Recently, a friend reminded me of the famous exchange between Benjamin Franklin and a passerby upon exiting the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The passerby asked Franklin whether the new constitution would provide a monarchy or a republic. “A republic,” he answered, and famously added, “if you can keep it.”
That was September 17, 1787, and two hundred and thirty-seven years later, that famous exchange could not be more important. Politics today, regardless of your party affiliation is no longer civil. The name calling must end, it adds nothing to the public discourse, nor does it solve the untold number of problems facing Americans.
Although I did not often agree with former President Barrack Obama, he had it right when he said, “We’ve got to stop the name-calling, and we’ve got to stop looking at the next election. We’ve got to be focused on figuring out what we’re doing for the next generation.” How profound! I hope everyone running for office this year will heed President Obama’s words and begin thinking about what they are doing for the next generation if elected.
One is left to wonder if those running for public office even understand the needs of the average American. The theme of this election seems to be what each candidate can do for the middle class. While that might be a great one-liner for the middle class, does that mean that others less fortunate are not worthy of their own one-liner such as what can the candidate do for those less fortunate?
Although this is simply a personal perspective and does not reflect my candidate preferences, one cannot help but grow concerned when those running for office host fundraisers for those wealthy enough to pay $5,000, $10,000, $50,000 or $100,000 to have face time with a candidate. One of these fundraisers was recently held in the Commonwealth, a couple of hours from Appalachia. Undoubtedly, those in attendance did not include those who do not have enough money by the middle of the month to put food on the table or gas in the car or medicine or the many other needs of the average family living from paycheck to paycheck in those parts of America ignored by these rich powerbrokers.
One is left to ask the rhetorical question of when will these Americans have a voice at the table, an opportunity to share what it is like to be left behind. This is especially true in places like Appalachia, which was devastated when the powerbrokers in Washington, DC, shut down the coal mines, coal mines which supplied the power to build America. When that happened, the politicians promised that the jobs lost in the coal region would be replaced with good paying so-called clean energy jobs. Well for most coal miners, there is one simple question and that is where are those jobs?
Oh yes, and while there are those politicians who are focused on destroying thousands of jobs involved in the natural gas energy, some of these same politicians have once again claimed that if the natural gas jobs are lost, those jobs will be replaced with good paying alternative energy jobs. As for me, I have my doubts that after the curtain falls on this year’s election, those promises for clean energy jobs will ever be fulfilled.
While there are only a few weeks left before the election, I would love to share a few words which my friend shared, words which she posted on a campaign sign which read, "Where are the moderates? Speak up!"
By the way, in the next few weeks if any of those running for public office are interested in having a conversation with those who rarely get a seat at the table, let me know and I will give you an opportunity to meet with those who don’t have the price of admission for one of your fancy fundraisers.
In the end, whoever you decide to vote for in this next election, please remember the words of Benjamin Franklin about our republic, when he said, “if we can keep it.”
