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 (Les AuCoin), 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.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

…for a saner level of political discourse in our country at local, regional, state and national levels (which should be possible if only because Donald Trump exits as a loser)

…for a recognition that compromise is not a dirty word no matter where compromise occurs

…for a recognition that, especially in Oregon, there is a major difference between urban and rural parts of the state and legislators ought to understand the differences, then try to bridge them

…for a recognition that most immigrants are looking for the potential of a better way of life, not a criminal enterprise

…for a recognition that those who represent us ought to expect government programs to produce results, not just exist

…for a recognition that good things can happen if government and private sector work together, not just one or the other

…for a commitment on the part of the media to cover politics from the standpoint of issues important to Americans, just the horse-race mentality

…for continued success of quality journalism outlets, including Oregon Public Broadcasting (one of my former lobbying clients), the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times (and, if you want, add The Atlantic Magazine to this list)

…a recognition of compassion and empathy as important credentials in anyone who wants to hold public office

…for success of Biden Administration as it works to, (a) exert more control over the pandemic, (b) generate even-handed economic recovery, and (c) inject reality and truth into America’s political system

There.  Call these New Year’s resolutions, if you will.  For me, they are just wishes, which, if you think about it, hearken back to some of my blog posts in 2020.