#messaging #words #phrases #”Average”People #”Different”People “sensibilities
Words matter.
More importantly, phrasing matters.
In political parlance, it’s called messaging.
Bill Torpy, columnist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, discussed this in his September 4, 2025, column.
He points out that some in the political arena are trying to talk to people using words and terms they believe express the right sensibilities for every group, but sound elitist to most people.
Think “politically correct,” “woke,” and “pregnant people.” The latter, Torpy points out, refers not to just women, but also to women trying to become men, but still can give birth.
These are terms that “average” people not only don’t use, but also don’t resonate with them.
An old adage goes: why use a 25-cent word when a 5-cent word says the same thing. But, in the case of these terms, they are not just 25-cent words. There are no 5-cent words to replace them, and they talk about concepts that are not part of “average” people’s lives.
When one uses them, particularly in a political setting in which messaging can be critical, “average” people completely do not get the message.
Those in certain groups, with whom “average” people do not necessarily associate, may appreciate the expressions of sensibility to their situations.
But, even the sincerest expression of sensibility does not necessarily win elections. Though “average” people may empathize with one’s sensibilities, they may not need or want to have them communicated. Those callous about one’s sensibilities may be more likely to say things that resonate better with “average” people.
A good rule of thumb is: even if you are totally empathic with the plight of people who are “different” from the “average,” use only language you would use at the dinner table.
“No Kings” has a ring to it. So does “Make America Great Again.” They are totally opposite viewpoints politically, but people understand what you are saying.
And, ANY message about giving certain “different” people an advantage in any selection or review process will completely turn off “average” people who want the same advantage.
Remember, in messaging, fairness is debatable. Right and wrong may have different definitions, depending on one’s perspective. The universe of understanding is a melting pot, whether we like it or not.
As a warning to those who run for office: don’t give people the impression that you will do one thing, then do the opposite if you win.
Be sincere. Mean what you say. But, it’s just as important to say it in terms that both “average” and “different” people understand.
Boutique terminology may seem fashionable, but those who mostly wear “working-man’s clothes” don’t care about fashion. In fact, they often resent it.
So, whether you run for office or not, speak simply, clearly and remember your typical dinner-table conversations. Failure to do so could have you eating your words.
Peter
Category Archives: Uncategorized
FALLING INTO PLACE; OR, JUST FALLING
#FallIntoPlace #fall #GetOrganized #garages #closets #clutter
“Some things fall into place. Other things just fall.”
That’s the message from a Safelite windshield repair TV ad. In the ad, a man tries to hang a bicycle from the ceiling of his garage – with the car in the garage.
Naturally, he fails, and the bike falls onto the car, cracking or breaking the windshield.
First, if you want to hang a bicycle from the garage ceiling, you don’t do it with the car IN the garage.
Second, if space is that tight, it might be less hazardous to hang the bike on the garage wall, rather than from the ceiling.
Third, how much work do you, or your kids, want to do to get access to the bike? Do you really want a 6-year-old climbing on a ladder to get his or her bike down, so he or she can ride it?
And, since the 6-year-old can’t drive, someone will have to move the car to give the child access to the bike.
The ad focuses on how easily windshields can be repaired or replaced If they crack or break.
But, it also has a message about how to, or how not to, solve space problems.
If space in your garage is tight, and you need to store both a bike and car in it, there are obviously ways to do it so both are accessible.
This also illustrates another issue: some people having so much stuff that they can’t fit both their car(s) and stuff in the garage.
Businesses have cropped up to help people organize closets, garages etc. Some people have so little imagination that they can’t figure out how to organize household space.
At the same time, home staging companies have cropped up because some people have difficulty imagining how an empty house would look with their furniture in it. So, the stager removes ALL personal items the seller has in the house and puts in some usually neutral furniture to help people decide whether a house will work for them.
The lessons from these examples might be: 1) If you have too much stuff for the space you occupy, get rid of some stuff. Figure out what you use or wear most. If you have duplicates of tools, clothes etc., get rid of the duplicate items. If there are things that just hang in your closet or garage that you can never see yourself using or wearing (again), get rid of those things.
The people that can help you organize things are usually masters of de-cluttering.
But, you shouldn’t need their services if you can weed through your stuff effectively.
Certainly, there are some things you may not use or wear often, but you need to keep them for the occasions that you need them.
Instead of paying someone to organize your stuff, have a yard or estate sale. There are those who specialize in running those sales who may be worth paying to get rid of your unneeded things.
Once you have your stuff under control, your life will get more in control.
That’s when things start falling into place, instead of just falling.
Peter
“Some things fall into place. Other things just fall.”
That’s the message from a Safelite windshield repair TV ad. In the ad, a man tries to hang a bicycle from the ceiling of his garage – with the car in the garage.
Naturally, he fails, and the bike falls onto the car, cracking or breaking the windshield.
First, if you want to hang a bicycle from the garage ceiling, you don’t do it with the car IN the garage.
Second, if space is that tight, it might be less hazardous to hang the bike on the garage wall, rather than from the ceiling.
Third, how much work do you, or your kids, want to do to get access to the bike? Do you really want a 6-year-old climbing on a ladder to get his or her bike down, so he or she can ride it?
And, since the 6-year-old can’t drive, someone will have to move the car to give the child access to the bike.
The ad focuses on how easily windshields can be repaired or replaced If they crack or break.
But, it also has a message about how to, or how not to, solve space problems.
If space in your garage is tight, and you need to store both a bike and car in it, there are obviously ways to do it so both are accessible.
This also illustrates another issue: some people having so much stuff that they can’t fit both their car(s) and stuff in the garage.
Businesses have cropped up to help people organize closets, garages etc. Some people have so little imagination that they can’t figure out how to organize household space.
At the same time, home staging companies have cropped up because some people have difficulty imagining how an empty house would look with their furniture in it. So, the stager removes ALL personal items the seller has in the house and puts in some usually neutral furniture to help people decide whether a house will work for them.
The lessons from these examples might be: 1) If you have too much stuff for the space you occupy, get rid of some stuff. Figure out what you use or wear most. If you have duplicates of tools, clothes etc., get rid of the duplicate items. If there are things that just hang in your closet or garage that you can never see yourself using or wearing (again), get rid of those things.
The people that can help you organize things are usually masters of de-cluttering.
But, you shouldn’t need their services if you can weed through your stuff effectively.
Certainly, there are some things you may not use or wear often, but you need to keep them for the occasions that you need them.
Instead of paying someone to organize your stuff, have a yard or estate sale. There are those who specialize in running those sales who may be worth paying to get rid of your unneeded things.
Once you have your stuff under control, your life will get more in control.
That’s when things start falling into place, instead of just falling.
Peter
WHO CAN REVIVE DYING TOWNS?
#DyingTowns #immigrants #RebuildingTowns #CommunityAcceptance #resilience
A town can die.
A factory, or other major employer, goes elsewhere, or out of business entirely.
Few jobs are left. People have to move to make a living.
Who, or what, can revive such towns?
One answer is immigrants.
Those who come from a certain country, or part of the world, could move to such towns and create their own communities. Often, when they do, the town begins a resurgence.
How? Many immigrants are entrepreneurs or have a mindset to create something that can turn into a business.
The immigrants then become the first customers of such businesses, followed by townspeople who happen to be left.
These businesses can grow into major employers. That might encourage more people – not just immigrants – to move there.
How can this work?
First, those townspeople who are left behind have to ACCEPT the new residents.
Once they accept them, they have to treat them well – i.e. give them reasonably priced housing to start.
It usually doesn’t matter to immigrants the condition of the initial housing, since it is probably better than the housing they left in their country of origin.
Because of their spirit and desire for work, they will fix up the housing over time.
That creates a housing cycle: one house is occupied, fixed up and sold to the next incoming buyer. The seller then moves into a bigger and better house etc.
As businesses start and succeed, many of the town’s neglected amenities, parks and downtown buildings get fixed up or rebuilt.
New schools, churches and other institutions of community are built, or rebuilt to suit the new residents. That may prompt old residents to do the same.
Over time, as these events take place, the community becomes a self-contained success.
As old residents accept new ones, the new residents have to accept that the climate in their new town may not be what they came from. But, because of the resilience of these new residents, they will adapt.
To those who believe that immigrants who come here are “the worst of the worst,” they can rebuild places in the U.S. that have succumbed to progress and new technology.
They are used to self-contained communities and, usually, are willing to work with townspeople to rebuild.
The townspeople, if they want their town to succeed again, have to work with the new residents, too.
Is your hometown dying, or, perhaps, already dead? Look for people who are coming here to find a better life. You’d be amazed at how they can rebuild your town over time.
Peter
A town can die.
A factory, or other major employer, goes elsewhere, or out of business entirely.
Few jobs are left. People have to move to make a living.
Who, or what, can revive such towns?
One answer is immigrants.
Those who come from a certain country, or part of the world, could move to such towns and create their own communities. Often, when they do, the town begins a resurgence.
How? Many immigrants are entrepreneurs or have a mindset to create something that can turn into a business.
The immigrants then become the first customers of such businesses, followed by townspeople who happen to be left.
These businesses can grow into major employers. That might encourage more people – not just immigrants – to move there.
How can this work?
First, those townspeople who are left behind have to ACCEPT the new residents.
Once they accept them, they have to treat them well – i.e. give them reasonably priced housing to start.
It usually doesn’t matter to immigrants the condition of the initial housing, since it is probably better than the housing they left in their country of origin.
Because of their spirit and desire for work, they will fix up the housing over time.
That creates a housing cycle: one house is occupied, fixed up and sold to the next incoming buyer. The seller then moves into a bigger and better house etc.
As businesses start and succeed, many of the town’s neglected amenities, parks and downtown buildings get fixed up or rebuilt.
New schools, churches and other institutions of community are built, or rebuilt to suit the new residents. That may prompt old residents to do the same.
Over time, as these events take place, the community becomes a self-contained success.
As old residents accept new ones, the new residents have to accept that the climate in their new town may not be what they came from. But, because of the resilience of these new residents, they will adapt.
To those who believe that immigrants who come here are “the worst of the worst,” they can rebuild places in the U.S. that have succumbed to progress and new technology.
They are used to self-contained communities and, usually, are willing to work with townspeople to rebuild.
The townspeople, if they want their town to succeed again, have to work with the new residents, too.
Is your hometown dying, or, perhaps, already dead? Look for people who are coming here to find a better life. You’d be amazed at how they can rebuild your town over time.
Peter
WHEN THINGS WORK, DO YOU NOTICE?
#notice #credit #blame #SmoothOperations #EfficientOperations
We expect things to work.
When they do, usually we don’t notice. We only notice when they DON’T work.
We discussed this previously concerning wifi service. We don’t care if it’s “booming,” as the Xfinity ad says. We just want it to work all the time. Far too often, it doesn’t. Then, we notice.
Government is like that, too. When government hums along, we don’t notice it. We don’t hear about it. Usually, that means it’s working.
When it doesn’t work, we notice and, usually, hear about it.
Here’s another way to apply this logic. When you dress properly for a job interview, usually the interviewer won’t notice. That means the applicant can get the interviewer to notice other things, like his or her personality, work ethic and qualifications.
But, if the applicant is not appropriately dressed, that’s all the interviewer will notice.
It’s been said that the goal of some jobs is to make oneself obsolete, so that the charges can function smoothly and well without the boss being present.
Unfortunately, some bosses, looking to advance their own careers, MUST be omnipresent, so that they can claim all the credit for jobs well done.
Companies, and politicians, thrive on notice. When things work, they want to shout it from the rooftops. They want to make sure, in the case of companies, that those not yet buying their product or service are told how well those products or services work.
Politicians want to get re-elected, so they want to broadcast how well things are going on their watch.
When things don’t go well, the politicians, in most cases, try to past blame to predecessors or opponents.
To paraphrase President Ronald Reagan, we could do more good things if we didn’t have to worry about who gets the credit. Would fewer bad things happen if we didn’t worry as much about who gets the blame?
We don’t have to force ourselves to think about things more because they are working.
In such cases, blissful contentment is a perfectly fine response.
But, when things go wrong, we may tend to harken back to when they were working. But, don’t spend much time on such nostalgia. Work to fix the problem so your blissful contentment can return.
Every employer should want their employees to operate smoothly and profitably whether they are present or not.
But, if there is any public credit to be bestowed, give most, if not all of it, to the employees. You can take your own credit in silence at home.
Aspire not only for a good, productive workplace, but one that operates so well your customers hardly notice, if at all.
Perhaps you can even strive for a workplace that works so well, your employees don’t notice.
Peter
We expect things to work.
When they do, usually we don’t notice. We only notice when they DON’T work.
We discussed this previously concerning wifi service. We don’t care if it’s “booming,” as the Xfinity ad says. We just want it to work all the time. Far too often, it doesn’t. Then, we notice.
Government is like that, too. When government hums along, we don’t notice it. We don’t hear about it. Usually, that means it’s working.
When it doesn’t work, we notice and, usually, hear about it.
Here’s another way to apply this logic. When you dress properly for a job interview, usually the interviewer won’t notice. That means the applicant can get the interviewer to notice other things, like his or her personality, work ethic and qualifications.
But, if the applicant is not appropriately dressed, that’s all the interviewer will notice.
It’s been said that the goal of some jobs is to make oneself obsolete, so that the charges can function smoothly and well without the boss being present.
Unfortunately, some bosses, looking to advance their own careers, MUST be omnipresent, so that they can claim all the credit for jobs well done.
Companies, and politicians, thrive on notice. When things work, they want to shout it from the rooftops. They want to make sure, in the case of companies, that those not yet buying their product or service are told how well those products or services work.
Politicians want to get re-elected, so they want to broadcast how well things are going on their watch.
When things don’t go well, the politicians, in most cases, try to past blame to predecessors or opponents.
To paraphrase President Ronald Reagan, we could do more good things if we didn’t have to worry about who gets the credit. Would fewer bad things happen if we didn’t worry as much about who gets the blame?
We don’t have to force ourselves to think about things more because they are working.
In such cases, blissful contentment is a perfectly fine response.
But, when things go wrong, we may tend to harken back to when they were working. But, don’t spend much time on such nostalgia. Work to fix the problem so your blissful contentment can return.
Every employer should want their employees to operate smoothly and profitably whether they are present or not.
But, if there is any public credit to be bestowed, give most, if not all of it, to the employees. You can take your own credit in silence at home.
Aspire not only for a good, productive workplace, but one that operates so well your customers hardly notice, if at all.
Perhaps you can even strive for a workplace that works so well, your employees don’t notice.
Peter
LEADERS ARE NOT BULLIES
#bullies #leaders #YoungMen #followers
We usually don’t teach boys or girls to be bullies.
Some of them turn out that way, but how they became such can be very complicated – or simple, depending on the person.
Bullies like to think they are strong. They like to pick on people they perceive as weaker than they.
Bullies are not usually as smart as the people they are bullying. Perhaps they are jealous of that.
Bullies think of themselves as leaders. But, they don’t realize that real leaders don’t bully others.
So, if we don’t teach kids to be bullies, how do they become bullies?
In some cases, there is deep-seeded psychological resentment of something or someone.
In other cases, they have been rejected by institutions or people that once meant a great deal to them.
Different folks become bullies to make them feel superior to others.
In today’s world, young men have felt rejected because they perceive they were discriminated against because they were men. Or, they have lost good jobs or opportunities and can find nothing to adequately replace what they have lost.
A bully may give these young men false promises of restoring what was good in their world.
A bully may lead these young men to think that under the right circumstances, they can take back what was rightfully theirs.
The big question becomes: what if the bully disappoints?
Will those who followed him (or her) fight back against the bully?
Will they keep the faith that the bully WILL keep his or her promises eventually?
Bullies only like to win, no matter what. Leaders like to achieve things to benefit others.
Leaders believe that the more they do for others, the more they will get back.
A bully will only use others to get what he or she wants.
It’s important, when looking for leadership, not to get co-opted by a bully.
It’s important to recognize the difference between a leader and a bully.
It’s most important to recognize the difference, lest you become the undesired alternative.
Once you learn the difference, it may be easier for you to fight back. Bullies hate people who will fight back.
Leaders admire those who fight for what they truly believe in, so they can help people get what they really want.
In short, recognize a bully, or a leader, when you encounter one. Learn to resist the former and emulate the latter.
Don’t confuse a bully perch with a bully pulpit.
Peter
.
We usually don’t teach boys or girls to be bullies.
Some of them turn out that way, but how they became such can be very complicated – or simple, depending on the person.
Bullies like to think they are strong. They like to pick on people they perceive as weaker than they.
Bullies are not usually as smart as the people they are bullying. Perhaps they are jealous of that.
Bullies think of themselves as leaders. But, they don’t realize that real leaders don’t bully others.
So, if we don’t teach kids to be bullies, how do they become bullies?
In some cases, there is deep-seeded psychological resentment of something or someone.
In other cases, they have been rejected by institutions or people that once meant a great deal to them.
Different folks become bullies to make them feel superior to others.
In today’s world, young men have felt rejected because they perceive they were discriminated against because they were men. Or, they have lost good jobs or opportunities and can find nothing to adequately replace what they have lost.
A bully may give these young men false promises of restoring what was good in their world.
A bully may lead these young men to think that under the right circumstances, they can take back what was rightfully theirs.
The big question becomes: what if the bully disappoints?
Will those who followed him (or her) fight back against the bully?
Will they keep the faith that the bully WILL keep his or her promises eventually?
Bullies only like to win, no matter what. Leaders like to achieve things to benefit others.
Leaders believe that the more they do for others, the more they will get back.
A bully will only use others to get what he or she wants.
It’s important, when looking for leadership, not to get co-opted by a bully.
It’s important to recognize the difference between a leader and a bully.
It’s most important to recognize the difference, lest you become the undesired alternative.
Once you learn the difference, it may be easier for you to fight back. Bullies hate people who will fight back.
Leaders admire those who fight for what they truly believe in, so they can help people get what they really want.
In short, recognize a bully, or a leader, when you encounter one. Learn to resist the former and emulate the latter.
Don’t confuse a bully perch with a bully pulpit.
Peter
.
BEING YOUNG IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE
#YoungMen #YoungPeople #women #minorities #AdaptingToChange #DifferencesInIncome
It’s tough to be young today.
It’s even tougher, it seems, to be a young man.
As a man, you were always taught to be a provider for your family. At the same time, there was a building movement to advance women and minorities in the work force.
Over time, young women became more educated than young men, in aggregate numbers.
As a young man with less education, your options became more limited. The strong-back, laborious jobs that once paid pretty well, were not paying well at all. On top of that, many of those jobs were being eliminated altogether because of technology.
Did it bother you, as a young man, that a woman that you might like to be with was better educated, and perhaps making more money than you? How can you “provide” for her?
Worse yet, would that well-educated woman you like even give you the time of day, because you are not as educated, and not making as much as she is?
First, the advancement of women and minorities in the work force has been a GOOD thing.
Before that, women, who were not necessarily guaranteed to find a “provider,” could not necessarily live on their own without help.
They were pigeon-holed into certain job categories with little opportunity for advancement. They were secretaries, teachers, nurses etc. Those are noble professions, to be sure, but moving up in those careers can be difficult.
If you were a woman who was able to find someone to provide for you, you may have gotten married and had children, which presented a whole new set of work-force challenges for you.
Now, the pendulum has swung a bit in the other direction, and young men, particularly those who did not go to college, are left with limited career options.
Even some with a good education may not be able to find a job that would make that education pay off. To complicate that, if you borrowed money to go to college, you may have debt that will keep you from advancing in life.
Moving back with mom and dad should only be a temporary solution. But, for more and more young men in particular, there is no other way to make it at the moment.
Apartments in New York City are going for $6,000 a month, yet are still being gobbled up. Young people have to find roommates to make it work, and, even then, they are still paying more than the 30 percent of their income that should go to housing.
Note here that certain places are more expensive to live in than others because they are more desirable. A young person on his or her own would rather be nearer a big city than a rural town, if only for the social life options.
Yes, it’s difficult to be young today, but resorting to vices – drugs, alcohol etc. – to ease your troubles is not the answer.
You may have to look harder for opportunities, but they are there. You may have to relocate to find them, but they are out there. So many employers are looking for good, hard workers. Many of them are willing to pay for the right people.
There are more opportunities to come as technology improves. (Warning: if you are in a job that will be eliminated by technology eventually, prepare for that now.)
You can’t stop the world from changing. You can’t go back to the way things were decades ago. You just have to find ways to adapt to the here and now. If you do, life, eventually, will treat you well.
Peter
It’s tough to be young today.
It’s even tougher, it seems, to be a young man.
As a man, you were always taught to be a provider for your family. At the same time, there was a building movement to advance women and minorities in the work force.
Over time, young women became more educated than young men, in aggregate numbers.
As a young man with less education, your options became more limited. The strong-back, laborious jobs that once paid pretty well, were not paying well at all. On top of that, many of those jobs were being eliminated altogether because of technology.
Did it bother you, as a young man, that a woman that you might like to be with was better educated, and perhaps making more money than you? How can you “provide” for her?
Worse yet, would that well-educated woman you like even give you the time of day, because you are not as educated, and not making as much as she is?
First, the advancement of women and minorities in the work force has been a GOOD thing.
Before that, women, who were not necessarily guaranteed to find a “provider,” could not necessarily live on their own without help.
They were pigeon-holed into certain job categories with little opportunity for advancement. They were secretaries, teachers, nurses etc. Those are noble professions, to be sure, but moving up in those careers can be difficult.
If you were a woman who was able to find someone to provide for you, you may have gotten married and had children, which presented a whole new set of work-force challenges for you.
Now, the pendulum has swung a bit in the other direction, and young men, particularly those who did not go to college, are left with limited career options.
Even some with a good education may not be able to find a job that would make that education pay off. To complicate that, if you borrowed money to go to college, you may have debt that will keep you from advancing in life.
Moving back with mom and dad should only be a temporary solution. But, for more and more young men in particular, there is no other way to make it at the moment.
Apartments in New York City are going for $6,000 a month, yet are still being gobbled up. Young people have to find roommates to make it work, and, even then, they are still paying more than the 30 percent of their income that should go to housing.
Note here that certain places are more expensive to live in than others because they are more desirable. A young person on his or her own would rather be nearer a big city than a rural town, if only for the social life options.
Yes, it’s difficult to be young today, but resorting to vices – drugs, alcohol etc. – to ease your troubles is not the answer.
You may have to look harder for opportunities, but they are there. You may have to relocate to find them, but they are out there. So many employers are looking for good, hard workers. Many of them are willing to pay for the right people.
There are more opportunities to come as technology improves. (Warning: if you are in a job that will be eliminated by technology eventually, prepare for that now.)
You can’t stop the world from changing. You can’t go back to the way things were decades ago. You just have to find ways to adapt to the here and now. If you do, life, eventually, will treat you well.
Peter
IF YOU RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, WHOM DO YOU SERVE?
#officeholders #RunForOffice #RunForSomething #voters #ElectedOfficials
Many people run for public office because they want to serve the people who elect them.
They have many ideas how to improve their communities, cities, towns, states, school systems etc.
Sometimes, when they actually get into office, other influences come to the fore.
A leader who expects loyalty may emerge. As an officeholder, you may find that not working with this leader, and his or her priorities, can create a miserable life for you.
Secondly, you may not get all the funding, personnel and other assets you may need to fulfill your goals.
You have no control over how much you get, and how many people you can have.
You begin to feel that everything you want to do is in jeopardy, and your good ideas are nothing more than that – good ideas. You become discouraged.
But, you may also be motivated because a certain number of people voted for you, over others.
You can’t make excuses to them as to why you are not doing as you say.
You have to try to accomplish some of what you can, with what you are given.
You should report only to voters, not to anyone else.
If the leader asks you, or forces you, to do things your voters do not want, you should not fear him or her.
You should remember that if voters can see that you are working only for them, you should get re-elected if you choose to run again.
If the voters can’t see that you are working only for them, and the leader doesn’t like what you are doing, he or she may put up someone to run against you.
That’s when you have to realize that public office is a temporary job. You can keep it. Or, you can lose it through no fault of your own.
If you expect the job to be permanent, and leave only on your terms, you are in the wrong line of work.
You have to learn that losing an election is NOT the end of the world. Voters are fickle. The same voters who voted to elect you may decide not to vote at all. Or, they may be so influenced by the show your opponent puts on that they are persuaded to vote for that person.
As long as you believe you did everything you could, with what you had, for those who voted for you, you will sleep at night.
As a public official, you have to listen to your voters. Their opinions and stories should be instructions to you on actions you should take.
(Attention voters: Your public officials need to hear from you at all times.)
Public office is no walk in the park. It’s hard work. It requires integrity, honesty, humility and selflessness.
Those who serve in office without those attributes should not be there.
You have to listen to your voters, because you are working on THEIR behalf.
So, run for office if it suits you. Don’t run if it does not. If you serve your voters well, you are most likely to be rewarded.
Peter
Many people run for public office because they want to serve the people who elect them.
They have many ideas how to improve their communities, cities, towns, states, school systems etc.
Sometimes, when they actually get into office, other influences come to the fore.
A leader who expects loyalty may emerge. As an officeholder, you may find that not working with this leader, and his or her priorities, can create a miserable life for you.
Secondly, you may not get all the funding, personnel and other assets you may need to fulfill your goals.
You have no control over how much you get, and how many people you can have.
You begin to feel that everything you want to do is in jeopardy, and your good ideas are nothing more than that – good ideas. You become discouraged.
But, you may also be motivated because a certain number of people voted for you, over others.
You can’t make excuses to them as to why you are not doing as you say.
You have to try to accomplish some of what you can, with what you are given.
You should report only to voters, not to anyone else.
If the leader asks you, or forces you, to do things your voters do not want, you should not fear him or her.
You should remember that if voters can see that you are working only for them, you should get re-elected if you choose to run again.
If the voters can’t see that you are working only for them, and the leader doesn’t like what you are doing, he or she may put up someone to run against you.
That’s when you have to realize that public office is a temporary job. You can keep it. Or, you can lose it through no fault of your own.
If you expect the job to be permanent, and leave only on your terms, you are in the wrong line of work.
You have to learn that losing an election is NOT the end of the world. Voters are fickle. The same voters who voted to elect you may decide not to vote at all. Or, they may be so influenced by the show your opponent puts on that they are persuaded to vote for that person.
As long as you believe you did everything you could, with what you had, for those who voted for you, you will sleep at night.
As a public official, you have to listen to your voters. Their opinions and stories should be instructions to you on actions you should take.
(Attention voters: Your public officials need to hear from you at all times.)
Public office is no walk in the park. It’s hard work. It requires integrity, honesty, humility and selflessness.
Those who serve in office without those attributes should not be there.
You have to listen to your voters, because you are working on THEIR behalf.
So, run for office if it suits you. Don’t run if it does not. If you serve your voters well, you are most likely to be rewarded.
Peter
IS YOUR INTERNET ‘BOOMING’? XFINITY WANTS YOU TO THINK SO
#Xfinity #WiFi #booming #InternetService #ReliableInternetService
The Xfinity ad says, “The WiFi is booming!”
One might get the impression that it is so fast, and so reliable, that you actually notice that it is “booming!”
In fact, the ad makes you think that people are moving to Xfinity territories because the wifi is booming.
Actually, depending on where you live, there can be relatively frequent spotty outages.
Though the Xfinity app lets you know they are aware of the outage(s), they can vary by length and frequency.
When the wifi goes out for whatever reason, one cannot think of it as “booming!”
The economy can be booming. Business, if you own one, can be booming. It’s really a stretch to think of wifi as booming.
These days, it’s tough to live without wifi. Certainly, one can buy data plans that don’t require Internet connections, but most of us use the internet for just about everything – phone, TV, computers and other devices.
Some older folks use it sparingly. Most younger folks use it constantly. In fact, for younger folks, they are on it all the time, or close to.
Even if you are on the internet frequently, it’s tough to think of it booming. In fact, you probably don’t think about it at all, unless it goes out. In fact, a good utilitarian service should not be noticed if it is working.
When was the last time you received a handwritten letter in the mail? Or, when was the last time you received a holiday card in the mail?
Most such communications are done by text or e-mail, or through social media.
It’s certainly less time-consuming to send a text or e-mail, vs. a letter or card.
It’s even getting so commonplace, we no longer see such communication as impersonal.
Not only is it less time-consuming to send electronic messages, you can send the same messages to an unlimited number of people with one click.
Not only is it no longer impersonal, it’s extremely convenient. So much so that it’s getting tough to live without it.
That’s what makes lengthy outages so frustrating.
So, the next time you use the internet for whatever purpose, remember that Xfinity wants you to think of it as “booming!”
Most of us would rather think of it as fast and reliable, which is not always the case.
Communication, business and entertainment have been revolutionized by the internet. Some of us have to constantly watch our screen time, because we can get too much of a good thing.
As long as the internet works, life is normal. When it doesn’t, it could be a real pain.
So, ask yourself: Does my internet provider make my life “booming?”
Maybe. But, just as likely, maybe not.
Peter
The Xfinity ad says, “The WiFi is booming!”
One might get the impression that it is so fast, and so reliable, that you actually notice that it is “booming!”
In fact, the ad makes you think that people are moving to Xfinity territories because the wifi is booming.
Actually, depending on where you live, there can be relatively frequent spotty outages.
Though the Xfinity app lets you know they are aware of the outage(s), they can vary by length and frequency.
When the wifi goes out for whatever reason, one cannot think of it as “booming!”
The economy can be booming. Business, if you own one, can be booming. It’s really a stretch to think of wifi as booming.
These days, it’s tough to live without wifi. Certainly, one can buy data plans that don’t require Internet connections, but most of us use the internet for just about everything – phone, TV, computers and other devices.
Some older folks use it sparingly. Most younger folks use it constantly. In fact, for younger folks, they are on it all the time, or close to.
Even if you are on the internet frequently, it’s tough to think of it booming. In fact, you probably don’t think about it at all, unless it goes out. In fact, a good utilitarian service should not be noticed if it is working.
When was the last time you received a handwritten letter in the mail? Or, when was the last time you received a holiday card in the mail?
Most such communications are done by text or e-mail, or through social media.
It’s certainly less time-consuming to send a text or e-mail, vs. a letter or card.
It’s even getting so commonplace, we no longer see such communication as impersonal.
Not only is it less time-consuming to send electronic messages, you can send the same messages to an unlimited number of people with one click.
Not only is it no longer impersonal, it’s extremely convenient. So much so that it’s getting tough to live without it.
That’s what makes lengthy outages so frustrating.
So, the next time you use the internet for whatever purpose, remember that Xfinity wants you to think of it as “booming!”
Most of us would rather think of it as fast and reliable, which is not always the case.
Communication, business and entertainment have been revolutionized by the internet. Some of us have to constantly watch our screen time, because we can get too much of a good thing.
As long as the internet works, life is normal. When it doesn’t, it could be a real pain.
So, ask yourself: Does my internet provider make my life “booming?”
Maybe. But, just as likely, maybe not.
Peter
BECOME AN EFFECTIVE PERSON BY LEARNING COMMON SENSE
#parents #parenting #children #ChildRearing #independence #CommonSense
A mother complained to behavioral consultant Scott Ervin that her academically talented teen daughter seems to have no common sense.
She couldn’t understand how a kid couldn’t apply her book smarts to real-world activities.
Ervin basically told the mother that the teen needed to experience the real world without her parents.
Ervin discussed the interaction in a column published May 24, 2025, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
What Ervin is saying is that common sense is not learned in a book. It is learned by trial and error.
He’s also saying that common sense cannot be taught by parents, teachers or anyone else. The student has to acquire it independently.
This interaction calls to mind the concept of “helicopter” parents, who hover over their children’s lives well into adulthood. In the guise of being “helpful,” these parents end up taking an outsized role in all of their child’s decisions.
Also, the interaction brings to the fore the idea that parents have to let go of their children by a certain age.
Many children grow up in overly restrictive households, with way too many rules imposed upon them.
They have no way to get out to learn common sense. Their “sense” is dictated to them.
Children need space to make mistakes. Mistakes are the learning tools for common sense.
No parent wants a child to make a fatal mistake, or a mistake they will pay for the rest of their lives. Still, they need some freedom to learn on their own.
Parents may not want their children interacting with certain other children, or certain other adults.
But, those interactions often turn into positive learning experiences. They could broaden the child’s mind, perhaps beyond the point mom and dad want it broadened.
Parents want children to be obedient, not defiant. However, some defiance can be healthy for a child. It can teach them that some of what they are being taught may not be in their own best interest, even if it is in mom and dad’s best interest.
As author and leadership expert Andy Andrews has said, good parenting is not raising good kids. It is developing good adults. Being a good adult may mean, in some cases, not being like your parents, as the Dr. Rick commercials muse.
The process of growing and maturing must be a healthy combination of good parenting, a healthy bit of independence and exposure to good and bad experiences.
Some things that parents view as mistakes can benefit the child over time. Some of what parents view as “accomplishments” can be meaningless, or even detrimental, to the child over time.
As Ervin advises, give the child his or her own space and time to learn common sense on their own. They will become better adults for it.
Peter
A mother complained to behavioral consultant Scott Ervin that her academically talented teen daughter seems to have no common sense.
She couldn’t understand how a kid couldn’t apply her book smarts to real-world activities.
Ervin basically told the mother that the teen needed to experience the real world without her parents.
Ervin discussed the interaction in a column published May 24, 2025, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
What Ervin is saying is that common sense is not learned in a book. It is learned by trial and error.
He’s also saying that common sense cannot be taught by parents, teachers or anyone else. The student has to acquire it independently.
This interaction calls to mind the concept of “helicopter” parents, who hover over their children’s lives well into adulthood. In the guise of being “helpful,” these parents end up taking an outsized role in all of their child’s decisions.
Also, the interaction brings to the fore the idea that parents have to let go of their children by a certain age.
Many children grow up in overly restrictive households, with way too many rules imposed upon them.
They have no way to get out to learn common sense. Their “sense” is dictated to them.
Children need space to make mistakes. Mistakes are the learning tools for common sense.
No parent wants a child to make a fatal mistake, or a mistake they will pay for the rest of their lives. Still, they need some freedom to learn on their own.
Parents may not want their children interacting with certain other children, or certain other adults.
But, those interactions often turn into positive learning experiences. They could broaden the child’s mind, perhaps beyond the point mom and dad want it broadened.
Parents want children to be obedient, not defiant. However, some defiance can be healthy for a child. It can teach them that some of what they are being taught may not be in their own best interest, even if it is in mom and dad’s best interest.
As author and leadership expert Andy Andrews has said, good parenting is not raising good kids. It is developing good adults. Being a good adult may mean, in some cases, not being like your parents, as the Dr. Rick commercials muse.
The process of growing and maturing must be a healthy combination of good parenting, a healthy bit of independence and exposure to good and bad experiences.
Some things that parents view as mistakes can benefit the child over time. Some of what parents view as “accomplishments” can be meaningless, or even detrimental, to the child over time.
As Ervin advises, give the child his or her own space and time to learn common sense on their own. They will become better adults for it.
Peter
‘NO KINGS’ PROTEST SHOW POWER BENEATH THE SURFACE
#NoKings #protests #PeacefulProtests #MinnesotaShootings
Millions of people stood on the streets and public plazas this weekend with a simple message: “No Kings.”
They say the numbers signify a movement, but they also showed that we all still have agency, and our opinions mean something.
That same Saturday, two state legislators and their spouses were shot in Minnesota. One legislator and her husband died, the other couple survived.
The “No Kings” protests are an example of how Americans SHOULD behave. The shootings show the opposite.
The country was founded on the principles of democracy, separation of powers and rule of law. Standing up for that is what citizens should do. Taking lethal revenge on those who don’t think as you do is un-American.
There is much work we must do as citizens to reclaim our country. We must elect representatives who stand for democracy, separation of powers and rule of law. That means everyone who is eligible must vote when elections roll around.
When no election is imminent, we must let those in power know how we, as citizens, feel, whether those in power want to hear it or not.
That may mean, in some places, standing in protest as an eligible voter if someone says you are not.
It also means the return of respected institutions to their full and upright capacities. That means bringing back facts and knowledge when some would discard them.
That means bringing back bona fide research that some wish to replace with conspiracy theories.
It means not letting a would-be king overwhelm our power as citizens.
Democracy, separation of powers and rule of law may not be for every nation. But this nation was built on them, and we shouldn’t let anyone take them away from us.
Democracy, separation of powers and rule of law were given to us by our forebears. It’s our job now to protect them.
As we protect these virtues of our self-governance, we do so peacefully, unlike the Minnesota shooter. Guns may show hard power, but peaceful protests show soft power.
We must leave the areas at which protests are staged just as we found them. We must ensure that no one gets hurt by our message delivery.
Even if those who resist us may try to hurt us, we must not hurt them. We must only deliver our message loudly and clearly.
So, if you don’t like what is happening in our country, you can work to change it. You can do so peacefully. You can do so in many ways that make clear how you stand.
It took much work and time to build this country as we want to see it. It can take remarkably little time to tear it down. We, as citizens, must stand in the way of that.
Peter
Millions of people stood on the streets and public plazas this weekend with a simple message: “No Kings.”
They say the numbers signify a movement, but they also showed that we all still have agency, and our opinions mean something.
That same Saturday, two state legislators and their spouses were shot in Minnesota. One legislator and her husband died, the other couple survived.
The “No Kings” protests are an example of how Americans SHOULD behave. The shootings show the opposite.
The country was founded on the principles of democracy, separation of powers and rule of law. Standing up for that is what citizens should do. Taking lethal revenge on those who don’t think as you do is un-American.
There is much work we must do as citizens to reclaim our country. We must elect representatives who stand for democracy, separation of powers and rule of law. That means everyone who is eligible must vote when elections roll around.
When no election is imminent, we must let those in power know how we, as citizens, feel, whether those in power want to hear it or not.
That may mean, in some places, standing in protest as an eligible voter if someone says you are not.
It also means the return of respected institutions to their full and upright capacities. That means bringing back facts and knowledge when some would discard them.
That means bringing back bona fide research that some wish to replace with conspiracy theories.
It means not letting a would-be king overwhelm our power as citizens.
Democracy, separation of powers and rule of law may not be for every nation. But this nation was built on them, and we shouldn’t let anyone take them away from us.
Democracy, separation of powers and rule of law were given to us by our forebears. It’s our job now to protect them.
As we protect these virtues of our self-governance, we do so peacefully, unlike the Minnesota shooter. Guns may show hard power, but peaceful protests show soft power.
We must leave the areas at which protests are staged just as we found them. We must ensure that no one gets hurt by our message delivery.
Even if those who resist us may try to hurt us, we must not hurt them. We must only deliver our message loudly and clearly.
So, if you don’t like what is happening in our country, you can work to change it. You can do so peacefully. You can do so in many ways that make clear how you stand.
It took much work and time to build this country as we want to see it. It can take remarkably little time to tear it down. We, as citizens, must stand in the way of that.
Peter