I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said ad nauseam about Government shut-downs, looming debt ceiling default, etc., etc. - it's stupidity, irresponsibility, hurtfulness, pointlessness, damaging hundreds of thousands of people, and continuing reminders that our system of government is on the rocks. So be it.
I'm 79. By American standards, I'm in pretty good shape for my age - overweight, blood pressure a little too high if I get off my medication, but nothing overly serious. Still, I'm at that age when I could be gone tomorrow, or next week, or next month - maybe I've got ten years, but twenty is pretty unlikely. In other words, any dog I have in this fight is as old as I am. I have a little more time to be frustrated, infuriated, disgusted, worried, inconvenienced, hurt financially, unable to give as much monetary help to my kids and grandkids as I would like to - but I'm going to be out of this mess before long. In the meantime, I'll continue to vote and "do what I can," but I'm almost to the point of not giving a shit, anymore. Whether it's a collapsing economy or a collapsing freeway bridge - whether it's mayhem by nuclear bombs, poison gas, or the effects of climate change - I'm not going to feel the worst of it.
That's not true for most of you who are now 60, or 50, or 40, or 30, or who have kids and grandkids who expect to be around awhile, yet. For better or worse, you get to live with it - and currently "worse" seems more likely than "better." So, don't blame Congress, or the President - they didn't get where they are by magic. You put them there. If you're happy with what you got, fine - that's the American way. But if you didn't get what you want - or if you've changed your mind about what you want - you still have a chance to change things. Despite all the inroads into our democratic processes made by Big Money, gerrymandering, various voter suppression attempts - despite the fact that the National Rifle Association or the Koch brothers seem more intimidating and/or useful to politicians than you do - voting is still the only thing that has any chance of working for your future. And "voting" starts today, not next election - you need to make it clear to those in office RIGHT NOW that, if you have anything to say about it, they won't be in office next time around, unless you can depend on them to support YOU. It may not do any good - my pessimistic/realistic side says it probably won't - but it's the only chance you have. I suggest you not miss the opportunity.
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