Of course you may want to investigate who I am, as that may affect your continued use of this site. Well, I like to lay it all out with full disclosure, so here goes...

Politically I am a registered Independent, though I find myself agreeing with the left more often than the right at this time on many issues. My general feeling about politics is that both left and right have some good points and some bad points, and that the best overall situation for our country will be accomplished by the adopting of some of the principles from the left and some from the right - but not necessarily an equal share from each side.

I believe that one of the primary ills in politics is the demonization of whole groups of people based on their political inclinations. Broad, sweeping generalities perpetrated by one side against the other make it so hard for the two sides to really cooperate, because many are convinced the other side is SO BAD. Thus, the reason for THIS web site.

Next, you might find it interesting to know that I am a Scientologist, and that in speaking of my own views on politics, I tend to draw upon elements of Scientology to some degree, as I may find them applicable. I reserve the right to do so, not to prosletize, but to explain where my conclusions derive from. I think this is quite natural, as religions essentially derive from philosophies, and politics as well is intimately connected to philosophy. So personal viewpoints will always be affected by the values one assigns to things as modified by one's own philosophy, even if that philosophy is merely atheism.

But do NOT then conclude that MY views are those shared by Scientologists as a whole, or even in the majority, because the truth is that Scientology is non-political and Scientologists can be found at practically every degree of the political pendulum. So my views are MY OWN. I speak for nobody else.

And lastly, I believe that only through real communication can the barriers of political divisiveness be torn down. And that dialogue can only be opened if we can grant at least a degree of respect and civility towards one another IN SPITE OF the fact that we might think of things differently.

Hopefully, you'll be willing to give it a try.

Chris Owens