This Carbon Based Life

By David Glenn Cox

It is rare to have history displayed before us to enjoy and appreciate. The picture of Joe Biden on the podium last night will be in your grandkid’s history book someday. Just like the picture of General McArthur was in yours. “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” But so often our history is wrapped in blood and gore and is unpleasant to watch.

I was reminded more last night of 1960 and the election of JFK.

“We dare not forget today that we are heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans-born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nations has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

The symbolic torch being passed right before our eyes without commercial interruption. Good history! Eisenhower represented WW2 and the 50s poodle skirts and hula hoops and Elvis. Kennedy was the 1960s young and vigorous and doing the twist. Let’s do something like go to the moon or something! Anything is possible when the skies are no longer the limit.

Franklin Roosevelt also campaigned on change. Mr. Hoover campaigned on just staying calm. Maybe if we ignore the Depression, it will get lonely and just go away. Or we could give billions to corporations to restart their factories to sell radios or cars to people who didn’t have enough money to eat on. Franklin Roosevelt changed this country forever in his first 200 days.

“Recognition of the falsity of material wealth as the standard of success goes hand in hand with the abandonment of the false belief that public office and high political position are to be valued only by the standards of pride of place and personal profit; and there must be an end to a conduct in banking and in business which too often has given to a sacred trust the likeness of callous and selfish wrongdoing. Small wonder that confidence languishes, for it thrives only on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection, on unselfish performance; without them it cannot live.

Restoration calls, however, not for changes in ethics alone. This Nation asks for action, and action now.”

Jimmy Carter was a good man, but he was an outsider inside Washington, a lamb among wolves. Joe Biden is also a good man who has worked around Washington long enough to know how to get things done. Joe Biden is wise enough to go out on top. Carter went out trounced by Ronald Reagan. FDR credited much of his success on bringing his entire staff with him from Albany as governor. Everybody already knew everybody. Kamala Harris also has that advantage. A staff already in place and working together effectively in the White House. Biden’s people with Biden’s working knowledge.

Sometimes a mandate comes in a thunderbolt and must be prepared for. Like Eisenhower, Donald Trump is coming to represent an era. The Trumpy era where they all laughed and thought it was all so very funny while they played with themselves. Then one day, out of the blue. It just doesn’t seem to work anymore. Like any fad or cult, the greater the adoring population the greater the reaction and revulsion. My Mother told me all about the America First Movement in Chicago. Wildly popular but by December 8^th, 1941, they didn’t have a single member left. Change rides on lightning.

The Republicans have built themselves a house of horrors to campaign on with Donald Trump as King of the fools and knaves! Silly simplistic slurred solutions and “I am so Great! Boy, are you lucky I’m around!” But he’s lost a step. It’s not the same as last time. Singing the same songs but it doesn’t sound right. Who is this old guy and what’s he talking about? Medal of Freedom?

Man, when you get the head of the VFW to come out against you wow. You’ve really stepped in some Republican shit. There are holes and gaps opening up in the plank’s signaling change is afoot. Mr. Trump is lagging in key demographics like the sober and the breathing.

A sad old man selling the same orange soap as last time, failing and fading. Remember eight years ago? Wasn’t that great! Selling memories of the good ole days. We can make it like it used to be but never really was. But a torch has been passed. Nobody wants that Edsel anymore; they want a Mustang!

The new generation is tired of the old fights and wants change and progress. And change is possible only by voting. It’s easy to contest a close election not so a public drubbing. Election denial evaporates in a landslide. Attached at the hip to Donald Trump the Republican Party fears what’s coming next but is powerless to stop it. Change like this only comes along once in a generation or so. Seize it! Grab it and don’t ever let it go! Maybe we can go to the stars or at least get our people off the street.          

“If by a “Liberal” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties-someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal”, then I’m proud to say I’m a “Liberal.” ― John F. Kennedy