After taking another break for very good reasons, I’m restarting and restructuring 2040Matters
Although Posts on 2040Matters haven’t ceased, they have slowed to a trickle in the last 16 months. This was not my intention, but it was the result of two important developments. First, I spent much of 2018 trying to build Driving2Save into a viable community and business, including designing an awesome smart driving App that will help prevent kids and pets from being left unattended in cars, keep teen drivers safe, improve MPG and reduce emissions, and save every driver money. I’m now focused on developing the App through an Indiegogo Campaign. It’s a worthy cause. Please support it if you can. Second, given my strong interest in civic engagement and public policy, I decided to run for office in 2018 as well. In November 2018, I was elected to the Board of Directors for the Montecito Water District. In December, I was sworn-in, and I’ve been busy serving my community since.
I no longer have the time to research and write thought-provoking essays, as I did when I launched 2040Matters in 2015. But the issues that prompted me to start 2040Matters have not gone away in the interim. To the contrary, they have become increasingly urgent. Civic engagement is poor and dominated by the angriest and least-informed voices. Public officials at all levels of government demonstrate a shocking ignorance of, or disregard for, the Constitution, federalism, community, free speech, and political history. Public debt is perilously high and has been used to finance the status quo rather than invest in the future. So, I believe we still need a voice (even in the political wilderness) that promotes civil civic engagement as well as public policies that are rooted in our best traditions and designed to make the American Dream accessible for all.
Once a quarter, I will attempt to be that voice – publishing original content on the pressing issues outlined above. In addition, at least once a month, I will publish collections of essays and articles that I have read, and that I believe others who care about these issues should read as well.
I am also going to share more relevant Driving2Save content on 2040Matters. The goals of Driving2Save – to help people save lives, money, time, and the planet every time they drive — are consistent with the mission of 2040Matters – to make America a better place for future generations. Indeed, at Driving2Save, we have focused heavily on improving health and safety on the roads, protecting children in cars as well as teen drivers, and reducing emissions to improve air quality and combat climate change. These are all public policy problems that threaten the well-being of future generations.
By doing these things, I hope to keep encouraging others in Generation X+ to get involved in their communities and engage on issues that will shape our future.
Thanks for your patience and continued support.
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