Citizens Prerogative Podcast Closed Caption Transcript
S3 E54 P4 In Service of Our Nation

09:32:58 In times like these. Being a citizen is a big job.
09:33:01 Thank you for joining us to celebrate the virtues of self-rule and debate the state of our Republic.
09:33:07 Welcome to the citizens prerogative. podcast This is the voice of your nerdy host, Michael Biscatelli, and we are inspired by a co-host whose passion for our Republic proceeds him everywhere.
09:33:18 He goes. Raymond and wong jr thank you thank you, and I'm i'm purely here on volunteer work today.
09:33:29 This is fso number 54 this is plank for Part 4, and our 5 part series where we're closing in on the end here, and the title of this episode will be in service of our nation so a little bit about what
09:33:45 we're gonna discuss is really what it means to be in service of our nation, and and recognizing that this is also this also means we're acting in service to one another.
09:33:57 And our posterity in turn, which is no small feed.
09:34:04 And in this series you know we've been bringing things back to episode 50, which introduced the 5 part to this series.
09:34:13 And you know, one of the founding foundational parts of that episode was related to the first paragraph of the Constitution.
09:34:20 So the terminology of potentially you know we're gonna continue carrying forward because we have to be equally concerned about today as we are concerned about the future and the world and the nation that we're going to leave behind for
09:34:31 others. I think that when I think about posterity sometimes people get kind of intimidated by it.
09:34:41 They don't know what or how they actually should be doing this for themselves, and is actually quite personal.
09:34:49 We cannot all have the exact same mission path, nor should we to reach posterity.
09:34:54 In fact, the more diversity in how we achieve this call the more beautiful the nation will be, The stronger the nation will be.
09:35:01 We all shouldn't fit into a pipeline right now you know the biggest posterity pipeline we have is acquiring debt, so we can fund the banking financial system that's their their posterity.
09:35:12 Set. But what about us
09:35:17 Exactly and honestly. because we don't have riches and wealth, and you know, family banks and all that stuff. What we have is our country.
09:35:27 What we have is the nation of laws. to try and make our lives better over time.
09:35:34 Lift ourselves up by our bootstraps if if the system isn't rained. So one of some of the ideas that we're going to be talking about today as well reestablishing our sense of community so kind of leading
09:35:46 into that our sense of community on our grander scale, with things like a civil service core and a public works administration.
09:35:54 So part of the reason why we have so much division and and issues among one another today is because we've all moved into our little corners inside of our homes, and and we don't interact like we once did back in the
09:36:07 day. The only time we seem to interact anymore is related to the work, you know, going to a job and depending on whether or not you're going back to an office.
09:36:16 You may or may not be interacting with people who aren't like you, or have different views or ideas or perspectives.
09:36:21 You know you're you're less likely in today's environment to come across an individual that challenges a bias or a set of assumptions that you might have once had Now that's something that we don't really
09:36:37 recognize but back in the day it's we didn't have necessarily a choice, you know.
09:36:41 We took it for granted. And so we look on we look upon programs like this as an opportunity to cause us to interact again and around a common cause.
09:36:54 That's greater than ourselves. I think the only thing possibly today.
09:36:59 People are doing besides getting involved, and maybe political activism actually ping on that. I'm not sure what people are doing to get involved in things that are greater than themselves.
09:37:11 And so it'd be nice to have a regimented way to get people into that experience, and we're gonna lean into the concepts of civil service core and like a public works administration that we've seen in the past and the United
09:37:26 States work. Well, but we're we wanna think about it in a creative way for for the people who live today and our posterity.
09:37:33 It's a program that we would want to invent to change with the Times for the purpose of bringing us together in defense of our nation.
09:37:43 So how would these things work So let's talk a little bit about a service score for public works, programs, and what their aims would be?
09:37:52 So I just described a little bit of that, but to maintain an active pipeline of people and small business contracts.
09:37:59 So these programs would be run facilitated sponsored by the Government essentially which public work I can't remember the name of the Civil Service cores that we have actively today.
09:38:11 I I should have captured those I didn't There are some out there, but we really need to come up with a new set of programs right, and it engages not just people and individuals who are willing to enable to volunteer but also
09:38:25 potentially small businesses contracts out to service call styled small businesses that are helping to fulfill some of the needs that may be more specialized. that you wouldn't expect volunteers to do so let me take a step back
09:38:38 and pull it out. Some of what these things would do what's the point. One of the things we would have these programs, you know, set up the Civil service cores.
09:38:49 These groups of people coming together to solve problems, the needs across the nation.
09:38:55 One of the major first and most clear and present dangers is climate change.
09:39:00 And so this civil service core could go to places where we're gonna experience the worst effects of climate change that are probably not preparing for it, and actively build infrastructure to help us, combat those changes and how preserve our country and some
09:39:14 of its borders. We also, you know, in the same sense, people could be contributing to infrastructure projects.
09:39:23 So rain. i've discussed on this podcast many times how we have to reinvigorate reinvent reinforcement.
09:39:30 Our economy when we talk about infrastructure. The first thing that pops into my mind is water pipeline, right?
09:39:38 Drinking water across the Western United States is going to become a problem more so with time, and the Central States have plenty of water.
09:39:46 So instead of shipping oil across the country, how about we build a pipeline for water, that's a great piece of infrastructure that a service court could get involved in, We can also cover shortages in healthcare
09:39:59 so we're experiencing our first pandemic in a long time.
09:40:04 There will be more and smaller. you know regional infections and other events that may happen. Whether it be I don't know.
09:40:12 I'm mass shooting or something that could cause mass casualties in a small town all of a sudden, or an oil spill or a gas leaker something that affects a large group of people suddenly in scenario that you wouldn't expect right so
09:40:25 we can have this civil service core could have a medical care component right?
09:40:33 And we deploy those Civil Service course to those regions that are needed.
09:40:38 The civil source course would also actively provide training for entry into new trades or reentry into other trades.
09:40:44 When I say new trades, they're just gonna we need people to install solar panels.
09:40:48 We need people to build X Y and Z infrastructure that we have yet to invent.
09:40:52 That makes us more sustainable and resilient.
09:40:54 It would be great as a trend to take people who used to work in coal mines, or, you know, doing, working out in the fields, fracking, or whatever they were doing.
09:41:04 Once we start to move away from some of these fall fossil fuel programs to get people transitioned over immediately using they're no and technical know how, on their skills into other trades.
09:41:18 We could also invigorate our public works. We could replace all of the terrible monuments we've established and put up respectful, useful, inspiring monuments across the earth.
09:41:31 Excuse me across the United States at least has a start.
09:41:35 And have public works that are immune with the spirit of our constitution.
09:41:45 And last, but not least on this set of bullets responding to disasters, natural or man-made, which I insinuated earlier. So i'm gonna go ahead and pause after those bullets and see if any of this
09:41:56 strikes the chord with you. Right world domination. Aside from your policies, you just admitted
09:42:04 I do think that this has an active place, and the problem is, many people right now are saying, great, Yeah, when am I gonna have time? right?
09:42:13 When am I gonna find time? i'm already trying to make ends meet?
09:42:17 I'm already trying to make it as a typical American. I have all this time to contribute right, and the thing is that if you look at our holistic, you may not have listened to all of our episodes, you may need to go back
09:42:27 to Number One and and listen to everything we've proposed because this is part of a holistic plan.
09:42:33 You need to remember that. it will work but optimally. it will work with healthcare included in our system.
09:42:41 It'll work with the universal basic income imagine if you had that universal basic income. and you were enabled to do these things.
09:42:48 And you said, You know what I don't want to work for a couple of years.
09:42:51 I just want to work at a front desk out of healthcare station.
09:42:55 You think you're not helping people by being a caring hand eye and the fact that the Government is enabling you to do this, and even if the Government does not, I mean technically, does, at the end of life, right we've already
09:43:07 enabled Medicare and and and social security as a system right to enable our elderly to do things that they want to do.
09:43:15 But what if we enable the entire American people to do what they wanted to do?
09:43:22 The diversity and the freedom would unlock opportunities.
09:43:26 We never imagined, and responding to a disaster. This, this goes back to apprenticeship.
09:43:35 As these people develop skills they become stronger citizens, they become more independent, and frankly they become freer.
09:43:41 And why does Why does nobody want us to be independent and free you've got to ask that question?
09:43:48 Just let us start to enable ourselves. But you have to give us the mechanism of freedom in capitalism, which is money.
09:43:56 So sorry to make it about money, Mike, but that's an enablement to make this not just happen, but be a a watershed of action.
09:44:07 Thank you. Ray: Yeah, I totally agree. How do you make this time available by providing the money?
09:44:15 It takes the free of the time. I think it's critical you're right.
09:44:20 This is integrated with everything that we've been proposing you raised a really
09:44:27 Another really interesting point that we won't cover in detail here, But I want to plant the seed about sabbatical.
09:44:36 I was reading an article recently, see if I can reference it.
09:44:40 But reading an article about the power of sabbaticals, and why? in certain it's either in certain countries or with only because I know today in the Us there's only certain companies a very small group of companies that offer
09:44:53 Sabbaticals, and I remember back in the day Intel. So we, you know, when we used to spend, I used to live in in Phoenix.
09:44:59 You and I used to live together, and Intel used to do all these things, and what was always fascinating is that people worked at Intel got a Sabbatical after 5 years or 3 years of employment and they get like up
09:45:09 to a year off, or something like that. And this article was going into the power of Sabbaticals, and why we should have those back like people, people.
09:45:18 We should recognize the value in that paid leave even if it's not paid like you said.
09:45:23 If we have supplemental income, we should be able to take that leave from work at our choice. This is one of the things we can do, because one of the critical things about taking leave is to go do other fulfilling things with your
09:45:36 life, and maybe even reassess, whether you want to return back to that job or you want to do something else.
09:45:42 So anyway, I i digress but that that is a really keen point, and we really haven't spent much time talking about the power of so bad sabbatical.
09:45:53 So we'll I think that'll make a a recurrence in the future
09:46:03 So jumping off of those points let's talk a little bit more about the fact that and and maybe we've already made some of these points.
09:46:10 But the fact that these programs would provide opportunities for training and experience.
09:46:15 They, they would also add value to the nation from having this instilling a reinvigorated sense of pride in doing good works, and it would instill a sense of connectedness and perhaps a shared identity among all of
09:46:32 us those of us who participate in these programs you know I wouldn't make it mandatory like a conscription into service, where some countries conscript people into their military for 2 years after they're 18 or 21
09:46:47 or whatever I don't know I would go so far as to construct people conscript into, or propose that.
09:46:53 But it should be made easy, available, accessible for any phase of somebody's life to be able, and you know, and something that we should look forward to, even potentially participating in one of these programs. right?
09:47:10 It would be nice if it was so integrated in the fabric of who it is to be a citizen in the United States, and doing good works and feeling like this connected integrative system would be really critical and it would do it in a way
09:47:24 where it's idea based and not you know it's not based on where you're from, or what you look like, or what you sound like, or what you believe in other than believing in the power of doing good right people coming together for
09:47:38 these doing these powerful works, and so that's Why, I I really feel strongly that it would help melt down some of the non human.
09:47:49 You know the differences between us the things we've made up that keep us from recognizing one another's as being a part of one species, or, more important, more to the point.
09:48:04 This idea that some people are American, and others aren't simply 4 reasons other than citizenship.
09:48:13 Real. the idea of a real Americans like Well, if you don't act in service to your nation.
09:48:18 Tell me how you're a real American Okay, I digressed again.
09:48:25 So let's continue another aspect or goal that would stem from having these civil service cores is to foster development of fully supportive programs for people reintegrating back into society.
09:48:35 So I talked a little bit about retraining and transitioning and you know it could be people who are finishing college before they go to work, or however any time there's this point or transition in one's life it would be nice
09:48:46 to fill it with one of these meaningful activities that could inspire growth in new, in different ways, because each and every one of us is a different person every day.
09:48:55 But I digress again. So this reintegration concept is something, I think, is sorely missing in today's society.
09:49:06 So, for example, when people return home to the United States after their military service, we do not have effective means and methods.
09:49:17 There are some programs, but not the most effective programs, to reintegrate people from military service, meeting them where they are, and helping them through that transition which is a very distinct and unique journey depending on the veteran and depending on
09:49:31 their experiences, and all of those things right it's a very different path to walk.
09:49:38 Similarly so incarceration so people who've been incarcerated.
09:49:44 Duly or unduly regardless people coming out of incarceration also can benefit need to benefit.
09:49:52 We would all benefit from a proper transition back into society right, which is again a different path than somebody returning from military service.
09:50:02 The experience of incarceration, incarceration is different than serving in the military.
09:50:08 I propose the same thing. There should be a transitional path that these types of core services can facilitate for people coming out of supportive housing.
09:50:17 So if you're not familiar with support, of housing supportive housing as a program where, if you become addicted to drugs, or you go through some mental instability, or something happens to you and you end up on the streets, you become
09:50:30 homeless to one degree or another. Supportive housing is a program, and that exists in some places, not in others.
09:50:38 You know where you get into a a home some place that's you know a physical stable place where you can take a shower.
09:50:46 You can get a job and re-establish yourself, and if you have addiction, There's treatment services tied to that, you know.
09:50:53 If you have other issues, there's other services like mental health services tied to that or other medical service that you might need in any case supportive housing is a transition in of itself, but it's not entirely effective at getting people
09:51:06 fully reintegrated in society. so sometimes people may come out of supporting housing, still not knowing exactly what to do.
09:51:14 And so the Civil Service cores can help give them guidance direction training all of that stuff in the same venus treatment programs.
09:51:22 So I won't hmm, jump on that too much and then trauma recovery.
09:51:28 Also a similar thing. you know people go through mass shootings for example. and when you've experienced something like that, you know, or or natural disaster, right, there's this survivor's guilt.
09:51:44 There's all this other stuff going on you probably maybe you have to relocate, because Ptsd, or just because of financial reasons, whatever is going on.
09:51:53 These programs could also help in those transitions. for people right give people something to do right away, whatever it is.
09:52:01 And maybe they're helping themselves in their communities recover from a disaster.
09:52:08 So all of these scenarios require their own solutions for helping people.
09:52:14 All of these things, you know, represent unique paths. and the goal is to get people established in a new life, in a new, constructive, productive life among the community, living as citizens in the United States.
09:52:31 And the concept here is much like the donut economy we've talked about before, and we need to think full circle in support of our our citizens.
09:52:39 Very human needs. That is what these proposals ain't at with that I think.
09:52:47 Let's go ahead and take a break and Then ray we can open it up for your comments on this
09:52:57 Here's a message from our sponsor citizen Do good politics is war simply without blood, and shed a saying paraphrase from mouse song that represent that rings true to today.
09:53:09 The war for liberty and justice for us all is never over.
09:53:13 In every battle counts. our republic still holds true the promise of our freedom.
09:53:19 And is it up to us to unleash its potential?
09:53:22 The time is now to reimagine ourselves and our systems of governance for the dawning of the new day.
09:53:27 We are the proud sponsor of the Citizens Prerogative, podcast.
09:53:31 A major partner, spreading the good word about civic love and the power of change for us all.
09:53:37 A citizen do good. We plan to continue to have these conversations, so that all citizens are encouraged to invest in themselves and their communities.
09:53:47 Keeping that goal in mind. We need your help to stay on mission and grow this community.
09:53:51 Help spread the word by sharing your favorite post or citizens broadcast episode from our sponsors.
09:53:57 Facebook, page, Citizen: do good feel free to use the hashtag.
09:54:02 Cdg: When you share, feel free to share any suggestions you have directly through our Facebook page.
09:54:07 Thanks for your support. As I went through this episode with you, I started to think about.
09:54:17 You know the make America great people. and and for a moment I said, Well, you know what.
09:54:23 Maybe there is some things that were great that that sense of community that used to happen around these great civil projects that happened during the this era, Right?
09:54:33 The last, you know. go back a 100 years and we did some really impressive things, and we've not done anything like that since.
09:54:41 And so maybe just maybe there is a sense that we've lost that part of ourselves.
09:54:44 But the challenges that those projects were lined with sweetheart projects.
09:54:51 Sweetheart deals special handshake bonuses, extra money pork barrel funding along the entire funding effort.
09:55:01 So I really think that what it comes down to for us is that we think that yes, we should make that portion of the Us. active and and great again.
09:55:11 But this time the extra money goes to us. This time the citizens get the pork.
09:55:17 We all get it equal share of whatever it was you all were sharing at the top before it's just over.
09:55:27 And we can enable this program if we do what we did before. But there's no more pork.
09:55:32 I just feel like most major companies don't want to invest in these huge projects, because they won't be able to get away with what they use to there just isn't enough sugar at the bottom of that you know bottom of that
09:55:43 glass. they just you have to stir it up. We want you to stir it up.
09:55:47 Finally. Yeah, it's too bad doing good just isn't sweet enough on its own.
09:55:56 You have to have added Sweet and hers. Oh, goodness excuse me alright.
09:56:03 Well, we're remarkably on time so let's go ahead and transition into our calls to action.
09:56:11 Consider how you or your children and our society might benefit from such civil service programs.
09:56:19 I mean. My mind, in the mean, immediately goes to the resilience.
09:56:22 It could create because of all of the things all of the challenges we're gonna have to rise to together as a nation, especially in a world that doesn't seem to be marching away from war or instability.
09:56:40 We try to bring it closer to the child children really quick much since we're doing great on time. We've got the we've got.
09:56:46 I want, you know. right Now there's issues with you know referees.
09:56:53 Sports are very important to a lot of parents They enjoy it there's a stress with referees out there, as I understand, for officials right, you know, to have officials.
09:57:02 You must have this capacity, even the coach, any of these individuals who do things that are of passion, where you have to thank them.
09:57:12 You know those people in your lives who are going above and beyond, and doing the things you never could.
09:57:17 So we are talking about those individuals who make it happen. The troop leader, the Boy Scout leader, the supporting parents, the chaperones on those buses.
09:57:26 If you even get a school, you know, visit. But, by the way, those museums need people in them to have your children visit.
09:57:34 So it is all a great circle, so I don't want anyone excepting themselves.
09:57:37 Look deep. Look at the people around you and look who's helping you get it done.
09:57:43 They need your support totally. And and look at how you spend your time, how much of your personal time is dedicated to creating something for others or for community.
09:57:59 And if there is isn't a lot of time going towards that take a step back, figure out how you can introduce more of that into your life, because it's very fulfilling if we're not it's a part of
09:58:13 our humanity to be doing things for one another, and not just ourselves.
09:58:21 So with that, said the next moment, is, find out ways to get involved in your community.
09:58:25 Join or create your own community service project today you know throughout the podcast we've talked about all kinds of examples, and the next form I'm going to throw out there has to do with community garden.
09:58:37 So with food prices and contaminants, and genetic modification.
09:58:43 On the rise you may consider starting with the community garden or participating in one that's already started near you.
09:58:53 Check that out first before you go to your own thing see if there's one that you can join and learn from it and grow before you even start your own.
09:59:00 These community gardens can help cost. Excuse me, cut the cost of fresh produce, and you have the appetite of knowing exactly where some of your food comes from, and thrice benefit is your probable.
09:59:14 By the community Gardens waste far less food than major ag businesses
09:59:22 So there's there's many fold reasons besides the fact of you know getting in tune with your humanity inside the garden.
09:59:31 That's just one example we've always spoken about decentralization as a thing right, and this would really help right Now, there's way too many major con Agra food companies that exist that just are dominating these markets and
09:59:47 you mentioned the waste that happens from these farms it's important to note that if a tomato is an attractive and of apple doesn't look perfect, or if it has an extra bump on it they're
09:59:55 going to throw it out, and there is a ton of waste happening simply because it doesn't look perfect.
10:00:04 So I think you really have to hone in and maybe that's another episode, right?
10:00:08 Really honing in on the food waste problem because of the industry.
10:00:11 And and why do we not divert it to food banks and other places?
10:00:15 Because it costs right there's a cost to shipping those ugly produce out who's gonna pay for it.
10:00:23 Well, goodness me, if I had a truck, and I had the time, I might help.
10:00:29 Excellent, excellent point. Thank you, Ray. The last one bullet seems easy, but coming out of pandemic, maybe more challenging than we expect it to be. but that makes it that much more valuable.
10:00:46 Please smile at a neighbor and say hello, and then try to practice it more regularly.
10:00:52 I know it's simple But we're coming out of a time where these simple things help us reconnect as humans, and it's important smile on someone.
10:01:03 And say, hello Today it's funny that you say that I had a human experience, And then I went to Las Vegas, and everyone was saying, hi to us.
10:01:10 Everyone was saying, Hello, there being very friendly, and and you know the group of people are trying to figure it out like what's going on?
10:01:18 Is it like it's what is it us is it this but I think that because I've been in the metaverse
10:01:23 When I see some one now I acknowledge them, and I say, hello.
10:01:25 I wave. I do all kinds of things, and I believe on accident.
10:01:29 Now I look at people, I look at them in the eyes, and I and I nod my head, and I do.
10:01:34 Physical actions, and it's invoked all these people to just talk to us at random, and see how we're doing and and go ahead.
10:01:41 You take the cab first happen, but never in my life has someone go ahead.
10:01:45 Folks you just have. Are you having a good, you having a good day?
10:01:47 And I really feel like on accident this social experiment that we're doing with the metaverse has actually caused me to transcend something.
10:01:55 It's just this. Everyone wants to make that connection I think i'm with you, cause and you didn't make me think about it till now. I was just kind of like no maybe we're just social e but maybe it's that
10:02:05 maybe i'm breaking a barrier on accident because the habits that I've created with so much dedicated to the project.
10:02:12 It's it's actually transcending the virtual world that's fantastic that's almost hmm The The behavioral side effects of the metaverse could be that'll be another episode, but with that we're done with this
10:02:30 one for now. Thank you so much. We have been your host.
10:02:35 Thank you to Mr. Raymond, long Junior, and thank you, Mr.
10:02:38 Piscatelli. This is truly been an in real life experience not a virtual one.
10:02:44 It's been it's been something that's for sure for information on this and other episodes head over to citizen do good com and click on podcast while you're there hit up the contact us page and leave a comment
10:02:56 we'd love to hear from the community special thanks to you our listeners.
10:03:01 We save the best for last. You are the best, and you have been for years.
10:03:06 Thank you for your support. We know it's painful and We love you. Intro music sample from okay class by Ozzie Jock under a Creative Commons license through free music, Archive dot org other music provided royalty free from thespian studios inc.