Recently, I saw Hamilton for the second time with my most fabulous friend Debbi (hi Debbi!), who was seeing it for the first time. I love Hamilton, and watching it again was just as marvelous as the first time I saw it (maybe even better!). I have theories about the show because it’s such a thought-provoking piece of theater. I think that that the “Hamilton” referenced in the title of the show, for example, is Eliza, not Alexander (yes, I can back this up). And maybe I’ll post about that. But what really struck me this time was George Washington retiring. He stepped down from office, and politics, instead of seeking additional terms. In the show, he says that he wants to teach future Presidents and leaders how to say goodbye, and how to make way for the next leader in office. And all I could think during this scene was my god. How utterly we have failed to learn that lesson.
Because we have failed to learn it. I am disappointed and angry to have to vote for an 81 year old man to become President. (Yes, I’m obviously voting for Biden, because I’m not a fascist idiot psychopath sheep and I actually care about democracy. The fascist fuckweasel is 77, btw.) Why is the name of everything is this our option? Are there no better candidates for President? Hasn’t Biden done enough? Hasn’t he served enough? Doesn’t he get to retire? To enjoy the rest of his life? Does he have to continue to perform one of the most stressful jobs on the planet?
Evidently.
George Washington retired at 64 years old. I’m doing some quick and dirty Googling here, but according to this, 53 of our 100 Senators are over 65. And 151 of our 439 House representatives are over 65.
And I was going to go to a place about our elder care, and how maybe this is because we treat older people like crap in America, and how as soon as folks retire, they are give very little institutional support (yes, Medicare, Medicaid, that’s great stuff, seriously. But come on! What about people who live alone? What about other medical costs? What about mobility? What about navigating technology? There’s way more stuff, folks.)
I was going to talk about aging, and politics, and making policy that served EVERYONE.
And now the Alabama fucking Supreme Court has ruled that IVF embryos are “children” and doctors are stopping treatments because they are afraid they’ll be convicted of murder, and I’m so ANGRY. I’m so angry I can barely breathe.
This is an attack on science, on women, on LGBT+ persons, on non-Christians, and I’M TIRED OF HAVING MY RIGHTS ATTACKED. And revoked. And anyone who supports this crap is not for equality or democracy or America. Stop regulating my body, my choices, and my beliefs.
Deep breaths.
Y’all, we have got to fix this crap. Why is Mitch McConnell still in office? He is CLEARLY suffering. Yes, I disagree with him and I think he’s awful. But he should be able to seek medical attention and get treatment and he shouldn’t be in a high stress job. Not only does this impact all of us, and his constituents, doesn’t he deserve to retire and age with dignity? (Seriously, I know he sucks, but he should get to retire and enjoy the rest of his life.)
And we have GOT TO FIX this horrific sexism and theocratically motivated governance. No. It’s a hard pass. I am not going to be subjugated.
I want to be clear here, and say that these are, actually, I think related things, but not because I think our elderly politicians are sexist and awful (although some of them clearly are). It’s because people need to be treated as PEOPLE, with respect and dignity and grace. We should not require our elderly to do the work that WE should have taken up, the work that WE should be doing. We should not force people to adhere to Christian beliefs or to give up their bodily autonomy. We should treat people WELL. We should treat ALL people well.
And I think that’s all I have to say right now, Reader. I’m going to go run for a while and listen to an enjoyable book about some people and an octopus—an incredibly bright creature.
I saw something from a Gen Xer recently (and I think it also applies to Millenials) that said something like: when we were growing up our parents were in charge. Now that we’re grown up they’re still in charge.
It would appear that this democracy isn’t exactly “representative.”
SO MANY GOOD POINTS. Is anyone out there in politics-land proposing a mandatory retirement age for legislators, Cabinet members, Presidents and Vice-presidents? It's time!