As you can tell from what I’ve written lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the current election, and the prospects for this country. It’s of note that not that many years ago the results of virtually all our elections were “officially” inconsequential to me. JWs don’t vote and take no positions on the candidates so we viewed ourselves as outside the process. Our attitude was based on the biblical admonition to be “in the world but not of it.” I remember thinking that either party candidate was pretty much the same as the other, although I did like Kennedy and thought Nixon was a crook. But I also thought Johnson was way too smarmy and I didn’t trust him; and I thought our Baptist minister Carter was self-righteous. In retrospect (and not just because my “political gene” has apparently awoken), both Carter and Johnson have come up significantly in my opinion but those thoughts are for another posting. My point here is my political gene HAS awoken and I find the political process fascinating, frustrating and depressing, all at the same time. I think it’s maybe because I genuinely care about this country and our government and believe it can (and does) play a positive role both here in the US and throughout the world. Never in the history of the world has there ever been a country with anything near the strength (both militarily and economically) as the United States, and it seems we truly do try to do the right thing more often than not. I love a quote often (probably incorrectly) attributed to Sir Winston Churchill that “The Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once all other possibilities have been exhausted.”
Oh, I get that we act out of our self-interest way more than true altruism would support; our record of supporting tin-pot despots and banana dictators because they were “good for US business” is unenviable to say the least, and I am certainly not going to try to support all aspects of our foreign policy. The disastrous war(s) we’re trying to extricate ourselves from in the middle east are classic examples; it seems pretty clear that Bush/Cheney et al were much more interested in the economic benefits of all that oil for Haliburton than for creating a stable region (for Israel or anyone else).
That being taken into consideration, I think on the whole we (the United States), warts and all, are more a force for good in the world than for bad. Our Constitution was created by some incredibly clear-thinking people over two centuries ago and has continued to keep us on the right track with relatively few changes of significance and has been a template for other countries and an example of creating a fair and just government with rule of law protecting everyone equally; every four years our government hands control over to a successor without bloodshed or even unrest (although Trump has been stirring the pot, calling the elective process “rigged,’ to the point I’ve read some of his idiotic followers threatening revolution if Trump loses the election. What a whining little juvenile he is).
Back to what’s good: We lobbied for, created and continue to be the primary supporter of the United Nations, an organization whose sole purpose is to provide a forum to work out international conflicts without resorting to war. Our economic engine has brought an improved standard of living to US citizens and to most of our trading partners. (True, we’re seeing wealth increasingly concentrated in the hands of too few and a shrinking middle class, but I think that just the fact that we are aware of this makes a difference.) An organization created by our wealthiest men and women (driven by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet) exists to leverage their wealth and power for the benefit of people all over the world.
Lest I be accused of thinking “we’re the best” (and I think of Jeff Daniel’s character’s rant in the TV series “Newsroom” in response to the question “Why is the United States the greatest nation?” as one of the all-time greatest wakeup calls in modern TV), there is obviously lots of room for improvement. We need to act on global warming RIGHT. NOW. We need to use our influence and power to end the strife in Syria and the Middle East, and at the same time stop seeing armed might as the primary solution to the world’s problems. But on the whole, I think we do more for good than ill by a considerable margin. Churchill also said (in a speech before the House of Commons in 1947) “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Nicely put, I’d say.
And that brings me back to the current train wreck of a Presidential election. I think that Trump, with his misogyny, racism and protectionism appeal to the very worst in us. He is pandering to the fears and anger of a segment of our population who feel left out and betrayed by our political system (and maybe with justification). But the solution is not to abandon the very principles upon which we were founded nearly 250 years ago. Instead we should be hearkening back to our roots, reaffirming our commitment to inclusiveness in religion, culture and fairness. I think if we are to continue to be the example to the world of what a free society can be, we need to stay true to our roots, and that means we have to be sure Trump stays out of the White House.
It’s that important.
About BigBill
Stats: Married male boomer.
Hobbies: Hiking, woodworking, reading, philosophy, good conversation.
Why care about this election?
As you can tell from what I’ve written lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the current election, and the prospects for this country. It’s of note that not that many years ago the results of virtually all our elections were “officially” inconsequential to me. JWs don’t vote and take no positions on the candidates so we viewed ourselves as outside the process. Our attitude was based on the biblical admonition to be “in the world but not of it.” I remember thinking that either party candidate was pretty much the same as the other, although I did like Kennedy and thought Nixon was a crook. But I also thought Johnson was way too smarmy and I didn’t trust him; and I thought our Baptist minister Carter was self-righteous. In retrospect (and not just because my “political gene” has apparently awoken), both Carter and Johnson have come up significantly in my opinion but those thoughts are for another posting. My point here is my political gene HAS awoken and I find the political process fascinating, frustrating and depressing, all at the same time. I think it’s maybe because I genuinely care about this country and our government and believe it can (and does) play a positive role both here in the US and throughout the world. Never in the history of the world has there ever been a country with anything near the strength (both militarily and economically) as the United States, and it seems we truly do try to do the right thing more often than not. I love a quote often (probably incorrectly) attributed to Sir Winston Churchill that “The Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once all other possibilities have been exhausted.”
Oh, I get that we act out of our self-interest way more than true altruism would support; our record of supporting tin-pot despots and banana dictators because they were “good for US business” is unenviable to say the least, and I am certainly not going to try to support all aspects of our foreign policy. The disastrous war(s) we’re trying to extricate ourselves from in the middle east are classic examples; it seems pretty clear that Bush/Cheney et al were much more interested in the economic benefits of all that oil for Haliburton than for creating a stable region (for Israel or anyone else).
That being taken into consideration, I think on the whole we (the United States), warts and all, are more a force for good in the world than for bad. Our Constitution was created by some incredibly clear-thinking people over two centuries ago and has continued to keep us on the right track with relatively few changes of significance and has been a template for other countries and an example of creating a fair and just government with rule of law protecting everyone equally; every four years our government hands control over to a successor without bloodshed or even unrest (although Trump has been stirring the pot, calling the elective process “rigged,’ to the point I’ve read some of his idiotic followers threatening revolution if Trump loses the election. What a whining little juvenile he is).
Back to what’s good: We lobbied for, created and continue to be the primary supporter of the United Nations, an organization whose sole purpose is to provide a forum to work out international conflicts without resorting to war. Our economic engine has brought an improved standard of living to US citizens and to most of our trading partners. (True, we’re seeing wealth increasingly concentrated in the hands of too few and a shrinking middle class, but I think that just the fact that we are aware of this makes a difference.) An organization created by our wealthiest men and women (driven by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet) exists to leverage their wealth and power for the benefit of people all over the world.
Lest I be accused of thinking “we’re the best” (and I think of Jeff Daniel’s character’s rant in the TV series “Newsroom” in response to the question “Why is the United States the greatest nation?” as one of the all-time greatest wakeup calls in modern TV), there is obviously lots of room for improvement. We need to act on global warming RIGHT. NOW. We need to use our influence and power to end the strife in Syria and the Middle East, and at the same time stop seeing armed might as the primary solution to the world’s problems. But on the whole, I think we do more for good than ill by a considerable margin. Churchill also said (in a speech before the House of Commons in 1947) “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Nicely put, I’d say.
And that brings me back to the current train wreck of a Presidential election. I think that Trump, with his misogyny, racism and protectionism appeal to the very worst in us. He is pandering to the fears and anger of a segment of our population who feel left out and betrayed by our political system (and maybe with justification). But the solution is not to abandon the very principles upon which we were founded nearly 250 years ago. Instead we should be hearkening back to our roots, reaffirming our commitment to inclusiveness in religion, culture and fairness. I think if we are to continue to be the example to the world of what a free society can be, we need to stay true to our roots, and that means we have to be sure Trump stays out of the White House.
It’s that important.
About BigBill
Stats: Married male boomer. Hobbies: Hiking, woodworking, reading, philosophy, good conversation.