When the System Above You Fails, You Don't Wait
States don't wait for federal collapse to finish before feeding people. The pattern reveals something stark: nested systems either substitute or cascade. Resilience has a shape.
SYSTEMS & STEWARDSHIP // RIVER
When Counting Replaces Witnessing, Legitimacy Thins Out
Metrics help govern. But when they stand in for attention, systems trade legitimacy for speed. The numbers look neat. The people don't feel seen.