Once again I noticed in an alumni magazine that someone I went to college with had died, an event that has occurred with increasing frequency as has the deaths of many big name entertainers that had enriched my life. So, not unexpectedly, I found myself contemplating the process of growing old. You know you are getting old (not just older) when 50-years have passed since significant events, like graduating high school. And in another two years it will be half a century since I graduated college. Ouch!
But on the positive side I also think in terms of "escapes." After all, so much of life seems like some grand random process where some of us get hit with awful things and others escape them, especially health problems. I am thankful that I have escaped any kind of cancer, major surgeries, diabetes, artificial knee and hip joints, and bypass heart surgery even though I had a heart attack. And considering the historic economic collapse we are still suffering through, I have escaped any significant financial pain because I made some smart investment and money management decisions.
Yet over the past year or so I have mused about the near daily occurrence of some body ache or pain and spending so much time working at finding solutions either by myself or by yet another visit to a physician.
As to accumulated wisdom that comes with getting old I share the following:
Breaking bad habits is so much harder than forming new good habits. In this regard, I am thankful that I am still sticking with my commitment to working out very seriously everyday and adhering to a goal of just 1,000 calories of healthy meals everyday so that I do not regain the 55-plus pounds I lost in the last year and half following my heart attack. My advice: Think honestly about your bad habits and work on changing them.
As to American society, I continue to be both amazed and intellectually depressed that so much of the population seems both distracted and delusional when it comes to following and understanding what is happening in and by our political system. With a half a century of political awareness and involvement I see a political system that remains, despite the election of President Obama, incredibly corrupt, dysfunctional and dishonest. American democracy continues its slide downhill and I feel totally justified in titling my last book "Delusional Democracy." I am especially despondent that President Obama does not seem at all to be pursuing genuine and deep political and government reforms that would serve the vast majority of Americans. He always seemed more of a change talker than a change agent.
People should be screaming and protesting that health care reform is not heading toward a single payer system that gets rid of all the waste and abuse by private health insurers and provides true universal health coverage as good as that received by members of Congress. Obama seems far too committed to protecting the many parts of the corporate world that through greed and incompetence brought the nation the current economic depression. People seem to be fooled by his great smile and gift of gab, while ignoring his lies, distortions and self-serving media gluttony.
As I approach my 70 th birthday I wonder whether I will ever see the day when the becomes the democracy and society that I thought was a lot better when I was young. When there is far less economic inequality and injustice. When citizens demand an end to the two-party plutocracy that refuses to serve the real public interest while protecting the rich and corporate elites. When slick politicians like Obama no longer are able to deceive so many people. Andrew Carnegie was so right: As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.
Joel S. Hirschhorn has succeeded as: a full professor, University of Wisconsin, Madison; a senior staffer, U.S. Congress (Office of Technology Assessment); head of an environmental consulting company; Director of Environment, Energy and Natural Resources, National Governors Association; now an author and consultant. Recent books are: Sprawl Kills - How Blandburbs Steal Your Time, Health and Money, and Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government. He has published hundreds of articles in newspapers, magazines, journals and on many web magazine sites. He has given hundreds of talks at a wide range of conferences worldwide. He focuses on American culture, politics and government, and health issues.
» left by Roy Ellis from Scrabble, Virginia (132 days 3 hours ago.)
Joel, interesting to note that your recent articles on topics such as vacationing in Jamaica and having friends can increase your life span all received several comments. Yet this one on aging wisely but venturing into the political arena has not received any comments. There you have it. I am at once puzzled and understanding of why folks show so little interest in politics and government. Puzzled because it is so dangerous and fatal to our Republic for people to ignore reality and tolerate such corruption and thrasing of the Constitution. Understanding because so many feel there is no hope for real change or that the system is to intransigent. These are superficial feelings that would quickly vanish in a depression or similar situation. Just as in the last depression, 1933, people went to the polls and voted from office a large number legislators. Since the recession the politicos have enjoyed an approx 95% reelection rate. I believe most people feel there is no hope for change rather than being delusional of the political scene. I am strongly advocating for a third party, with a different political attitude, to bring major reform to government. For example, administration of Congress needs to change from a business model to something suitable for a supreme legislative body. The terms 'junior' and 'senior' should become superfluous. A new Senator should have the same representative power or clout as that of a Senator such as a committee chairman who has served several terms. Each state deserves fair and equal representation under the Constitution, not based on individual seniority or position. We need reform to take the influence of money out of government by abolishing 'Corporate Personhood' law and 'money is free speech' law allowing reform of campaign financing for elections. We need to adopt a flat tax, 17% of earned income with no deductions. The tax form would be one sheet of paper with the form on the front and instructions on the back. A flat tax would prevent legislator's from making winners and losers by manipulating the tax code. More importantly, we need accountability in government. The Republic Sentry Party plans to do that by empowering their members to provide oversight for members who become elected officials. We at Republic Sentry believe if we build it they will come. There is hope for reform through the election process. But, it will have to be done through a third party, and not just any third party. A third party with a different political attitude - republicsentry.
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