Editorial

We deserve the government we get!

By Roland Madore

We deserve the government we get. I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: America, you need to wake up then wise up to today’s realities. For the first time ever, young voters are united en masse and working for the election of Barack Obama. Why? They see and feel what their past has been under the Bush-Clinton dynasties and, hoping for the brightest of futures, they’re working hard to achieve real change with Barack Obama.

Having taught the nation’s youth here in Colorado for 35 years, I often unfairly viewed our nation’s youth—13-year-olds—as counter culture, lazy, self-centered, and uncaring. What a remarkable transformation can take place between the ages of 13 and 18! As a boomer and early supporter of Barack Obama and his vision for America, I’ve witnessed first hand the organization, conviction, and hard work of this block of young voters, and I am proud to be working hard alongside them.

Let’s review, do a little reality check—by no means complete—as to why they’re onboard for Obama in this election cycle. We’re in a war we didn’t need, we have a President who lied to get us there, and Republicans and many Democrats—like Hillary--gave this President a free reign to do whatever he wanted. Further, this Administration and the Republicans can talk about lowering taxes and federal spending, yet they charged billions and our future on a big fat Chinese charge card. Ironically, we pay our short term expenses by borrowing from China to pay for Middle East oil and, day by day, our economy sucks worse, and our reputation in the world sucks the worst, while fat-cat corporations and lobbyists benefit. And what about us, We, the People? As a boomer, I’m not happy at all, and I’m certainly not looking forward to replacing one liar—George Bush, who’s all but defecated on our Constitution—with two—Hillary and Bill Clinton and a co-presidency. Young people may not know the full history of the Clintons, but I do. And if Hillary chose to stand by her man as he messed up the White House with Monica Lewinsky—I guess that’s fine, but I don’t want to re-live that past. This election IS about the vote on the Iraq war, and it IS about the economy, but it IS also about judgment and character and the past vs. the future and who can best unite and lead this country out of the muck and mire.

Although I would vote for Hillary were she our nominee, there is no need to. We don’t need to build another bridge to the past, and we don’t need the division anymore—the old math of the 20th century no longer adds up. And we no longer need to hold our noses when we cast our vote. Let’s do the new math of the 21st century. Listen to the youth this time, America. They have it right. No longer are they just content to “fight for their right to party;” they are now fired up and in the lead for a new, promising, and brighter future with Barack Obama, and I stand with them.

One of my favorite poets reminds us now more than ever: “Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; rage, rage against the dying of the light.” --Dylan Thomas

Roland Madore, Fort Collins, CO
Boomer for Obama
Retired teacher of 35 years
Parent
Grandparent