The history of modern Western intellectual life is not very comforting. We end up with Nietzsche’s superman which led to Nazism. We have Marx’s views which lead to totalitarian communist states. We have Freud’s view of mental repression and the impossibility of civilization. We have the next “scientific” view of psychology with Pavlov’s “stimulus and response”. We have Darwin’s principle of evolution which led to “social Darwinism” and its winner apologetics and eugenics. We have Darwin’s principle of evolution which led to scientific materialism, the rejection of any possible spiritual or non-material dimension to life. We have truly modern physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and philosophy of science which undermine any possibility of a Newtonian certainty about science or nature, despite Einstein’s pursuit of a grand unifying theory and belief that “God doesn’t play dice with the universe”. We have existentialism which embraces the skeptics’ worst intuitions. We have professional philosophy which rejects metaphysics (fundamental nature, big picture approach) and adopts a purely analytical approach which reduces questions to precise language and logic. We have postmodernist philosophers who reject any structure other than the certainty that powerful forces will abuse their powers.
Modern History: Progress and Disintegration
Charles Taylor’s 2007 book “Our Secular Age” attempts to place all of this in perspective.
A “Secular Age” is one in which most individuals “know” that there may or may not be God, purpose, meaning or transcendence in life. A person’s life may be meaningless. The “next best” approach may only be to optimize the individual’s potential. There is “no exit”.
Doubt, skepticism and uncertainty are very powerful forces. Taylor argues that we all live based on implicit paradigms, beliefs, worldviews, assumptions, experiences, intuitions, etc. We are intuitive, social, historical beings. We absorb the beliefs of our culture. We don’t rationally evaluate and choose. About 4 million people are born in the US each year. 9,000 people earn philosophy degrees while 27,000 earn religion degrees annually. 1% of our citizens seriously pursue these questions.
In 1500, Western society was organic, with economics, politics, society and religion integrated into a well understood and accepted whole. Aristotle was “the philosopher”. St. Thomas Aquinas and the scholastics were applying logic to religious topics. History and tradition mattered. Morality and ethics were clearly defined and accepted. The spiritual dimension of nature and life was obvious. The personal Christian God was actively at work in the world. Priests and religious orders pursued perfection. Ordinary people supported the clergy and lived adequate Christian lives.
Modernity changed the Christian church. Luther elevated the role of the individual’s relationship with God, unmediated by clergy, in their local language. Each Church had to manage local politics to survive. Deism evolved as a scientific/rational form of religion.
The roles of economics, politics, society and religion were separated from each other. Social institutions evolved and learned to stand alone. Education, commerce and travel became more important.
Science became a driving force in understanding and controlling nature. It became commercially and politically important.
Individualistic philosophies developed. The “social contract” theory of politics was adopted and implemented.
Secular institutions were defined and provided services that replaced the role of the Church.
Today
We live in a world of skepticism, fear/insecurity, political polarization, subjectivity, tolerance, productivity, consumption, identity, searching, and striving.
The dominant approach of the professional class is deemed “the therapeutic society”. The individual reigns supreme. The individual is created to pursue his destiny, capabilities, potential or goal. The goal of the individual is to find/define and pursue this potential. Creativity, self-expression and authenticity are highly valued.
Taylor says that individuals seeking to pursue their capabilities still need feedback from their communities to validate their choices and results. They attempt to be radically independent but cannot do so.
There is a “tipping point” phenomenon at work. As science/technology became more insightful/effective, it became the default explanation for everything. In 1802 the mathematician Laplace replied to Napoleon’s question about the role of God in his latest book, “I have no need for that hypothesis”. The myth of the brave/heroic scientist/thinker overcoming social conventions and religious authorities was created and effectively employed. The false opposition of “science versus religion” was promoted.
The reduction in church attendance, membership and participation that occurred in Western countries along with education, urbanization and economic growth was deemed the “secularization hypothesis”: individuals automatically lost religion as civilization developed.
Our society promotes personal freedom, liberty and individual choice as the highest values. Our politicians and leaders encourage individualism. Economic production, success and consumption are elevated. The “free market” system becomes the model for social choices. Personal choices without limits are promoted. Government or social restrictions on individual choices are considered intrusions into sacred personal spaces.
Analysis and Hope
Taylor outlines the history of how our default worldview has changed. There has been continued growth and success of “instrumental logic” in science/technology and business/economics. The power of efficient causes alone in shaping and improving material well-being and possibilities is obvious. Individualism has grown to become a new God, with identity becoming all important. The possibility of “science” and “logic” explaining more and more and more has grown.
Taylor argues that we have assumed away the spiritual dimension of life. The progress of science has no bearing on important religious or philosophical questions. What is the meaning of life? Where did the world come from? Does the world have a purpose? How do scientific laws really work? How do I live a good life? How do I live in community? What is a good form of government? Why am I conscious? Why can I comprehend how the world works? What is beauty? What is religious feeling? Where does love come from?
Taylor argues that the scientific revolution lured us into believing that there are answers like Newton’s law of gravity and Euclid’s proofs of geometry that apply to all questions. We “rationalized” Christianity to make it “respectable”, creating Deism, but more importantly assuming that scientific rationality and logical proof is the only valid measure of success. Christian apologists sought to “prove” God and religious teachings. Religious leaders sought to modernize religion, stripping it of “irrational” content, deconstructing its content, evaluating it through literary and historical analysis, proving its merit through its application to social needs. Taylor says that this was a centuries long diversion.
Taylor highlights the failure of science and philosophy to be “fully rationalized”. Modern science cannot be reduced to a simplistic logical system beginning with a few assumptions and logically developing all results. Science is rational but not logically bullet-proof. It includes many features that are not “logical”. Science at very small and very large scales is strange and mysterious. Scientific disciplines use different methods and are sometimes incompatible. Emergent systems can be described but not in classic logical terms. Philosophy is used to analyze and deconstruct but it has failed to construct better answers.
Taylor and his popularizer, James K.A. Smith, emphasize that the spiritual dimension continues to “intrude” into everyday life for believers, skeptics, agnostics and atheists. Despite the progress of science, the secularization of society and the powerful influence of a “secular age” background worldview, spiritual experiences, ideas, thoughts, insights, longings, perceptions and behaviors don’t “go away”. They seem to be an intrinsic part of human life.
Like many modern Christian apologists, Taylor recommends that we reject the scientific method, logical proof, and Occam’s razor reductionist bias as the measure of religious/philosophical ideas, systems, processes, experiences and communities. He proposes that we consider “all available evidence”. What theory best matches the evidence? No theory is objectively true or fully comprehensive. Theories provide insights and answers to both common and difficult religious/philosophical questions. They are imperfect. Philosophical criticism indicates that there are trade-offs and shortcomings in all such systems. Taylor notes that it is only with the success of the scientific revolution that we have the audacity to expect to understand and explain everything about the universe including our religious/philosophical questions.
For many, Taylor’s conclusions seem like lukewarm apologetics. There is no certainty. We can’t trust science. We experience religion, so it must exist.
Taylor and his supporters argue that he is incorporating the best of human history and thought into his analysis and framework. We mistakenly believed that we could find reductionist answers to our questions. After 500 years of truly amazing scientific and economic progress we now know that this is impossible or very unlikely. We still have our religious/philosophical questions and experiences. They won’t go away. As with C.S. Lewis, he defines these explanations as myths or stories using human tools to provide insights into systems beyond our direct comprehension. The difference is that Christianity is a “true myth”.
We can choose to pursue a rational, reductionist, materialistic, non-spiritual solution. We can embrace a fully defined, literalist religious faith. Or, we can engage with a mysterious Christianity that provides essential answers that seem imperfect according to our modern conceptions of logic and rationality.
Exodus 3:14 New International Version
God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Carmel, Indiana is a 46 square mile city of 105,000 people a dozen miles north of downtown Indianapolis.
As 28-year mayor Jim Brainerd once quipped, “We don’t have mountains, valleys or an ocean, but neither does Paris”. How could an Indiana city create such a natural reputation for success?
Carmel is a suburb of Indianapolis, so it has benefitted from suburban growth since the 1950’s.
Indianapolis, like Columbus, Nashville, and Minneapolis, has been a heartland growth winner.
Indiana is a low cost of living location, benefitting from being the “Crossroads of America”.
Indiana is a low tax and low government services state, with expectations that government needs are best addressed at the lowest possible level.
Indianapolis has no natural geographical constraints to growth or limits that raise the cost of living. The Northwest Territory’s 6×6 mile townships expand in all directions.
Most metro areas have a preferred direction for wealth and growth. Indianapolis chose to develop straight north along Meridian Street across the Marion County border into Carmel by the 1950’s.
This branding and “first mover” advantage is common among America’s 50 large metro areas. Carmel benefitted from competitors in NW Zionsville limiting development to preserve the small village character, NE Geist having limited lakefront property and NNE Fishers limited main highway access.
While Indiana today is considered a deeply red state, historically it was more purple, with heavy manufacturing/worker counties balanced by rural/farming counties. Indianapolis was a local government innovator, creating county wide Unigov in 1970 to combine the city and county, preserving Republican dominance. Indianapolis has elected centrist mayors for 6 decades: Lugar, Hudnut, Goldsmith, Peterson, Ballard and Hogsett.
Jim Brainerd served as mayor from 1996-2024 as a centrist/practical Republican in the Governor Daniels mode, focusing on local economic issues and needs, without being distracted by national wedge issues.
Carmel understood the power of zoning and used this to adopt overlay zones to guide denser and higher quality development in the Meridian corridor, Range Line Road, Arts & Design District and Midtown areas. Politicians understood that Carmel was a valuable place for developers and set limits to ensure that the community would also benefit from growth.
Mayor Brainerd used the powers of the Indiana strong-mayor system to create tax increment finance (TIF) districts to capture the future property tax values of areas to allow for leveraged government investments in infrastructure.
Mayor Brainerd and the city council also allowed the city to borrow at advantageous interest rates to finance other investments to promote the city’s growth.
Like many governments, Carmel offered tax incentives to attract corporate developments.
Mayor Brainerd found that roundabouts were a local, traffic, aesthetic, environmental, safety, time, and cost winner. He prodded the city the install 150 roundabouts.
Mayor Brainerd incorporated a small investment into the arts and not-for-profits into the annual budgeting cycle. Local citizens applauded.
Mayor Brainerd chose to invest in community art, statues downtown and in the roundabouts. Again, the community applauded.
Journalistic histories emphasize the role of Mayor Brainerd in “transforming” the sleepy suburb into a new urbanist “edge city” and nationally recognized place to live. Mayor Brainerd deserves credit as a visionary and catalytic leader who delivered the goods for 3 decades. Yet the Carmel story begins before him and continues today. It relies upon political, government, community and volunteer leaders who believed that Carmel could deliver the highest possible quality of life for its residents and neighbors. I point to a few representative leaders who deserve credit.
Carmel has invested resources in making it a safe city. School safety officers requiring a separately approved levy. Formal quality standards for police and fire departments. County level emergency preparedness investments.
Carmel public schools are consistently rated among the best in Indiana. Critics say this reflects the wealthy socioeconomic status of the community. “The proof is in the pudding”.
Indiana schools are mainly funded through a statewide formula. Indiana property taxes are capped as a percentage of value. Carmel residents have chosen since 2010 to approve property tax levies to exceed the formula and the standard maximums. Recent state tax, budget and formula changes are driving new requests.
Carmel library has moved twice, expanded its main location and added a branch location. Carmel library has been nationally ranked for its activity, circulation, programs and financial investments.
Carmel aspires to be a diverse community. It has been a primary corporate transfer and health care professional destination, welcoming non-Hoosiers and preparing residents and students for national and global roles.
Carmel has more economic diversity than some expect, with many middle-class and young adult neighborhoods south of 116th Street and within the boundaries of Keystone Parkway and Meridian/US 31.
Density is good. Commercial property tax base is good. Employers are good. These 3 statements seem trivial and obvious, but many “professional class” suburbs reject them, wishing to live in an idyllic rural paradise. Carmel has always embraced manufacturing, offices, retail, and apartments.
The Meridian Corridor overlay district promoted dense development and prevented strip malls. The Range Line Road overlay district required dense and multi-use development. The early overall zoning plan encouraged economic development in the central 8 square miles of the city, within the 46 square mile footprint.
Carmel employed TIF districts and public borrowing to attract investors to its central city developments.
It employed the usual tax abatement tools to encourage major corporations to locate within Carmel.
By decade, Carmel’s population grew from 1950 to 2026 in thousands as 2, 10, 20, 33, 43, 65, 83, 99, 105. 4 decades of 10,000 population growth followed by 4 decades of 15,000 population growth. Growth may slam shut in 2030-2035. Growth provides advantages to utilities, realtors, developers, construction firms, media, and governments.
Lacking mountains or oceans, the community has developed events for every month of the year to celebrate. Many events were created, grown and managed by small groups of individuals with background support from the city government.
Carmel has leveraged its existing natural neighborhoods to develop a sense of place. Real estate developers have built traditional 50-300 home subdevelopments and filled in spaces. The city focused on the central city neighborhoods to define the “arts & design district” and midtown. The parks district has built and enhanced regional and neighborhood assets.
Carmel began with advantages as a growing suburb north of Indianapolis’s historic Meridian-Kessler neighborhood. Political leaders made wise decisions for several decades. Carmel’s measures of success have gained national recognition. However, the character of the community and quality of life is driven by the personal responsibility that citizens take for themselves and their neighbors as symbolized by the moms who built the first park and the dads who started the youth athletics programs.
The Fairport 1887 strike was a labor dispute in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, where Finnish and German dockworkers and ore handlers struck for a wage increase to $\$2$ a day (20 cents an hour). The strike turned violent, prompting the Lake County Sheriff to call the Ohio Militia to quell the unrest. [1, 2, 3]
Key Details of the Event:
Date: The strike began on December 15, 1887.
Cause: The workers demanded a wage increase to $\$2.00$ per day to meet the rising costs of living and match prevailing regional wages.
Escalation: Strikers utilized open violence and threats against strikebreakers to stop work on the docks, stalling the unloading of vital freight and iron ore.
Militia Deployment: Due to the severity of the standoff, Ohio Governor Joseph B. Foraker deployed troops to Fairport to restore order and protect the property of the dock operators.
Aftermath: On December 9, a regiment arrived from Cleveland and arrested ten of the primary strike leaders, effectively breaking the industrial strike.
Industrial Rayon Corporation in Cleveland manufactured rayon yarn, the world’s first synthetic fiber, which found use in items ranging from undergarments to tires. Rayon production using an innovative continuous spinning process at the West Boulevard plant and the Painesville plant reached high levels during WWII. The company weathered the Depression, labor strikes and environmental complaints, but in post-war years demand for rayon fell.
The Textile Workers Union of America (TWUA) historically represented production workers at the Industrial Rayon Corporation (IRC Fibers) plant in Painesville, Ohio. The plant was formerly the second-largest employer in Lake County before permanently closing in August 1980. [1, 2, 3]
Key Labor Union Details for the Painesville Plant:
Bargaining Unit: The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) , specifically through the TWUA , won the initial bargaining elections at the Painesville and Cleveland facilities in May 1942.
Operating Engineers: Powerhouse and maintenance personnel were often represented by Local 600 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE).
Plant History: Located on a 630-acre site on Bacon Road, the facility produced polyester yarn and was a major synthetic-fiber producer. The operation ceased in 1980 due to a decline in demand for tire yarns.
Historical Records: Archival records concerning the plant’s unionization and operations can be explored via the Cleveland Memory Project curated by Cleveland State University.
Historically, the primary union representing workers at Coe Manufacturing (known for its engineered wood and forestry equipment) was the United Steelworkers (USW), specifically Local 12833 at the former Painesville, Ohio plant. [1, 2, 3]
Here are the specific details regarding Coe Manufacturing and labor unions:
Painesville Plant Closure: The union-represented plant in Ohio, which manufactured heavy machinery for the forest products industry, was permanently closed by its parent company (USNR) in February 2010.
Labor Relations: The facility’s collective bargaining agreements primarily fell under USW District 1. Prior to the plant’s closure, the union engaged in “effects bargaining” and assisted displaced workers with securing federal Trade Readjustment Allowances.
USW Resources: If you are a former member, a current employee under the USNR/Coe umbrella, or need general representation, you can find information and regional contact details directly through the United Steelworkers Official Website .
Diamond Magnesium Represented by Steelworkers Union
The Diamond Magnesium Company was an aluminum and magnesium processing facility that operated a large plant in Painesville, Ohio, during the 1940s and 1950s under contract to the federal government. The workforce was organized under the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), with labor representation by the United Steelworkers
.Labor & Historical Context
Union Representation: The United Steelworkers (USW) was actively involved in representing workers and securing early collective bargaining agreements and wage concessions at the Painesville facility during World War II.
Atomic Legacy: The Painesville plant is historically recognized under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) as a former contractor for the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Manhattan Engineer District. Workers who handled radioactive materials or scrap steel on-site may qualify for benefits through the U.S. Department of Labor’s EEOICPA Program..
Current Status: The original site was closed in the late 1950s and has since undergone environmental remediation as part of the FUSRAP Program (Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program) managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Morton Salt facility in Painesville, Ohio (often associated with the Fairport Harbor mine beneath Lake Erie) is represented by the United Steelworkers (USW). Specifically, workers at the operation are members of USW Local 12606, which covers hundreds of union members. [1, 2, 3]
Key Details & Background
Location: 570 Headlands Rd, Painesville, OH 44077
Union Affiliation: USW represents the mine laborers, mechanics, and processing operators who produce water softening salt, ice melt, and industrial salt products.
History: The Painesville/Fairport site is one of the oldest active salt mines in the country. While it occasionally faces negotiations, workforce adjustments, and shifting production schedules, the USW maintains a strong, decades-long presence at the site.
Lake County, Ohio offers robust pathways into the skilled trades through local union chapters and state-certified “earn-while-you-learn” apprenticeship programs. These organizations combine paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction, allowing you to build a debt-free career in construction, manufacturing, or service industries. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The region is represented by a few key umbrella councils and several localized union chapters. [5]
Union Umbrella Organizations
Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council: The overarching federation for over 29 affiliated local unions in Greater Cleveland. You can explore detailed trades and application resources via the Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council or ACT Ohio .
North Shore AFL-CIO: Provides comprehensive listings and contact information for local union affiliates operating in Lake County. View local options through the North Shore AFL-CIO Apprenticeships Directory. [5, 6, 7, 8]
Specific Trades & Local Chapters in Lake County
Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 673): Services electrical workers throughout Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties. The Lake County Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) offers 5-year Inside Wireman and 4-year Telecommunication programs. Contact them and view program details via IBEW Local 673 or the Lake County JATC.
Laborers (Local 860): Covers heavy highway, pipeline, and utility construction across Lake, Cuyahoga, and Geauga counties. Members also benefit from statewide training at the Drexel J. Thrash Training Center. Learn more at Laborers Local Union 860.
Painters & Allied Trades (District Council 6): Actively recruits apprentices and experienced tradespeople for industrial/commercial painting, drywall finishing, and glazing. Find out how to join via IUPAT DC 6 Membership.
Bricklayers (Local 16): Maintains a regional presence specifically in Mentor, OH. [2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12]
Lake County has been a major manufacturing center for more than a century. Unions have represented workers at major employers during this time. Lake County’s state leading incomes were driven by union efforts.
Our political systems are broken. The Supreme Court’s decision to make race an unconstitutional factor in determining voting districts will probably reduce racial minority representation significantly as partisan political parties are no longer legally constrained by this limit. State level gerrymandering is proceeding towards 80% to 90% of seats being captured by the larger party whenever possible. Minority representation is greatly reduced or eliminated. Polarization increases. Citizen buy-in decreases.
It may be that the American people have had enough. Some states will adopt independent commissions to draw congressional and state districts.
Another option is proportional representation. Define multi-member districts so that minority group, party and sub-party groups are more likely to be represented closer to their proportion of the vote.
Proportional representation requires important choices about the size of districts (typically 3-8 members is ideal) and the balance between party and candidate importance (a balanced approach is recommended).
Ranked choice voting systems can also be implemented with proportional or our existing single member districts. Ranked choice systems allow voters to express more of their preferences for candidates and parties.
A 1967 federal law requires single member congressional districts. It could be repealed by Congress to allow states to experiment with these options.
Few democracies worldwide still cling to single member/first past the post/winner take all districts. The US has historical experience with alternative member district rules.
Proportional representation is not a panacea. No voting system perfectly translates voter preferences into candidates and their subsequent votes. But proportional representation would help to reduce our polarized 2-party system, reduce the influence of money on elections and help voters to see and feel that their votes matter.
As of April, 2026 the US economy has survived 16 months of Trumpian economic malpractice.
Tariffs have cost each family $2,000 annually, acting as a huge tax increase. Suppliers and importers have absorbed less than one-fourth of the increased costs.
Tariffs and surrounding uncertainty have stopped normal business investments, R&D and new hiring.
$34 billion of green energy projects have been cancelled.
Manufacturing employment continues to decline.
Foreign born employment has been flat, after increasing by 4 million during 2022-24 to 31.8 million.
Farm bankruptcies grew by 46% due to retaliatory tariffs, labor shortages and input cost increases.
Mortgage rates have increased by 1% compared to the federal funds rate due to increased inflation, budget deficits and Fed independence concerns. In time, that is an extra $1,500 annually for every home mortgage.
Inflation was trending towards its 2% target. Trump policies have increased it to 3% and rising. This costs the median family budget $1,000 per year.
The DOGE initiatives and government shutdowns have made the federal government much less effective in performing its core functions.
Reduced IRS staffing is forecast to reduce revenue collections by $750 billion per decade.
Higher import tariffs increase input costs to American manufacturers, placing small and medium sized firms at greater risk of bankruptcy.
The US credit rating has been reduced by Moody’s due to the growing budget deficit and uncertainties, adding to the long-run cost of servicing the $39 trillion debt. At a nominal 0.25% premium that adds another $700 per year to the average household’s cost for debt service.
Frozen, reduced and politicized federal R&D threaten future economic advances.
The value of the US dollar has declined by 10%, making imports more expensive and exports more attractive.
The consumer sentiment index has declined from 70 to 50, as low as the depths of the pandemic!
Trump has required coal-fired power plants to operate beyond their planned retirement dates, costing consumers $5 billion per year.
The Iran war costs the country $50 billion.
Weaker relations with others will cost the US $1-3 billion annually in reduced foreign travelers.
Why hasn’t the economy tanked? The Iran war and tariffs may combine to tip the US economy into recession before the end of 2026, but so far it has been very resilient. How is this possible?
The long-term trends point to dynamic and creative US business and labor sectors compared with other countries.
The US economy has moved from a high fixed cost manufacturing world to a diversified service and knowledge economy, diversifying its economy and risks.
The US economy is more globally competitive and able to use international trade to manage its risks.
The AI revolution has sparked a huge data center and electricity power investment cycle. This is a classic Keynesian investment multiplier-accelerator situation, driving large investments today to support future expected demand.
The US stock market valuation has grown based upon historical growth trends, US competitiveness and the expectation of future business-friendly policies (regulation, competition, taxation, trade).
The wealth effect of the stock market has boosted the K-shaped economy with higher income/wealth families continuing to spend.
The One Big Beautiful Bill is a classic Keynesian economic stimulus from lower effective tax rates. In the short-run, the bond markets have not yet determined that the US has reached the point where it’s deficit spending is unsustainable. It may be close to that limit.
The “exorbitant privilege” of the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency and hedge for economic uncertainty remains in place. This is another “tipping point” situation where at some time China and the EU become reasonable options and US government borrowing rates spike upwards.
The federal reserve bank has cut baseline interest rates from 5.3% to 3.6%, offering borrowers a loose monetary policy, even if Trump calls for even lower rates.
Annual new home construction starts remain at 1.3 million as builders bet that higher housing prices and an 8-year building deficit will have to be filled. Historically they would have reduced their investments.
Employers remember the pain of filling open positions after the pandemic and remain slow to make major job cuts that can be rationalized away.
3% inflation is “manageable” by producers and consumers, even if it is not at the nominal 2% target.
TACO: Trump has not maintained his headline import tariff levels.
US imports are only 14% of GDP, down from 17% in 2011. Tariff changes have a smaller impact.
US strength in trade negotiations has been confirmed. Other countries have mostly chosen not to implement significant retaliatory tariffs. China is an exception.
Health care job growth has continued as the US population ages and requires greater care funded by employer insurance, Medicare and savings.
The leisure and hospitality industry has added jobs as the pandemic travel rebound continues.
The energy industry investments in wind, solar and transmission continue after a decade of limited investments, despite Trump’s lack of current support.
Trump’s pro-business tax, regulation, enforcement and competition policies provide businesses with opportunities to grow their profits.
The core age labor force participation rate remains at an historically high 84%.
Global oil prices trended down by 25% during 2023-2025. They’re up by two-thirds in the last few months.
Labor force productivity growth has been 3%+ during 2023-2025 after 3 years of no growth in 2020-2022.
The US leads the world in scientific and economic innovation by a wide margin.
Trump’s policies have cost the typical American family about $5,000 per year on a base of $100,00. They feel this and reflect it in the consumer sentiment surveys.
The US economy is far more diversified, resilient, creative, innovative, responsive than it was historically. It is able to adapt to changing regulations, immigration, regulatory enforcement, tariffs and opportunities. It is well positioned to succeed in the new US and global environment.
Question 1: Is the core or essence of Civility this straightforward?
Question 2: Can everyone practice Civility?
Question 3: Can we “sell” this set of Civility behaviors to everyone?
Question 4: What prevents this version of Civility from becoming a cultural norm?
Communicate effectively: active listening, seek to understand, solutions, facts versus opinions, ideas not people, engage, don’t interrupt, use “I statements”, proper tone.
Self-control: think twice, choose your battles, manage emotions, be patient.
Be Responsible: own the process, fulfill commitments, respond promptly, manage shared spaces, clean up after yourself.
Be Authentic: walk the talk, follow the golden rule, say what you mean.
Apologize sincerely.
Address incivility.
Value “others”: follow team rules, consider other’s perspectives, empathize, seek the common good, provide constructive feedback.
Be Respectful: others, priorities, viewpoints, ideas, solutions, politics, religion, identity, feelings, history, relations, ownership, time, timelines, commitments, while disagreeing, focus, engage, privacy, boundaries, situations.
Ex 10-3: Creating “Safe Spaces” for Practicing Civility
“The Courageous Circle” demonstrates how a foundation of safety allows people to take risks they would otherwise avoid.
The Setup (2 Minutes)
* The Rule: Establish a “Civility Protocol.” For the next 15 minutes, everyone agrees to:
1. Listen to understand, not to rebut.
2. Suspend judgment (replace “That’s wrong” with “Tell me more”).
3. Acknowledge intent (assume everyone is acting in good faith).
Step 1: The “Safe” Share (4 Minutes)
Ask everyone to pair up. Each person has 90 seconds to share a low-stakes opinion they usually keep to themselves (e.g., “I think the 4-day work week is actually more stressful” or “I think our team meetings are 10 minutes too long”). The Goal: Practice the Civility Protocol. The listener simply nods and says, “Thank you for sharing that perspective.”
Step 2: The “Courage” Leap (6 Minutes)
In the same pairs, up the ante. Ask each person to share a professional or personal concern: (I don’t understand artificial intelligence. I no longer read a daily newspaper. I’m terrified of public speaking. I block annoying people on social media. I’m afraid democracy doesn’t work anymore.).
* The Twist: Because the first round established a “no-fire zone,” participants feel the psychological safety necessary to be vulnerable.
* The Listener’s Job: Ask one curious, non-judgmental question: “What would need to change for you to feel more confident about that?”
Step 3: The De-Brief (3 Minutes)
Bring the group back together and ask two questions:
1. “How did the Civility Protocol change your willingness to be honest in the second round?”
2. “Did it take more or less courage to speak when you knew you wouldn’t be attacked?”
The Takeaway: Civility isn’t about being “nice”; it’s about creating a predictable environment where the “cost” of being brave is lowered.
Creating safe spaces for Civility requires intentional, structured efforts to foster mutual respect, trust, and psychological safety, allowing for open dialogue without fear of harassment or personal attacks. The process involves establishing clear behavioral expectations, training participants, and modeling respectful behavior.
1. Establish Foundational Rules and Expectations
• Define Civility and Create a Code of Conduct: Clearly define what respectful behavior looks like in your context: listening without interrupting, asking curious questions rather than making assumptions, addressing conflict directly, speaking directly, exact role of tolerance, “off limits” topics or views, agreed upon taboos, positivity. This should be coordinated with the definition of your desired “corporate culture”.
• Ground Rules: Set norms to ensure shared ownership. Examples include using “I” statements, separating people from problems, avoiding “us-versus-them” language, decency, no fear, no polarization, no threats, bullying or harassment, no lies, no violence, no personal criticism, zingers, insults or sarcasm, separate facts and opinions, proactive time and topic management, welcoming “others” without condoning acts or speech, procedural rules.
• Set Confidentiality Guidelines: identity of persons, communications, quotations, photos, images, likenesses, documents, arguments, data, files, intellectual property, legal requirements and exceptions.
2. Implement Leadership and Modeling
• Lead by Example: Leaders model respectful communication, actively listen, welcome all and show empathy. Leaders use their power to prevent, stop, correct and mitigate uncivil behavior. Maintain independence as the moderator. Promote collaboration and participation.
• Acknowledge Potential Power Dynamics: Power and privilege can shape interactions. Welcome all individuals and groups to share on an equal basis. Encourage “brave spaces” that allow for vulnerability, where leaders welcome feedback and admit mistakes to show it is safe to do so.
• Ensure Accountability: Swiftly and consistently address incidents of incivility or harassment to demonstrate that respectful behavior is non-negotiable. Provide known, independent avenues for investigation of claims against leaders or participants. Use stated parliamentary procedures to manage regular interactions. Require compliance with definitions, codes, rules, procedures and rulings.
3. Cultivate an Inclusive and Welcoming Atmosphere
• Promote Inclusivity: Actively ensure that diverse perspectives are heard and valued, which builds a stronger sense of belonging. Define role of “trigger warnings” and “microaggressions”. Prohibit use of language, actions or symbols to divide or intimidate. Address history that can undermine Civility today. Share leadership opportunities. Accommodate requests for assistance. Value different intelligences, personality and learning styles.
• Create Physical/Virtual Safety: Choose accessible, neutral locations for meetings. In virtual spaces, ensure tools like closed captioning are available.
• Use Inclusive Language: Be mindful of tone and impact, avoiding discriminatory language. Welcome the use of varied languages/dialects and communications styles. Encourage but do not require participation.
4. Provide Civility Training and Tools
• Offer Civility Training: Equip people with emotional intelligence, active listening, and conflict resolution skills.
• Train Facilitators: Use trained “civility champions” to manage high-emotion conversations and guide dialogue constructively.
• Utilize De-escalation Strategies: Train participants to use techniques like CLARA (Calm, Listen, Acknowledge, Respond, Assess) to handle tense situations.
5.Sustain and Reinforce the Culture
• Recognize and Reward Civility: Publicly acknowledge individuals who demonstrate respectful, collaborative behavior.
• Encourage Feedback: Create anonymous or safe channels for feedback to assess the environment regularly. Encourage participants to directly give and welcome feedback.
• Make it Ongoing: Civility is not a one-time initiative; provide regular training and reminders of the established norms.
By implementing these steps, organizations can move from an “indifferent” space to one that actively fosters respect, increasing engagement, resolving conflict and solving problems.
Several exercises and models can be used to illustrate and practice effective responses to uncivil speech, focusing on techniques like cognitive rehearsal, assertive communication, and role-playing. [1, 2, 3]
1. Cognitive Rehearsal (Rehearsing Responses)
This evidence-based framework involves practicing specific, calm responses to anticipated uncivil remarks, allowing individuals to react constructively under stress.
Exercise: Create a list of common uncivil behaviors (e.g., sarcastic comments, interruptions, eyerolling) and have participants practice verbal responses.
Sample Phrases to Rehearse:
“I feel uncomfortable when…”
“Please don’t interrupt me.”
“Let’s focus on the facts.”
“Please explain your comment without sarcasm”. [2, 6, 7, 8]
2. The DESC Model for Assertive Communication
The DESC model provides a structured approach to addressing behavior without becoming aggressive.
D – Describe: Describe the specific, unwanted behavior (e.g., “When you raised your voice during the meeting…”)
E – Express: Express how the situation makes you feel using “I” statements (e.g., “…I felt dismissed.”)
S – Suggest/Specify: Suggest an alternative behavior or specify what you need (e.g., “Please let me finish my point.”)
C – Consequences: Outline the consequences of continued behavior (e.g., “This allows us to work together efficiently”). [9, 10, 11, 12]
3. Role-Playing “Draggles and Wowzers”
A 45-minute interactive exercise where participants act out scenarios of uncivil behavior (known as “Draggles”) in a classroom or workplace, with others practicing constructive intervention techniques.
Goal: To help participants identify, experience, and intervene in hurtful behaviors while in a safe environment. [1]
4. Bystander Intervention Training (The 5 D’s)
If you witness incivility rather than experience it directly, use these techniques to interrupt the cycle:
Direct: Directly address the person being uncivil (e.g., “That comment was offensive”).
Distract: Interrupt the interaction by asking a completely different question to the target.
Delegate: Find someone else, such as a manager, to intervene.
Delay: Check in with the target later to offer support.
Document: Take notes on what was said/done for reporting purposes. [7, 14, 15]
5. Civility Self-Reflection Exercise
Activity: Have individuals read statements about their behavior—such as “When a conversation gets heated, I act as an inflamer/listener/inquirer”—and reflect on how their reactions contribute to or de-escalate incivility. [17]
Name the Behavior: Clearly label what is happening, e.g., “That was a personal attack,” rather than addressing the subject matter.
Use Silence: Allowing silence after an uncivil comment can break the momentum and highlight the rudeness of the remark.
Set Boundaries: State clear expectations for future interaction. [7, 9, 17]
Effective responses to uncivil speech involve staying calm, setting clear boundaries, and using counter speech to address, rather than amplify, hostility. Strategies include calling out disrespectful behavior, using humor or facts, rephrasing harmful remarks, or disengaging. Key approaches include:
Set Boundaries: State clearly that the language is unacceptable and ask for a rephrase.
Use Counter speech: Counteract hate with facts, empathy, or humor rather than engaging in a fight.
Redirect the Topic: Reframe the conversation toward accountability rather than the defensive, per a Quora answer on handling rude speech.
Report & Block: Utilize platform reporting tools for harassment on social media, says a study on standing up to hate. [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]
Key Strategies in Detail:
Pause and Act Calmly: Avoid reacting emotionally, which often fuels the uncivil behavior.
Acknowledge Rights, Criticize Speech: Acknowledge a person’s right to speak but state that their, “comments were rude, cruel, offensive, or unacceptable,” explains a Quora user..
Highlight Hypocrisy: Point out the inconsistency of defending hostile speech while demanding accountability, says a
Engage Bystanders: Encourage others to report or comment, creating a normative pressure against uncivil, comments the Dangerous Speech Project.
Disengage: If the behavior continues, walking away or stopping engagement is an effective, powerful option. [1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11]
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