Originally posted 02/13/07
Hello and thanks for clicking onto my porch, I want to thank Robert and Shaun for providing a couple of extra rockers so you can regularly join me and go through current events and how I feel they affect me, my family, my business and my community. Sitting on the porch I get to see what happens in my street, see my neighbors and get their points of view and be the guardian of the gate that is my front door as to what is and is not allowed entry to my home and my life. Each week I will post my views and opinions on one or more of the topics of the moment, try to provide links to other views, and invite you to post your feedback and comments.
Here is some background information about me that will help you with the perspective from which I view events, issues and possible solutions. While the focus of The Long Beach Post is primarily the greater Long Beach area, I am not from the area—I like to say I chose it since I spent my time growing up in many places. A native of Oklahoma (4th generation going back to when it was still Indian Territory) I also lived in Philadelphia, New York and went to high school in Brussels, Belgium before coming to Southern California for college. My mother had died my senior year in high school and my dad was still in Europe so after my freshman year I spent the summer with some long time college friends of my parents in Long Beach and have been here ever since.
Of the many roles I play in life my most important are those of husband and father to two youngsters. Most of my perspectives are tinted on what I want and wish for my children as they grow up, go through school and eventually become productive and contributing members of a community. In this role I jump to both sides of the metaphorical fence dividing liberal and conservative viewpoints—more conservative on education, public safety, international relations and personal responsibility and more liberal on socials issues involving lifestyle, homosexuality, abortion and other issues I feel are individuals’ business and not that of government.
As a mortgage broker for twenty years I understand the impact of homeownership on communities, as well as the many issues and challenges for business owners—particularly small and medium-sized businesses. I am very passionate about my career and industry as enabling others to achieve homeownership and manage their finances and debt to enhance their lives is very fulfilling for me and beneficial to my clients and their families. As part of this I will include a weekly post that involves home and personal finance, information regarding the housing or mortgage markets, and some information to possibly allow you to better manager your debt or prepare for homeownership if you are currently renting. In this role I take a fiscally and economically conservative position regarding taxation, government intervention and government spending and programs.
Giving my opinions on matters is not something I am shy about, I would rather tell you the truth and what I feel than say something to make you feel good. Honest discussion should lead to open dialogue which should lead to respectful discussions and possible disagreements as to solutions to problems and causes of those problems. In discussing problems and issues with others, if and when presented with positions and solutions that make sense and are viable I have been known to change my perspective. Faced with name calling, rhetoric, false assumptions or other flawed discussion points however usually emboldens my opinions and causes me to turn away from the discussion.
So I invite you to disagree with the opinions I express on my front porch, but please do so in a respectful and persuasive manner—to do otherwise more often than not hurts or diminishes your cause or belief than helps it.
That is what I think, what do you think?