The Natural Order

“…your old road is rapidly agin', please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand, for the times they are a-changin'”, Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A-Changin’ … In seven months, we’re going to have a presidential election, and both front running candidates begin the race with more than the normal share of baggage. Considering health, criminal charges, and numerous other issues, I’m still somewhat skeptical that either Trump or Biden will be your choice in November. But I was reading the news the other morning, and it got thinking me if they are the candidates, there’s something kind of bittersweet about the 2024 election-it’s the end of the Baby Boomer presidents, a complete changing of the guard, my generation is done, finito, turn out the lights, Alice. Four years from now, in 2028, both the Republican and Democratic candidate will be 25-30 years younger, and a product of a new generation, bringing younger ideas to the podium. It’s not good, or bad, it’s inevitable, it’s the natural order. They’ll come into leadership the product of a more sophisticated education system, healthier, less concerned about race, religion, or social taboos and have a stronger social conscience. They’ll be more worldly thanks to the electronic age, and will in most cases, be better travelled than the previous generation. My biggest concern is they bring along their lousy taste in cars and music. This new generation of leaders will receive all the criticism, second-guessing, and advice from us, and just like we did, they’ll smile, say thank you, turn their head and roll their eyes-this is also part of the natural order. How will they do? I dunno’, beats the shit out of me, I’m just a silly old man with a black magic marker writing on the restroom wall…