Integrity – DNC-Consulting

“That’s Crazy!!!” – More Chronicles from the VA (Ch 9)

I-Care The Department of Veterans Affairs – Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) regularly crows about reducing the backlog, improving the veteran experience, and making changes to deliver on the promise. Every so often, another article is spread, mainly by the VA Public Relations department (PR), about how they meet the legislated obligations. Then, unsurprisingly the truth is revealed, the curtain thrown back, and the lie exposed. The Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) is helping pull the curtain back, and the truth should infuriate every American. In an investigative report dated 22 June 2022 and linked, we find the following:

“… The VBA disregarded privacy procedures so it could use a workload tracking system more quickly without receiving the appropriate security authorization. The Mission Accountability Support Tracker (MAST) helps quantify the work VBA’s support services staff perform in response to employee requests for facility, equipment, and vehicle management; reasonable accommodation; and identification card issuance and renewal. Because staff use personally identifiable information (PII) in their work, the information could be compromised in an unauthorized, unsecured application. The VA-OIG found that VBA and the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) did not correctly follow privacy and security procedures. VBA’s privacy threshold analysis was inaccurate, and OIT did not conduct a privacy impact assessment. OIT’s misclassification of MAST as an asset resulted in insufficient security controls. Further, VBA lacked the authority to operate MAST before using it in regional offices.”

Lacking authority equates to a leadership failure to follow their standard operating procedures (SOP). PII being inappropriately released, nothing new at the VBA, or the VHA for that matter. Losing veterans’ identities and taking advantage of systems for personal gain, regardless of the cost, is nothing new or surprising. This should be where the VA organizational leadership should be focused; yet, what are they doing? Where is Congressional oversight and scrutiny?

FY 2017, the VBA leaders devised a scheme to have third-party vendors conduct compensation and pension exams to deliver on the promise to clear the backlog on veterans’ claims. Since FY 2017, the VBA has paid over $6.5 Billion on this scheme, and the VA-OIG found in a report dated 08 June 2022, “Some of the exams produced by vendors have not met contractual accuracy requirements. As a result, claims processors may have used inaccurate or insufficient medical evidence to decide veterans’ claims.” Is anyone surprised this is the result? The compensation and pension exam is the key to accuracy in claim completion; yet, inaccurate claims are still being adjudicated wrongly, which is significantly damaging veterans and their families!

From the report, we find the following:

“VBA’s governance of and accountability for the exam program needs to improve. The identified deficiencies appear to have persisted, at least partly because of limitations with VBA’s management and oversight of the program at the time of the review.”

The VBA’s leaders designed this scheme, shackled the program with ineptitude, and hindered the improvement of the program. Designed incompetence cannot get any better than this, and the leadership must be held accountable! Fraud, waste, and abuse remain pillars in Federal Government governance, so why are these leaders not being held liable?

Michael Bowman, Director of IT and Security Audits, in recent Congressional Testimony, made the following claim:

“Secure IT systems and networks are essential to VA’s fundamental mission of providing eligible veterans and their families with benefits and services. VA’s information security program and its practices must protect the confidentiality, integrity, and access to VA systems and data.”

The audacity of this director to claim “confidentiality, integrity, and access” as being secure would be laughable if it weren’t so inept! How would a non-VA Employee know the IT system is fraught with problems? VA-OIG report regarding FISMA compliance, Dallas, Texas. The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA). FISMA is a United States federal law that defines a comprehensive framework to protect government information, operations, and assets against natural and manmade threats. FISMA OIG inspections are focused on four security control areas that apply to local facilities. They have been selected based on their level of risk: configuration management controls, contingency planning controls, security management controls, and access controls.

What did the VA-OIG find? “Without effective configuration management, users do not have adequate assurance that the system and network will perform as intended and to the extent needed to support the CMOP’s missions. The access control deficiencies create risks of unauthorized access to critical network resources, inability to respond effectively to incidents, loss of personally identifiable information, or loss of life.” All political speak for inept leaders and deplorable leadership actions. IT/IS systems continue to fail, and the director claims the system has integrity; despicable and detestable!

Worse, the same FISMA inspection occurred at the same outpatient pharmacy mail facility in Tuscon, Arizona. The same problems were found, in the same systems, manned by the same inept people and led by the same poor leadership. Integrity, only if the word means sharing ineptitude between different facilities. Access to systems and data protection, can anyone honestly trust that the IT system at the VBA or VHA is providing the fundamental tools to meet the mission?

On the topic of IT system integrity, can anyone forget the continuing problems in delivering a functional electronic health record system to the VHA? How many billions of dollars must be wasted before Congress stops paying for this albatross? The VA-OIG has substantiated that “… many quality, patient safety, and organizational performance metrics were unavailable, including metrics needed for hospital accreditation. Additionally, the VA-OIG found that access metrics were largely unavailable. The VA-OIG remains concerned that deficits in new EHR metrics may negatively affect organizational performance, quality and patient safety, and access to care.” How’s that integrity doing? Is it trustworthy?

05 May 2022, failures were discovered in a joint DoD and VHA review of the new electronic health record system. The new EHR has no plan to create interoperability, yet interoperability was the main selling point for spending billions of dollars on a new EHR. Would you believe the VA-OIG recommends the DoD and VHA review federal laws and direct the offices overseeing the EHR program to begin complying? Would Congress please ask, why haven’t the program managers for the HER already been complying with Federal Law? How about demanding action to recompense the taxpayers who have been defrauded?

In April 2022, VA-OIG Michael J. Missal addressed Congress in a statement entitled, “At What Cost? – Ensuring Quality Representation in the Veteran Benefit Claims Process.” The VA-OIG’s mission is “preventing and addressing fraud and other crimes, waste, and abuse in VA programs and operations.” General Missal then discussed the integrity of VA processes to “help ensure that veterans receive the benefits, health care, and services they have earned through their service to our country.” Would Congress please ask how the VA-OIG is fulfilling its mission to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse?

“The VA-OIG operates a hotline that receives approximately 30,000 complaints annually from veterans, family members, VA employees, and the public.” If the 30,000 complaints are presumed to be stable, across just the years I have documented the VA’s abuses, then the VA-OIG has received upwards of 360,000 complaints over the last 12 years. Would Congress please ask about the success in promoting change, reducing fraud, waste, and abuse, and curbing the veterans being actively harmed by the VA, the VHA, and VBA?

Congress receives these VA-OIG reports first; what is Congress doing to scrutinize the executive branch? Where is the progress? The VA-OIG reports annually to Congress, but improvement never occurs. Permanent change never occurs. The same people are making the same excuses, using the same flowery language, and nothing ever happens to improve things. Worse, the same people maintain the same jobs, who pays, the veterans and their families, and the American taxpayer through the nose as the VA loses more and more money!

I do not know about any Congressional elected leader, but I am through buying the Kool-Aid the VA-OIG is selling:

“The VA-OIG’s work is focused on protecting VA programs and operations from waste, fraud, and abuse as well as improving their efficiency and effectiveness.”

On a single topic that the VA-OIG has reported on multiple times and remains critically important to all veterans and their families, it is reporting needs for improvement in VHA and VBA suicide prevention. From the report, we find the following:

“… Suicide prevention coordinators at VA medical facilities are required to reach out to veterans referred from the Veterans Crisis Line. Coordinators provide access to assessment, intervention, and effective care; encourage veterans to seek care, benefits, or services with the VA system or in the community; and follow up to connect veterans with appropriate care and services after the call.”

The findings from the VA-OIG report are almost criminal in the negligence of leadership to perform the jobs they hold:

“The VA-OIG found that coordinators mistakenly closed some veteran referrals because coordinators lacked the proper training, guidance, and oversight necessary to maximize chances of reaching at-risk veterans referred by the crisis line. VHA lacked comprehensive performance metrics to assess coordinators’ management of crisis line referrals, and coordinators lacked clear guidance on managing crisis line referrals. Until VHA provides appropriate training, issues adequate guidance, and improves performance metrics, coordinators could miss opportunities to reach and assist at-risk veterans.”

Why did the media bury this report? Suicide prevention continues to be a significant military and veteran issue, but this program’s designed incompetence should be a major story on all media networks. More, this VA-OIG report should be a talking point for every congressional representative seeking re-election. Why is this not the case? Integrity requires honesty, honesty and integrity requires action. When will Congress take action?

How many dead veterans will it take before Congress takes action? 31 May 2022 VA-OIG report:

“The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an inspection to review the care of an unresponsive patient by Emergency Department staff and the subsequent response of leaders at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center (facility) after the patient’s death at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital (Shands). The OIG determined that facility Emergency Department nurses failed to provide emergency care to an unresponsive patient who arrived by ambulance. Despite emergency medical services (EMS) personnel having relayed, while en route to the facility, the criticality of the patient’s condition and the limited patient identifying information available, Emergency Department nurses and an Administrative Officer of the Day wasted critical time concentrating efforts on whether the patient was a veteran (which the patient was, but not so identified by the nurses) versus patient care. As a result, EMS personnel reloaded the patient into the ambulance for transport to Shands.”

The staff failed to follow EMTALA, and a veteran died due to the inaction and inappropriate focus of the medical providers. This is not the first or second breach of EMTALA, the federal law requiring any patient presenting at an emergency department receiving federal funds to be treated; yet, what will it take to get Congress off their thumbs?

12 May 2022, deficiencies in care led to a patient dying at the Charlie Norwood VAMC, Augusta, Georgia. The VA-OIG substantiated that:

“medical-surgical unit nursing leaders did not have adequate quality controls or training to ensure the provision of safe and effective alcohol withdrawal nursing care.” “Primary care staff failed to provide sufficient care coordination and treatment. A provider failed to address the patient’s abnormal chest images and poor nutrition and failed to communicate test results to the patient as required. A primary care nurse failed to respond to the patient’s secure message request for assistance two days before surgery.

Additionally, a barium swallow test was not scheduled. The surgical team completed a preoperative assessment but failed to detect the patient’s overall poor health. During the patient’s hospital stay after surgery, medical-surgical nurses did not consistently assess alcohol withdrawal symptoms or administer medications as required.”

My wife is fond of saying, these oversights and failures occur in non-Government hospitals, and this incident should not be considered indicative of the whole system lacking similarly. Yet, civilian hospitals have lawyers by the dozen looking for a reason to sue providers for malpractice, and the government hospitals protect against accountability and responsibility. Worse, you will never know the problems unless you track these incidents.

Do you know why I keep declaring there is a problem with designed incompetence; several veterans suffered T-12 burst fractures and multiple rib fractures, all because of poor documentation and even worse communication. This is a life-changing injury, and the VA-OIG found the VA providers to have culpability but no responsibility due to a lack of documentation. Delays in provider documenting in the electronic health record the provider’s notes delayed care for another veteran who also suffered life-changing spinal injuries after receiving non-care at a VA facility. The VA-OIG cannot conclusively document the tie between poor care being received and the injuries sustained by the veteran, all because of delays in the provider documenting treatment.

Tell me, does anything discussed above reflect the words of Inspector General Michael J. Missal, who claimed the following in Congressional Testimony:

“VHA continues to face enormous challenges in providing high-quality care to the millions of veterans it serves. Despite these challenges, the VA-OIG has witnessed countless examples of veterans receiving the care they need and deserve—delivered by a committed, compassionate, and highly skilled workforce [emphasis mine].”

Does a provider killing a veteran reflect a committed, compassionate, or highly skilled workforce? How many veterans must be permanently injured by the VHA providers to reflect a committed, compassionate, and highly skilled workforce? How often will the electronic health record fail before highly skilled workers are displayed?

Plato 2 Unfortunately, the VA-OIG reports discussed are not even the tip of the iceberg of what is happening. My apologies, dear readers; I have been remiss in my reporting duties. Why have I been remiss, because my health went sideways since April when I had a medical procedure completed that was advised but not appropriate. The VHA and VBA are sick organizations and desperately need scrutiny and standards, new leadership, and written organizational policies. Help me force these nefarious characters into the sunshine for a good dose of sunshine disinfectant, and let’s change the world for the better.

© Copyright 2022 – M. Dave Salisbury
The author holds no claims for the art used herein, the pictures were obtained in the public domain, and the intellectual property belongs to those who created the images. Quoted materials remain the property of the original author.

Courtesy: The Key to Civil Society

Not to state the obvious, Roe v. Wade has been rescinded, and the political left has become the antithesis of civil society. Acting in a manner that is rude, boorish, and bloody awful. I know sugar-hyped, caffeine-strung-out, two-years-old who behave better than the supposed adults rioting, looting, and threatening violence. Frankly, after the summer of rage (2020), I am fed up with the media cheerleading criminal behavior in the name of expressing themselves; let us now affirm and cherish as sacred courtesy as the preeminent civil virtue needed in society.

Elder Marvin J. Ashton, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints (October 1976), addressed the topic of courtesy while discussing self-management. Quoting Elder Ashton, “Courtesy and self-respect are necessary ingredients” in properly being a member of any society, business, family, etc. In a previous article, the discourteous behavior of the political left was discussed, especially those who choose to join the LGBTQ+ communities. Why has courtesy dropped so precipitously in American society and too other cultures across the globe? Elder Ashton discusses the answer:

“Seeing men and women who think, speak, and act with propriety in any community or personal situation is refreshing and uplifting. Good manners are necessary for the decency and peace of community living. [Good Manners] should be a matter of grave concern to all, yet we hear and read less about their cultivation than we do about dieting and “daily dozens” to enhance our personal acceptance and development.”

Stemming from self-discipline, courtesy is an outward expression of inner strength, and our manners precede us into new situations. As a kid, one of the deadliest sins we could commit was being late to an appointment, meeting, or scheduled event. You could lose your temper, drop the worst language, but if you were late, you were in big trouble! Sure, foul language was a punishment multiplier but was a punishment reducer if you were not late. In the US Army, we were taught if you are not 15-minutes early, you are late. 15-minutes early was on time, building the mental toughness to understand the military requirement of “Hurry up and wait.”

Yet, what do we see too often since 2000, less and less is society expecting a person to be “on time,” let alone early to a scheduled appointment. Worse, recently, I had a doctor’s appointment, and the staff in the office were grateful I had shown up, let alone was 15-minutes early to my appointment. When further discussed, the conversation drifted to how people do not call to cancel, show up hours late, and still expect to be seen, and how the staff was forced to work overtime when people showed up late. The provider felt compelled to see these patients, even though doing so meant staying late. Importantly, sourced from Elder Ashton, serenity and poise are the companions of those who practice courtesy and judgment to always be on time.

As self-discipline has been reduced, social interactions have also declined as people feel attacked when courtesy is absent. Worse, if I do not believe the same as you, social norms state I deserve to be attacked, even physically attacked, and this atrocious behavior is my fault for not having the courtesy to believe the same as you. No! This is not courtesy, self-discipline, or proper self-management, and I refuse to spend another microsecond being abused!

What is courtesy?

Jim Butcher is correct, “If you can’t manage courtesy, try silence.” In defining courtesy, the dictionary refers to courtesy as “polite behavior” and “indulgence.” Yet, I feel this is barely scratching the surface on defining courtesy, especially since indulgence is not a strong suit of mine. Courtesy is a willingness, and ability, to properly relate to others. Courtesy requires humility or a humble approach to social interactions. Elder Ashton was clear, “Proper self-management will permit us to be a team member first, a coach, captain, or superstar second.” Do we understand, and will we willingly accept, the role of a team member, participant, or active and engaged audience?

Early in life, I had some lessons forcibly taught me. Elder Ashton sums up the lessons:

“Good health habits, integrity, bearing, mannerisms, conversation, and self-control can be powerful assets in one’s balance sheet. These traits outwardly reflect the views of the management. Integrity within oneself makes it possible for honesty with God, family, and all other daily associates. A person with integrity within himself will also have it in his relationship with others.”

At my current stage of life, I lack a “cherub-like demeanor” with anyone who tries to steal, infringe upon, or impugn my integrity. This is wrong, and I struggle daily with the slings and arrows of our discourteous society. Yet, still, we find a need to define courtesy, and while healthy eating, exercise, and patience help me in my struggles, these other aspects of courtesy remain invaluable.

Courtesy, as an extension of self-respect and self-discipline, generates improved mental and physical health, further promoting courteous living and mental peace needed to suffer the fools slinging mud and practicing violence. Do we understand the connection being discussed; Elder Ashton affirms, “our self-image and general conduct [observed through] dress, grooming, and hair standards, moderation of voice, use of worthy language, good manners, respect for other’s rights.” However, does this define courtesy; not really, but they form the core of actions witnessed by those with self-respect and self-discipline.

Consider the recent media coverage of the two camps prominent in the Roe v. Wade protests since late February/early March. The dress, language, general conduct, manners, and moderation of voice distinctly identified which camp one woman belonged to or another. The distinction was easily observed long before either camp opened their mouths. More to the point, look at the Republican and Democrat audiences at their respective national conventions. The media coverage never ceases to amaze me, the camera operators and producers work tirelessly to not fuel stereotypes, but even then, the audiences are clearly distinct.

Elder Ashton states and I affirm in the strongest language, “In any community or personal situation, it is refreshing and uplifting to see men and women who think, speak, and act with propriety.” Having traveled amongst incredibly diverse global cultures, it does not matter where you are or the culture you originate from; it is mentally and physically refreshing to be among people who act with propriety and courtesy and live with self-respect and self-discipline. Clearly, courtesy is at its best when it is least obvious, and the least apparent; the greater self-respect shines through the actions and speech of courteous people. Courtesy is a manner of living; it is a lifestyle choice and is not merely a religious thing stemming from a Judeo-Christian moral code (the Ten Commandments). Aristotle is quoted saying, “We are what we repeatedly do; excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” President Theodore Roosevelt said, “Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.” Consider these two quotes for a moment; courtesy is an action displaying excellence, and courtesy is courage. To Jacques Maritain goes the final word on defining courtesy, “Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy.”

Thus, gratitude, excellence, and gratitude are mere pieces of courteous behavior. Interestingly, I find the best lessons on courteous behavior have arrived from the most disgustingly discourteous people. In the US Army, I was called out by an incredibly courteous person for my language. In the US Navy, I learned why courteous language was required through observing the consequences of the discourteous around me. Several department members used horrific language, acted in manners revealing their lack of self-respect, and then cursed the gods for their predicament with women and money.

I am not saying that courteous living makes people rich or loved. I merely relate that life is better the more I struggle to keep my cherub-like demeanor when stressed by those with manners more closely resembling pigs in rut than men with the potential to become God. William Wordsworth stated in his writing, “Ode: Intimations of Immortality:”

“Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting. The soul that rises with us, our life’s star, hath had elsewhere its setting, and cometh from afar: not in entire forgetfulness, and not in utter nakedness, but trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home.”

Disregarding religion for a moment, man has a tremendous imagination, but no religion yet has a discourteous god at its center. Let us so live, with courtesy, self-respect, and self-discipline, that when we return to the God who made us, we trail clouds of glory as a mark of gratitude and courtesy.

Elections – Politics – California: I Support Larry Elder!

Angry Wet Chicken I support citizens who desire to become elected leaders. I refuse to support politicians! Worse, I detest with every fiber of my being politics in its many forms. I hate politics and those who engage in politics from business to the military, from the classroom to the boardroom, and from the private sector to the government sector! Elections matter until they are stolen and become a farce by those who desire to rule, and this is why California, the recall election of that detestable politician Gavin Newsom, and politics matter to every single person in America. In the US Navy, when my department officer told me to “Play the game,” he meant to play politics. To the minions of hell who delight in playing politics, I have found being honest, forthright, and valiant is better, and you will not win!

We begin with a review, for too often, people think they know the meaning of a word, and the entire etymology of that word is where the trouble lay. Politics is one of these terms that comes with lots of baggage, tons of hidden layers, and enough plastic to choke the world’s oceans! We must be clear about what politics is to recognize when political animals are trying to commit acts of political villainy.

What is Politics?

Question Please note that emphasis has been added to key phrases to support knowledge of the complete etymology and enhance awareness. Frankly, I would be ashamed to be called a politician. Being called a politician means I possess a derogatory approach to my constituency and am only concerned with seeking power, usually through devious means. As a Noun, politics are “the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.”

- - “The activities of governments concerning the political relations between countries.”
  - “The academic study of government and the state.”
  - “Activities within an organization that aimed at improving someone’s status or position and are typically considered to be devious or divisive.”
  - “A particular set of political beliefs or principles.”
  - “The assumptions or principles relating to or inherent in a sphere, theory, or thing, especially when concerned with power and status in a society.”

As a Verb, politic/s is derogatory and is defined as “engaging in political activities.”

From Old French Politique “political,” Latin from Greek Politikos, and Politẽs “citizen” and Polis “city.” Thus, we have described the term politics in all its glory and inhumanity. Is the term more understood?

The Duty of Americans Politics is a descriptive tool used to identify certain human activities where power is sought, and devious means and divisive gestures are employed to obtain that power. Every action tied to securing power through devious means and divisive gestures is politics or political, which means derogatory. For those needing more, derogatory is “showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.” Thus, at the root, politicians by their very name and nature are derogatory towards those who elect them into power.

What are Elections?

Exclamation Mark Elections are the formal process for selecting another for an office, leadership, or choosing a person or favorable course of action. Key to elections is that they are formal, which means there are rules, laws, guidelines, regulations, and penalties for the officers selected to monitor the election process. One of the most egregious actions of the 2020 elections was breaking the rules, laws, and regulations of the formal election process in the primaries, which then extended into the actual election day results. Why bring up the 2020 Federal Election farrago? Because as of 25 August 2021, the same pattern is occurring in California, again! Ballots are going missing, ballots are being dumped in trash cans, mail-in ballots without signatures, fraudulent ballots are being injected into the counts, etc., ad nauseam ad infinitum.

The 2020 Federal Election farrago proved that through fraud, deceit, and the purchase of local elected officials, elections could be thrown to whichever candidate had sufficient money to pay for the politics needed to win. Where are integrity and honesty in the election process; they left for the Jersey shore, got mugged, and are lying under a “John Doe” in some backwater hospital on life support. I support Larry Elder for Governor of California, but I do not think the Newsom Political machine will allow him a fair and honest election opportunity!

Look Thus, the problem for ALL of AMERICA right now! Primaries are coming, political futures hang in the balance, and the media know that the liberal madness and tyranny from COVID-Mandates has left a bitter taste in every person’s mouth. The polls show no politician being trusted, and if the political machines are to keep paying dividends to special and private interests, then those investing in their favorite politician are going to have to pony up serious cash to buy the elections officials right now to protect the sleaze in office from the school board and Mayor to the president!

The elections in a representative government must remain sacrosanct, or representative government fails! Yet, do you honestly trust the results of any of the elections since 2000 and the “Chad” fiasco in Florida? I am not asking you to support any candidate; this platform does not advocate for or against any candidate. I advocate for people; I advocate for liberty and the health of the American Republic. Elections matter, voting is important, but politics is hurting America, and the citizenry needs to understand this concept.

Knowledge Check! Tell me, after the last two weeks of being ignored by the US President, with American Citizens being placed last, if at all, on the priority list in Afghanistan, do you feel represented by your government? California, let’s discuss some truths; your politicians are some of the most hated and despised politicians in the American political system; they win with the lowest approval ratings and polling standards, time after time. Sure, these politicians gerrymandered the living daylights out of their districts, but even then, they should have lost a long time ago. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why these hated imbeciles keep winning office in Sacramento and Washington DC?

California, how did Governor Moonbeam ever make a comeback in your state? How did Newsom the loser ever keep his job as Mayor, let alone win the seat as governor? I watched those elections; I keep asking myself how, why, where do the votes come from? Then the Federal Election of 2020 occurred. It became apparent; the patterns of winning in California have leaked across America. The same way to win keeping politicians in office in Chicago and Las Vegas moved to perfection in California and then across America. Fraud, deceit, skullduggery, gerrymandering, and the political purchasing of local election officials and attorneys, judges, and other easily bribed public officials.

Does the derogatory nature, the hatred, and the duplicity of the politician shine through from those holding elected office right now? Is the definition more clear and the need for sundering politics from government more apparent? Is it clear why politics should not be part of government? Angry Grizzly Bear

Nobody is “Too BIG to Fail,” even the government, and it is past time for the elected officials and the bureaucrats dependent upon the political machine to begin to fear an open ballot box and an angry electorate! It is time to ask who paid the postmen to dump the ballots? Who paid the government employees to shuffle the ballots, copy ballots, and accept fraudulent votes? It is past time to question the legitimacy, integrity, and informational security of the electronic voting machines and have transparency in voting. It is past time for mandatory ID, one vote, one ID, and a biometric tag to protect against fraudulent ballots, stuffed ballot boxes, and mailed-in ballot duplicity.

You, the American citizen, are needed! Awake and Arise! Find your strength and stand before it is too late and your country has fallen an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle while you slept! History will judge you and me for what we do and say right now; let them record we did not allow the American Experiment to fail on our watch; we fought back against the tide of tyranny and oppression and won!

© 2021 M. Dave Salisbury
All Rights Reserved
The images used herein were obtained in the public domain; this author holds no copyright to the images displayed.

Dialectical Behavioral Theory – Decisional Balance Sheet – The Integrity Edition

Bobblehead Doll An email in my inbox started me thinking of Johari Windows first thing this morning, and in the process of proving myself wrong, I learned some interesting things and figured I would share my journey of discovery. I am always fascinated when I prove myself wrong; I like it; mainly because it proves I am still human with a lot to learn!

Johari Windows

A Johari Window is a visual method for looking at data about self-knowledge and delineates information into four areas of interpersonal relationships:

- - - The Open Area – represents what we both know about me and openly share.
    - The Hidden Area – is what I hide from you about myself.
    - The Blind Area is what you know about me, observe about me, and are aware of about me, but refuse to share with me.
    - The Unknown Area – is the part of me which neither of us knows about on a conscious level.

Dialectical Behavior Theory

The Dialectical Behavior Theory (DBT) simply stated, is an evidenced-based process where a psychotherapist and a patient work to increase a patient’s emotional and cognitive regulation by learning about triggers leading to reaction and assessing and building coping skills to apply to events, thoughts, feelings, behaviors to avoid undesired reactions. DBT is a precursor of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), which has shown significant effectiveness for PTSD-related problems and spectrum mood disorders. A tool used frequently in CBT and DBT is a decisional balance sheet that looks like a table in an MS Word document.

	Plusses/Pros	Cons/Minuses
Self
Others/Family

A decisional balance sheet crops up a lot in various forms and under multiple names in psychology to represent data visually in a decisional tree, where the optimum location is in the lower right corner.

	Low	High
Low
High

Imperative to understanding is that each decisional balance sheet, or decisional tree, can be read top to bottom or right to left. The optimum location remains constant, regardless of the topic. This is mentioned solely as a differentiation method between a Johari Window and a Decisional Balance Sheet. A Johari Window can be any size but cannot be read top to bottom or right to left with an optimum location in any of the boxes. That is how you tell the difference and my mistake from earlier this morning.

Integrity

Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions. Integrity is the choice to be the best you can be.

“Integrity is holding ourselves to the same high standards that we have for others. Expecting little of everyone is apathy. Expecting less of ourselves than others sets us up for hypocrisy. Leniency is expecting less of others than ourselves, and it fails to create accountability. Integrity is the box where we should be at.” – Adam Grant

Integrity is not malleable, changeable, adjustable, wishy-washy, or like a suit coat that can be put on and taken off. You either possess integrity, or you do not, and if you do not possess integrity, you are not worth my time and energy!

The current US President has no integrity, and America’s enemies knew this and desired this quality in the American president. The Vice President, the majority and minority speakers in both houses of the Congress, and many of the governors and mayors in America all lack integrity. As witnessed in the 2020 elections, a lack of integrity is being experienced in the judges, the county supervisors, the election boards, and many state legislators, and state election officials as well. America is suffering from a dearth of integrity in public officials, and that is a significant problem!

Plato 2 As a kid, I was told to role model John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Colonel Sherman Potter, and even Father Mulcahy. I was told to despise those who weaseled on deals, liars, thieves, cheats, lawyers, and politicians. These people were necessary evils, but I never believed in a necessary evil. If you were evil, then you were not worth my time or support. I maintain that position to this day, and it disgusts me to no end when I have been hoodwinked by politicians I thought had integrity who turned out to be wolves in sheep’s clothing. Senator McCain, I am talking about you specifically, and I do not care that you are dead!

Millstone of Designed Incompetence I guess it has been a couple of years now, I thought it had only been several weeks, but I had a conversation on the power of religion to improve integrity. I have found just as many atheists as religionists with integrity and just as many religionists as atheists without integrity; thus, I can only conclude that religion is a tool for improving integrity, but individual choice trumps religious flavor and fervor. Yet, religion does play a role in providing a moral background for building a solid foundation under a person with integrity. Seeing as atheism is a religion, I have no problems calling on religionists of the world to unite to provide a moral background to improve integrity where they currently live, work, and reside.

However, in calling for an increase in integrity, I feel duty-bound to call out those without integrity for public display, ridicule, and scorn. For example, I have found that the Queen of England has a lot of moral fiber and a high level of integrity, whereas her son is a flat-out creep who somehow missed integrity lessons and is choosing the life of depravity. For all her faults, I felt Princess Diana had a lot of integrity, and her kids had some integrity, but they seem to be choosing the way of the snake, which is difficult to observe.

Plato 3 President Biden is utterly bereft of integrity, his children are also utterly bereft of integrity, and Hunter is the worst of the bunch. I do not wish to see how deplorable the grandchildren will be as they will be a millstone around America’s neck for a long time! Vice President Kamala Harris and her spouse are two people utterly bereft of anything approaching integrity, moral uprightness, or even common decency. They are joined by the Obama’s (including the children), the entire Clinton Machine, and the black hole of integrity has many others currently occupying seats in Washington DC for company.

Exclamation Mark Since we have so many examples of poor integrity, there must be examples of people with integrity. Thankfully the answer is yes, and they are easy to spot. Below are common ways to spot integrity, and I challenge you to look for and vocally support integrity where you find it. One of the best ways to show integrity is to appreciate integrity in others. Catch people doing good and vocally thank them. Send thank you cards. Send thank you emails. Remember them after the incident.

- - - Take responsibility for actions and consequences – Choosing to do the right thing is hard; accepting the consequences for failure, especially when it was not your fault is integrity in action. Allowing others to receive praise for accomplishments is integrity in action.
    - Put another person’s needs above your own. – This requires observation. Do the right!
    - Offer to help with action, not words. – As a disabled person, I do not want someone to offer to get a door, grab the bloody door! If I drop something, don’t offer to get it; bend down and grab it. I will never criticize anyone for taking action. Offers are good, but I always refuse offers to help, but I never refuse actions to help!
    - I will always give you the benefit of the doubt and start from the position that you are trying your best; please reciprocate.
    - Honesty is the only policy. Delivering honesty with kindness and forthrightness is socially the only way to move society forward.
    - Aretha Franklin was very clear, R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Learn it, live it, love it! RESPECT is a two-directional street; you have to show it to get it.
    - Admit when you are wrong. It is called humility. Humility is not weakness, but strength, learning, and growth.
    - People with integrity are reliable, they are on time (every time), and they work until the job is done.
    - Integrity includes kindness, even to a kid crying, dirty, stinky, smelly, and wet — a homeless person, a peer, a police officer, another driver, etc. Kindness is a choice!
    - Integrity is where we start each day anew as a lifestyle choice.

NO MORE BS: The Role of the Rule of Law

Gavel Rome made global history when it wrote down its laws and posted these laws in a manner that told everyone that the law was the highest order in the land, and everyone is held to the same legal standard. Writing down laws was nothing new in societies; the Jews had written and codified their laws long before Rome, but to hold everyone accountable to the same legal standard set Rome apart and blessed their land. Why did Rome eventually fall; they stopped holding everyone responsible to one rule of law.

What is the Role of Law?

Ask a lawyer this question, and you will get a similar answer to the following:

“Laws provide a framework and rules to help resolve disputes between individuals. Laws create a system where individuals can bring their disputes before an impartial fact-finder, such as a judge or jury.”

Frankly, my experience with lawyers is as productive as my relationship with the VA, hostile and not productive. Hence, I infer that the law’s role in society is to bring order to a social environment, produce equality under the law, and punish those who decide to break the law. Law is an expectation, a social contract, that restricts and constricts behavior to a socially acceptable level.

Thin Blue Line Consider today’s tragic events in Boulder, Colorado. Before the blood was even clean at the scene, we have the President and selected hysterical gun-grabbing politicians making hay and demanding “gun reform.” Except, “Gun Reform” always means stealing guns from legal owners and doing nothing about illegal gun holders. Nothing is being urged to avoid and eliminate criminal behaviors with a firearm. The Rule of Law’s role only applies to those who choose to live according to society’s laws and rules. Those choosing to live outside society’s rules are terrorists and need to be treated as such!

President Lincoln is quoted thus:

“Let every American, every lover of Liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their abuse by others. As the Patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor; let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear [down] the character of his own, and his children’s Liberty. Let reverence for the [Constitutional] laws [of America]… become the political religion of the nation.” President Lincoln is quoted thus: “Let every American, every lover of Liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their abuse by others. As the Patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor; let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear [down] the character of his own, and his children’s Liberty. Let reverence for the [Constitutional] laws [of America]… become the political religion of the nation.”

President Lincoln continued to proclaim:

“When I so pressingly urge a strict observance of all the laws, let me not be understood as saying there are no bad laws, nor that grievances may not arise, for the redress of which, no legal provisions have been made, I mean to say no such thing. But I do mean to say, that, although bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still while they continue in force, for the sake of example, they should be religiously observed.” The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume I, “Address Before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois” (January 27, 1838), p. 112.

Does President Lincoln’s plea inspire you, encourage you, and provide direction for improving the government moving forward? The role of the “Rule of Law” is to empower and motivate people, to create order in a society, and to constrict and restrict behaviors for those choosing to live outside societal norms and acceptable behaviors. Is the role of the “Rule of Law” clear?

What is the “Rule of Law?”

As President Lincoln was quoted above, the “Rule of Law” in America is:

“[The] support of the Declaration of Independence, the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor; let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear [down] the character of his own, and his children’s Liberty. Let reverence for the [Constitutional] laws [of America] … become the political religion of the nation.”

Are laws currently abusing America; absolutely! Herein is the charge to action; the government has chosen to declare you are the US Government’s property (Reich, 1964). Charles Reich’s discussion on “New Property” is unacceptable and unconstitutional in the extreme. The lack of treating the western states in a constitutional manner is also unconstitutional. The theft of farmer’s goods, fisherman’s wares, and ranchers’ products remain 100% unconstitutional. Yet, the bureaucrats’ actions and the politicians continue to treat you and me as unwanted property in our own country.

Apathy Like Rome, the legislators and the President are not above the “Rule of Law.” Even though these people continue to consider themselves above the “Rule of Law.” Worse, no matter how many laws a country produces, if the society is immoral, the “Rule of Law” is a joke. Consider the knife and machete attacks in the United Kingdom, outlaw guns, and people are still finding ways and means to hurt other people. France has stringent laws, yet people rent vehicles and mow their neighbors down in case lots. Japan, very orderly society; how do criminals make the news there; they use chemicals to poison their neighbors on a subway. Laws do not dictate moral behavior, ever!

Laws can only, ever, restrict and constrain those amenable to living a moral life. A “Liberty FIRST Culture” understands this principle and protects itself accordingly. Bringing this topic to a subject closely related to the “Rule of Law,” morals, morality, and moral living are all products of people amenable to religious belief structures. Those people who desire to maintain connections to a religious society act their ideology through living a moral life.

Life Valued I am not saying everyone needs to change religions; I am claiming that religion plays a significant role in reducing people’s animal minds to become amenable to living in a social order that respects the law and being ruled by law to enjoy maximum freedom. We also need to be clear, atheism is a religion per Webster, and while this is a topic for another article, religion is a codified belief system with adherents that form a social order based upon expectations of behavior. Liberty and freedom require choices; choices require more than a single option or two for a person to make more; Liberty and freedom require written and codified moral statements that grow from living a moral lifestyle.

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