ETHICS and GROUPTHINK

ETHICAL ISSUES: COMMUNITY vs. GROUPS

It’s inevitable that we be involved with others and will both affect and be affected by them. Each of us operates subjectively using our own five senses plus our intuition, instincts, insights and unique thoughts and reactions. This makes each of us unique with respect to our personal interaction with the rest of the world, each of whom is as unique as we are.

While you are entitled to your interpretation of what’s happening, others are entitled to theirs, and chances are excellent that they won’t be the same as yours. Given equal input, each individual may react differently and come to a different conclusion. In other words, there will be virtually infinite combinations of actions along the line.

In the context of mankind, that’s no problem. Humanity as an ethical whole will handle whatever its members throw its way.

ETHICS and the PROGRESSIVE ETHIC

ETHICS and FIRST PRINCIPLES vs. the Progressive Ethic

The Declaration of Independence and Constitution are the basis of the law of our land. They have served us well since the beginning and will continue to do so because they are based in First Principles. Ethics is a first principle.

There’s nothing mysterious about it…

All right then—what are First Principles? First Principles are what IS—everything else is based upon them; nothing exists without them. They cannot be deduced, nor can anything be deduced without them. In Latin: ab initio. They are what in mathematics are called axioms or postulates. You may use givens.

TRUTH is s a first principle. So are the EM (electromagnetic) Spectrum and Gravity. TIME may also be included, as well as PERFECTION. For us, EARTH is a first principle, as are

ETHICS: A TALE OF TWO ETHICS

ETHICS ISSUES: LIBERALISM, PROGRESSIVISM and The Rest

The study of ethics goes back at least to the birth of philosophy some 2500 years ago, with Socrates positing that ethical truth was not only rational but demonstrably absolute. Plato expanded on this thought, and since then countless philosophers have put in their two cents worth with no visible damage to Socrates’s original conjecture. Aristotle’s subsequent metaphysics defined ethics as “virtue as a means to happiness,” opening the door to scholastic conflict and beginning a long history of questioning just what is meant by happiness (and virtue, for that matter). Truth, however, remains sacrosanct despite all assaults (and opinions).

There’s nothing mysterious about it…

The rapid proliferation of newspapers, journals and literary salons in the 18^th Century caused an explosion in mass communication that encouraged public venues where ideas, political and otherwise, could be discussed, developed and

ETHICAL ISSUES: UNIONS

ETHICS, UNIONS, and UNIONIZATION

I’ve long suspected that the rampant liberalism of the 1960s would have toxic effects on our society in the future. The future is now. That being said, I propose the following:

[My own well-documented research in this area in preparation of my MBA thesis (Unionization And The Professional; Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1970) was done at the very time the movement was active, so I have more than a passing knowledge of the subject. An interview with Fred Siegel by Matthew Kaminski (Wall Street Journal, November 26-27, 2011) brings it into sharper focus.]

Unfortunately…

Believe it or else: our current financial crisis is in large part a result of public sector unions. The decline of the blue-collar worker in the ’50s resulted in decline in union membership, heralding a decline in union stature and commensurate decline in union power. In order to survive, unions had to look elsewhere for membership. Failing in their attempts to unionize private sector (the economy) professionals and white-collar workers, they turned their efforts to the public sector.

DONALD J. TRUMP – Our 45th President

THE TRUMP REVOLUTION

“The times they are a-changin’.” For the first time since Andrew Jackson, our President is a populist, not a politician. Donald Trump will prove to be a better President than Jackson, if only for the fact that he speaks and listens—daily—directly with the electorate. All of them. Think about it: Ever since the earliest days of his candidacy, Trump has been the headline of virtually every political and other news article. Every day, In every media. Even the mass media who apparently hate him.

Donald Trump is in your face no matter the channel practically 24/7. If you don’t know who he is and what he stands for, you haven’t been paying attention. He clearly is not a politician—ask any politician. If he lies, it’s usually hyperbole and it soon becomes clear what he means, and he

THE PARETO PRINCIPLE and ETHICS in POLITICS

ETHICAL ISSUES: POLITICS and the PARETO PRINCIPLE

The field of ethics has changed remarkably over the years. In the 2000 years from Plato to The Enlightenment (was it really?), ethics (originally conceived in the political sense) was correctly identified with virtue. It seems that Plato (and Aristotle) had issues with politics even then. Things haven’t changed much in the ensuing years. To diverge, but not really…

The Pareto Principle, commonly known as the 80/20 rule, is an amazing ratio that holds true in most cases of all types (and this is not an exaggeration). For example: 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people; 80% of the money is owned by 20% of the people; 20% of one’s effort generates 80% of the results; 20% of the defects cause 80% of the problems (and 20% of the work causes 80%