If there is one thing that the current national crisis has made abundantly clear it is that the United States is long over due for some forward looking visionary leadership. Both of the major political parties in the US are deeply rooted, and myopically invested, in visions of the past. What is also clear is that what might have been the Democratic Party's best moment to break free of this static state has all but passed. In spite of fielding its best and most diverse slate of progressive minded candidates, perhaps in history, Democratics have retreated to the familiar.
Fear of change is a common establishment paralytic so, while disappointing, it's hardly surprising. Two of the best, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, held out for a good while, but in the end the inertia was too much to overcome. The nervousness of an older party electorate came roaring forth championing the safety and famiiarity of candidate Joe Biden, and what might have been a real sea change of leadership ended. As a result, baring some unforeseen shift, the party will more than likely field in 2020, Joe Biden, an old-line establishment man. To be sure, if elected, he will be several major steps up from the chief executive we currently have. He is compassionate, open minded, politically savvy and highly competent. However, he's by no means a visionary. If anyone has any doubt of this, I ask you to simply reflect on his campaign to date. For the most part he runs on his experience, history of competence, and his work helping to accomplish the visions of others. Need I do more than simply remind you of the number of times he's referenced work of the Obama administration. Which, to be fair, should not be overlooked or diminished. But, he points to there much too frequently rather than forwarding a vision of his own.
So how do we overcome this inertia and take advantage of our new more sedate moment? Assuming we will, and I think we must, all rally around Biden as the democratic nominee, and get him elected; we must also effectively persuade him to surround himself with visionary people to whom he will listen and allow to help him fashion visionary policy. As important, we must work as hard as possible to assure the election of progressive minded Senators and Representatives in our home states and across the country.
I can't emphasize how vitally important it is that we all personally, actively, support such efforts locally and nationally. Getting out the vote this fall will be no small task. It was going to be difficult had the nation not been striken with a viral pandemic that has dictated that we limit personal interactions. Donald Trump supporting Republicans were already at work concocting ways to stanch Democratic voter turn out before the new year. Inn Fact they have been continually at it since the midterms of 2018. In spite of efforts in several states to mitigate the 2020 voter turnout challenge posed by the COVID-19 virus, for example implementing voting by mail, Republican resistance has been fierce. Given this, my best guess is that volunteering to make phone calls as we run up to election day will likely be our best strategy. I'll be in on that for sure. I hope you will as well.
As for the COVID-19 virus; be vigilant. It seems we are a long way from predictably effective treatments and even further from a vaccine. So, please continue to practice social distancing. It works. Try not to become impatient. If you must go out mask up, be specific and limited with your time out, cleanse as recommended when you return. You are your best defender.
Finally, please embrace that we are responsible for others as well as ourselves. To us, our world and our lives are special. To the universe and to the earth itself, perhaps not. Both have existed for billions of years without human beings so there is little doubt that they will hardly miss us, if at all, if we're gone. In the here and now, who is there to care for us and our fellow beings in this less than perfect "Garden of Eden" if we neglect to do so ourselves?
Stay well everybody.