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.

Remember, this is one of several departments I run with a free hand to manage as I see fit.

The others are the Department of Pet Peeves, the Department of “Just Saying,” and the Department of Words Matter, the latter which just created a few days ago.

Why do I run the Department of Good Quotes Worth Remembering?

Well, the basic reason is that those I quote often have a better way of making points about politics, golf, and other stuff than I do.  Usually; not always.  Because I can be prescient, too.

For example, when I quote Donald Trump, I know I am smarter than he is.  And, of course, I am not a narcissist as he is.

So, with this department now open, here are more good quotes worth remembering, though I add this disclaimer.

These days, given how abortion is roiling the country, I could include a host of commentary on that subject.  For me, not worth it.  Part of me is glad that abortion, given the Supreme Court’s decision, is a legislative issue.  That is where it belongs, at least mostly.

And, further, a health care issue such as this also belongs in the province of the relationship between a woman and her physician.  Of course, family would be involved, as well.  I’ll leave it there, again mostly.

FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL:  “Tucked away in the gun law President Biden just signed is a provision increasing funding for preventive outpatient treatment for mental illness. This is an important step toward solving America’s mental-health crisis but only part of what’s needed.  Happily, help may be on the way if Republicans take back Congress in November.

“From homelessness to crime to rising suicide rates, a variety of problems in America today correlate with mental illnesses.  But Democrats, journalists and social activists often focus on other potential causes such as racism, economic inequality, or police misbehavior.  Ask a Democrat about solving homelessness and the standard response is a call for more housing.  But housing alone does little to help people who are in psychological distress.  It sometimes makes matters worse if people are more isolated.

“More outpatient counseling and medication is a much better solution than many that these politicians prescribe.  But for severe mental illness—untreated and acute psychosis—it may not be enough.  Some people need longer-term residential care with trained physicians.”

COMMENT:  This strikes me a good point. Homelessness often is a mental health issue, not something else.  It’s time for politicians of goodwill and solid intent – yes, there are some left – to work on homelessness based on facts and figures, not off-the-cuff perceptions.

THE OREGONIAN NEWSPAPER AS THE LIV GOLF EXHIBITION COMES TO PUMPKIN RIDGE GOLF COURSE:  “LIV Golf has tried to overcome this distasteful reputation with a staggering financial commitment, reportedly pledging to spend $2 billion on the league over the next four years.

“Along the way, it has threatened the foundation and future of professional golf by luring prominent names from the popular PGA Tour. But most in the sport — and beyond — have condemned LIV Golf and its backers, and sports organizers in the U.S have resoundingly distanced themselves from the series.

“This is not an event that we feel aligns with the values of our sports community,” said Jim Etzel, CEO of SportOregon, a non-profit designed to drive local economic growth through sports.”

COMMENT:  My views on LIV have been crystal clear for weeks.  I am unalterably opposed to “sportswashing” as a way to remove a stained reputation, which is what the Saudi’s are doing.

MORE FROM THE OREGONIAN NEWSPAPER:  “’If you love golf and you don’t mind who’s paying the bills, it should be a great event,’ Jerry Willey, a Washington County commissioner and Pumpkin Ridge member, said. “Opinions are mixed.  Some people are really opposed to this.  Others say that it’s a great opportunity for a different perspective on golf and making money.”

COMMENT:  So, this is another side of the story of LIV golf at Pumpkin Ridge.  Some members of the club don’t like it and have left.  Others, like, Willey are fine with it.  And the “it” appears to include expenditures by LIV golf to upgrade Pumpkin Ridge at the behest of the still-relatively new owners, Escalente Corporation.  Plus, some reports say that more new members have joined Pumpkin than have left.