Vanilla Isis

 The 8 minute mark... that's why we cried November 2016

Why I Will Vote For Joe Biden

My Personal Platform

I no longer vote based on singular party platform issues.

Today, I put as much stock in those as I do "company mission statements."

I now vote for progress toward our better/best selves. I vote for leaders who have displayed the potential to find some consensus between disparate party differences. I vote for leaders who are likely to seek for solutions that encourage and reinforce less environmentally or socially destructive means & methods. 

Our Nation needs to move forward. Progress may require leaving old ideas behind. Nothing becomes greater by devolving. Discomfort may occur with growth, but not growing results in decomposition. I will not fear change.

Our Nation needs to be part of a global community. I seek leaders who are more likely to seek consensus with other Nations; building not just peace but a global community.

I feel Mr. Biden will move forward with such new thinking by surrounding himself with cabinet members who are well versed in their field and have innovative ideas for the future.

Who is a President?

I believe the primary role of a President is to represent who we Americans are to the rest of the world.

Joe Biden represents the kind of America I would like the rest of the world to think we are:

One who is likely to listen to wise counsel.

One who is likely to seek consensus with other leaders. 

One who sees the U.S. as part of a growing global community that needs to involve everyone in making the world a better place.

One who sees unique differences of faith, sex, race, etc. as all parts of a diverse and inclusive society. 

One who is willing to learn, grow, and admit he/we may have made mistakes and seek to rectify wrongs.

Character of a man

I see in Joe Biden a man who's focus has been his family. 

It's why he did not run for President in 2016. After his son's loss to cancer, his family needed him. 

A man who understands the importance of family is more likely to support the needs of American families. 

Experience Matters

Some will point to Joe's years of experience as indicating he is "part of the problem of big government."

I have grown to appreciate experience.

In most ANY other job role in the world, experience is a qualification for hire.

In view of current events, Joe Biden has specifically already had the experience of

Heading off an economic recession (2009).

Dealing with potential Pandemics (2009). Granted, he got lucky and it wasn't as harsh as COVID19, but he learned and then managed to help contain quickly contain Ebola when it appeared in the U.S.  The Obama/Biden administration also learned an important lesson:

They listened to the scientists. They got Congress on board. They put experts out in front of the public. And they righted messaging, adopting an acronym that would serve as a linchpin in averting future snafus: PTFOTV — Put Tony Fauci on TV.

Listening to opposition

Mr. Biden has made changes on political and social positions over the years. He has also apologized for gaffes and missteps.

I am more apt to trust a person who understands no one is without fault and is willing to listen and change perspectives.

I believe this to be a key reason for his choice of Kamala Harris as Vice President. She has disagreed with him on quite a few things. 

When Obama selected Mr. Biden as Vice President, they had an agreement that I suspect Biden/Harris will also keep. When Mr. Obama had a major decision to make and met with other cabinet members, Mr. Biden was always "last in the room" so that Mr. Obama could get an honest opinion and not just a "yes sir."  The Vice President is not to be just a "yes man."  The Vice President is to be that one voice that says, "This might be a bad idea, and here's why."

With the selection of Kamala Harris, I believe Mr. Biden has solidified his position as being a person who will listen to the wise counsel of opposing ideas.

That Supreme Court Issue

The last time I worried about who would appoint a Supreme Court, I voted for George W. Bush. (I take solace in the fact that, due to the Electoral College system, my vote didn't matter.)

Turns out that's not the only thing he did during his Presidency.

It also turns out that Supreme Court Justice "leanings" don't change laws or equate to support of a political viewpoint (as we have recently seen).

It may be wiser to find solutions to problems and social issues that don't require the Supreme Court to overturn decades of precedence and law.

It's not about winning

It's about leading a union. 

Leaders build consensus, lead by example, and encourage constructive criticism.

Cancel Culture

 

I *believe* in "Cancel Culture."

I believe it's good to cancel lies in history.

I believe in canceling lies about the altruism of slave owners & Manifest Destiny.

I believe in cancelling institutionalized inequity.

Lies about a Great U.S. retard potential growth of our BEST US.

Words Make A Difference

"Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?"

I assume he was hangry.

Even so, it provides a key lesson about the power of words.

Words spoken in faith can move mountains. Words of encouragement can strengthen.

Conversely, words of discouragement can kill and will not help produce fruit.

Friendship

Has the definition of friendship changed over the past 20 or so years?

Social media tells me I have many friends, but by more extroverted standards, I have approximately zero.

I don't make time to do things with people outside of family time and work. But I do keep in contact with many people and interact via social media.

Is "friend" a useful label? What name should I give to the people I like and love, but with whom I don't necesarily physcially interact?

The advice people obviously follow

I give a lot of advice.
I hear a lot of advice.

Some of it is good.

As I (and I'm sure you, too) observe those around you, it's obvious that they got their advice somewhere else, 'cause they're entrenched in sticking to it.

I think I might have been able to reverse-engineer what some of that advice must have been...

Feel free to add yours in the comments.

• Never allow a moment of glory to go by without a complaint.
• Always worry about all of the details.
• Avoid regular sleep patterns.
• Be your own worst critic.
• Make note of all the possible concerns, no matter how small.
• Always hold a grudge.
• Always assume.
• Always assume that decisions are made based on how they'll affect you.
• 
  

Judgers

Is the world full of judgers or is it just the U.S.A.?

We seem to assign value to a lot of things; good/bad, better/worse, progress/failing, etc.

What would happen if we tried, for even just a few hours, to not assign such values to anything?

Job Hoppers

Heard this recently.

Made me think, "Gee. I guess folks are asking for recommendation letters during their first week on the job."

I'll admit; I practically do this.  I request letters usually after a few months of employment; not because I always plan to leave, but in case something amazing drops in my lap.

I also had to think, "How do those folks writing the recommendation letters do it?"

I mean, the writer has only seen the worker for a short time and likely has formed opinions about the employee that are both kind and not-so-kind.

I would assume that most letter writers try to put a positive spin within the whole recommendation letter, since not doing so would reflect poorly upon them.

Assuming that this might be difficult for some people to spin, I thought I could start a helpful chart:

What you want to say.	What you should say.
Wastes Time.	Possesses a strong sense of personal prioritizing skills.
Gossiper.	Regularly conveys interesting information.
Always calls off “sick.”	Always concerned about the health of the rest of the team.
Frequently complains.	Possesses strong self-advocacy skills.
Is never on time.	Maintains a healthy work-life balance.
Dresses unprofessionally.	Is comfortable sharing personal choices.
Speaks unprofessionally.	Helps to maintain a high level of lightheartedness in the workplace.
Never takes work seriously.	(see above)
Steals supplies.	Redistributes supplies regularly.
Never contributes in meetings.	Encourages input from other staff in meetings.
Monopolizes time in meetings.	Takes leadership roles in staff meetings.
Power-hungry and manipulative.	Always willing to take on leadership roles.
A doormat.	Always willing to support the leadership of others.

The Other Perspective

What do you see?

A mostly white page?
A solitary black dot?

or

A white page besmirched by a black stain?
A nearly white page that only needs a dab of white paint?

or

The first mark on a page destined to be a fantastic story?



Choose to see that which gives you hope.