The D in DIE
Diversification is a standard tool to reduce portfolio risk in finance. To do this, the portfolio manager seeks stocks with different risk profiles and potentially even industries and countries. But the managers do not just pick any old stocks. The…
The I in DIE: Death of Meritocracy
Consider a scene from a coaches conference two weeks before the college national football championship game. Coach: You know our starters got us here, but it’s not fair they’ve played every game and we haven’t played many players in…
Part 6—A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Wrapped Inside an Enigma
Abstract: What is at the core of political and social engineering groups? What are their true motivations and goals? “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Winston Churchill Churchill’s quote about Russia is spot on for…
Part 5—Does Culture Matter?
Abstract: Culture matters and may be the best predictor of success. Yet it is a third rail to discuss social cultures. This attitude hinders effective solutions to America’s problems. All people are the same. It is only their habits that…
Part 3—Controlling the Narrative and Cultural Hegemony
Abstract: Cultural Hegemony is a way to control the narrative on social issues and obscure their meaning. The flip side of renaming an object (see part 2 of this series) is to control the narrative to prevent others from reasserting…
Part 4—Mining for Controlling Labels
Abstract: Political and social engineering groups use labels to hide their intent and to suppress counter narratives. Mining for new labels is the new gold in reverse cultural hegemony. Now this is not that new in America. Americans have a…
Part 2—What is in a Name?
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene 2. William Shakespeare Abstract: Names matter. They shape how we deal with people, objects, and concepts. People…
The E in DIE
Social justice groups use the figure above as a meme to show the DIE (Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity) movement to illustrate equity. If all we are discussing is these three people, then it may make some sense. But there is…
Truth is the First Casualty of…Unchecked Power
Three years after the US’s catastrophic run from Afghanistan, most Americans have no clue what happened. No one has stood up and taken responsibility. Five years after the killings that triggered Black Lives Matter (BLM) most Americans do not really…
The Tragedy of the Commons: Wicked Logic
In The Tragedy of the Commons: Rational Actors, I discussed linear vs. spiral logic. I suggested that western logic tended to be more linear and Islamic and other cultures, perhaps more spiral. But that is a generalization based on today’s…
