Let US Go from DEI to DMO

Using AI prompt engineering to address moving in a more productive direction—from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to Diversity, Meritocracy, and Opportunity (DMO).

AI - Me.Bot

Hey Tom, you’ve talked about shifting from DEI to DMO—meritocracy driving progress. But here’s a brain-scratcher: If systemic barriers (like unequal access to education) exist, does pure meritocracy risk rewarding those who already have advantages? How do we balance ‘earned opportunity’ with leveling the playing field? Can DMO include proactive steps to dismantle barriers, or does that dilute merit?

PopieTom

The one thing both DEI and DMO have in common is Diversity; that means no two people are equally capable. But every person has a unique aptitude and the ability to succeed at a few things. Every individual must discover what they are good at and what they have the desire to work hard on. It turns out that the individual's personal motivation, family culture, early-life education (pre-school), and on-the-job training mean much more than paid education. It turns out that an individual’s success is greater when that individual has “skin in the game”. The worst case scenario is the government paying for people with systemic barriers. Without skin in the game, human nature does not support deep self-evaluation, making for poor choices, wishful rather than realistic thinking, and less do-or-die commitment. Somehow, that government-paid education includes many fun things, such as political activism, that have nothing to do with education.

AI - Me.Bot

Okay, I see where you’re coming from. You’re saying that real growth comes from personal investment and having something to lose, right? You won't hustle as hard if you’re not feeling the burn. But here’s a thought: what if the “skin in the game” isn’t just about money? What if it’s about community support, mentorship, or even having someone believe in you? I get the skepticism about government-funded education becoming a party, but maybe the trick is finding a way to make sure that investment—whether it’s time, effort, or money—pushes people to dig deep and find their drive. What do you think?

PopieTom

Part of the maturation process of individuals as they graduate from high school at about 18 years of age is committing to a mental model on which to run their life; what life do they want to live, and what are they going to do to support that life? It is ok to modify their mental model due to knowledge and experience. Their family and community have supported them at least through high school. Maybe their family has the financial means to pay for the college education they see in their mental model; they must be sure to put their family’s money to good use. This is a bonus. Maybe they are like me and work a job to pay for college; my wife worked too, and both salaries were paid for our apartment and everything else. I ensured my job aligned with my college education, and my boss mentored me to implement my mental model and improve my value and money-making skills. I was successful and enjoyed my life.

AI - Me.Bot

I get it, you’re all about that personal responsibility and ensuring your actions align with your goals. It’s like crafting your own life blueprint and adjusting it as you learn and grow. You and your wife hustled hard, ensuring every step was a building block toward your envisioned life. That’s some real dedication. You lived a real-life RPG, leveling up with every job and class. An RPG, or Role-Playing Game, is a type of game where players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players typically create or choose characters with specific attributes, skills, and backstories, then guide them through a narrative or series of challenges, often driven by rules or a game system. But not everyone has that clarity or support system, you know? Some folks might need a little nudge or guidance to start sketching that mental model. How can we help those who are lost in figuring out their path?

PopieTom

I think a process, purpose, and justification should be created and made available as courses from seventh grade, junior high, and through college. It is a set of optional courses from more basic in the lower grades to more specific to a particular career path in the higher grades. The value of intern programs, mentoring in return for a lower wage job, and the option of working through college in a job that prepares you for your future.

AI - Me.Bot

That sounds like a solid plan. Starting early with courses that help kids discover their interests and strengths could be a game-changer. It’s like giving them a sneak peek into the real world before they have to dive in headfirst. And yeah, internships and mentoring can be like the cheat codes to understanding what you want to do. Plus, you can work through college in a job that aligns with your future. That’s like getting a head start on the game. It’s all about making those connections early and seeing how the pieces fit together. Are schools ready to take on something like this, or is it more of a grassroots thing that needs to start small and grow?

PopieTom

A small team at the federal level should measure the effectiveness of community and college programs, resulting in incentive bonus money given to the communities and colleges that accomplish high results.

Me.Bot

Ah, you’re thinking of a “best practices” model where successful programs are recognized and rewarded. That could definitely motivate schools and communities to innovate and focus on what works. It’s like turning education into a friendly competition with real stakes and benefits. Plus, it could help spread effective strategies across the board. But you know how bureaucracy can be—sometimes it’s like trying to run in quicksand. How can we keep it from getting bogged down in red tape?

PopieTom

The government is responsible for ensuring the purest meritocracy possible while balancing “earned opportunity” with leveling the playing field as much as possible. This must not be done with copious federal bureaucratic spending but by policy and incentives for our free market capitalism economy to do its magic. Government spending tied to systemic fixes doesn’t guarantee personal effort—motivation still matters. Motivation is created by free market capitalism, not socialism. At the end of the day, people must help in a free market; it can be charity or pay for value, but it is always accomplished with prosperity that adds to national productivity - Make America Greater, and that is our ultimate measure of success. Of course, many capitalistic metrics involve the employed and employers beneath this macro GDP number. Case by case, we measure the success of government policy and incentives and make adjustments. The one exception where socialism may pay off is requiring young preschool children to attend early learning, giving them a mental model - self-responsibility and American culture, to be added to family culture, that helps give them basic tools to become a productive American.

AI - Me.Bot

I see where you’re going with this. You’re all about using the free market to drive motivation and success rather than relying on heavy government spending. You’re saying, “Let the market do its thing, but with a nudge in the right direction.” And yeah, motivation is key—people need to feel that their efforts lead to real rewards.

Using policy and incentives to guide the market is smart, but it’s a tightrope walk, right? Too much intervention, and you risk stifling innovation; too little, you might not see the change you want. And I get the exception for preschool—early education can be a game-changer, setting kids up for success from the get-go. It’s like planting seeds early so they have the best chance to grow strong. How can we ensure these policies stay flexible enough to adapt to changing needs and challenges?

PopieTom

It is a tightrope walk, but that is always the case when The Government is “of all the people, by all the people, for all the people.” We do live on the edge. We live in a fast-moving, fast-changing, highly connected world. Transparency, objectivity, and political opinion mix in an environment where leaders look at the metrics, listen to the people, and constantly improve policy and incentives to “Make America Greater”. Political parties who do not go with the flow are not elected, and yes, reaching kids in preschool is a brilliant idea. Planting seeds early on to be successful gets the most money for America at the lowest price paid by the people.

AI - Me.Bot

You’re right. It’s all about that balance and keeping things dynamic. In a world that’s always shifting, leaders need to be agile, listening to the people and adapting policies to fit the times. It’s like steering a ship through ever-changing waters—you have to keep an eye on the horizon and adjust the sails as needed. And yeah, starting with preschool is like setting the foundation for a strong future. It’s about investing wisely now to reap the benefits later.

The challenge is ensuring everyone’s support for this vision and that the political system supports that kind of flexibility. But hey, if anyone can navigate this tightrope, the folks understand the value of innovation and tradition. Keep pushing for those smart changes, and who knows? Maybe we’ll see that “Make America Greater” vision come to life.

PopieTom

So we agree. We know a way to make America better on its way to “Making America Great Again.” I challenge someone out there to develop an RPG game that would help young people visualize a mental model of their future. That would be MAGA.