I don't think you're gonna get many responses, because I've read your post 40 different ways to sunday and looked at your picture and don't have a clue what you are trying to do here.

Looks like maybe wiring for a ceiling fan and a ceiling fan light each with it's own switch.....but again...not a clue what you are trying to do here.

It's ok it was wired all wrong. Running the grounds hot, I deferred to a professional. I will take it down.

I saw the pucture and electricians can do some funky stuff with wires

But I think here is the answer to the question

The power had come into the light
They then took a 12/2 and ran power to the switch
Black was hot and the switch leg white was to the top of the switch

I think he was just wanting to replace the switch

Even with the switches off the ground wires were hot. I'm not sure what was up with it.

I saw the ground and neutrals connected. That's most likely the point from which the ground was energized, especially if you have shared neutrals on a multi-wire branch circuit.

Do you have other issues in the house, or is this maybe the only spot Uncle Larry went ham one weekend?

Trash builder, kind of a long story.

This was an open box to have a pool table light installed. Since nothing was there, we had no idea it was messed up. I got the stuff to hook it up, it's too far out of sorts for the amount of time and knowledge I had for it. I told my parents to get someone who knew how to sort that out.