Big Waves.
This coming week will test the limits of our beautiful Constitutional Republic. With more than 92 million votes already cast, the next 48 hours will see forty or fifty million more Americans scratch their selections on ballots and drop them in secure mailboxes. Or, they will stand in long lines after work in the cold or rain to exercise one of the most precious rights of any human on this small planet: the right to vote. It seems like every election is now considered the most critical one in the 244-year old history of our Republic. This one is no different. Will you vote?
The 380-plus national polls, and the growing number of Quants with their algorithms and millions of data points, seem to paint competing stories and make it challenging to understand the likely outcomes. Likely voters and silent majorities; Red Waves and Blue Waves. Identity politics and sharp messaging make it difficult to understand what candidates really believe or will do to make the country better. Most Americans want safety, peace and security, economic stability and growth opportunities, quality healthcare and good schools for their children, healthy and thriving communities, and the hope for a better future.
The Roman Empire lasted an impressive 500 years from 34 BC to 476 AD; although during the last several hundred years the Empire suffered from corrupt leadership, deteriorating ethics, military overreach, and economic failure due to mismanagement and heavy taxation. The society suffered from human depravity as reflected in the regular entertainment at the Colosseum in Rome: feeding people to the lions, Gladiator battles, and other extreme violence for amusement. No society can be successfully built on wretched violence. In addition, The Vandals and Goths took turns sacking the Empire a number of times as the Roman leadership and core values of the culture became weaker and weaker. Even Attila the Hun struck fear into Rome - and took a bite out of the kingdom and captured a lot of treasure. The Roman Empire followed the Greek, Medo-Persian, and Babylonian Empires into the dustbin of history. Will that be the same fate of our American Republic, too? What is the shelf-life of America?
Will the United States last 300 years? I sure hope so. My three children have brilliant dreams and ideas about their futures. My 11-year old daughter just finished her “Life Plan” on a single piece of paper; she shared it at the family dinner table tonight with grandma and grandpa. A lot of detail around expected middle school and high school activities, a successful path to college and medical school. A good job as a doctor at a hospital helping people. A husband and four children. Plans to buy a house, save for retirement, and travel the world. A specific plan to become a volunteer teacher and spend quality time with her grandchildren when she retires. The plan had quite an impressive amount of detail for a great life. It made me smile - and realize - we all have an awesome responsibility to protect this great country for our future generations. Hard work, contribution, service, law and order, responsible and ethical leadership, freedom, religious liberty and free speech, and hope. And big dreams. The power of the vote is something special. Let’s work hard to protect this amazing country, and hope and pray this Great Republic lasts another 244 years. It is far too good and special to end too early.