Biden’s doing such a great job leaves the evil power-hungry “nabobs of negativity” no ammunition. They have only their lies and innuendos via sham investigations to use; the same old nasty games they’ve always played. Remember
Biden platform: strong economy, women's rights, affordable healthcare, infrastructure and environmental investments, preservation of democracy
Trump platform: dictator on day 1, jail political opponents, prison for abortion, concentration camps for migrants, drill baby drill, roll back environmental standards, abandon Ukraine, pardon convicted insurrectionists, white supremacist unleashed, tax cuts for the rich.
Dismissing him solely on the basis of age is just intellectual laziness, an easy way to dismiss him that doesn't require us to look at deeper discomfort. So many of us want this era we're living through to come to an end. When Biden was elected, a good number of people thought it was the end of something. It hasn't been; in fact, the divisions among us and the power of the right have only increased. Now, we're back to an election that feels just like the last one, only maybe worse. We know, even more than we did then, how high the stakes are. We want a savior, and Biden hasn't been that in the way that people want him to be. Some other candidate (or pair of candidates) might allow us the fantasy that we've moved past and are going to get back elections that don't feel so fraught. Time for all of us to grow up.
I am not American but I know which one I would vote for and it wouldn’t be Trump. You make some fantastic points. One of my closest friend is 80. I am 65. She is smarter fitter and of course wiser which in turn makes for better decision making. She recently had a fall incurred a number of fractures. However she took the time to heal look after herself left things that didn’t need to be done e.g. housework. Guess what she is back to walking 5k writing doing everything she did before. I on the other hand didn’t still don’t hence why she is in better condition than me. Younger doesn’t always equal better. Enjoyed your post let’s hope for the sake of humanity everyone heeds your advice.
Your essay here, Ramona, is the most lucid, concise, and persuasive missive I’ve read about the “Joe too old” issue. I wish I had followers so I could share it to a wider audience. I’ll be 67 this year, and I have discovered that ageism really is the last acceptable prejudice, as I have seen people revel in practicing it. Biden has been an excellent president, one of the best of my lifetime, and he deserves better treatment than he had received. His competence and experience may have saved our country. He and his team undoubtedly got us out of the unmitigated death and disaster of Covid. And now, thanks to his leadership, we are the only G7 nation to have emerged from the pandemic with a booming economy. Thank you for saying this so clearly and so well.
Those in the media, including some formerly Pulitzer winning newspapers, have taken to salacious, misleading (at best) headlines, front page, above the fold. Reporters tend to yell at Presidents and others too, asking only questions that might get said reporter a headline. Respectfully asking a relevant question is not in the games these days.
Most of the gaggle are under 40, so naturally they label anyone older that themselves as old....what the .... happened to the belief that old folk are wise, have real life experiences often times rendering them as people to respect and learn from.
Yes, we oldsters, including our President, are angry with the current mode by media and some citizens as well to seemingly discount, if not render us useless, no longer needed, people.
Thank you, Ramona, for telling it like it is! Looking forward to my 79th birthday in July and quite frankly wiser about the ways of the world than my younger self.
Great and bracing perspective, Ramona, which I needed to read.
It's sometimes easy to fall in to the trap of being upset about a comment not because it's true or relevant, but because you think other people will think it's true or relevant, and then you yourself start wondering whether it's in fact true or relevant.
I have never questioned that I would vote against Trump. it's a question more of keeping my enthusiasm up for Biden, which means doing more than just voting for him. Some of the wind was taken out of my sails with all the recent coverage, but you put it back.
Because it can’t be said out loud the ageism argument plants a seed about Biden declining or dying in office, during a second term , and a Black Woman becoming President.
Ageism sucks.
Biden’s doing such a great job leaves the evil power-hungry “nabobs of negativity” no ammunition. They have only their lies and innuendos via sham investigations to use; the same old nasty games they’ve always played. Remember
Biden platform: strong economy, women's rights, affordable healthcare, infrastructure and environmental investments, preservation of democracy
Trump platform: dictator on day 1, jail political opponents, prison for abortion, concentration camps for migrants, drill baby drill, roll back environmental standards, abandon Ukraine, pardon convicted insurrectionists, white supremacist unleashed, tax cuts for the rich.
Their ages are irrelevant.
Dismissing him solely on the basis of age is just intellectual laziness, an easy way to dismiss him that doesn't require us to look at deeper discomfort. So many of us want this era we're living through to come to an end. When Biden was elected, a good number of people thought it was the end of something. It hasn't been; in fact, the divisions among us and the power of the right have only increased. Now, we're back to an election that feels just like the last one, only maybe worse. We know, even more than we did then, how high the stakes are. We want a savior, and Biden hasn't been that in the way that people want him to be. Some other candidate (or pair of candidates) might allow us the fantasy that we've moved past and are going to get back elections that don't feel so fraught. Time for all of us to grow up.
I am not American but I know which one I would vote for and it wouldn’t be Trump. You make some fantastic points. One of my closest friend is 80. I am 65. She is smarter fitter and of course wiser which in turn makes for better decision making. She recently had a fall incurred a number of fractures. However she took the time to heal look after herself left things that didn’t need to be done e.g. housework. Guess what she is back to walking 5k writing doing everything she did before. I on the other hand didn’t still don’t hence why she is in better condition than me. Younger doesn’t always equal better. Enjoyed your post let’s hope for the sake of humanity everyone heeds your advice.
Your essay here, Ramona, is the most lucid, concise, and persuasive missive I’ve read about the “Joe too old” issue. I wish I had followers so I could share it to a wider audience. I’ll be 67 this year, and I have discovered that ageism really is the last acceptable prejudice, as I have seen people revel in practicing it. Biden has been an excellent president, one of the best of my lifetime, and he deserves better treatment than he had received. His competence and experience may have saved our country. He and his team undoubtedly got us out of the unmitigated death and disaster of Covid. And now, thanks to his leadership, we are the only G7 nation to have emerged from the pandemic with a booming economy. Thank you for saying this so clearly and so well.
Biden is my grandmother who was still sharp as a tack even though she had to go through every grandchild’s name before getting to the right one.
Trump is a delusional nativist authoritarian who tried to overturn an election.
It’s that simple.
We don’t respect our elders as many other countries do, to our detriment.
Sermons this long is why I quit going to church.
Hooray, Ramona! Spot on.
Those in the media, including some formerly Pulitzer winning newspapers, have taken to salacious, misleading (at best) headlines, front page, above the fold. Reporters tend to yell at Presidents and others too, asking only questions that might get said reporter a headline. Respectfully asking a relevant question is not in the games these days.
Most of the gaggle are under 40, so naturally they label anyone older that themselves as old....what the .... happened to the belief that old folk are wise, have real life experiences often times rendering them as people to respect and learn from.
Yes, we oldsters, including our President, are angry with the current mode by media and some citizens as well to seemingly discount, if not render us useless, no longer needed, people.
But we wizened old folk don't forget to vote.
Time to hold a rally maybe!
Bonnie
Thanks, Ramona
👏👏👏 I endorse every word you said here. I’m a year from turning 80, and I’m so tired of all this ageism.
Thank you, Ramona, for telling it like it is! Looking forward to my 79th birthday in July and quite frankly wiser about the ways of the world than my younger self.
Great and bracing perspective, Ramona, which I needed to read.
It's sometimes easy to fall in to the trap of being upset about a comment not because it's true or relevant, but because you think other people will think it's true or relevant, and then you yourself start wondering whether it's in fact true or relevant.
Hear, hear!
Brilliant piece of writing.
I have never questioned that I would vote against Trump. it's a question more of keeping my enthusiasm up for Biden, which means doing more than just voting for him. Some of the wind was taken out of my sails with all the recent coverage, but you put it back.
Because it can’t be said out loud the ageism argument plants a seed about Biden declining or dying in office, during a second term , and a Black Woman becoming President.