The Spirit of '76....

I am 76 years old. According to my doctor, I am blessed to be hale and healthy with no serious physical threats on the horizon.* I exercise regularly, daily if your definition of “mixed cardio” is generous enough. I continue to be mentally active, reading, writing, thinking critically. I’m confident I could complete multiple tasks in my skill set. 

But probably no more than one or three in the same day, depending on their complexity. And I certainly don’t have the stamina or mental agility to be President of the United States. Or President of Anything. Those leadership days, however limited they were “back in the day,” are clearly in my rear view mirror. Actually, cataracts have diminished even that clarity, although I’m assured that can be fixed. Someday. I’m not happy about any of this, it frustrates me on an almost daily basis, but (I like to think) I’m a pragmatic realist who tries to place mindfulness over denial; thus, “it is what it is,” to co-opt the cliché. 

The point (“The boy does ramble,** doesn’t he?”) is that I strongly support adding (upper) age limits to the Constitution. Not just for President, which is the most important, but for all listed offices, including the Supreme Court. 

I do not deny that we will force some competent, experienced men and women out of jobs they are more than capable of doing, especially because they all have minions. No doubt institutional memory may take a hit. Youthful vigor and new ideas/ways of thinking seem to be a worthwile tradeoff, to me. We already keep talented young men and women out of offices due to age now, as well, so I’m okay with paying that price. 

In fact, I believe age limits is a more important delimiter than term limits, although I’m coming around to supporting that as well, if only because it would, eventually, serve more or less the same function. Presidents are already term-limited, but we have seen both major candidates (and other leaders) exhibit innumerable examples of declining mental acuity over the past few years that should give any objective voter pause.

Do not expect the establishment to jump on this bandwagon, of course. Giving up power (and wealth and prestige) is an uncommon sacrifice. But if there’s a petition out there, sign me up.

* Of course, because I trust him and pay him lots of money, I also follow my doctor’s advice on things like medical tests, lifestyle recommendations, vaccines, etc. iI I don’t trust my doctor to give me good advice, I probably need a new doctor, right?

** NOT age-related, as many witnesses will attest.

The MAGA Lie: America IS a GREAT Country

You have been told, are being told, and will continue to be told, how bad our country is, how dark is our future. It’s a lie. It was a lie 8 years ago, it was a lie 4 years ago, it’s a lie now, and it will continue to be a lie until it not longer serves the purpose of the liars.

In the 10+ years since I retired, I’ve been to all four corners of our great nation, the Northwest  (including Alaska), the South and Southeast, the Southwest, and New England. And then, of course, I live in the middle (MO). From stunning vistas, happy people, and a humming economy, I’ve been privileged to witness a great country, of which I’m proud to be a citizen. 

But if you believe everything you hear, we are a nation in decline, no longer great, no longer successful, no longer strong, and faced with a dark, dismal future, unless you hand over power (lots of power) to people who can only see that darkness.

America IS a great country. MAGA is built on a lie, because its foundation is that once (AGAIN doesn’t imply, it clearly states) we were great, but we are no longer. Let me remind you, that was the slogan in 2016, as well. Let me also ask, when was that period of greatness that no longer exists?

I’ve travelled (literally) around the world, including South America, Australia and the South Pacific, and Europe), and there is no other country that can compare, no other country in which I’d prefer to live or be a citizen. I challenge you to name one. What other nation do we wish to serve as our model for greatness? With all due respect to the citizens of other nations who think theirs is also great, we are the Muhammad Ali of countries on our planet, “the greatest.”

Any politician who tells you otherwise, who tells you….

“We are a failing nation….”

“We are a nation that is hostile to liberty, freedom, and faith….”

“We are a nation whose economy has collapsed….’

“We are a nation where free speech is no longer allowed….”

“We are a nation that [has] lost its confidence, willpower, and strength….”

That politician is lying to you. Again.

When I hear parroting politicians try to sell the idea of a country that once was, but no longer is, great, I question not only their truthfulness but their motivation. My witness tells me they’re lying, because that is not what I’ve seen and continue to see, daily.  Sewing discord and discontent is simply their pathway and payoff to personal power and wealth. 

Selling fear and unhappiness is not a new political marketing strategy (the KKK used it with great success in the 1920’s; Hitler used it to great effect in Germany in the 1930’s). If they can convince you to be unhappy, they can also convince you that they, and they alone, can reverse that and make you happy again, protect you from mythical enemies who want to personally do you harm (who have YOUR failure as THEIR objective). 

But first the parrots must convince you to ignore everything that is good, beautiful, and great about our country, to look past all the so many positives that make us the envy of the world, and, instead, focus on our (undeniable) problems (great ≠ perfect or problem free) that remain to be, if not solved, at least improved.

If you can choose, and you can, “Choose Happy.” Only you can make that choice. Choose wisely.

P.S. Note well, please, that just because something is not YOUR problem does not mean it’s not A problem.                                                                                                                                                                  

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