Matters that Matter

Given the chaos of American democracy in 2025, what are we to do? What matters and what doesn’t?

Before attempting to answer that question, perhaps we need to define the current situation, so we know we are focusing on the right circumstances in the first place. Understanding situation, its boundaries, causes and agents, will help direct our attention and energy to satisfactorily address the situation.

In days gone by, Americans have come to expect expertise in our social order and government structures, our institutional lives, to know what is going on and the what and how of it. That then leads to solutions that we can depend on solving the problems. But today’s Trumpian chaos begs serious examination, study and research before taking action.

Or does it? We are encountering a decline in public trust in our institutions of culture, society, and government. We are not certain the people in positions of power and accountability are actually trustworthy enough for us to rely on for solutions.

I think this demands we go back to the drawing board to make certain we are dealing with the right things, with the proper authority, and invent solutions that actually serve the public good for the long-term going forward.

Here’s the order of things I have in mind:

1.      Problem defined; cause and effects identified as best as possible

2.      Who is accountable to manage the problem?

3.      Who empowers the accountable persons?

4.      What matters?

5.      Who is affected by these matters?

6.      What solutions are available?

7.      When do we act?

8.      How do we monitor and measure progress toward successful conclusion?

9.      How do we improve and continue this process for the future?

A beginning of the process, of course, is identifying the problem or problems needing a solution. Somehow that comes from knowing what matters. Let us start there.

What Matters List

1.      Freedom of self

a.      Identity

b.     Family relations

c.      Sexuality and its expression

d.     Other

2.      Safety of person

a.      National defense

b.     Local and regional police powers

3.      Safety of things, property

a.      National defense

b.     Local and regional police powers

4.      Health and human services

a.      Healthcare and clinics

b.     Hospitals and nursing facilities

c.      Research on causes and treatments

d.     Pharmaceuticals manufacture, distribution, and research and invention

e.      Shelter accessibility, quality thereof

f.        Food and nutrition, safety and accessibility thereof

g.      Clothing accessibility, quality thereof

5.      Education and critical thinking

a.      Grade and high school levels (public and private)

b.     College levels (junior college and senior institutions) public and private

c.      Graduate level education (public and private)

d.     Research and expansion of knowledge (public and private)

e.      Public education maintained for a lifetime

f.        Freedom of speech

6.      Governance operations, democracy and We the People

a.      Local

b.     Regional

c.      State

d.     National

e.      International relations

f.        Freedom of speech

g.      Freedom of assembly

7.      Commerce and banking; economics

a.      Federal Reserve Bank

b.     Trade compacts with other nations

c.      Shipping and trade networks

d.     Industry standards and safety

e.      Regional coordination

f.        State and municipal controls, management, safety

g.      Other

8.      Religious freedom

9.     Wow! A long list, and probably additional items will be included. The complexity is important to observe. The interrelatedness, too. But the primacy of the individual, the self, is the starting point. Without that, all the rest is superfluous. Please note that safety of self and property is the basis of most government units. National defense is primary in that department, but then on to the police and county sheriffs. Safety of self and property requires management structures designed to serve the public and its good.

Of course, food, shelter and clothing are included, the basics. But expanding accessibility and quality becomes a matter of governance. But look closely at the other items that matter and see how they require group management, governance, really. Our system of governance comes from the people for the benefit of the people. This is not a value structure of a few people, but all people. That may be a uniquely American thing, but I deeply doubt that.

This post is already long. So let me end this here. I will take up the component issues in later posts. For now, ponder the elements above.

September 3, 2025

 

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