There’s a very depressing piece in the New York Times about the upcoming Iowa caucuses. It’s titled: “On the Ballot in Iowa: Fear. Anxiety. Hopelessness.”
Iowa is the first test of the Republicans running for President. First of all, let me say I have great admiration for the voters of Iowa and New Hampshire. They have to endure the barrage of candidates, reporters and pollsters that storm their states.
In the case of Iowans, they will gather, in what will be brutally cold weather, to decide who they want to be their next President.
As I write this, I’m starting to think our choices as Americans will be the same as the last time. Joe Biden and Donald Trump. That’s it.
Question. Is this the best we can do?
The New York Times piece talks about how Iowa voters worry of “World War Three, civil unrest and a nation coming apart at the seams.”
And that’s why I wonder… are we gonna get through this?
What happens in America on the day after the election? Will either person, Biden or Trump, be able to unite us? I think we know the answer because neither has been able to do it so far.
I was too young in 1968 to know how bad things were. Vietnam had divided us. I’m told that there was the belief then that the country would not survive.
I believe we are at that point now and I’m not sure what to do about it.
Chris Christie dropped out of the presidential race last week. He talked about the woman who asked Benjamin Franklin what kind of government the founding fathers had given the country. Franklin’s response, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
Benjamin Franklin seems more relevant today than ever. Our democracy… can we keep it?
Is there no one out there to lead us through this?
I always like to look at January as a chance to wipe the slate clean. Breathe in some fresh air and start over. Not this year.
Going into 2024, I’m not hopeful about where things are headed. I’m just not sure we are gonna get through this?
Dear Russell, you captured my thoughts exactly. I was leaving a restaurant this morning and saw a bumper sticker that literally gave me the chills. I don’t know how we will ever come together again as Americans.
I was 18 in 1968. I remember. It is much worse now. Back then, we had Hawks vs. Doves. Now we have so many lies, willful ignorance, spewed hatred. Of course, we have many more “news sources” now. Back then, we had Walter Cronkite.