Every morning when I open the blinds in my bedroom I am greeted by a beautiful maple tree whose leaves are turning so gradually that the sight is compelling each day. I’m really not a nature lover, or even an an observer usually, and I’ve lived here for eight years. Either this is an exceptional year or I have been slow to notice the slow day-to-day change from green to red to orange. Am I changing? Or has the sudden temperature drop just reminded me that the tree portends other changes to come?
Early Fall means my calendar is more full than usual. It also means fewer days for Congress to get its work done before there is another crisis in Washington. I am sure this computer glitch in registration for healthcare will be fixed soon, but the newspapers are full of this problem and blame and apologies are flowing freely.
The crisis I am anticipating is budgetary and political. The radical Right does not admit the error of their method of causing unrest enough not to try it again and my fear is another crisis.
I cannot see any way out of the divisiveness in Washington. The Supreme Court decision allowing money to be given the status of free speech and campaigns which begin 10 minutes after every election seem to guarantee our being besieged by propaganda about the activities – past and present – of every candidate ad nauseam. Also the quality of candidates is disguised by the ability to raise money.
I remember my father saying to our maid-of-all-work, “Mattie, who are you going to vote for?” Her answer, unforgettable to me, was, “I don’t know, boss – who’s payin’ the most?”
That was probably in the ‘40s – perhaps all that has changed is the sums involved.
Of course the issues for which the bought politicians vote are also larger than the bribes paid for those votes.
Also, today’s candidates for our highest office start running early in their elected positions. I would think they would not have time to know where the bathrooms are in Washington before they are acknowledged to be running for president. No prior learning required – no seasoning, just ambition and ego. I remind you of the debates of the many candidates and their mis-qualifications for the Republican nominee for president in the last campaign.
Meanwhile, the turning trees are beautiful, the weather is crisp (and too cold too soon), autumn is here, the races have moved to Louisville, the football team is struggling but trying hard, basketball tickets have been distributed, for once Kentucky has led the pack in health registration, and I’ll try to ignore politics until Christmas.
We have Thanksgiving to go before we have to shop for Christmas – not that the merchants and the advertising industry know it – but let’s not rush our lives away. 2014 will be here soon enough.