Empowering independent-minded voters with information on key local, state & national issues

I’m a history nerd, finance geek, policy wonk, former Mayor and recent Congressional candidate who can tell you how we got here, and where’s the common ground to move forward.

Peter Ohtaki Peter Ohtaki

What’s the big deal about Ethnic Studies? Oppressed versus Oppressor

It was alarming that only one worksheet references the contributions and accomplishments of ethnic groups — the key stated intent of ethnic studies. However, in stark contrast, the overwhelming majority of the content focuses on oppression, colonization, resistance and hegemony. This reinforces the concerns of parents that there is a significant void between the stated intent (the what) of the curriculum and how it’s being implemented.

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Peter Ohtaki Peter Ohtaki

The Case for Tariffs: Main Street vs Wall Street

Middle America has lost manufacturing jobs for over 25 years as both parties advocated free global trade. Real income and property values haven’t changed much as a consequence, while Silicon Valley, Wall Street and Hollywood prospered. Tariffs will bring back manufacturing jobs domestically, counter China’s undervaluation of its currency, and pay for extension of tax cuts past 2026.

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Peter Ohtaki Peter Ohtaki

Housing, Builders’ Remedy and Local Control

Over the last decade, the State of California government has taken away local control over zoning to encourage high density housing everywhere. We must protect our family-friendly neighborhoods. California enacted SB9/10 ending single-family zoning and overriding local control with a one-size-fits-all unfunded state mandate.

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Peter Ohtaki Peter Ohtaki

ATC+AI

If you were President, wouldn’t you direct the FAA by Executive Order to use AI to prevent the air tragedies that happened this week?

  1. AI-driven Air Traffic Collision Warning system

  2. AI re-routing air corridors for more separation

  3. AI to identify symptoms of mechanical failures in airplanes

Like Operation Warp Speed or Apollo, a program to update our antiquated Air Traffic Control (ATC) system.

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Peter Ohtaki Peter Ohtaki

Revenge of the “fly-over” states

Revenge of the Fly-over States: voters in the middle of America rejected the political agenda of the Coastal elite and instead voted their pocket books.

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Peter Ohtaki Peter Ohtaki

Cold War 2.0

We’re in Cold War 2.0 - Our adversaries today are the same countries we faced 50 years ago: Russia (Soviet Union), China, Iran, and North Korea. What’s different is that China is now our largest economic competitor, compared to what it was in the 70s.

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Peter Ohtaki Peter Ohtaki

Are you Oppressed or an Oppressor?

My wife and I were appalled after downloading a one-sided lesson on the Israel-Gaza war from our son’s Freshman Ethnic Studies class last November: Basically, generations of kids are raised with a world view of Oppressed versus Oppressor by teaching a counter narrative that casts Israel (and America) as Oppressors.

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Peter Ohtaki Peter Ohtaki

It’s inflation, stupid

Groceries, utilities, gas, housing, medical, tuition – all soared over the last 3 years. We’re now living paycheck to paycheck and forced to choose between taking the family to restaurants or vacation. What can we do about it?

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Peter Ohtaki Peter Ohtaki

What does immigration reform look like?

Americans are compassionate and want to allow those looking for a better life, like my grandparents. Yet the sheer volume of migrants crossing the border has overwhelmed border patrol. It's reasonable a temporary closure of the border to allow DHS and Congress time to get our sh** together.

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