New Seniors

An unrepresentative form of government, or one that treats the majority of Americans that way, may be the reason behind the President’s plummeting approval rating and why so many Congressional incumbents facing re-election in November are likely to be sent home rather than back to Washington. Less than 18 months after the new administration was seated, citizens are dissatisfied with the direction in which the country is going, especially those 65+.

It’s sad that the list of car names is shrinking faster than the auto makers can close dealerships. Ford Motor Company announced the 71-year old Mercury brand was about to be dropped from its lineup. This was not a surprise to many market analysts, but for consumers it means one less choice for those interested in buying an American car.

It’s early on a Saturday morning. The minivan is filled with several families. With the mist still rising from the body of water separating the two countries, a vehicle makes its way to the US side. Once safely across, the vehicle pulls into a parking lot and the passengers scramble out and scatter in different directions. One family goes to Wal-Mart, another heads to Best Buy and the other enters the mall. These people came over the border, the northern border. Their mission is to shop.

The car and truck line that dominated the US marketplace for over 50 years following WWII is Chevrolet. Americans affectionately refer to this brand by its long-established nickname, “Chevy.” In an effort to try to recapture its once proud leadership position, GM has decided that from now on the brand will be known only as “Chevrolet.”

When does blind faith end and fiscal responsibility begin to sink into the minds of the politicians in Washington? With the nation’s economy and attention to financial stability as the top issues, according to about 60% of adults, elected officials continue to ignore conventional wisdom in favor of more spending. To many of them, throwing money at a problem is the only answer they know, even though polls show that people are tiring of this kind of thinking.

To the average American, solving the oil spill problem in the Gulf of Mexico seems simple enough. Stop the oil from rushing out of the hole a mile under the surface; and, at the same time, use every means available to keep the oil from coming ashore through an organized and coordinated clean up effort. Not with politicians involved.

In the first half of 2010 the battle between the federal government and individual states has risen to a fever pitch. First health care legislation. Then immigration. And, most recently, the oil spill. These disputes have grown in size and intensity. More states are expected to enter the fray, plus other problems may arise that compound the differences between priorities as viewed by the states versus the way the Washington sees things.

There were several neighbor stores with in a block or so of my house in the northeast section of Philadelphia.  A mom and pop grocer was located on nearly every corner.  There was also a drug store, which was more for sundries, magazines, OTC medicines, penny candy, and ice cream plus a soda fountain with stools in front of the granite counter.  Around the corner was a butcher shop and across the street was a real pharmacy.  So no one had to travel far to buy the necessities of life.

When I was a kid, people took care of their aging parents, even older family members like aunts and uncles.  There was always a place for them to sleep and another chair could be pulled up to the dining room table.  They were family, so you shared what you had with them.  Of course, that was a simpler time; moms were housewives, dad brought home the bacon, and everyone chipped in as best they could.

Apathy and fear are the two emotions that can keep us from helping others.  When we were kids, people did not think twice about coming to the aid of friends, neighbors, even perfect strangers.  What’s happened?