Human Bias – Removing It?

Well, well.  As a well-traveled black male, I’ve know the US environment, no the global environment, to have prejudice and bias.  Not life threating hatred, but some.   I believe, all humans utilize biases–The human brain works quite efficiently with biases (a topic worthy of a blog post by itself).

My key learning from the article is that sufficient racial integration has not occurred such that a broad base of Americans, see, Americans with racial differences as one of them.  If the article would have reported on the racial prejudice of Black people, I suspect there would be no progress.  My life experience certainly echoes the percentages quoted in the article.

As I reflect on the article, I remember the discussion Barack Obama made after the wide display of the Rev. Wright sermons.  One telling point he made, “America has not integrated its churches.”  Maybe that is the true evidence of integration, religious worship.  The American society has focused integration efforts on schools, employment, housing and with the Affordable Care Act, health care.  Maybe, just maybe, its time to effectively integrate religious worship.  Now, that is a challenge.

AP poll: Majority harbor prejudice against blacks – Yahoo! News.

Unpleasent Behaviors Know No Boundaries

Everyone once in a while, we read a story or observe a behavior that challenges our mental constructs–those notions of cause and effect that support our bias and beliefs.   For me, the Bloomberg story of charities and telemarketing brought me to a stand still.   I just did not want to believe the greed and self-absorbed rationale that I attribute to the corporate world had invaded charitable organizations.  But alas it has. Read more

Why Feelings of Guilt May Signal Leadership Potential | Stanford Graduate School of Business

I loved this article.   I found it an interesting way to say that people with empathy for others, and a sense of responsibility toward promises, make great leaders.   The combination of traits are hard to hone—It is difficult to care enough to get something done for others.   But I like the thought.

Why Feelings of Guilt May Signal Leadership Potential | Stanford Graduate School of Business.

The presidency: So, Mitt, what do you really believe?

October 5, 2012

Well, well.  Mitt Romney has confirmed my beliefs.  The NPR article confirms, for me, so much.  Admittedly, I may be using isolated events to confirm preconceived biases.  But, when I connect the dots from the August post I made, below, it’s hard to believe “isolated” is an appropriate adjective.

Romney:  I Was ‘Just Completely Wrong On The 47 Percent’ | NPR

August 26, 2012

Wow, The Economist really laid into Mitt Romney in this article.   I think their tone and questions are legitimate.  However, in my mind, the answer to the title question is obvious:  Mitt believes it would be great to be president.

All other thoughts are simply a means to an ends for Mitt.  What most of us call flip flopping for Mitt appears to be simply how he gets what he wants.  Fame, to be liked, power, and status they have driven this guy for a long time, nothing new now.

Mitt is pretty obvious, we just don’t want to believe he has the audacity to ask for our vote only by promising to make himself better off–but he has.

The presidency: So, Mitt, what do you really believe? | The Economist.

Fiscal Cliff — a poor term for a good event

Many recent press articles have used the term ‘fiscal cliff’ to describe the December 2012 budget events of tax increases and government spending cuts.   Such a description is biased and underlies the author’s inherent priority of economic activity over fiscal health.  Worse in many readers minds, I fear, the act of saving is demonized as the cause of poor economic activity.  Nothing could be further from the truth. Read more

Hardheaded Socialism Makes Canada Richer Than U.S.

There are a fair number of truths in this story.  For me it’s the lack of bank mergers that are an awaking.  The benefit to the society, reminds us all that banks are a service to the rest of society, not an economic engine in and of itself.  Why supports again my frustration at the size and outlandish activities in the name of bonuses, todays bankers consider a right and just reward.

 

 

Hardheaded Socialism Makes Canada Richer Than U.S. – Bloomberg.

Morning Break

Beverly and my morning rest

Beverly and my morning rest

After a long morning walk, and a morning jog, Beverly and I are resting at the Monaco Bar. Lovely place. And as I love about the French culture, lots of people watching. One running debate of this morning, what are the policemen doing as the direct traffic. Beverly swears the are granting permission for the roadway. Some type of permit thing. This little Bar reminds me of Redondo–Lot’s of locals. And flies. And pigeons. Some things just happen the same.

Just saw a bunch of tourist on what appeared as a kid’s train. Something I’d not do. Well tchau for now

Vacation Thoughts

Today is the first full day of vacation 2012. Yesterday, like all travel days, was hard due to the dramatic changes in body clock, location, etc. One highlight from yesterday was my completion of, “Managing Business Complexity”. A great book. So today, I’m exploring the many ideas generated from my reading.

Although, I’m striving to heed the authors advice for my first project, I can’t help but want my first agent based model to explore the myriad decisions of retirement planning. Seems a good arena to dissect with the philosophies of agent modeling.

I’m drafting from my blackberry, for the first time, so I hope the picture and these thoughts make its way to the page. My goal is share a bit, and explore life on the Mediterranean Sea. It’s off to a great start.

Notre Dame, other groups file new lawsuits against contraception rule

Quite the contentious issue.  And one worthy I think of the discussion.  The key point, well stated I might add by Rev John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president ,

If one presidential administration can override our religious purpose and use religious organizations to advance policies that undercut our values, then surely another administration will do the same for another very different set of policies, each time invoking some concept of popular will or the public good, with the result these religious organizations become mere tools for the exercise of government power, morally subservient to the state, and not free from its infringements.

But there is one problem I see Read more

Breaking Down Election Demographics

Charlie Cook makes a very good analysis at the American electorate for the upcoming presidential election in 2012.   Not said, but underlying the demographic trends of the nation, the next 20 years or so will underlie a significant shift in priorities and platform for winning Republican candidates.  States rights, fiscal spending, are both candidates, but in the end, I don’t think any of us are sure where the electorate is headed.

White Men are in the bag. White Women, however,…

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