Frank Chaplen

I think shame serves a purpose and and should motivate us to build a more equitable world.

My view is that there is a new rulebook in play for national politics. We’re in a transition period now where most folks are still assuming the old rules apply.

Today’s layoffs have been a tremendous shock to the system and I wonder what is going on under cover of this development.

There’s something about the way you say that which will make me sleep better at night.

I predict that the President will attempt to "fire" Musk within the next 7-10 days. There is an even chance that Musk will not go quietly (whatever that means) and the outcome is uncertain.

@annegillies.bsky.social Equal information is important for integrity. Rules were bent tonight. How people filter, interpret, and pass along information is difficult to predict. Sometimes, but not always, it is important to check fb and Bluesky since dynamics of information flow can be helpful

Somehow your comment does not make me any less worried about things.

I thought JD Vance's statements around the courts and curtailment of Executive powers was interesting. In principle probably true, but who defines what legitimate is in this case ... I would say the courts.

Although it's a current meme circulating, we should all be genuinely concerned about outcomes related to the data raid. The barn door is open and there are already many horses in the field.

I would say that the Budget Reconciliation or Continuation is due March 14 plays into this, I'm not sure how, I just know that there is always a lot of turmoil and political position changing at these times. New coalitions etc. Thanks for the bandwidth.

The moderate republican center in the senate is crucial but they will not act politically until it is obvious that Musk's approach is counterproductive and un-American. I wonder what they are saying privately.

Injunctions require money ... perhaps encourage donations to organizations that file injunctions. Enough sticks out there for the reps ... a few carrots and supportive notes might be more helpful especially from folks with constituencies ...

I think we have to rely on injunctions filed in the short term as these are the most rapid system response possible. I've seen that even Trump appointed judges are giving injunctions. Dems in the Senate are starting to organize but it takes time and relies on the moderate few in the middle.

I don't think we have enough time to wait. Musk's activities are too rapid and targeted for the system to respond naturally to change.

R-Cubed ... Reason, Revelation, and Resurrection. I usually self-identify as an Evangelical Quaker since that comes closest to capturing this personal philosophy in my view, although I'm a bit heavier on the Deist elements than most perhaps.

And third, the Resurrection, Christ died on the Cross so that we may be Absolved of Sin. Simple as that, but so complex. Why? Why the Lord chose to kill his only son is a question that deserves deep contemplation and thoughtful consideration. I have some personal thoughts on the matter ....

Some Doctrinal Issues with the LDS Church especially on treatment of folks that self-identify as a part of the LGBTQ community. I also have some issues with the treatment of women in the Church Hierarchy but no worst that the Catholic Church, I suppose.

Seems to me reasonable that there is an element of Personal Revelation in observational learning of the world around you consistent with the Deist overlay and a scientific outlook on life. Some Quakers believe in a direct connection with the God and I cleave to that notion.

And so three elements to my personal religious philosophy ... Reason, Revelation, and Resurrection (R-Cubed in the vernacular).

A description of Direct Revelation that seems pretty close to the Truth can be found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_.... I especially like the LDS take on Revelation.

Deists believe in "the light of nature" (God's Light) and that the existence of God can be determined through observation and experiment. I find this appealing as a scientist and engineer doing research in academe but as stated believe that Christ died on the Cross for us.

Deists believe that a benign Lord leaves us to live our lives as we will in pursuit of happiness. There are some interesting juxtapositions that occur in a belief system at the intersection between Deism and the interference clause of God's relationship with humankind.

The Lord interferes at Will ... we serve His Purpose ... we are His instruments .. His Purpose is unclear to us ... we just need to figure it out ... through Reason.

A major flaw in Voltaire's reasoned approach to the concept of God was his belief that Christ while a good and reasoned man was not humankind's Savior, something with which I strongly disagree. Further, the idea of the Lord having a Prime Directive (Trekkie alert!) as far as humankind is laughable.

The collected works of Voltaire are vast and an eclectic mix of themes to do with the human condition across all writing genres. His religious and political beliefs and willingness to speak out on issues of the day, especially as pertaining to the peccadillos of ruling classes often led to Exile.

However, God was not actively involved managing in the day to day activities of Man. He appreciated Quakers and created the myth of the Good Quaker. He also admired their willingness to poke a stick in the eye of the Religious Establishment

Voltaire was a Deist when it came to religious belief systems much like the first three Presidents of the new United States of America. He believed in the exercise of Reason above all else in consideration of Religious themes. God the Creator had created the Universe for the pleasure of humans

www.librarything.com/topic/346363

Voltaire ... check him out... a man of the 17th Century Enlightenment ... believed and wrote many things ... but in a way the first liberal ... believed in women's rights, freedom of expression and religious and political freedoms ... and for the most part disliked slavery ... author of Candide

I live In God's Light, often an uncomfortable place to be...

Name that religion ... a belief in Reason, Personal Revelation, and that Christ died on the Cross for our Sins

Elected veteran's I stand with you as you grapple with the important issues of the day with your perspectives from the Battlefields of the Middle East and elsewhere. If Musk breaks it, he'll own it.

I remain yours
In God's Light
@candide300