Category Archives: Golden Rule

Maurie Backman| The Motley Fool

There may come a point when you outgrow a credit card -- say, because you get newer cards with more generous perks and rewards programs. If you have a credit card that no longer pays to use, you may be tempted to just close the account rather than leave it open.

But before you do, ask yourself these important questions to see if that's really the right call.

Closing a card that's been open for a year or less shouldn't have much of an impact on your credit score. Closing a card you've had for many years, however, is a different story.

>The length of your credit history is a factor that goes into determining what your credit score looks like. If you close an account you've had open for a long time, leaving yourself with newer accounts only, your score could tumble, so you shouldn't necessarily rush to close a card you've maintained for years.

Another important factor that goes into calculating your credit score is your credit utilization ratio, which measures the amount of available credit you're using at once. When that ratio climbs above 30%, you put your credit score in danger of dropping. And that's why it's important to not close a credit card with a generous spending limit.

Say you owe $3,000 on your credit cards but have a total spending limit of $10,000. Since you're right at that 30% utilization mark, you should be OK from a credit score perspective. But what if closing one of your cards brings your total spending limit down to $7,000? Suddenly, you're looking at a credit utilization ratio of about 43%, which could drag your score down.

Though there are certain situations where paying an annual fee is worth it, there's generally no sense in paying a fee for a card you don't really use or get much benefit from. But if you're thinking of closing a credit card that doesn't impose a fee, then you might as well keep it open, since you basically have nothing to lose by hanging onto it.

You might think that the more credit cards you have open, the greater your chances of falling victim to financial fraud. And there is some truth to that -- the more cards you own, the more card numbers a criminal could try to steal.

But often, it can work to your advantage to keep a credit card open, even if you really don't use it. And if you're worried about fraud, make a point to check your credit report several times a year. That should alert you to suspicious activity you can follow up on. You should also, as a general rule, log in to each credit card account you have monthly to make sure you don't see anything suspicious related to your account. But either way, keeping an old credit card could work to your financial benefit, so don't be too quick to cancel an account you no longer need.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Should you close that credit card account? First, assess the fallout for your credit score - USA TODAY

Jane Siebert| The Hutchinson News

As we continue to wait out this pandemic, churches are struggling with what to expect for the rest of 2021 and on. Reports suggest that the average churchs reopening attendance has been around 36% of previous levels (Tony Morgans Q3 Unstuck Church Report). People have enjoyed watching services on-line or on TV in their living rooms with an extra cup of coffee. Some are still nervous about coming back in the sanctuary and some say they really have not missed church.

It is a difficult time to be in church leadership. When numbers drop in the pews, it is often the minister that gets blamed. There are many factors, and this pandemic has shot holes in everything.

A couple positive things have emerged. Many churches scrambled and figured how a way to offer virtual services, if they werent before, and have found numbers of people they were able to reach has actually increased. Also, some members are hungry to come back as they missed the community and value face to face worship more than before. Sometimes we have to lose something or go without, to appreciate what we have.

The reality is physical church attendance has been in decline for decades and Covid-19 has accelerated the decline. The question before us is now how to count all who might be engaging and how to include them in the community sitting in the pews. How do we define what is the church?

Jesus is recorded as speaking about church only twice in Matthew 16:18 and Matthew 18:15-17, and the Greek word for church in these verses can also be translated as community. He is telling Peter, …on this rock I will build my community. A rock often corresponds to truth. And the truth Jesus teaches is love of one another as found in the Golden Rule Jesus gave us to live by.

Jesus didnt tell us how to build the church or organize the community. Maybe Jesus knew what might happen if we all became organizations or churches defined by what we think is right, creating exclusion, instead of inclusion. Maybe that is why Jesus last prayer before being arrested was that we all might be one, united, not divided by thinking we know best what The Bible, the Word of God, really says. Maybe that is what this pandemic is teaching us, to care for one another, not just worry about what we think is right for us.

Maybe….

The Rev. Jane Siebert is president of the Swedenborgian Church.

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Siebert: Defining the church post COVID - The Hutchinson News

Maurie Backman| The Motley Fool

COVID-19: Who is unemployed? The unemployment rate explained

Job loss numbers skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not everyone was counted as unemployed. Here's how the unemployment rate is measured.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

The delta variant of COVID-19 has caused an uptick in cases, worrying health experts. Scientists say the variant is considerably more transmissible than previous versions of the coronavirus that have circulated over the past year and a half.

If the delta variant causes a large outbreak, it could force a return of regional and even national restrictions. Those could include mask mandates, capacity limits at businesses, and even the shuttering of bars, nightclubs, and other crowded places.

All of this could hinder our broad economic recovery. Though the national unemployment rate has dropped in recent months, returning to restrictions that limit how businesses can operate could mean the shedding of more jobs.

All of this comes when federal unemployment benefits are headed for expiration. In March, the American Rescue Plan a relief bill that put stimulus checks into millions of bank accounts extended federal jobless benefits through Labor Day. People receiving unemployed benefits gained a $300 weekly boost, and the self-employed (not normally eligible for unemployment benefits) have also been entitled to payments.

Some states have pulled the plug on federal benefits ahead of the early September expiration date (though Indiana and Maryland residents successfully sued to reinstate them). But as that aid runs out on a national level, it raises questions. Will the delta variant cause a huge economic setback? If so, will the government extend unemployment boosts?

Congress may need to rethink ending federal unemployment benefits in early September if the delta variant causes another shutdown. In recent days, 58% of U.S. COVID-19 cases have stemmed from the delta variant, according to the CDC. And in some regions, those numbers were higher.

If the current outbreak gets worse, and the country takes a step backward in its reopening plans, that could make the case for extending federal unemployment beyond September. That said, we're in a very different situation now than when the American Rescue Plan became law. Vaccines are widely available, and barring health issues or other contraindications, anyone who wants one can get it.

At this point, almost 60% of U.S. adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But given the large number of people who aren't, it's possible the pandemic will continue to rage and impact economic progress. Another variable is children under the age of 12, who aren't eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine. If school outbreaks start, districts may revert to remote learning. That could, in turn, force some people to step away from their jobs to cover childcare.

There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the delta variant and the trajectory of the pandemic. It's too soon to say whether the economic situation will necessitate extending federal unemployment benefits. But it's something lawmakers should certainly put on the radar.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Could the delta variant prompt Congress to extend federal unemployment benefits? - Times Record News

If theres one social media platform that's undoubtedly in full swing, its TikTok. Brands have become desperate to get their employees on TikTok, and luxury companies are putting all their marketing efforts into hiring TikTok influencers. Meanwhile, small and medium-sized businesses are left to pick through a motley assortment of low-tier influencers to stir brand awareness.

TikTok's popularity with retailers is fueled by the type of content it promotes: short, amateur-style videos that can quickly go viral if they hit the nail on the head. Yet, many brands are still racking their brains over the magic behind the types of videos that ultimately perform well on the platform i.e., fostering the desired brand awareness and advocacy.

To solve this mystery, we've compiled a short but sweet guide on how to use TikTok for social media marketing.

Before posting their content, brands need to understand two things: TikToks user demographics and how its algorithm works.

The golden rule of TikTok is content over followers. TikToks algorithm evaluates each piece of content individually according to its engagement rate by identifying items that people stream several times and share with friends who live in the same area and speak the same language.

Instagram has 689 million monthly active users and nearly 100 million in the U.S. alone. Nearly half (47.5 percent) of TikTok users in the U.S. are between the ages of 10 and 29. This age group simply enjoys watching entertaining content such as lip syncs and dance videos. Still, they're also interested in creatively designed content about everyday topics such as traveling, sports, products and politics.

But what incentivizes users to engage with retailers' content? Lets delve deeper.

TikTok is a great marketing tool because you can demonstrate your product, brand and service in a short video format. However, a challenge retailers face is that promotional content should make up no more than 20 percent of branded content. The other eight out of 10 times, brands must provide real value to the viewers. For example, lets imagine you are a skincare company. By sharing a funny video about a common skincare problem, you can attract a crowd that resonates with the issue. Later, you can create a video that shows your product as a solution to this specific skin problem, and even stitch a few seconds from the first video as a reference.

With that in mind, educational content such as recommendations, tips and business insights works very well on TikTok and can gain your brand a lot of traction. Check out these examples for inspiration: Candle store GGscandleshares how it makes its candle designs, engaging viewers with decorative ideas and DIY candle making. The team at Pulse Physiotherapy regularly shares the best exercises for your body, attracting fitness enthusiasts and athletes alike to engage with its videos. Both brands use educational content to create brand awareness and remembrance.

Another key to creating content worth sharing is jumping on TikTok trends. Trends usually encompass hashtags, songs, and TikTok challenges. You can find trending topics via the discovery area in the TikTok app. When you've identified a trend that matches your product and content intent, focus on the trend itself instead of marketing your company. Lets say you choose to jump on a popular song trend. Embed your product with a supporting role, such as the photographer Jordi does with Banana by Shaggy.

One surefire strategy to get the right target audience is by hiring TikTok influencers. Influencer marketing has helped even the smallest companies, like NerdyNuts or hismile, make a name for themselves and strengthen brand advocacy rapidly.

Influencers create trust in brands if they post content with brands products. An influencer will also understand your brands audience and their pain points as they grew their followers based on sharing posts addressing them. Keep in mind that your influencer must match your brand values. Lets say you sell organic foods. People who promote a healthy, environmentally conscious lifestyle will help you reach the right audience.

To find influencers, either use the search bar with keywords, usernames and hashtags. Or, to speed up this process, you can use an influencer marketing platform that can save you time and effort in your search for influencers in your industry.

TikTok marketing takes some thought, but its not rocket science. Instead of promoting your products, you should look for indirect ways of including your product into your channel, provide your audience with real value, and focus on content collaborations to build brand advocacy.

Kyle Dulay is the co-founder of Collabstr, a platform allowing brands to find and hire influencers for various social media sites.

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Create Successful Content and Reach the Right Audience on TikTok - Total Retail

Inclusion is good for people and business. I would like to thank Bob Harnish, Al Wakefield and Liz DiMarco Weinmann for their outreach to Gov. Phil Scott and town select boards across Vermont on the idea of Declaration of Inclusion. Not only is being welcoming and inclusive the right thing to do, it will also help Vermont rebuild a better economy after the pandemic. As a tourist destination, Vermont must continue to attract visitors. Vermont also needs more young people, families and small businesses. We want young people to stay in Vermont while also welcoming newcomers.

Thus far in Rutland County, the towns of Pittsford, Brandon, Pittsfield and Rutland City have adopted Declarations of Inclusion. Elsewhere in Vermont, so have Middlebury, Waterbury, Franklin and Moretown.

As a resident and taxpayer in Rutland Town, I am disappointed our Select Board did not adopt the Declaration of Inclusion presented at the May 25 Select Board meeting. I was not able to attend, but watched the meeting later via PEG-TVs YouTube channel.

First, the good news: I would like to thank the 10 citizens who joined the Zoom call in support of the Declaration of Inclusion, seven of whom spoke in support. You can view the citizen statements from Steve Dardick, Marcia, Steve Schindler, John Liccardi, Matt Getty, Joe Kraus and Karen Prescott from 2:30-18:15 in the video. I was impressed with their thoughtful and heartfelt comments. The Declaration of Inclusion was read by Steve Dardick from 3:00-4:00 in video.

Mr. Schindler described an incident while he played soccer (an international sport) on the Polo Field in Rutland Town, with a group that included some men of color and their children. During the soccer game, someone drove by yelling racial slurs, including the n-word.

Ms. Prescott, a retired teacher and school administrator, said, We dont always see what kids see and hear, but its real, its there every day. Were not always aware of whats happening, but the kids are. Its our job in the town to protect those kids.

Matthew Getty, Rutland Town moderator, said, I really appreciate the way that the Declaration was drafted I think if we can all agree on what the goal is as to the type of community that we want to foster and create, thats the first step. If we can agree on the general principles in this declaration, then when particular controversies arise from time to time as they will, we can debate those in a context of understanding that an inclusive community is what we are trying to create in Rutland Town. We may not always agree on how to get there, but we will at least agree on that baseline principle.

Joe Kraus, former moderator for Project VISION, said, We only get an opportunity to act on these sorts of things once in a lifetime. The statement that has been crafted is eminently reasonable. Its hard to find anything controversial or provocative about it. It states some very basic truths about life and the value of human life.

Now, the bad news: Not only did the Rutland Town Select Board not adopt the Declaration of Inclusion but on a 4-1 vote, they actually filibustered. In other words, the Select Board voted to not even discuss and vote on the Declaration of Inclusion itself.

If you watch the video from 18:16-39:22, you can hear the statements of Select Board Member 1 and his filibuster motion. He called the declaration a petition but it sounded to me more like a resolution or statement of values. He then went on about the various Oaths of Allegiance to Vermont and the U.S. Constitution he has taken, and expressed legalistic concerns. If you heard the actual declaration, you would notice there is no ordinance or legal penalties prescribed. Next, Select Board Member 2 does a roundabout seconding of the filibuster motion by Member 1 while at the same time throwing some shade onto Member 1. At different points during the filibuster motion, the back and forth between these two members continued.

As a Rutland Town resident, the Select Boards filibuster segment was embarrassing to watch. If I wasnt from Rutland Town, I would nominate this segment as fodder for a Saturday Night Live sketch.

I give kudos to Select Board Chair Mary Ashcroft, for voting No on the filibuster motion. In Ms. Ashcrofts statement (35:38 36:33), she quipped: Im sitting here looking at a copy of our Town of Rutland letterhead. Our town was incorporated Sept. 7, 1761. Last year in 2020 was the first time that a woman was elected as chair of the Select Board. So is there some history of discrimination? You tell me.

Four members of the Rutland Town Select Board dont believe this type of statement of values or resolution should be part of the business of the Town of Rutland. If the citizens who took time to speak could not convince them based on common decency (The Golden Rule), then maybe they might respond on economic terms.

Rutland Towns annual report booklet cover traditionally features a local business or development, rather than a mountain vista or scenic view, as do other towns. Businesses rely on customers. Customers expect to be treated fairly and with respect. Customers will take their business where they feel welcomed.

Before the pandemic, I worked four seasons as a part-time ski instructor at Killington, often teaching beginners from of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Ive taught people from Boston, New York City, Florida and California. I taught a college student from Mexico City and a Chinese grandmother who wanted to be able to ski with her grandchildren. I would love to see skiing and snowboarding continue in Vermont for the long run, and I welcome anyone who wants to enjoy Vermonts world-class ski resorts.

The Rutland Young Professionals and CEDRR (Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region) have also adopted Declarations of Inclusion. Why not business friendly Rutland Town?

I hope these Declarations of Inclusion will spread throughout Vermont and as a state and a people, we become more welcoming and inclusive, not only in word but in action.

Ron Pulcer lives in Rutland Town.

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Pulcer: Declaration of Inclusion | Commentary | rutlandherald.com - Rutland Herald

Earlier this week, an article appeared in the Daily Local News about Critical Race Theory (CRT) titled Mistaken Identity. The general point was that parents are unnecessarily concerned and misinformed about this benign ideology which is primarily confined to the high academic world and not impacting their children.

In our polarized age, conversations about race and social justice tend to generate more heat than light. But you cant have justice without truth. Since the author failed to provide any differing opinion on the issue, at the risk of raising the temperature, I would like to shed some light on this article.

First, CRT dates much earlier than the 1970s. It originated in Italy in the 1920s through the work of Antonio Gramsci. He was an avowed Marxist who shifted the emphasis from economic to cultural oppression. He was followed by the Frankford School which brought this ideology to the United States. Once there it successfully made the long march through the institutions, the cultural gatekeepers in the universities, secondary schools, media, and the world of entertainment.

From there it converged with postmodernism with its rejection of metanarratives and objective truth, and its commitment to deconstruction. Under the broader term Critical Theory (CT) or simply Theory it has been the driving ideological force of the progressive left.

Second, CT/CRT is in our public schools as a quick search of our school district websites demonstrates. You will rarely find the term CRT used. CT/CRT has redefined and added new vocabulary to promote its creed and this is the language utilized. Among these are racism, anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion, white privilege, whiteness, white fragility, white supremacy, colorism, and more.

Third, CT/CRT does rewrite history. The 1619 Project, launched by the New York Times in 2019, states that America was not founded in 1776, but in 1619 when the first slaves came to America. We are also asked to believe that the Revolutionary War was fought not to escape British tyranny but to preserve the institution of slavery. Although professional historians and modern academics have refuted these claims, the curriculum has found its way into public schools.

Fourth, CT/CRT does insist that structural racism exists, that whites are inherently racist and privileged, and that they should feel guilty. The foremost proponents of CRT, Ibram X. Kendi and Robin Diangelo make this abundantly clear in their writing, including How to Be an Antiracist and White Fragility. Not surprisingly, these authors are recommended reading in many of our public schools in Chester County.

The ideology of CT/CRT sees the world through the lens which finds power dynamics in every statement, interaction, and institution, even when not obvious or real. While nominally pursuing justice, the goal is to identify victims and then weaponize the oppressed party as a means toward liberation and revolution against the oppressors.

The emphasis is on might over right with power the new god. Following the Roman dictum Divide and conquer CT/CRT sets groups against one another, race against race, sex against sex, generation against generation, in ways that not only create disharmony but ensure harmony is beyond reach. Its goal is not to provide remedies but exploit wrongs to gain power.

CT/CRT is one of the least tolerant and most authoritarian ideologies we have ever faced. Any well-intentioned person who questions it is canceled in what is often a vindictive form of bullying. In the name of liberation, freedom of expression, civil debate, respect for differences, and independent thinking are being silenced.

While CT/CRT has added new terms, others are conspicuously absent. These include forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation. Egregious wrongs have been done and they have and must be righted. But the proponents of CT/CRT, while rebuking those who have sinned, leave no room for mercy and forgiveness, only appeasement, abasement, or annihilation. This approach to righting wrongs is lethal for freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. said Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do thatTo be free you have to let go of hate.

Humans are fallible creatures. We are all equally in need of forgiveness and grace. There is no system of government that is so perfect that we will not make it go wrong. The sins of slavery and racism are not the ultimate expression of Americas founding, as the proponents of CT/CRT would have you believe. They are the ultimate contradiction to its founding and ideals, its original sin. To this we must acknowledge, repent, and correct ongoing wrongs.

Real change begins in the human heart. The question is how will we look at ourselves and one another. If we see ourselves primarily as victims, our lives will be characterized by resentment, bitterness, grievance, entitlement, and conflict. That is a mistaken identity. But if we see ourselves as image bearers of God, though imperfect, our lives will be marked by humility, gratitude and mutual respect and love.

If an ideology is going to be taught in our childrens schools, perhaps there is a better one to choose from. The Royal Law might be a good start: Love your neighbor as yourself.

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CRT: We should be teaching the Golden Rule in our schools - Daily Local News

What was the moment when you realized that the way weve been doing things just isnt working?

My journey on this dates back to the early 90s. When I started at Best Buy, the basic advice from investors and management was cut, cut, cut. Close stores. Fire everybody. We did the opposite. We listened to the frontliners. We treated head-count reduction as a last resort. So the philosophy was there from the beginning.

If you think about business by first thinking about how you want to be remembered as a human being, most of us gravitate to the golden rule doing something good to our people. If you can connect that desire in your heart with the way you run the business, the employees will love the company. The customers will love the company.

What were some of the obstacles you encountered as you worked to turn around Best Buy?

Our main challenges were: How do you create these new strategies? How to get 100,000 people to embrace them? People can have conversations about changing the system. I think that if we change ourselves, and change the way we run companies, there is an enormous amount we can do, and we dont need to blame anyone. We dont need to become a B Corp to do good things in the world.

Are there specific actions you think companies should take?

I would start with providing an attractive environment and set of opportunities for their employees. Raising the minimum wage is a very important trend, but it goes beyond pay. It is about benefits, taking care of your employees, including their mental health or their ability to vote. It is about a path to advancement, skills acquisition. It is about offering a growth environment, one where you feel you belong, one where you feel your manager is investing in you, one where you can connect what drives you with your work.

Daily Business Briefing

July 16, 2021, 11:53 a.m. ET

The others have to do with developing a concrete plan to become carbon neutral and making sure you are a good member of the community in which you operate.

If companies are going to pay workers more and pay more taxes, doesnt that at the end of the day mean there will be fewer profits for executives and investors? Thats a hard sell to the people who currently have the most power to change these things.

My experience has been that you can actually create more shareholder value by embracing this stakeholder approach. That doesnt mean its always easy, and it takes time. If in 2012 I told the investors, Im going to immediately go to $15 an hour, it would not have been reasonable. So we did it over time. Its like, if I want to lose 20 pounds overnight, you cant. It takes time.

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Hubert Joly Turned Around Best Buy. Now Hes Trying to Fix Capitalism. - The New York Times

Critical race theory gives important clues

A letter writer stumbles when he recommends the Golden Rule be taught in classrooms, while rejecting the teaching of critical race theory ("A guide to human interaction at school," July 7). Wouldn't that be like teaching a lesson on World War II without explaining what caused the war in the first place?

Although the Declaration of Independence and this letter writer say we are all equal, that has never been true in the history of our republic. Not for a single day.

I give you slavery; Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution; the Dred Scott decision; Black men not gaining the vote until 1870; Jim Crow; Emmett Till; George Wallace standing in the schoolhouse door; the necessity of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965; George Floyd; and the voter suppression legislation recently passed in 17 states.

Critical race theory provides some of the backstory explaining why it is that Blacks, in particular, have shorter lifespans than whites, a higher level of infant mortality, a lower level of educational attainment, a lower incidence of homeownership and far lower family wealth than whites. It may also give clues as to why Black Americans with COVID-19 died at twice the rate of white Americans.

It should absolutely be taught in our schools. Those who try to hide these simple facts from our children, or ignoring these facts altogether are also ignoring any paths to solutions. That's not treating fellow citizens like equals.

Jeff Davis, Akron

At our July 7 news conference, we [alleged] that the Northeast Ohio Womens Center abortion clinic in Cuyahoga Falls threw a dismembered aborted child in the trash along with unredacted patient health information and hazardous waste (Groups accuse clinic of putting fetus in trash, July 8). The articlesaid that we indicated the baby would be disposed of at a later date. Actually … I announced that we will hold a burial for the child to give it the dignity that it never had in life. The abortion clinic administrator said in the article that the clinic had systems in place and that this could not have happened. Well, their systems failed, and more than once. … Funny how they value their systems over the life of that child and the well-being of their clients and the community.

DeniseLeipold, executive director of Right to Life of Northeast Ohio, Akron

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Letters to the editor: Responses on critical race theory, anti-abortion group - Akron Beacon Journal

Treasure Coast Newspapers

I am very disappointed in Indian River State Colleges President Timothy Moore and the college'sboard of directors. We should all be doing our part to help improve our waterways not only for its economic and tourist value, but for our own health as well as that of the wildlife. All our nonprofits should be working to support each other for the benefit of our community.

By now we should all know how important to us is the work that the Ocean Research and Conservation Association and the Smithsonian are doing, especially right now when climate change is increasing the number of days with temperatures 90 degrees and high. This increases the chances of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms that can create microcystins, which can go airborne for miles, poisoning us. It is also killing our sea grasses, which has starved many manatees.

This is the wrong time to stop ORCAs important work by pushing them out of their building. Both the IRSC and ORCA are funded by our state. IRSC should not be profiting from a building that, without all of our help, may be underwater in a few years. We all need to ask the IRSC board to reverse their decision. A reversal will benefit all the Treasure Coast and not just the school.

Diane Goldberg, Port St. Lucie, is the conservation chair for St Lucie Audubon.

Growing up my parents instilled in me many characteristics and beliefs that helped me throughout life. They taught me to live by the Golden Rule of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The belief there is no substitute for honesty and integrity. They taught me I was born with pure integrity and no one can take it away, only I could give it up. They taught me to help others who ask for my help because someday I would need help. They taught me to be successful in life I needed friends, and to have friends I must first be a friend. If your neighbors house is on fire you naturally would go help them.

Guided by these beliefs I don't understand the writers who disparage Gov. Ron. DeSantis because he responded to another states request for help by sending just 50 officers to Texas. In May of 2020 our southern Border Patrol detained 23,237 illegal immigrants and one year later in May 2021 the number jumped to 180,034, an increase of almost 700%. Considering they estimate they only detain a third of the illegal entrants, the truer number is over 500,000 a month, or over 6 million a year.

To me this classifies as a crisis. If this were happening in Florida how would you feel? To think all these people and all the extra drugs flooding through are staying in Texas is foolish. The drugs are shipped all over this country into every state. It is common sense and cheaper on all states to try to stem the tide where the tide is coming through. We are a nation of 50 states, all states are our neighbors and we need to step up and help when we can.

Jeff Morton, Sebastian

DeSantis doesnt even know what Florida officers would do in Texas

Regarding the latest fiasco created by our governor our taxpayer-paid law enforcement officers being sent to the Texas/Mexico border in order to do … what? They don't even know, but hey, that order makes great sound bites for Fox, OANN, Newsmax and to the GOP base.

Wouldn't their presence be better utilized by sending those same officers to Surfside in order to help with the ongoing search for the remains of Florida citizens? So many have lost their loved ones to this disaster and are very anxious to be able to, respectfully, lay their remains to a final rest. Yet again, our governor places his political aspirations above those of the citizens that he supposedly represents. What a world in which we now live.

Sharon Garland, Hobe Sound

Lately, we have all heard about questions surrounding the voting process and results. The following points should, in my opinion, be considered in the revisions to the voting laws that are being made in various states.

Before the election, the board of election should hire an independent certified public accountant to evaluate the procedures and procedures for reporting the results. Any needed improvements that were identified could be made before the election.

The CPA would then be in a position to jointly certify the election results with the board of elections on election night and for the final count.

The above is just a thumbnail sketch of what needs to be done, as there are other needed procedures that would likely be identified through the implementation process.

Doug Kinney, Sebastian

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Letters to the Editor: July 14, 2021 - TCPalm

Michigan State University College of Social Science and School of Criminal Justice alumnus Carlos Cubia is senior vice president and global chief diversity officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance.

Carlos Cubia talks with Russ White.

Upon graduation, the Pontiac, Michigan native applied for a position in the Secret Service. While waiting to hear back. He began a career in insurance, which gradually led him into human resources work. Without even realizing it, Cubia was beginning his work in diversity, equity, and inclusion before that work had a name.

What I found along my journey through corporate America is that I was running into people who were just having a hard time being heard, moving through the process, and getting opportunities. I started on this journey to help people in corporate America to do better, to realize their dreams, and to be seen and to be heard. It wasnt officially my job, but I was always advocating, speaking to supervisors, and challenging the status quo. Sometimes I got myself in trouble because at that time, it wasn't kosher to speak up. You were supposed to do what you were told.

But that was never who I was. I was always respectfully challenging the status quo. Why were certain things the way they were? Why did so-and-so get passed over for an opportunity? And that eventually led to me leaving my sales and account management role and moving into a diversity, equity, and inclusion role.

When defining diversity, equity and inclusion, Cubia says the key is to embrace our differences. He says there's value in embracing those differences. His twist on the golden rule is that we should treat others as they want to be treated, not necessarily how we want to be treated.

When I think of diversity, I think of someone different than yourself. I know people sometimes equate it to black versus white. When I think of diversity, I look at all the dimensions of diversity. It's the things you're born with and then the things you acquire later in life, like your education and the knowledge and habits that you pick up along the way.

We do measure some of the basic things around race, gender, sexual orientation, LGBTQ, veterans, disability. We pay attention to all of that. But again, we also look at education. Were you educated? What's your background? What experiences have you had in life? Because all of those things help to make organizations and the world better when you embrace and accept people for their differences and then understand that there's value in differences. And by realizing that, I think we could just make this world a better place.

And not to sound hokey with that, but when you accept people for who they are and treat them not the way you want to be treated but treat them the way they want to be treated, then I think you have a more engaged and a more productive society.

Cubia says DE and I work continues to evolve as more organizations realize that embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion is not only the right thing to do, but sound business practice. He says that if organizations are doing DE and I correctly, that it impacts every aspect of the business and is embedded in everything an organization does.

When I think about the evolution of DE and I and the role of the chief diversity officer over time, I've seen it really change. Back in the day, it was all about diversifying from an ethnicity standpoint. It was a people agenda back then. What's evolved over time is now it's a business imperative.

Most CEOs and Fortune 500 companies realize the value of having a diversity strategy for the organization that touches every aspect of the business, whether that's how they market, how they communicate, where they recruit, where they open or close locations, or what products are on the shelves. The DE and I team and leaders across most companies are now part of all of those discussions. We're being brought into discussions with investor relations now.

When investors are out there at a public company they want to invest in, they want to talk to the chief diversity officers and say, tell me about your diversity, equity, and inclusion program. What are you guys doing to address A, B, and C? And then what kind of progress are you making? The evolution has been amazing. It's been fast paced. It's hard to keep up because our phone is now ringing from every part of the organization asking for time with us to help consult about an issue that may evolve around DE and I that maybe that leader isn't that well-versed on.

We're being asked to be part of the training program within organizations and how we shape culture within the organization. If you're doing it the right way, then DE and I is embedded in everything that a corporation or an organization does. DE and I touches everything. I don't think there's anything in corporate America or in any major institutions that DE and I doesn't touch or shouldn't touch.

When discussing challenges, opportunities, and goals for expanding DE and I work, Cubia says that, for him, DE and I comes down to two words, dignity and respect.

The challenge is that there are still individuals out there who feel that this is social work and it has no place in business or in decision-making. One of the challenges is getting to those individuals and sharing with them factual data and showing them research where if you have a real strategy that's comprehensive in nature, that it does contribute to the bottom line and the success of your organization, regardless of what your organization is.

It's really only two main words, and that's dignity and respect. If you just follow that golden rule and treat everybody with dignity and respect, most of the times things are going to work out for you around DE and I.

For all of us, Cubia says the first step toward embracing diversity, equity and inclusion is to educate oneself and not to turn the other cheek.

When George Floyd was murdered a year plus ago and we started to see the peaceful protest and then unfortunately some of it broke into civil unrest, a lot of white guys, like yourself, asked me the question, what do I do? I think the first step is educating yourself and getting information on how the experiences of others have affected their lives and the challenges and the situations that we see today. Learning is one. Ask questions. Dont be afraid to say, I don't know.

But the other thing that I would say is not turning the other cheek. Just because it doesn't affect you directly, doesn't mean it doesn't affect you indirectly. When these things happen, it affects all of us in some way, shape, or form. The sooner that we come together and work together and value the differences and understand each other's perspectives and point of views, the sooner we'll start to see the world differently and understand other people.

Part of it is just education. We just celebrated Juneteenth a couple of weeks ago. And for some folks, that's the first time they ever heard of it. If we understand the past, hopefully we can prevent the same mistakes. Hiding it and overlooking it and pretending it doesn't exist is not going to get us there.

Cubia followed his brother and sister to MSU. It's the only school he applied to and had any interest in attending. And Cubia adds that as big as MSU is, it always seemed small to him. The university had so much to offer him and he'd attend MSU again if he had to do it all over again.

This is going to sound a little hokey, but I believe in full transparency. I went up to Michigan State this past weekend with my son. And as I got out of the car and stood in front of my dorm, I almost teared up. Because when I think about where I am today, had Michigan State not given me the chance and the opportunity to show what I can do, with help of course, I probably would not be where I am today. I have no idea where I would be today. Michigan State helped me because it gave me the services that I needed.

Michigan State believes that they want to create an environment where everyone is welcome, where everyone can realize their full potential. I see Michigan State constantly striving for that. I believe in celebrating Michigan State because it's a great university that Im recommending to my son. If I had to choose again tomorrow, I choose Michigan State all over again.

Carlos Cubia's advice for today's MSU students is to be authentic and true to yourself.

Being authentic doesn't mean not compromising or being flexible. It just means stay true to your values and your value system. I don't ever compromise my value system, but I compromise other things depending on the situation or the ultimate goal that I'm trying to achieve. Dont hide and pretend to be something for someone else via social media. The hardest thing in life is trying to be something for someone else, trying to be what somebody else wants us to be. The easiest thing in life is just being yourself because that's truly who you are. Always be yourself, stay true to yourself, and follow your own dreams and I think you'll be fine.

MSU Today airs Sunday mornings at 9:00 on 105.1 FM and AM 870 and streams at WKAR.org. Find MSU Today with Russ White on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

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Dignity and Respect Drive Alumnus' Desire for Corporate America to 'See and Hear' Everyone - WKAR