Taking care of our Mother Earth

I remember listening to Peter Gabriel’s song "Red Rain" and visualizing, well, red rain. I realized that—

Something must be done…

I remember watching Al Gore’s 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth and sitting, gobsmacked, at the implications. I realized that—

Something must be done…

I remember listening to Greta Thunberg’s UN and TED talks in 2019. I was enamored with her courage and resilience. But as I reflected on her words again recently, I was saddened because her boldness seemed to bounce off the universe. I realized that—

Four Things that will be the Ruin of Humanity

The title might be a tad melodramatic, but I’m not optimistic anymore.

At one point, I thought things would level out or I could simply wait them out. But the following trends seem to be resilient and increasing. Much to my chagrin and the ultimate impact to our humanity and our planet.

Social Software

The advent of Meta, X, TikTok, etc., has allowed anyone to publish anything to the world. It’s created the opportunity for—

  • Disinformation & fake news

  • Social addiction

  • Information overload & cognitive confusion

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to discern fact from fiction. And it enables rumors to run amok.

Finally, if you want a wakeup call, look what it’s doing to our children and their children.

A Highly Distracted Government

Can you say, SQUIRREL?

Or is it an intentionally distracted government? See this post.

Anyway…

IMHO: What the US government is focusing on—

  1. Immigration: Blaming, vilifying, and mistreating “them”

  2. Tax breaks for the wealthy

  3. Reducing government regulation (environment, financial, business)

  4. Cutting /reducing institutions (examples: VA, Dept. of Education, Museums, National parks)

  5. History washing (racial)

  6. Maintaining the great divide/polarization

  7. Bullying colleges and universities, law firms, corporations, and individuals

Primary drivers: greed, separation, kowtowing to base, and supporting the top 1%

AI Self-Regulation

NOT!

I’m truly struggling with the ethical treatment of AI, specifically with the seeming lack of external regulations, controls, and guardrails for it.

In a perfect world, I think governments would attack it with the same fervor that AI is evolving and unfolding. But I see very little of that.

Now I do see governments (read that United States) jumping on the AI bandwagon (and Crypto) to make more…Money!

But here’s the thing, humans are already being harmed—

We the People

I hear their cries

From all around the country

Mothers, fathers, children, being torn asunder; some sent back while others stay

Why?

Because of the rule of law, because of sending a message, because they’re easy prey

It seems cruel, inhumane, and unfair

It’s sensational and it feeds the bases’ fear

It’s not who We the People are

And is it what Jesus would do?

I hear their cries, and it breaks my heart.

 #weshouldbebetterhumansthanthis

Agile Moose

Calls for Democratic Donations

I get three to five emails daily asking me to donate money to various aspects of the Democratic Party and individuals running for office.

Part of this is my fault: I donated money before the last election. So, my email address is widely known.

But here’s the thing…

I will not donate any money to a democratic party or individual interests until—

  • I see a coherent and courageous leader emerge from the democratic party

  • I see a cohesive and consistently communicated agenda.

  • I see a coherent and unified strategy emerging that aligns with our country’s base and my principles.

I guess what I’m saying is—

Where is the LEADERSHIP in the party right now?

#weshouldbebetterhumansthanthis

Agile Moose

Reflections on the “Big Beautiful Bill”

Sometimes, I find something online that is so compelling and aligned with my feelings that it stays with me for a while. Here’s something posted by Bob Gower that perfectly represents how I feel on this 4th of July. 

Like many Americans, I’m deeply disappointed in yesterday’s Senate vote. While this bill is big, it’s not beautiful. It’s cruel, shortsighted, and reckless — and will almost certainly lead to increased suffering, for citizens and non-citizens alike.

I don’t say this lightly or from a place of pure ideology. I’ve long identified as a progressive-leaning liberal, but I also recognize that reasonable people with shared intentions can still come to different conclusions. I also know that fear and a need to belong can lead otherwise good people to support harmful things.

Still, clarity matters. And clarity starts with values.