A San Francisco Conservative Challenges Stereotypes, Shares Time-Tested Principles

Entrepreneur, investor and lifelong educator David Parker takes a deep dive into political extremes, taxes, the political process itself and much more in his new book, A San Francisco Conservative: David Parker Essays Volume Two.

In it, Parker examines specific topics that include conservatism, multiculturalism, progressivism, woke liberalism, free speech, the Florida recount and many other thought-provoking subjects. He challenges the widespread belief that a “conservative” (whether a resident of San Francisco or elsewhere) lacks empathy or a personal commitment to help those who are less fortunate. Government programs supported by many in today’s progressive movement to counter this misunderstanding merely increase the nation’s deficit in dangerous ways, Parker says.

“Poverty was about 15% in 1964, and you can go to the U.S. Bureau of Census, and it shows that the needle never budged from 1964 to today,” Parker said of the War on Poverty during a recent interview. “Approximately $23 trillion for the War on Poverty … and no result.”

Parker went back to school at age 50 to gain a deeper understanding of the timeless principles of economics — and the missteps of nations that deviated from them — to write A San Francisco Conservative. Just as his first book, Income and Wealth, provided readers with a thought-provoking examination of the foundations on which this nation’s freedom rests, his latest book also serves as a message of reassurance and challenge to the conventional political thinking of the day.

The issues Parker addresses are those he has focused on for more than half a century, throughout his 40-year career as a teacher in San Francisco public schools. In A San Francisco Conservative, he reminds readers that “crises” have affected the American economy numerous times over the nation’s history — but they pass.

Parker provides well-researched support for his belief that economic opportunities always exist. He cautions that government leaders — especially those who identify themselves as progressives — are jeopardizing the very democracy that has produced prosperity.

Parker began his career in education at the age of 24 and served students at San Francisco’s inner-city public elementary schools for four decades as a music teacher, followed by 10 years as a volunteer. While pursuing his career in education, Parker became a successful real estate investor. It was success in business that focused his writing, teaching and career as a professional musician. Parker spent 20 years as a member of the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, then 20 years as leader of the Dave Parker Sextet, which twice headlined the San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Festival. His essays have been featured in The Economist, The Financial Times and prestigious law journals.

Scheduled to coincide with the publication of David Parker’s playfully titled newest book, A San Francisco Conservative, a new podcast series sharing that title showcases Parker’s views on the proper role of government and how individuals can arrange for the principles of a free-market economy to work in their favor. As the podcast’s co-host, longtime journalist Tom Martin, has noted, “David Parker’s scholarly approach to the study of political economy provides much-needed historical context to important topics dominating the news, including the progressives’ call for dramatically increased government spending.”