Michael V. Piscitelli Abridged

To make a long story short…

Just another human living its century on the soiled crust of a rock hurtling through space. For a long time in my youth, some of my fondest memories were actually figments of my imagination inspired by Star Trek. It inspired feelings of existential precariousness for our species and a joyful indulgence in our potential.

A moment of deepest sadness washed over me when I realized that stepping foot on a starship in my lifetime was unlikely. At least we can hope to see a trans-Mars injection (TMI) occur in our time and have people leave for Mars. Earth is still our only best hope for survival and thank-be-to-knowledge we’re a smart enough species to understand that by now.

I firmly believe that good begets good and that bad happens. The most powerful, loving, and restorative thing to do is pay good forward. As a species, we make it the furthest when we’re at our best, and we’re at our best when we cooperate. There is no promise too big to fulfill if we work together to make it so.

Despite my descendants coming from southern Europe during a time of othering, we were considered white among the so-called races when I was growing up. The people of my community were all working-class and identified as Italian Roman Catholic, always the three words together and never separately. We lived in Southern New England, and I was coming of age there during the late eighties. That experience imparted a particular fear of being gay and a wariness of using logical speech openly or in any forceful way.

Thank goodness I lived in a country ruled by laws and with separation of church from state. This was an essential light at the end of the tunnel that was not a train! As an unemancipated dependent, I grew keenly aware of when and how much speech to use. With great freedom came great responsibility.

Moving to Arizona allowed me to experience diversity and freedom of thought from new perspectives. The ranges are vast and plenty, from logic to conspiracy and illogic to occult and beyond. Shortly after starting at a new school, I insulted someone by insinuating our faith traditions were similar. She self-identified as a Christian and would not allow me to associate her religion with the likes of Catholicism. I had never considered the differences before and have learned about many religions since. After all, blind spots can be dangerous and human wisdom comes in many forms.

The first priority, at the ready-to-work age of 15, was to be self-reliant by 18. I have been working a W2 job ever since. It was there in the east valley near Phoenix where Ray and I both began our careers. We both took a liking to financial services, which led to careers spanning decades and provided opportunities for Ray and me to cement our early friendship.

After over a decade in the desert, I moved my work and schooling to Oz (a.k.a. Northern California). This is where I met my better half and have lived for over a dozen years. I appreciated being able to finish my degree while living here. It provided yet more perspectives on regional cultural values and another reason to explore my new home. I finally earned my Bachelor of Science degree. It took almost a decade and a half to complete while working full-time, but at least that allowed me to pay it off as I went along, which gave me peace of mind.

During my career, many professional hats adorned my head as a means to develop a well-rounded skillset. My experience includes operational execution, information systems, project management, data management, and program reporting to round things out. Now, I focus on what I can do to help establish liberty and justice for us all.

One of my policy wishes is to begin teaching subjects vital to understanding the human condition and our place in the world according to science and philosophy. To accompany those subjects, concepts like civics, anthropology, logic, economics, and law will be taught. The goal is to create fully endowed minds capable of maximizing their own agency. By the end of high school, they will recognize the value of continuous learning, making decisions independently, and becoming skillful at navigating the socio-economics of real life (whatever prevailing version exists). No college should be needed to establish functional fundamentals in these areas. Although, two years of vocational or collegiate-level coursework should also be made available as grants or forgivable loans.

The time since COVID-19 has spurred me to lead the launch of Citizens Prerogative and begin taking action on other projects. Having sat in quarantine, witnessing the promise for a better future continue to be set up for failure, my resolve to take action has been cemented. There is no time like the present for uncomfortable, risky, and new steps to pay forward the grace and good fortune the universe has bestowed me. Praise the universe!

If you identify with even part of my story, then you understand some of the tenants that drive my passion for the mission of Citizen Do Good.

I hope you will stay tuned.

In the words of Spock, “Live long and prosper.”

-Michael V. Piscitelli (MVP)