Agism or chicanery?

                We are all guilty of normal human aging

         Several media organizations and a few candidates are enjoying making fun of people who are getting older. This is a head scratcher for me. Reliable information from scientists indicates that every single one of us gets older every day. Certainly, at 75 years of age, I am in that range. I occasionally forget a name or a place while relating stories. I even get a little confused when complicated directions are run by me in rapid fire manner.

         Even so, I don’t think myself a doddering, old fool. I haven’t lost any of the intellectual acuity that I have acquired. In short, I still think I can manage challenging situations as well as anyone several years younger. And I KNOW that my powers of deduction and cognitive abilities place me on a par with most people in elective office.

        Over the course of years, I have helped elect several of these “less than enabled” officials. A good staff usually helps carry on business when the “challenged one” drops the ball. It is like this everywhere, even in the private sector.

       The recent attacks on the President of the United States are, in my opinion, made by self-serving and manipulative political operatives who have something to gain by taking President Biden down. Despite their “who me?,” angelic countenance, me thinks there is treachery afoot.

       Biden’s opponent is only a few years younger. Should he not be tarred with the same agism smears? His protestations of “acing cognitive tests” are laughable. Everyone on Medicare age has to remember three words from the beginning of their annual interview until the end. In addition, they have to draw a clock face with hands pointed to an indicated time. This is a difficult cognitive test? I think even referring to it a a calculator of intellectual ability is somewhat telling. “whaddya ya stupid or something?”

       In an extensive interview with George Stephanopolus, President Biden said “The race for President is all about Character.” I believe that as well. “Character will out” is an oft repeated adage, that people of real ability and merit will demonstrate their qualities over and over again, because that is who they are. Other, less talented individuals show their mettle, or lack of it, as well.

      An old-time democratic leader, James A. Farley had a pithy saying relating to comparing candidates. “Let’s look at the record,” he often said. So, “let’s look.”

       Biden, despite a few dropped balls, has been a pretty decent President. He still has to get inflation down more and address that whole southern border problem, an issue that several presidents, he included, has kicked the can down the road on. Otherwise, his list of accomplishments, including resurrecting and economy on the verge of collapse, getting a massive infrastructure Bill through Congress, and shoring up the NATO Alliance in laudable.

      Former President Trump has one claim to fame. He got a trillion -dollar tax cut passed, so that all of his wealthy friends love him. He also, through his SCOTUS appointments, got Roe Vs. Wade repealed. Otherwise, most of his agenda was self-aggrandizing reality television appearances, at his golf courses and luxury residences. And of late, his adjudication for sexual assault, his convictions on 34 felonies of financial fraud, his pending trials on another several dozen felonies and his long delayed trial that he organized and carried out a treasonous attempt to overthrow the U.S. Government, should give all Americans pause in considering him for any elective office.

      Trump’s verbal threats of retribution on his political foes, and other repressive ideas that he and his followers freely endorse, should scare the hell out of everyone that believes in a free and participatory democratic form of government.

       Ladies and Gentlemen, this race isn’t about the vagaries of aging. This race is not just about “character.” It is about the continuing survival of a democracy in these Unites States of America. Every one who honors our flag and swears allegiance to America, should get involved in this process to prevent some really bad actors from attaining power over al of us. 

    If the esteemed Mr. Farley is correct, this race should not even be a contest. Why Trump is doing as well as he is in the polls is a puzzler to me. What I do know is that I will no longer sit back and watch these latter-day Vandals sack the U.S. Capitol and cast us all back into the philosophical mores and practices of the 18^th century.

     Organize those around you. Get involved. It is the future of your children and grandchildren that is at stake here. Those who take a different tack of these ideas, that is your priviledge, but please delete me from your “friend’s list.”  I am not going to be silent anymore.

                                                -30-

                                          (812 words)

                                     Joseph Xavier Martin