This edition of In These Times marks the beginning of my
term as publisher. Permit me a few words of introduction. First,
I want to express my thanks to Beth Schulman, who has done so much
to solidify the economic situation of the magazine. Beth will remain
on the In These Times board, and I'm counting on her experience
and wisdom as I make the transition. Second, I am honored to follow
in the footsteps of James Weinstein and fortunate that his experience
and wisdom will also be available to me.
I am from California, and probably the most California person
you could meet. I was born in Hollywood, played football, surfed
and eventually found my way to Stanford. I began writing computer
programs in the '60s and have worked in the computer industry for
much of my professional life, ending up as the founding vice president
of engineering at a then tiny company called Cisco Systems.
Though I became part of the Silicon Valley scene, I am more a product
of the anti-war movement than corporate America. Through my anti-war
activism, I made contact with the Society of Friends, and eventually
became a Quaker. This has been a cornerstone experience in my life
along with meeting and marrying my wife, Kathy. We live in Berkeley
(as do three of our six children).
I retired from Cisco eight years ago and became involved in the
movement for economic justice. I helped found and, until recently,
served as co-chairman of Responsible Wealth, an offshoot of United
for a Fair Economy. From that platform, I spoke to groups across
the country about the growing economic divide in the United States.
In Berkeley, I'm involved with a variety of activist groups; I am
chairman of Berkeley Youth Alternatives, the most comprehensive
children's center in the Bay Area.
How does all this prepare me to be publisher of In These Times?
Since I've never been a publisher before, I have a lot to learn
(with good people to learn from). But like most organizations on
the left, In These Times relies on donations to balance
its budget. Through my work with other nonprofits, this is a familiar
situation to me. All of us have a part to play in strengthening
this institution, so don't be surprised when you receive a letter
from me asking for your help.
As for my politics, I am a Quaker and I believe deeply in equality.
I've become increasingly aware of my privilege as a white man and
a person of means. Like many readers of In These Times,
I share a belief in economic democracy and a concern for the plight
of our many fellow citizens from whom the promise of a better life
has slipped away. In most eyes, I'm a classic "techie," differentiated
only by my love of literature and my enjoyment of writing. In
These Times has seldom covered new technology, so you will read
me weighing in on its social implications. I am married to a feminist
and have three activist daughters, so I'm interested in making sure
In These Times intensifies its feminist perspective. Because
of my participation in the peace movement and faith-based social
activism, I will argue for expanding coverage of those segments
of the movement as well.
Quakers place an unusual emphasis on "speaking the truth." Quakers
do not take oaths (such as judicial oaths--customarily required
for jury duty), because to do so would imply that there are two
standards of truth--a loose standard for everyday use and a strict
standard for special occasions. I believe that In These Times
has a strong tradition of speaking the truth, telling it like it
is, whether through investigative reporting or merely talking about
what lies in the shadows of American society. These are times that
demand that we speak the truth to each other and to the nation.
If we do not speak the truth we risk seeing democracy slip out of
our grasp. In that spirit I accept the torch that has been passed
to me by Beth and Jimmy. I look forward to publishing the truth,
vividly, as widely as possible. And I look forward to hearing the
truth from you.

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