The Mission
The amount and volume of information, the reliability of that information, the goal of that information, and the balance of the information are, in my opinion, a, if not, the source of much of our current chaos, anger, and division.
Verifying information is a lot of work; I find it more efficient to qualify my sources than to verify random information. I know I frustrated some of you when my first question was: “Where did you hear that?” How do you know it is true? Do you think that is the entire story? Or, all to often I just let it go.
What I share here will be verifiable facts, some will be statistics, and some will be opinions that I either respect or hope to foment discussion about. Some may be stories I enjoy. I am choosing to share information that I find relevant, that I can qualify as near neutral, with quantifiable accuracy.
You are welcome to submit anything you like to me for publication. Be forewarned that I will verify it, and if it is questionable, I will discuss it with you, possibly reject it, and explain why. I am not interested in spreading lies, misinformation, half-truths, nor one-sided views.
I’d like this to be a place we share ideas, raise concerns, discuss issues, and explore alternatives and solutions. It is not a place to talk about politicians, to slander, or bitch. It is also not a place to talk about the current attention-grabber on the news or the internet; there are already too many venues available for those who want to swim in those waters.
My Methodology
The challenge for all of us who want to qualify information and information sources is how to do that. I have a list of tools available to all of us posted below. LINK TO – My VERIFICATION TOOLS
Realistically, there is no source that is 100% accurate, nor totally unbiased; most of them are human. I use Ad Fontes Media, a paid service, to vet my sources and try to keep all of them within Ad Fontes’ “green box” or “recommended” section. There is a free version of Ad Fontes Media, https://app.adfontesmedia.com/chart/interactive, if you’d like to take a look.
Signs of bias I try to recognize in myself are:
- Automatically agreeing or disagreeing with a topic
- When my first reaction is joy, sorrow, anger, or sadness
I find that these are signs within myself that indicate a bias, a preconceived idea or an emotional desire, and that deserve to be evaluated and consciously considered.
What I Hope For
I desperately want my and your grandkids and future generations to live in a world where:
Our politicians are focused on:
- Principles, not what gets votes
- Policies for the country, not their followers
- Truth and facts
- They talk like people, telling us what they believe and stand for, and that they will stand by
- Those who are not driven by ego, power, or money
I long for a time when we:
- Think as much about our neighbors as we do ourselves
- Believe, act, talk, and behave as if every individual is no less than ourselves
- Live as though we believe every individual’s choices are as valid as our own
- Understand that others are not born us, but are equal
- Use words and names that reflect these beliefs
Where I Stand (Political transparency)
To answer a question that may be on your mind, I am an Unaffiliated (Independent) US Voter. I think both parties have lost their way and no longer reflect their rank-and-file members; they represent those with the largest pockets and the biggest mouths. I cannot support a political party that does not represent or advocate for my principles and beliefs. I do not trust or respect either of their words, direction, or leadership. I believe that we are Americans first and perhaps affiliated with a party whose actions and results are for the good of all Americans and people of the earth.