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February 28, 2001

Liberal Democrat speaks out

Leslie Davidson is going in the right direction, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading his letter in a recent Tribune. He sounds like the kind of person I'd like to sit down with and have a good conversation over a cup of coffee at Fog City Java or Pacific Java. He's got the concept and the purpose of opinion columnists like John Maybury and me down pat. I don't always have to agree with John, or radio talk show host Ronn Owens for that matter, in order to enjoy reading or listening to them.

That said, I find it fascinating to be pigeonholed with the conservatives of Pacifica. I've always considered myself a Liberal Democrat, from the times I was involved in forming two different Democratic clubs in other towns to holding several offices, including the presidency, of the Pacifica Democrats. I've been an active Pacifica Democrat since Oct. 19, 1963, three weeks after I moved here.

Of course I've also always thought it foolish to hold an opinion just because some folks think it's either liberal or conservative. It's the idea that's important, not the label. That's why I'm pro life, pro gun control, pro reasonable open space, pro private property rights and pro equal opportunity.

I'd like to know who those conservatives are who Leslie says beg for more of my opinions. This column, in its 26 year existence, has generated a number of letters to the editor, but those letters rarely agree with me, whether the writer considers himself conservative or liberal. Writing a letter takes time, energy and thoughtfulness, or it takes emotion and adrenaline, sometimes combined with thoughtfulness, of course. Many agree with my point of view and quite often tell me so when I see them at a meeting or in the supermarket. They're happy I've stated their points of view. They verbally praise my ideas. They rarely take the time to sit down and do the hard work involved in composing a letter just to agree.

On the other hand, let me come out in favor of rational gun control, or stating my dislike for speed bumps or unnecessary stop signs, or expressing the need to use great prudence and judgment before setting more land aside for open space, and the adrenaline flows from those who don't agree. In some cases, they've expressed a demand to silence the opposition to their point of view, and sometimes to silence the opposer as well.

Another letter two weeks ago, from my good friend Ernie Scott, referred to my "continuing harangue" complaining about the loss of the second library in Pacifica. Since I've good reason to think this column started the movement which saved Sanchez Library after it was given up for lost in 1978 following Prop. 13, I hope Ernie will allow me to grieve for this major loss to Pacifica. In all candor, Sanchez library is lost. All I can hope for in complaining publicly is that someone smarter than I will find ways to insure that kids, seniors and other non-drivers will be able to get to and from the new library. While some element of child care may be involved in the young patrons of Sanchez, that need not detract from my opinion that libraries are "temples of serendipity." Children can make great new discoveries every time they visit a library. I did. That's what libraries are all about. That's why we need to find more ways to encourage more children to visit more libraries more often.

 
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