Don Rowe
@donrowe.bsky.social
No free rides, just a push to get started and an occasional nudge along the way. More at my website https://winningdecisions.org. I also recycle, including posts, but give credit when I'm reasonably certain of the source.
Pinned
Don Rowe
@donrowe.bsky.social
· Nov 29
Why do I post questions? A free fish feeds someone for a day, fishing lessons feed them for life. Offering a solution may satisfy someone for a day or start an argument lasting much longer. Questions offer people lasting opportunities to seek and refine their own answers.
"For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong " - Henry L. Mencken. How can we know if we're overlooking something?
November 15, 2025 at 5:43 PM
"For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong " - Henry L. Mencken. How can we know if we're overlooking something?
Should we vote on it? Should math students vote for their favorite solution to an equation? Should two wolves and a goat choose lunch by voting? Should we vote on what to decide by voting?
November 14, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Should we vote on it? Should math students vote for their favorite solution to an equation? Should two wolves and a goat choose lunch by voting? Should we vote on what to decide by voting?
It's been said that those who know the least know it the loudest. How important is being loud?
November 14, 2025 at 12:22 AM
It's been said that those who know the least know it the loudest. How important is being loud?
"Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument an exchange of ignorance." - Robert Quillen. What should we look for in candidates for public office or expect from elected representatives? What evidence of priorities or abilities could candidates offer?
November 4, 2025 at 4:23 PM
"Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument an exchange of ignorance." - Robert Quillen. What should we look for in candidates for public office or expect from elected representatives? What evidence of priorities or abilities could candidates offer?
Is two political parties alternately taking control and being controlled a desirable form of government? What should be the role of political parties? Do parties have any obligations to those not in the party?
November 2, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Is two political parties alternately taking control and being controlled a desirable form of government? What should be the role of political parties? Do parties have any obligations to those not in the party?
What should guide people dealing with grief, anger, or hate?
October 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
What should guide people dealing with grief, anger, or hate?
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. - Proverbs 18:2. Are all opinions equal?
October 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. - Proverbs 18:2. Are all opinions equal?
What is peace? Does the same concept of peace apply to nations, communities, neighbors, political parties, or management and workers? How does peace begin and end?
October 23, 2025 at 2:24 AM
What is peace? Does the same concept of peace apply to nations, communities, neighbors, political parties, or management and workers? How does peace begin and end?
Any two humans likely have much more in common than DNA. How could people explore what they share?
October 16, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Any two humans likely have much more in common than DNA. How could people explore what they share?
How should people decide who or what to believe? Are there any fundamental principles people should consider before acting?
October 5, 2025 at 2:18 PM
How should people decide who or what to believe? Are there any fundamental principles people should consider before acting?
Compromise means (select one or more):
a) Making accusations until your opponents give in.
b) Dismissing anyone who disagrees as "not a team player".
c) Holding out for the right price.
d) Something else.
a) Making accusations until your opponents give in.
b) Dismissing anyone who disagrees as "not a team player".
c) Holding out for the right price.
d) Something else.
October 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Compromise means (select one or more):
a) Making accusations until your opponents give in.
b) Dismissing anyone who disagrees as "not a team player".
c) Holding out for the right price.
d) Something else.
a) Making accusations until your opponents give in.
b) Dismissing anyone who disagrees as "not a team player".
c) Holding out for the right price.
d) Something else.
In sports, it's said that there is no "I" in "team". In politics, should there be an "I" in "Congress"?
October 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
In sports, it's said that there is no "I" in "team". In politics, should there be an "I" in "Congress"?
The military says no battle plan survives contact with the enemy. What might be beyond government control during a shutdown? Can unintended consequences be prevented or mitigated? What is the long-term plan to retain any benefits gained by a shutdown?
September 30, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The military says no battle plan survives contact with the enemy. What might be beyond government control during a shutdown? Can unintended consequences be prevented or mitigated? What is the long-term plan to retain any benefits gained by a shutdown?
How much of a person's future should be determined by where they were born? What parts of anyone's life could be influenced by people born elsewhere? What obligations does anyone have to the place they were born?
September 30, 2025 at 4:50 AM
How much of a person's future should be determined by where they were born? What parts of anyone's life could be influenced by people born elsewhere? What obligations does anyone have to the place they were born?
Does any manager know everything there is to know about running their department, preventing problems, managing a crisis, inspiring those they lead, and everything else related to the job? If not, who should they learn from?
September 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Does any manager know everything there is to know about running their department, preventing problems, managing a crisis, inspiring those they lead, and everything else related to the job? If not, who should they learn from?
I don't know the answer. Should we investigate or invent an explanation and declare the matter closed? Does lack of evidence either way prove an invented explanation is true?
September 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I don't know the answer. Should we investigate or invent an explanation and declare the matter closed? Does lack of evidence either way prove an invented explanation is true?
Sometimes voters feel like they're forced to choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledummer. What are some ways to expand the options?
September 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Sometimes voters feel like they're forced to choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledummer. What are some ways to expand the options?
In a chain of events, or events with multiple factors, how do we decide which link in the chain is most responsible? Which is the best link to remove to break the sequence? Is the simplest, most convenient, or most familiar link always the best choice?
August 29, 2025 at 3:16 PM
In a chain of events, or events with multiple factors, how do we decide which link in the chain is most responsible? Which is the best link to remove to break the sequence? Is the simplest, most convenient, or most familiar link always the best choice?
"They did not mind stating apparently opposed truths; they knew that they could give to men a higher truth, in which the contradictories became two sides of the same truth." - Stopford A. Brooke. How can we tell if seeming contradictions can be reconciled?
August 28, 2025 at 1:54 PM
"They did not mind stating apparently opposed truths; they knew that they could give to men a higher truth, in which the contradictories became two sides of the same truth." - Stopford A. Brooke. How can we tell if seeming contradictions can be reconciled?
How does violating an oath to defend, support, or uphold the Constitution of the U.S. compare to burning an American flag?
August 27, 2025 at 1:28 PM
How does violating an oath to defend, support, or uphold the Constitution of the U.S. compare to burning an American flag?
Dividing everyone into "us" and "them" comes easily to many. Hate, fear, and greed reinforce the divisions. Everything may appear fine when "we" are in charge. History suggests "they" will take over in time. Is this cycle desirable, preferable, or inevitable?
August 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Dividing everyone into "us" and "them" comes easily to many. Hate, fear, and greed reinforce the divisions. Everything may appear fine when "we" are in charge. History suggests "they" will take over in time. Is this cycle desirable, preferable, or inevitable?
Can there be bad answers to good questions? What are the long-term goals? How does each possible solution get us closer to long-term stability? How could we anticipate or stay alert for unintended consequences?
August 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Can there be bad answers to good questions? What are the long-term goals? How does each possible solution get us closer to long-term stability? How could we anticipate or stay alert for unintended consequences?
A swinging pendulum is not stable at either extreme. Does making progress toward stability count as an accomplishment?
August 22, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A swinging pendulum is not stable at either extreme. Does making progress toward stability count as an accomplishment?
If I think you're wrong, can I claim victory? If I can find any fault with something you say, do, or believe, does that prove that I am right? Could we both be partly right or both be wrong? If we're both only partly right, is voting a good way to settle it?
August 19, 2025 at 1:43 PM
If I think you're wrong, can I claim victory? If I can find any fault with something you say, do, or believe, does that prove that I am right? Could we both be partly right or both be wrong? If we're both only partly right, is voting a good way to settle it?
Voters and politicians sometimes talk about their party taking control. Is one party having control while all others are controlled the best form of government?
August 18, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Voters and politicians sometimes talk about their party taking control. Is one party having control while all others are controlled the best form of government?