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.