I perceive and position myself as an ordinary person in American society–meaning I don’t hold an elected position in government, I am not in a high powered leadership position in business or the organization I work for.

I work for a living. I live on my wages and manage a household budget judiciously. I rent the apartment I live in. In terms of education I recently graduated with a masters degree. I have student loans. Both my spouse and I work. We are in our 30s. We have no children yet. These are my credentials for writing this blog.

America and Americans always pride themselves on the tradition of political democracy. The idea that ordinary people can participate and have a voice in the political process. Through the eyes of one ordinary person–me–I will write about the challenges and realities of democratic participation for an ordinary person in the United States.

This blog, itself, is an effort in democratic participation in the public sphere or free space in society where citizens can present arguments for or against political and economic issues and their solutions through reasoned debate.

Rules of thumb for selecting issues to discuss
• Ranting and venting is not what I want to do. We have enough of that negative energy in cyberspace.
• I want to engage the critical potential of the public sphere as a vehicle for citizens to communicate their ideas on politics, economics and society as ordinary people.
• I want to communicate with people on issues that are relevant to them and which resonate with their status as ordinary folks living in the United States .
• I do not consider myself a member of either major political parties, the Democrats or Republicans. I am a registered and proud Independent.