Keeping America Great

It seems that the “Millennials” will be the demographic group upon which this election will hinge.  Can you predict whether Millennials will get out and vote for Hillary or will they not vote at all, or God forbid, vote for the Don because “What have they got to lose?” Here’s my lecture to the Millennials:

I guess if I really try I can understand how Trump might appeal to a certain constituency who want to “Make America Great Again.” I’ll use that phrase, but I believe America was, is and will remain great. I’m not sure but I believe this slogan means a return to the late 1940’s, 1950’s or early 1960’s.  These were the formative years of the baby boomers and those somewhat older, like Donald. Let’s recall that in that era America was a racially segregated country.  De facto in the north, and for sure in the south, and the south wasn’t all that far south - the Mason Dixon Line is the southern border of Pennsylvania, or maybe an apartment development in Brooklyn or Queens.  It’s not a time period that I believe was even covered in much depth in most schools attended by Millennials; certainly not in the south, and not much in the north since it was such recent history and very controversial.  So here’s the truth about when “America was Great:”

Back “When America was Great” China was a third world nation.  90%+ of that country was living in abject poverty in a rural, agrarian economy living on the edge of starvation.  The Soviet Union was threatening to “bury” the US, and was the slave master of Eastern Europe.  It was imperialistic, looking to expand its influence in places like Cuba, South America and Africa.  All of Europe was still digging out from under the rubble of WW2. The State of Israel was just established and fighting for its existence in a hostile Arab neighborhood. And who even thought about Africa?  The countries that exist today were colonies of Western European Nations (try to find the Belgian Congo or Rhodesia on today’s maps). But the US was flourishing.  Unlike almost every other combatant nation our homeland was untouched by WW2.  Our industries were the leading producers of everything that the rest of the world wanted or needed, and we had plenty of food while a good part of the rest of the world was starving.  Remember that factories and cities in Europe and Japan made great targets and in the ‘40’s and most of the ‘50’s they were still rubble.

Our TV shows at that time reflected a happy, prosperous, peaceful culture.  They were filled with shows like “I Love Lucy,” “the Honeymooners,” Dick Van Dyke, “Leave it to Beaver” and “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Dragnet,” “Superman” and the “Lone Ranger.”  Black people lived elsewhere (and were rarely, if ever, seen on TV until the late 60’s), “Puerto Ricans” were the Hispanics. They are US citizens, but who knew? Moms stayed at home and tended to the kids and the households.  Life was simpler.  In the westerns the good guys always wore the white hats.  The “baby boomers” are the children of the greatest generation who fought to save the world from fascism in Europe and communist aggression in Korea (they are either gone or really old).  Some of the “baby boomers” served in Vietnam.  Some stayed home and did their best to stay out of it (me, Donald and millions more). Those who did serve and were fortunate enough to come home were not recognized as heroes or even patriots because the majority of Americans came to despise the war.  And it was easy (but not correct) to ignore these warriors and to not to give them the respect that American heroes deserve.  They were our military.  They did as ordered, believed that they were protecting our country, and they deserved much better.  There was no acknowledgement of PTSD, it was easy to ignore the many homeless, drug addicted, alcoholic and disturbed vets. We still ignore these people to some degree.

Most Americans worked and raised families and lived a law abiding and generally peaceful life.  While busy being great America has seen plenty of racial discord and violence perpetrated by Americans upon other Americans. We’ve lived through economic upheaval and some Americans are still struggling paycheck to paycheck to hang on. But for the most part things are better for all and there has been great social and economic progress, which can’t be denied.  And that makes “America Great.” It also cannot be denied that this progress came as the result of the work of people like Hillary Clinton who brought actions in legislatures and in the courts, people who initiated legislation or lawsuits to ensure voting rights, to combat racism, sexism and every other “ism” that discriminated against people or unfairly barred their full participation in American society. America is more or less integrated. Racial segregation is at least against the law.  We can all eat at the same restaurants and work for the same employers (not so prior to the 1960’s).  Economic segregation through economic disparity will always be with us, we are, after all, a capitalist society.  But hopefully we have a social safety net which needs to remain in place. And that safety net should do better for those who are not making it on their own, or who can’t get, or afford, health care, or for those who are unable to provide adequate food for their children.  And it is important to note that the Supreme Court played a pivotal role in allowing all of these things to become part of the American social system.  And remember, Supreme Court decisions are often close, so the liberal or conservative composition the Supreme Court will direct the implementation of laws and regulations affecting the next generation (i.e. millennials) as well as their children and the rest of the people of the US. A Supreme Court Seat is now up for grabs, and there are some really old judges just hanging on.

Many who embraced, or at the very least tolerated these changes in the American social fabric for the greater good, are looking to the Millennials to vote in a meaningful way and keep America great by keeping it moving forward and by not trying to retreat to some fabricated past greatness.  I hope Millennials and other voters won’t waste their votes on write-in’s or marginal candidates who have not put forth a meaningful platform or agenda.  And of course not voting is an unacceptable cop-out.  Most people don’t do anything for the country except pay their taxes (only because they can’t avoid that like some do), so at least they can get off their asses and vote. You want to Keep America Great? Vote for Hillary.