What I believe

My core values are essentially libertarian - people should be allowed as much freedom as possible. The freedom to win, and the freedom to lose. The freedom to try, the freedom to succeed and the freedom to fail.

I believe government has failed our people horribly. It's intrusive, it does too much, and the services it provides are not worth what we pay for them. Being in Los Angeles, and comparing the amount of money we pay to the level of services we get is completely and utterly demoralizing.

I believe government should make a sincere, determined effort to protect people from those who would murder, rob or rape. I believe our government should succeed in educating our children. I believe our government should pave our streets and maintain its own buildings. I believe we pay more than enough for these services, but we're not getting what we're paying for.

I believe government has a responsibility to protect us from threats. I believe war has to be a last resort, but when we do it, we have to play to win. That's why I'm a Republican, not a Libertarian. I believe Saddam Hussein is a very bad man indeed, and that he and his evil sons fully deserved what they got. And I'm proud of the fact that Iraq is now a much better place than it was before we invaded.

I do not believe government has the responsibility to protect us from ourselves. I do not believe government should be involved in abortion, or drug use, or whether we have guns or not. At the same time, though, I'm not particularly passionate about those issues. Believe me, there are plenty of people who are, and I leave those fights to them.

I do get angry whenever government agencies, corporate or religious organizations attack our free speech rights. I'm not quite an activist, but you can count on me to say the right things.

In the end, I am angry at government because it's such a poor deal. We pay through the nose for it, and when we want it to be there, it doesn't deliver. Our police are more interested in issuing parking tickets than solving crimes. Our schools are more interested in making us feel good than teaching us what we need to learn. And God Help Me if I ever want to build a house - and I say that as someone who doesn't believe in God.

Activism

I've had strong political feelings for decades, but I haven't had much of an outlet for them before I discovered Free Republic.

A lot of people will say bad things about Free Republic, and in many respects they are right. It's not always a comfortable place. There are many people there who are mean-spirited, prejudiced, intolerent, and - worst of all! - illiterate. But there are also many intelligent and passionate people who have beliefs compatible with mine and are willing to stand out and be counted.

When those people stand up and get counted, I'm often there with my trusty Canon XL1 MiniDV camcorder and my Canon EOS D30 digital SLR, ready to record our principled stands and street theater.

It's all in the name of having fun ... and making a difference.

Writings

Trouble in Paradise: Malibu's new Local Coastal Plan

Malibu: Where gentle breezes caress tall mountains overlooking the sea, houses precariously perched to take advantage of any conceivable view. And where there is a nearly constant war over development, not only within the city itself, but between the city and the State agency that's supposed to protect it. My essay introduces you to the major players and explains the situation as I see it.

Is it a jail? A scene from a Mad Max movie? No, it's the Los Angeles Unified School District's $200 million white elephant of a school. Never seen Belmont High before? Come visit with us in this short video clip.