Happy Landing

I grew up with a parent-taught respect for elected officials. There was a time that simply being in their presence stopped any ability to speak I might have imagined to have.

Then I entered politics.

As part of the political world I learned that, in general:1) politicians are just people who got elected instead of hired, and 2) politicians are just people with insatiable egos. 

Then I moved to New Mexico.

As a resident of New Mexico I learned that, in general: 1) New Mexico's politicians are good ol' boys that get appointed instead of elected, and 2) New Mexico good ol' boy politicians have a combined ego equal to infinity.

Oh, and one more thing, in the Land of Enchantment it's a double-edged sword to be the Governor's friend. 

One might think that being buddy-buddy with the Gov could be a good thing, but in this state it can also be a very bad thing.  It protects you, but it also puts you at risk. It pays you, but it also means you are in cahoots with the devil. I suppose that isn't a concern for some, or wasn't until recently.

Based on KRQE's Larry Barker's report last evening, being friends with our Gov can often pay VERY well and you really don't have to do much in return except be unselfishly loyal to your benefactor. Oh sure, the taxpayers are paying you, but you don't have to do a damn thing for them, it's the Gov you have to show allegiance to.

I started my life in politics star-struck, but I quickly learned how to deal with the egos, did my homework, and soon found every door open in three state legislatures and could even list several Governor's as friends. It was an amazing ride. 

And then I came to New Mexico, where I found myself on the floor of the Roundhouse in the first week of my arrival, felt the familiar rush of adrenaline, and wondered if history was going to repeat for me in a 4th state. I am grateful to say it did not. I stayed out of the Roundhouse and made my way to the sidelines.

I entered politics in my mid-20's as a wide-eyed innocent. I left politics in my late-40's a savvy, respected and effective lobbyist.

I entered New Mexico a naive and newly enchanted new resident. And I've made it my home. I will stay in New Mexico, but the enchantment has been tarnished by the unabashed shenanigans of our leadership in Santa Fe.

I love New Mexico, and I still love the political world. And although I am not on or even near the capitol floor, I am certainly standing in the halls to listen and watch.

I have made great friends and business acquaintances in New Mexico, including some great legislators.  The Governor is not included in this group of people, and I am OK with that. 

My parents taught me to choose my friends wisely. They told me that I would always be judged not only by my own actions but by the actions of those I associate with, and that some friendships just aren't worth the price. I am glad I listened.

And right now I imagine there are more than a few in our state who are wishing they had been more careful placing their allegiance, because the high of the ride is never worth the crash at the end.

But I know that I speak not only for myself, but also for my friends when I wish a safe and happy landing to those who deserve it. 

Common Sense is Nonpartisan

For the first time in decades, Albuquerque has elected a fiscal conservative, a Republican and a tall guy as Mayor. In an  impressive win, Mayor Elect R.J. Barry will take over the reins on December 1st, 2009.

In a city of liberal thinkers and an abundance of Obamanos! bumper stickers still flying by on the freeway, it's good to know that reality is still paramount in the minds of the voters.

As Mayor Elect Barry has said, we can expect a common sense leadership from him - and "common sense is nonpartisan.".

Well said, and an election well-deserved and much needed.

ABQNews: Richardson Travels (AGAIN) to Kuala Lumpur (SOMEWHERE FAR FAR AWAY) To Participate(PLAY WITH) in Forbes Conference (VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE)

Why do I feel as if there is a rush of world travel in a short amount of time, almost as if it must get done while it's still being paid for by tax dollars AND before it's too late?

A quick short list for your reading pleasure: the Pope, the Dalai Lama, now to Kuala Lumpur....in a matter of weeks. Really? Wow. It's too bad there isn't anyone to review and approve these travel requests and resulting expense reports. It's only when someone in the public ASKS that we even see them, and we never have the opportunity to disapprove the requests for more taxpayer money to travel the world as a VIP. No wonder there is $1 BILLION dollars in state money that is not exactly explainable...anywhere?

Seems to me like we need someone who wants to actually BE in New Mexico at the helm of our state, not someone who is more concerned about making a 10-minute impression on the world stage...it would certainly cost us a lot less as taxpayers. Those 10 minutes are pretty expensive.

ABQNews: Richardson Travels to Kuala Lumpur To Participate in Forbes Conference

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"The Holy Pinata of Pork Spending...

...stuffed with so much pork it's almost antiSemitic." This is a quote from Jonah Goldberg's luncheon talk earlier today at our New Mexico Turn Around conference in reference to the stimulus funds.

And if you think that is great...you will have to check out the podcast of this event on the Rio Grande Foundation website. Make SURE to listen to Jonah's talk - it was the highlight of the conference (so far)!

You can find more about Jonah Goldberg just Google him...he's syndicated with the LA Times, he just published Liberal Fascism, and he is hysterically informative.

Now to find a BIG stick for that pinata.....

Freedom Fighters Just Want to Have Fu-un!

Join us!

Happy Hour @ Independence Grill

No Host Bar, $1 off regular drink prices

Thursday, September 17th, 5 - 7 PM

6910 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, (505) 837-2874

Suggested Discussion: Ever Vigilant for the Cause of Liberty

Many thanks to our partners in Liberty -

Independence Grill and DW Turner!

Lights of Liberty

"Let your light shine"...most of us are familiar with this biblical phrase, but do we live it? Some do.

This past week the Rio Grande Foundation held the first annual "Lights of Liberty" luncheon in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The guest speaker was David Boaz, Executive Vice President of the CATO Institute. Let me simply say that David's light is shining.

The sell-out crowd of 170 liberty-minded attendees listened intently through David's 30 minute "Liberty in Crisis" presentation.

The speech was inspiring, thought provoking and real. David doesn't mince words or dance around critical topics. Although politically correct in the appropriate use of the term, his casual lack of concern for unnecessary political correctness - that which goes against the grain of today's liberal-fueled quasi-conventional wisdom - makes him the perfect example of it - of political correctness. He speaks the truth, he says what needs to be said and he says it well.

One of my favorite pieces so far (I am still reading) by David Boaz appeared in the Wall Street Journal in May 2009 and is titled "Our Collectivist Candidates". His message is timely and timeless; he ends with a statement loosely related to my area of expertise - philanthropy. I will share the final two paragraphs in this blog, but please click on the link to read his entire article.

"But hypocrisy is not the biggest issue. The real issue is that Messrs. Obama and McCain are telling us Americans that our normal lives are not good enough, that pursuing our own happiness is "self-indulgence," that building a business is "chasing after our money culture," that working to provide a better life for our families is a "narrow concern."

They're wrong. Every human life counts. Your life counts. You have a right to live it as you choose, to follow your bliss. You have a right to seek satisfaction in accomplishment. And if you chase after the almighty dollar, you just might find that you are led, as if by an invisible hand, to do things that improve the lives of others."

And he is right; in my experience as a fundraiser, people who have achieved success want (maybe even need) to share with others, and in an interesting example of "what goes around comes around", they are often rewarded for their philanthropic generosity with continued and increased success. It's one of those eternal principles, and yet some would deny that right to personal success and accomplishment. Shame on them; maybe they should be hiding under a bushel.

Keep on shining, David. And may the light of liberty shine on too.

Reduced Fat

I need to lighten up, this blog was supposed to be the lighter side of politics and there I go talking about things that aren't all that light.

In this day and age it's hard to not get a little heavy with the commentary when discussing economic policy that costs taxpayers billions of dollars, transparency in government, inequitable legislation and other timely and critical issues in the world of politics.

However, I will do my best to do better, to be lighter, to not chew the fat on every issue that comes to mind.

So, here goes, let me start with this bumper sticker, found on the back of a Toyota Tundra in Albuquerque, NM earlier today: I'll keep my guns, freedom and money, you can keep "The Change".

Light, but to the point.

Sheer Curtains

Transparency in government is like the multiple layers of unnecessary drapes in a hotel room. You pull one open to let the sunshine and fresh air into the room only to find that there are several more layers of sheer curtains still blocking the sun, the air and your view.

For a state that claims 300 days of sunshine every year, it's amazing that the sun only shines on the Roundhouse in Santa Fe a few days of those 300. This creates an exclusive setting for our state government officials to represent the people of New Mexico. The message is loud and clear: we, the voters, aren't welcome there. Oh, we can stop by and say hello once every few years, and make donations as often as possible, but for the most part we don't have and aren't invited to have real access to what's going on in the Roundhouse.

New Mexico is fighting a battle that can be won, if the right architect and interior decorator are involved. Anyone knows that the quality of the design can make all the difference in outcomes.

We see this in today's residential construction design with the popular open floor plan where the great room becomes the center of the home, typically open to a large eat-in kitchen and adjacent to an entertainment patio. This arrangement of space encourages open communication, involvement of all to the exclusion of none, and positive behavior. It's an inclusive setting.

In a similar effort to bring more openness in communication, parents are constantly advised to keep the personal computer in the family room and to not allow their children to sequester themselves away behind closed doors with the lights dimmed. The same thing can be said for the telephone, although cell phones have created unlimited opportunities for conversations that are no longer monitored automatically simply because the home phone plugs in at the center of the house.

Although most parents are savvy enough to do some quiet monitoring of URL's, email and telephone numbers that have been called or visited, they are also more comfortable with the situation simply because whatever is going on isn't happening behind closed doors and out of sight. More open communication is being practiced in many American homes today than was in the past. Parents are talking to their children, and even more impressive is the fact that children are talking to their parents. And because of these trends, when privacy is needed it's often given without concern. It's amazing what trust and communication can do.

Government could learn from the communication, design and open door policies of homes and families. There are always times when privacy is important and necessary, both in homes and government, but those should be the exception not the rule. The crucial question now is who will join the design team? Who is already elected and who will we elect to fling the drapes open and move the transparency issue into the sunlight?

And I understand the necessity of privacy when dealing with negotiations, personnel, matters of national safety and security, litigation and even some sensitive financial issues, but with rare exception have I ever recognized a need for any other behind-closed-door discussions unless there was something subversive, dishonest or downright mean or illegal going on.

It would be unfair to not acknowledge that we have some eager and ethical legislators in New Mexico - our current design team - who encourage input and participation from New Mexico's voters. New Mexico Representative Janice Arnold-Jones is one of them; she has already flung the curtains open. Kudos to the courageous lady! She gets it, and she wants all of us to get the information we should have too.

These transparency-supporting legislators are working to improve the public's access to the comings and goings and votes and comments in our state capitol. More kudos to them and more power too, because these are the folks who will open the doors and windows of the Roundhouse. it's Historically, transparency, open arms and open doors may not have been the norm in Santa Fe, but moving forward it's going to get better - it has to. New Mexicans are watching and waiting.

Transparency in government; now wouldn't that be a breath of fresh air?

Let the sun shine in!

Unique Symptoms

There is a debate going on nationwide about health care options for Americans. There is a four day online debate going on even closer to home at ABQ CitySeeker . This debate is between five Albuquerqueans with widely differing opinions on how to best reform America's health care system.

With the goal of finding a solution that will guarantee health care to every American, each with their own unique set of circumstances, I was compelled to comment on the debate and in my not-a-policy-analyst remarks I included the following:

"I am unique, but in that uniqueness I am just like every other American. None of us fit the "one size fits all" models being considered."

Identity Crises

If New Mexico's State Investment Officer Gary Bland can publicly compare himself to Prometheus of Greek mythology, and South Carolina's Governor Mark Sanford can publicly refer to himself as a modern-day King David, I can hardly wait to see who comes out as Gandhi.

Anyone care to make a prophecy?