The McGee-Spaulding-Hardy Historic Interest Group (MSHHIG) is committed to recording, preserving, and celebrating local history ;  it is not a political organization. But if politics, as Adlai Stevenson once remarked, is nothing but “the people’s business” (which is, he went on to say, “the most important business there is”), then we too are political. Since this quotation may arouse suspicions of Democratic bias, let us add one from President Dwight D. Eisenhower:

Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of  free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage.   

  It is in this spirit, and definitely with a view to preserving our District’s humble portion of the national heritage, that MSHHIG has, from time to time, issued political statements and involved itself, to the best of its ability, in public affairs. And we intend to keep on doing so  (see MSHHIG Letters and  Press Releases). Those who, directly or indirectly, pay local taxes -- and that, in Berkeley, includes nearly all of us -- should  not be treated as political bystanders. Our District is small, but its public contribution  has always been out of proportion to its size. Its voice deserves to be heard.

     Some of the most crucial issues in local government  -- in other words, the issues that most affect the ordinary resident’s quality of life -- have been  played out in our District during the last century-and-a-half     (see Zoning  History, Planning Problems, Landmarking). These issues will be with us for a long time, if not forever.  We hope you will discuss them with us (see Contact Us). In any case, when they become too painful to ignore, we part-time politicians will get up on our soap box.

     We have appended a list of persons and organizations to whom your political messages can properly be directed (see The  Political Process).  Of course, we hope you will send us copies.

Click here for "Green Versus Green, or Alice in Blunderland."