Last week I mentioned Granny D briefly. If you missed her story a few years back, here are the cliff notes: At the age of 89 Granny D, AKA Doris Haddock, decided that campaign fund raising was out of control. The millions of dollars donated to candidates for election and reelection and the potential for that money to influence the decisions made while in office drove her to demonstrate for reform. She chose a cross-country walk as her forum and starting in Los Angeles, walked 3200 miles ending in the District of Columbia. She was arrested while reading the declaration of independence. It took 14 months and four pairs of sneakers. In 2004 she ran for a senate office in New Hampshire and was defeated by the Republican incumbent as expected. She started her campaign only four months before the election but still got 37 % of the vote! Granny D is an older adult who brought a sense of fairness and honesty to the process of electing our leadership.
This year the decision seems to be centered on the conservatism of keeping the government out of private business, and a liberal use of the governments potential for good works, in social programs and controlling the behavior of industrial giants. We know that charity that is only from the good intentions of people doesn’t get spread around to all who need it. We know that a business will answer to it’s stockholders about cash flow before it answers to them about pollution and fair treatment of employees. Government can do those things. But we also know a government that is allowed to control it’s citizens will do so without considering those individual’s rights over the office and needs of the government. So what do we do? How does an older adult balance that caution with need? How will you decide to vote? Thank God I’m not running for office.