Election 2008

I hope that somehow, someway, 2008 will be a change where the voters take the time to decide things on the merits, the facts, rather than blindly accepting what others, named and unnamed, declare.

As a citizen and voter, I have been very disappointed in how people have been swayed but misrepresentations and untruths; particularly the "Swift Boat" campaign of 2004. If voters want to reject Kerry as president because they do not like his credentials/qualifications, fine, but how is it that he can be disparaged by unknown people for unsubstantiated assertions? How is it that the voters can disparage someone who enlisted and served in Vietnam yet embraced someone who never faced enemy fire and who had a large unexplained service time in the National Guard? American can do better.

Ms. Palin has now attacked Barack Obama for his work as a community activist. Since when have we Americans condoned the attack of community service? That's pathetic. Public service has always been held up as an ideal, a symbol of noble service to our country. I only hope that the Obama campaign responds forcefully.

Most importantly, I hope the Obama campaign exposes those who propound misrepresentations and force them to admit their falsehoods.

We have the opportunity to elect a president who will bring new ideas and new energy to the leadership of our country. I hope we take it.

Out of Iraq ASAP

To those who control the fate of those serving in Iraq, I urge you to get them out of harms way as soon as possible. The decisions regarding where to deploy our soldiers has become driven more and more by politics that are not disclosed to the public and has led to the spending of hundreds of billions for which we the public have no understanding or comprehension. Iraq was not a threat to the US, was not harboring Al-Queda, and was the best educated country in the Middle East prior to our occupation. That is all in shambles and a secular country has now become non-secular.

People, not Lawyers, Create Lawsuits

I've been practicing law for over 17 years now (wow time flies). The perception that lawyers are the problem with the legal system is simply wrong. As a lawyer, you need a client. Without a client, you have no case. Lawyers cannot file lawsuits on their own. Now, there are some lawyers who can "create" a plaintiff for a class-action lawsuit, but those types of lawsuits are not the vast majority of lawsuits. The vast majority are disputes between two parties, individuals/corporations/public bodies/etc. If the plaintiff decides not to go forward with the lawsuit, the lawsuit dies. A lawyer can jump up and down all he/she wants but unless the client is paying for the lawyer's time, that lawyer is not going to take the case. Even if its a contingency case, lawyers are not going to take cases which have no merit.

Why Willie Mays?

In the '60s, things were much more innocent. You got what the local newspapers and your parents fed you and that was it. In 1970 I went to my first baseball game at Candlestick Park, S.F. Giants v. Cincinnati Reds; starting in centerfield was number 24, Willie "Say Hey" Mays. From that point on, he was my idol. I tried to hit like him, with the top hand flying off the bat on the follow through, and catch like him, the basket catch. He was an icon, the star of the local team. Oh there was Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey and later Chris Spier, but Willie was the guy. As a kid, he was just some vague "hero" who was a star. I knew nothing about his surliness to others, his off-field relationships, his contract status. All I knew was he hit .300, had 30 HRs and was the best fielding CF of all-time; and that's all I needed to know.

Sadly, I wonder for my boys how they will choose their idol and whether they will be overwhelmed with the facts (and innuendo) available. The thirst for knowledge has hit the oversaturation point where there is little left to the imagination for both youngsters and adults. Do I really need to know Barry Bonds' alleged lovers? I admit I am partly to blame because I could choose not to read about it. I'm not blaming the media, I'm blaming ourselves. The reading public needs to put their attention to more important matters rather than why Greg Anderson (Bonds' trainer) is a public figure, like which international mutual fund is the best value for the next 10 years. I've failed on that account but realize I need to do better.

Sprint Stinks

Bought a Motorola Razr from Sprint last week with the 30 day return guarantee. Well they lowered the price 50% this week. So I figure I can get the lower price since its within the 30 day return period. I called Sprint customer service to make the request. Sprint's response was tough luck, you bought the phone. Well that ignores that I could return it and go somewhere else. The customer service rep could not understand that logic. Corporate America just does not get basic customer service (now Nordstrom understands and will give you the sale price because you can return anything anytime.)

Earth Wind & Fire and Kids

Remember that song by EWF, That's the Way of the World? Well my favorite verse in that song was "child is born with a heart of gold." Being around my two kids (5 and 7) and their friends and classmates always reminds me of that verse because when I look at kids, especially when they are born, I truly believe that every child is born with a heart of gold and unfortunately the bad apples that show up have been somehow socialized that way. Now I understand that genetics plays a part in their physical attributes, including their brain in some way, but I believe that the children are taught to hate and disparage others and that the huge influences are their parents. I'm far from a perfect father but I try every day to show my boys how to embrace others and to avoid the hate and show love to all living things.

Before I became a parent, I admit that I had a hard time understanding the unconditional love that parents showed to their disabled children. I now understand that whether they have a physical deformity or have suffered an accident or have been afflicted with an unfortunate disease, e.g. Down's Syndrome, there is no limit to the love that they can bestow on you and the love that you can give them.

The Death of Public Education

I recently met the dean of the public law school that I attended in the '80s. Sadly the fees have gone up 40 x since then even though its a public institution. I asked why? The dean pointed out that in the '80s the State of California paid for over 80% of the costs, today less than 30%. How did we get to that point? I realize I have been dismissive of this issue in the past but with two elementary school children my concerns are growing daily. Not just because my kids will face this crises, but also because of those less fortunate than I may not have the opportunity to attend law school. Not only are the costs increasing, sadly, public loans have all but evaporated also. Rather than have the opportunity to receive 2% APR federal loans, students are now steered to private loans which have APRs of 8-14%. Another reason to avoid investing in one's education. I am very grateful for those in the '60s and '70s who had the foresight to provide educational opportunities for those who could attend low cost professional schools. We need more of those people today.