... and it is a big but, most people either do not have landlines or do not answer the phone unless they recognize the caller's name.
So, polls or any other efforts that rely on the phone will be far less effective.
I take myself as an example. I no longer answer the phone unless I recognize the number or caller.
When I am at home, the phone may ring about a dozen times a day. I rarely pick up the phone until I know the caller.
Once in the recent past, when the phone rang, I recognized the number which belonged to the service account on my computer only to discover after some conversation and the caller's access to my computer, that the caller was a spoofer. My computer was compromised, and I can no longer use that computer. It was a very costly phone pick up. I had to reset my passwords, copy out critical files, report the cyber intrusion to the police, my insurance company, etc. I spent about a week correcting what I could, and I cannot download any of the files and put them on my other computer since they may be contaminated. I am handicapped on a number of projects.
So, now I am finding it is not even possible to answer the phone when I recognize the number. I need to hear the voice.
A friend was recently asked to do some calling for a charity. Three people of 100 whom she called picked up the phone. She has had the same experience with other volunteer organizations.
The poor response rate makes it unlikely that polling can be reliable. How can we work out way out of this problem?
So, polls or any other efforts that rely on the phone will be far less effective.
I take myself as an example. I no longer answer the phone unless I recognize the number or caller.
When I am at home, the phone may ring about a dozen times a day. I rarely pick up the phone until I know the caller.
Once in the recent past, when the phone rang, I recognized the number which belonged to the service account on my computer only to discover after some conversation and the caller's access to my computer, that the caller was a spoofer. My computer was compromised, and I can no longer use that computer. It was a very costly phone pick up. I had to reset my passwords, copy out critical files, report the cyber intrusion to the police, my insurance company, etc. I spent about a week correcting what I could, and I cannot download any of the files and put them on my other computer since they may be contaminated. I am handicapped on a number of projects.
So, now I am finding it is not even possible to answer the phone when I recognize the number. I need to hear the voice.
A friend was recently asked to do some calling for a charity. Three people of 100 whom she called picked up the phone. She has had the same experience with other volunteer organizations.
The poor response rate makes it unlikely that polling can be reliable. How can we work out way out of this problem?
Why Leadership Today Is Harder Than It Used To Be
It is hard to be a leader today. In the era of the internet, social media, and open communication, everything a leaders says or does is videotaped, recorded, repeated, researched, and there.
This is true for all of us, but writ large for people in the public eye like governors, senators, the president, etc. In the corporate sector, CEOs are extremely well rewarded but still walk a tightrobe.
See Oscar Munoz and United.
Every word of President Trump's firing of James Comey of the FBI was analyzed and parsed. Had Roosevelt's actions during World War II been thus analyzed, the long term effect would have been far different.
Every comment an official makes is remembered far into the future. Ten, twenty, or thirty years mean nothing in this age.
Many have reluctance to serve in high profile positions. And understandably so. It takes a lot of fortitude to withstand the publicity. On the one hand high profile figures have to aware of the world around them, On the other hand, they have to turn off the noise about themselves.
While show business personalities may say, I don't care what they write about me, so long as they write about me, that may be harder to endure when you are in the public square.
This is true for all of us, but writ large for people in the public eye like governors, senators, the president, etc. In the corporate sector, CEOs are extremely well rewarded but still walk a tightrobe.
See Oscar Munoz and United.
Every word of President Trump's firing of James Comey of the FBI was analyzed and parsed. Had Roosevelt's actions during World War II been thus analyzed, the long term effect would have been far different.
Every comment an official makes is remembered far into the future. Ten, twenty, or thirty years mean nothing in this age.
Many have reluctance to serve in high profile positions. And understandably so. It takes a lot of fortitude to withstand the publicity. On the one hand high profile figures have to aware of the world around them, On the other hand, they have to turn off the noise about themselves.
While show business personalities may say, I don't care what they write about me, so long as they write about me, that may be harder to endure when you are in the public square.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Where to Look for Leadership?
Look inside of yourself, first!!!
Too often we are searching for leadership -- at home, at work, in the community, you name it! We don't see leadership. We see colleagues and friends reluctant to step up and assume leadership. And so we lament.
There is a dearth of leadership!
Wait a minute... did we step up?
Or did we appoint ourselves observers of a leaderless world...
Where were we when an opportunity to step up presented itself? Did we look down at the table? Did we avert our eyes?
Did we say... X will do it, I am too busy...
That was probably the reaction of everyone else as well...
When leadership opportunities present themselves, respond! Opportunities exist all around us. It is time to step up and take control when the opening occurs....
Then there will not be a leadership vacuum all around us.... Start with ourselves...We can be leaders. Just do it...
Too often we are searching for leadership -- at home, at work, in the community, you name it! We don't see leadership. We see colleagues and friends reluctant to step up and assume leadership. And so we lament.
There is a dearth of leadership!
Wait a minute... did we step up?
Or did we appoint ourselves observers of a leaderless world...
Where were we when an opportunity to step up presented itself? Did we look down at the table? Did we avert our eyes?
Did we say... X will do it, I am too busy...
That was probably the reaction of everyone else as well...
When leadership opportunities present themselves, respond! Opportunities exist all around us. It is time to step up and take control when the opening occurs....
Then there will not be a leadership vacuum all around us.... Start with ourselves...We can be leaders. Just do it...
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