PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

To hear left-wing Democrats talk as they run for president, you’d think our country needs to be changed so dramatically it would no longer be recognized as a center of capitalism.

Several of those on the far left, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, want to make the United States into a socialist country.

They must think, I guess, that trashing this country will help them win a trip to the Oval Office.

I hope not. To be sure, I want a centrist to emerge, someone who can defeat one of the worst presidents in U.S. history – Donald Trump. And someone who will work to improve our country, not trash it.

A couple personal thoughts about capitalism vs. socialism.

MY OWN SITUATION: Back in 1990, with another partner, I formed a company that came to be called CFM Strategic Communications. We set out to create and build a company that would provide several services – (a) lobbying services at the local, state and federal levels, (b) public relations services for public and private sector clients; and (c) public opinion services to help public and private sector clients understand the universes in which they operated.

Twenty-five years later, CFM is still functioning as a small business, though I am retired and now serve as an emeritus partner.

Without capitalism in this country, there would have been no opportunity to succeed with CFM.  In socialism as advocated by Sanders, Warren and others, we would have had no incentive to provide for ourselves as partners, as well as for those who worked for us because those individuals always shared in our profits.

We would have been just waiting for the next handout from government those on the far left believe would be better than business effort and enterprise.

A VISIT TO PRAGUE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC: On a recent international trip, my wife and I spent three days in Prague, which no longer is a communist country.

We were struck by comments from our tour guide, who said she grew up in a communist state, but now treasures the freedom she enjoys in a non-communist system.

She said she is now able to think for herself, to speak, and to be creative. Without fear of reprisal.

She has no desire for the Czech Republic to return to communism, which she fears is an agenda in some parts of the country.

So, the question is this: Can those with a capitalist commitment improve how they operate in this country?

Of course, there always is room for those who have earned so much to share with those who have less. Consider the example of Bill Gates, who made a fortune as he started and led Microsoft for years, but, through his foundation, has shared his wealth with others around the world.

Sharing with others was the subject of a recent sermon at the church in Salem my wife have attended for more than 30 years, Salem Alliance. To remember a sermon several weeks after it was given says something about the quality of the subject!

The title was, “What is Our Responsibility, as citizens and Christians, to help the Quartet of the Vulnerable.” The quartet was defined to include the poor, children (sometimes orphans), widows and refugees.

All of them need our help, both in our roles as citizens and as Christians.

Scripture has much to say about this, including what may be the best verse on the subject – Romans 12:13:

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Sounds simple, but it isn’t.

It requires commitment – commitment of the type that shows how those who have thrived in capitalism are willing to share what they have earned with others. And, if done enough, the sharing will help, in our topsy-turvy political world, to illustrate the value in our current way of life, not the value in turning to socialism.