Friday, March 15, 2024

THE MORE YOU CONSTRAIN, THE MORE YOU LIBERATE

Galileo, Einstein, Martin Luther King, and Frank Schaeffer were constrained by their circumstances and found liberation to benefit mankind. That is not to extol the virtue of enslavement but rather to demonstrate that restriction may galvanize the creation of genius and the contribution of immense benefit to our species. The constraints were malevolent. But benevolent inhibitors may also produce the sword to fend off the routine and elucidate the extraordinary.

Give Einstein patent applications to critique, and he comes up with the theory of relativity. Galileo gushes gravity from quiet contemplation.

The corollary, ad astra per aspera, spans centuries. MLK endured the shackles of discrimination but found a voice for all time. Frank Schaeffer birthed literary beauty from religion's dankest dogma. In every corner, for every purpose, there is a pattern to follow, a mountain to climb. Majestic discoveries await the the common construction and repairman. 

The more you are constrained, the more liberated you may become. Let the mind-numbing daily duties wash over you to expose the breakthrough deep inside.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

ANTHOLOGY OF ARTICLES ON AGEISM PART TWO

https://spriggslawgroup.blogspot.com/search?q=ageism+age+discrimination

  

SOCRATES TO REDUCE TENSIONS

We are close to being at each other's throats. Political or religious discourse, for example, if not nearly all, is shrouded in intransigence, resentment, name-calling, distrust, and outright animosity toward each other. We often opt out of conversations because we likely will argue and walk away, not having convinced the other person of our position, and prefer to return to the silo with the others of our persuasion. You are wrongheaded, so we avoid you at all costs and even wish you dead; we could be wrong, but since we will never change your mind, you are an interloper taking up our space and breathing our air.

We are correct, and you are wrong. That makes us wise and you stupid. One or two words in passing are enough to confirm our impression of you. The world would be better off without you.

We have trouble imagining how we could have a conversation, let alone a dialogue or, god forbid, a compromise upon which to agree. This condition most likely will continue and even get worse. We become isolated and tribal. We coalesce into our fellow traveling groups, disdaining all others. We even have thoughts of violence and civil war. Practice the art of active listening? That's a waste of time.

Can any technique or practice get us talking across the Great Divide? Yes, if we have the courage for it. Enter the Socratic method.

I force myself to articulate your position to your satisfaction. I quiz you until I understand your thinking and play my version of you back to you until you are satisfied I have your thinking down pat. Then you do that with me. The object is to correctly articulate the other person's position. Then what? We either walk away or critique your version of me and vice versa. Eventually, some accommodation or compromise may appear out of thin air. Or, we go home less inclined to kill each other.

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

A CALL TO REFORM SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE

WE CALL FOR INCREASED BENEFITS

In an era where the value of social safety nets is often debated, one thing remains crystal clear: Social Security and Medicare are not mere handouts or entitlements. They are pillars of societal support designed to ensure dignity, security, and stability for our aging population. It's time to dispel misconceptions and vigorously defend the expansion of these vital programs.

First and foremost, let's address the misnomer of entitlements. Social Security is not a giveaway; it's an annuity earned through years of hard work and contributions. Similarly, Medicare operates as an insurance plan, providing essential healthcare coverage for seniors who have paid into the system throughout their working lives. These programs are not gifts from the government; they are earned benefits Americans rightfully deserve.

Moreover, it's crucial to recognize the fundamental principle of insurance: risk pooling. Just like any insurance plan, Social Security and Medicare rely on the contributions of many to support the needs of the few. Some individuals may pay more into the system than they receive in benefits, while others may require more assistance than they contribute. This is the essence of solidarity and mutual support, ensuring no one is left behind in need.

Contrary to the rhetoric espoused by some, the push to cut or dismantle these programs is not only shortsighted but also morally bankrupt. Allowing our elderly population to struggle with inadequate support goes against the values of compassion and decency that define us as a society. It's not just about dollars and cents; it's about human dignity and respect for our elders.

Furthermore, let's look beyond our borders and learn from other civilized societies. Nations worldwide recognize the importance of caring for their older citizens, understanding that a society's greatness is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members. It's time for the United States to follow suit and prioritize our seniors' well-being.

Now, more than ever, there is a concerted effort to undermine Social Security and Medicare under the guise of fiscal responsibility. But we must see through the thinly veiled attempts to strip away these crucial lifelines. Instead of retreating, we must advance. We must demand the preservation and expansion of these programs to meet the evolving needs of our aging population.

There is strength in our numbers, and together, we have the power to shape the future we want to see. Let us stand united in defense of Social Security and Medicare, advocating for increased benefits that reflect the dignity and worth of every American senior. It's not just a matter of policy; it's a matter of principle. And on this, there can be no compromise.

 

Friday, March 1, 2024

A COMPLETE TEAM OF EXPERTS

In the intricate world of federal government contracts, where precision, expertise, and strategic finesse are paramount, four seasoned professionals stand ready to guide you through every facet of this highly regulated and complex enterprise. With their help, you not only navigate the challenges but thrive in the vast opportunities that federal contracts present.

Meet the alpha-to-omega coverage:

1.     Jennifer Schaus - Jennifer Schaus brings a wealth of experience in deciphering the nuances of federal markets. Her expertise is crafting meticulous market analysis reports, providing the insights needed to make informed decisions, and strategically positioning your business for success. She specializes in the art of proposal writing. She also ensures that your GSA Schedule is established efficiently and managed effectively to maximize your opportunities.

2.     John Wolf - John Wolf is an internationally renowned forensic schedule analyst and project management expert universally sought out to identify risks before bidding, mitigate them during performance, and assist and testify as an expert if problems arise. He is sought after on all contract management issues for his quick study and cogent articulation of alternate solutions. He can settle disputes one-on-one.

3.     Jim McGovern - Jim McGovern is your consummate forensic accountant who, in addition to being steeped in all generally acceptable accounting principles, knows all of the pertinent complex cost allowability rules in government contracting. He is also an expert in the financial dimension of the government contract business and has testified numerous times on damage calculations of all types.

 

4.     Bill Spriggs – Bill Spriggs has over 50 years of experience writing and reviewing REAs and claims, negotiating settlements, and resolving disputes through ADR or cradle-to-grave litigation. He can assess risks before bidding and sound alerts when risks arise during performance. His job is to enhance profitability. He has been a CEO and contract manager and can serve as an adjunct in any government contract management role. Clients seek his counsel on a wide variety of management and legal issues.

You've covered the waterfront by picking these four people to serve your government contract needs. You’re not just gaining service providers; you're partnering with experts, each with a unique skill set, dedicated to your success in the challenging realm of federal government contracts. Let them, individually or collectively, be your guiding force as you embark on your journey of growth and opportunity.

 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

THE TEAM

Jennifer Schaus runs JSchaus & Associates out of downtown Washington DC with a specialty focus on GSA Schedules.  Jennifer and her team help companies get onto the Schedule, maintain it, make modifications and more.  She has over 30+ complimentary webinars on the topic of GSA Schedules, amongst the 650+ government contracting webinars in the firms YouTube library.  

With over 20 years of experience in federal contracting, Jennifer and her team can help you navigate the marketplace and understand the procurement nuances and process to drive success.

 

Mr. John Wolf, the President of Peritia Partners, a boutique construction consulting firm, has over 35 years of experience in the development and construction industry. He has provided advisory, analysis, and testimony on complex, domestic and international, construction-related projects involving standard of care, constructive and directed changed work, delay, termination, suspension, acceleration, disruption, and productivity issues. John has experience evaluating more than 300 projects across 20 countries totaling over $110 Billion in both the private and federal sectors. His career, whether in the role of an executive for ENR Top 100 firms or a forensic analyst, is marked with several mega-projects including the $1 Billion Watson Island Development Project in Miami, FL; the $1.2 Billion Parkland Hospital Campus Program in Dallas, TX; the $3.2 Billion Wedge 2-5 and Wedge 1 Phoenix Rebuild Projects of the Pentagon in Arlington, VA; and the $13 Billion SASOL Lake Charles Chemical Complex.

 

Jim McGovern is a Senior Director at The BERO Group. He is a CPA, Certified in Financial Forensics, and a Certified Valuation Analyst. He is also a Fellow and Past President of the National Contract Management Association. For more than 35 years, Jim has served as a consultant and expert witness for law firms, corporations, and governmental agencies on matters involving complex financial and economic damage issues, including those stemming from contract disputes, intellectual property infringement, business interruption or devastation, and shareholder/partnership disputes. Since 1987 Jim has been helping federal contractors maximize recovery on contract claims and terminations for convenience as well as assisting contractors with government contract accounting compliance issues.


THE DECISION DELUSION: DICTATOR VERSUS DEMOCRACY

The 2024 Presidential election decision is illusory. As a practical matter, it does not exist. We must vote to ensure the efficacy of and adherence to the constitutional voting process. But we need not concern ourselves with the choice for whom we vote. Believing there is a choice is delusional.

The Republican candidate is the most vile and despicable human being one can imagine. His record is one of unspeakable crimes, behavior, and vitriol. He is totally bereft of moral and humanistic virtue and value. He is mentally ill and of deficient mental capacity and capability. He is a malignant narcissist and most likely an imbecile. He is a common grifter and conman. He is constitutionally barred from office by the 14th Amendment.

So, he is unfit. Not of good character. But here is the clincher. He has left no doubt that he will be a dictator. He cannot finish it in 4 years, but he will try. So, lemmings, is that the freedom you want?
The rest of us, call us the rest of us, suffer no illusion. There is only one choice.

The choice between President Biden and Donald J. Trump does not exist.







































Tuesday, February 27, 2024

BECAUSE WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE

We have an unequal distribution of wealth and power that feeds racism, denial of civil rights, extreme political silos, failure to compromise, fake news, vitriol, cultism, and a slow walk into fascism, autocracy, and theocracy. 

We suggest thought leadership by examining the true nature of capitalism, how one of our most celebrated thinkers saw us through the lens of equal distribution by socialistic principles, how we must adhere to the rule of compromise to survive, what modest measures from Congress would save us and how we get there through leadership.

Each of these five suggested steps is explained as follows:

https://spriggslawgroup.blogspot.com/2024/02/reforming-capitalism.html

https://spriggslawgroup.blogspot.com/2024/02/what-is-socialism.html

https://spriggslawgroup.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-lost-art-of-compromise.html

https://wspriggs2.blogspot.com/2024/02/us-congress-to-do-list.html

https://spriggslawgroup.blogspot.com/2023/11/superior-leadership.html


 

Sunday, February 25, 2024

WHO AM I?

I am a philosophical truth-seeker and legal enthusiast. I love science and the law as they follow the evidence and help me discover objective truth and reality. I eschew faith, the absence of evidence upon which beliefs rely.