Let vision bloom at debate
/The Boston Herald
Beverly Beckham
You can tell that times are good by the flowers in everyone's yards. Chrysanthemums in all colors, carefully tended impatiens that refuse to let go of summer, marigolds so big they look like dahlias, dahlias so big they look like sunflowers. Everywhere there are pots and plots of flowering things that disappear with the season, that people go out and buy and then replace with other things they go out and buy. How not frugal is this?
This is excess at its most democratic. It's not just the well-off with landscapers and three-car garages who are out there buying up all the fall flowers at the garden shop. It's every one of us with a little extra cash, trading up for something temporary, yes, but for something pretty to brighten up the world.
My mother planted seeds. I buy grown plants. It's a sign of the times. We have money to burn, and it's evident everywhere you look. Pots of flowers today. Corn stalks and pumpkins tomorrow. Drive through any neighborhood and remember how it looked 10, even five years ago and compare it with now to get a handle on exactly how well we're doing financially.
Of course, this was all documented this week. The median income is up across the country. One more good statistic for the Democrats to notch on their belts. Income is up. Crime is down. And if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Which is one of the reasons this presidential race is so totally flat line. This and the fact that George W. Bush and Al Gore are the same person. It's true. The two white men in suits, talking and talking, exchanging all the requisite barbs are indistinguishable. Who can tell the difference between them? They're vanilla and French vanilla. Happy to be here, Oprah. So glad to see you Regis and Larry and all the nice young people watching MTV.
"There's too many of our schools not meeting the challenge." "There is a real debate in this election over the future of Medicare." "We need to develop our own domestic resources." Who said these things? Al Bush, that's who. Al Bush is the real guy running, Mr. Vanilla. Mr. Status Quo. Americans have jobs. And money, not enough of it, but we're greedy, so there will never be enough. Plus we have amazing opportunity. So what's next?
This is the question that's not been addressed in all the press releases and guest appearances and bowing and yes, ma'aming. Where are we going now? Vision is what's lacking in this political arena.
"I have a dream." "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Vision and a mission and a selfless dedication to the future. Are we going to continue building prisons and executing the worst of the prisoners to assure our "free" society? Is this the direction we want? What about unwanted babies or fetuses or whatever you want to call unborn life? Will these be used for experimentation and spare parts and not "disposed of" as they are now? What about the elderly? Free or affordable prescription drugs aren't the answer to this problem. There are millions of baby boomers. And why isn't the government subsidizing more research to enhance the quality of life instead of doling out dollars for chronic care at the end of a person's life?
It would be nice if George W. and Al Gore grappled with these issues Tuesday night. But if the past is a predictor of the future, it will be Al Bush who shows up, mouthing all the platitudes and saying nothing because life is OK now, so why rock the boat?
