The Disappointing Debate

June 28, 2024

By Jim Towey

Last night’s presidential debate left me wondering how wonderful it would have been if a substantive debate on the issues had taken place instead of what we witnessed.

You likely have your own set of priority issues and I have mine.  My top dozen, in no particular order:

• How to respond to the “age wave” of the Baby Boomers and its effect on the solvency of Medicare and Social Security;
• Persistently steady inflation rates, and an unaffordable housing market;
• Our $35 trillion-and-counting national debt and what it portends for our nation’s future;
• The wars in Gaza and Ukraine and what the U.S. role should be in those complex conflicts;
• The danger of China’s growing economic instability and its hostility toward our country;
• The looming threat of nuclear strikes from Putin, and the increasing capacities of Iran and North Korea to do the same;
• The lax enforcement of our immigration laws, leading to an influx of at least 4.2 million immigrants and strained government resources;
• Balancing America’s increased demand for energy with the “green energy” goals put in place to combat global warming;
• Reversing the educational decline of our youth induced by foolish COVID policies;
• The institutional promotion and funding of “gender affirming care” at the expense of vulnerable adolescents and adults;
• Abating the opioid and fentanyl crisis and the crime rates that are plaguing urban and rural communities alike; and
• The technology revolution now underway that is changing human relationships, the workplace, financial markets, health care, education, and adolescent development.

Public servants needed

There was a time in America when individuals seeking high office had the interests of the nation ahead of their own.  Such other-mindedness gave an office holder the title “public servant.”  Where has that ethic gone? 

Public service is a high calling. The next president will likely have no honeymoon. Because of the presence of credible independent candidates, as well as voters who either stayed home because they couldn’t vote in good conscience, or just held their nose and voted, a large majority of Americans – probably 60% or more- may be unhappy, maybe angry, come inauguration day.  And the media will be in the middle of it all, stirring up resentment and fanning fears.  Our democracy deserves better.

Citizens wanting serious solutions to the challenges facing America may have to wait four more years if America doesn’t unite after the upcoming national elections. We have been conditioned to accept that our political leadership puts off work like a school kid with math assignments.  Our leaders have been kicking the can down the road until they kick the bucket. That has to stop. America needs visionary leadership at all levels of governance. The challenges of our time demand no less. 

(The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Aging with Dignity and/or its Board of Directors.)