Thoughts from the Middle

It’s Not the Age, It’s the Character that Counts

Robert James Fischer

We all age differently.  Some have arthritis, others can still play pickleball at 85.  Age isn’t really a factor in politics.  If cognitive abilities remain, other physical diminishments really are of little consequence.  And even with slowed cognitive abilities, good decisions can be made.  But, considering all the information that an older person has gathered, it sometimes takes extra time to retrieve specific information. 

On the other hand, character is something that is well defined before the end of our teen years.  People who do not develop accepted societal values will likely not develop them as they age.  In practice, those people learn how to mask their weaknesses.  They often become con artists or are involved in other non-socially unacceptable behavior.  Moral people tend to continue to care for others. They use their strong societal values to improve society rather than looking to their own needs.

Why does this matter in the political arena?  Over the years, history has shown that those who have served our country with policies that have improved life for our people have been persons with strong positive values— Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, J. Kennedy, Obama and Biden, to name only a few.  On the other hand, some who have served did not possess the character to sacrifice their own well-being for our nation.  They were more interested in serving their own interests—for example, Burr, A. Johnson, Harding, Agnew, Nixon, and now Trump. Thankfully, a much shorter list!

History does teach us lessons if we would only pay attention.  Not that long ago the presidency of Richard Nixon taught a nation a hard lesson on personal greed.  Many Americans are too young to remember the Watergate scandal and the treachery behind Nixon’s desire for power.  There are many similarities between Tricky Dick and Donald Trump.  America needs to understand that persons like Nixon and Trump may make grand statements about their love of America, but they are only using citizens to maintain power and stroke their own egos. As a recent pundit remarked.  There are millions of Americans who are in need.  They are looking for someone to lead them out of poverty.  Person’s such as Nixon and Trump prey on this desire and promise a better way. They want your vote to maintain their own power and stroke their ego.

In the coming months Americans will need to decide whether or not character counts.  History tells us that it does.  In November don’t let the false belief that age is a problem cloud your judgement.  Biden may be a few years older than Trump.  But they are both old men!   The real choice is about character.  Who has shown a love of country and an ability to compromise?  Remember that Biden was friends with John McCain!  Who cares more about their own ego and maintaining power? Consider the fact check that Trump’s own cabinet and vice president don’t want him back in office.

The choice is clear!!