Humanity Can Still Prevail
The only thing more depraved than the ghastly killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis on January 7 was the Trump administration’s response to it.
We now live in a country where indifference to human life is government policy. And officials have been carefully taught the playbook for responding when their indifference results in the horrific murder of an innocent young mother who had just dropped her son off at school.
DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavett, and Vice President JD Vance all portrayed Good as a “violent rioter” and a “domestic terrorist” who “weaponized her vehicle” to kill the officer, who “used his training” to defend himself. These were all lies.
Not one shred of compassion was expressed for Good, her spouse, or her child.
What kind of person could not me moved by Good’s killing? I would like to think these administration officials privately saw the tragedy of the situation and they were “just doing their job” with their statements. But honestly, I’m not even sure of that. They all have taken jobs that require they check their souls at the door when they come to work. And they choose to work for an administration utterly devoid of humanity.
But we are not without hope. The GoFundMe for Good’s spouse Becca and her son raised nearly $1.5 million from 38,500 contributors in just two days. And I know millions more of us see Good’s killing for what it really was. I know there is still humanity left in our world.
In a statement to Minnesota Public Radio, Becca Good said “We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day. She is pure love. She is pure joy. She is pure sunshine.”
PERS Investments: Oregon Investment Council Can Do Better
This is a transcript of my remarks to the Oregon Investment Council at their August, 2018 meeting.
I am here today to speak to you about the investment returns of […]
Our Wake-Up Call
I wrote this while still in shock after the 2016 Presidential election.
January, 2017.
We baby boomers were born in an idyllic period of good economic times and heady optimism of our place in the […]
Understand Big Picture Around Uber and Lyft
I wrote this as the Eugene City Council was debating whether to allow Uber and Lyft to operate in the city.
June, 2018.
I am not opposed to allowing Uber and Lyft into Eugene because finally one […]
Special Interests Hurt Oregon with Bad Ballot Measures
Here’s something I wrote after the 2016 election. I recently brought up these topics with my representatives for possible legislation in the upcoming session.
December, 2016.
Oregonians were mercifully presented with […]
Work with taxes we have. Don’t create new ones.
I wrote this piece during the last session of the Legislature. It still has relevance as the new session gets started.
April, 2017.
The Oregon Legislature is […]
Measure 97 Will Shatter the Oregon Economy
Measure 97 is one of the most ill-conceived initiatives ever presented to Oregon voters.
Sponsored by public employee unions, Measure 97 levies a new 2.5 percent tax on sales (not profits) greater than $25 million of […]

