The Occasional Perspective - 12/22/25
Opinions and Reflections
Listening To Consider – In case you did not hear it on NPR, I suggest that you consider taking the time to listen to the podcast interview of Leon Panetta, Former – All Sorts Of Important Positions (e.g. Secretary of Defense, Director of CIA, Former Congressman, etc.) or, someone who has helped to lead this country. Mr. Panetta is also one of the very few leaders approved by the U.S. Congress that literally received a 100% approval from all members voting in favor of his position as Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama. Such support is very rare in Congress and reveals significant bi-partisan support for his perspectives. He offers his thoughts related to our current environment and ventures.
First, The USA, Now Australia – It deeply saddens me to see the mass shootings occurring – or, perhaps I should say, continuing – at least in the USA. While I cannot comment on Australia’s laws related to gun ownership, I can say that “Common Sense” gun ownership in the USA is a movement that all of us need to get involved in if we believe that children, family members of deranged individuals, and others at risk should feel safe in their environments. We do not allow individuals to drive cars until there is reasonable training and experience. We do not allow just anyone to climb into a large semi-truck and drive away without formal training. We don’t allow people without surgical training to do so in the Operating Room – even if they are physicians. Why can’t we come up with reasonable criteria for owning and managing a gun? It only makes sense.
Secondly, we need ecumenical and governmental leadership on this topic as well. It seems over the last couple of years that the silence of the many has been usurped by the anger and inflammatory rhetoric of the few. The Second Amendment to the Constitution states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” It does not say, “Anybody,” it does not say “…an unregulated Militia”, it does not say that “…laws “infringe” upon individual rights” and, I could go on. Let’s push for reasonable criteria and common sense laws for access to guns. We don’t need another Lewiston, Maine shooting in the USA, or a Brown University, or an Australian shooting at a Hanukkah gathering. Consider what your role can be in fostering Common Sense throughout the world. Consider this an option for helping to foster the HEALTH of the community – wherever you live…
The Power Of Chatbots On Decision-Making – In a recent 2024 study published in Nature, the impact of chatbots on decision-making related to D.Trumps vs. K.Harris was studied with more than 2300 participants. In essence, the impact is quite significant. Essentially, it was discovered that the LLMs (large language models) were more effective than political advertisements in persuading a shift from one candidate to the other. Why? The answer seems to be that the chatbots collate more “real-time” information and use it in conversations with individuals online. For example, chatbots favoring Harris were able to move Trump supporters 3.9 points toward Harris. And, vice-versa, chatbots favoring Trump moved Harris supporters 2.3 points toward Trump. The other point is that the researchers have studied the 2025 Canadian federal election and the Polish presidential election. The impact in those elections was even greater. Chatbots achieved a 10-point shift. Also, the researchers have learned that effective chatbots can be taught by filling their computer minds with untrue facts and evidence and then teaching them how to have persuasive conversations.
However, the more important point is not about the Trump-Harris Presidential election process but about the impact of chatbots on information and misinformation management. It is increasingly clear that we are moving toward a world where our thinking – as humans – could be subjugated by computers = chatbots. Will chatbots be set up by companies to encourage the use of medications, products, or for other purposes that achieve greater sales in particular areas? Will it be allowed? Furthermore, the “evidence” and “facts” used by the chatbots in their conversations with people also included “untrue” information. When untrue information was presented properly, it shifted the perspective of the listeners…
A Proposed Leadership Purchase – President Trump recently hosted a reception at the White House with Mariam Adelson, the wife of the late multi-billionaire, Sheldon Adelson. Ms. Adelson’s – who contributed $100 million in the last election cycle – in her remarks included a comment about encouraging Trump to run for an additional four years, after which the crowd took up the chant as well. Then, she committed $250 million to support the effort. Even though the constitution is clear, there are those few among who think they can buy leadership roles for the American people. The distance between the haves and have nots is getting bigger. Furthermore, undoing the USA Constitution is even more disturbing.
