No, I’m Not Running

My faithful readers will know by now that I have decided not to throw my hat in the ring for any state or national elective office.   It’s not that I’m not quite as sharp as I used to be, truth be told, my memory and recall are slowing down a bit.  I know this because we watch “Jeopardy” every night, and often, I’ll think to myself, “I knew that.”  But I wouldn’t be able to buzz in fast enough.  And, once again in full disclosure, I’m lacking the stamina of Mitch McConnell or Chuck Grassley.  So, this year, I’m passing.  If some untoward write-in campaign forces me to emerge from retirement, well then, perhaps I’ll bow to the people.  

Yes, I think that a serious campaign, assembling a staff, filming slick ads and printing up those distracting road signs, developing position papers, personal appearances and debates, would seriously cut into my napping.  Although, at 73, I could add a certain youthful vigor to the New Hampshire legislature.  But, no, let’s just put it out of our minds.

It’s been said that with age comes wisdom. The ability to look back objectively to see the patterns of history and distill from them those important lessons.  For some of us, though, age only brings fear, suspicion, and a strong desire to go back to some perceived period of great joy and prosperity.  I’m not entirely sure if age brings a more global perspective embracing everyone’s needs, or simply a desire to protect our way of life and what we have accumulated.  That varies, of course, from individual to individual.  I was reading a submission to the newspaper some time back in which a frequent writer of letters to the editor, extolled the mystique of “individual initiative”.  I’m guessing that he’s a Republican.  On a purely philosophical level, that sounds great, and to some extent, I don’t disagree.  I tried to instill that value in my students for more years than I can count when I wanted them to put out a bit more effort, because we all at one time or another look for shortcuts.  We used the AI of the time.  But realistically, there will always be some – in fact many, that will need our help.  Some will excel, and we know who they are fairly early on by their actions, while others will merely tread water or continue to sink. Many Americans can’t survive on their own – they’re not built that way.  We can’t all be captains, because there wouldn’t be any people left to do the actual work.  We can’t all be lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, scientists, professionals.  One of the key things I’ve learned over the years is that we’ll always need people to fill spots in all segments of society, like the delivery person that dropped off a package on my front porch this morning and to whom I’m very grateful, even though it was going to my neighbor.  Every one of them deserves  our gratitude.  Well, perhaps not the engineer that designed the Amazon delivery drone that dropped a large package into someone’s swimming pool.  That little mechanical voice that says “You’ve reached your destination” was just a bit wide of the mark there.  Or, when we were having dinner with one of our daughter’s friends and her parents, they told us that their car’s navigation system, trying to locate a wedding reception, directed them to the middle of nowhere late at night with that same message.  They afterward referred to her as “Sarah Palin”, which I thought a fitting political reference. 

So, no.  I’ve decided this year to skip the campaigns and speak directly to my vast constituency of literally dozens of blog readers.  They are the heart and soul of the election process, and I trust each and every one to make sound political decisions.  I know this because they read my pieces faithfully, so they represent a certain discernment and enlightenment.  A few even write comments about what they liked, and those that didn’t, well . . . . .

As some may know, I served on our condominium board of directors for a number of years.  This was an elected position, with the membership deciding on its make-up for two-year terms.  In one of the election cycles, I read on Facebook a comment from a young candidate that had recently moved into the association that “Tom Walters lacked the qualities of leadership” needed for the board position, and that he intended to run against me.  I found this rather amusing, as I’d also just been elected president of the MA Music Educators Association, which at the time had about 1,500 members, and there was an article in the local newspaper about it.  This young man held a job stocking shelves at Costco, so I was rather curious about his “leadership” background, although, clearly self-confidence was not an issue. 

There are some obvious drawbacks to any dreams of candidacy I might hold. First and foremost is that I’m really nearing the end of my “sell by” date for public service.  Yes, I know, there are exceptions to that, and apparently, mental clarity is no longer a “job requirement” for electability either.  Then, of course, I don’t have any ties to Russia or China, nor do I own a laptop. Truth be told, I don’t even know anyone there.  All of my years spent teaching might have been put to use developing contacts with high powered people in foreign countries, but I didn’t.  The best I can do is a bunch of cousins spread across Canada, none of whom, to my knowledge, can be considered “influential”, and now that our relations with Canada are spiraling downward, well . . . .   I don’t own any resorts to shamelessly exploit for profit invite foreign heads of state.  I don’t have any immediate family members that look like members of the Corleone family to dazzle and charm corporate America, pour vast amounts into my bitcoin accounts, or to give me a free jet.

Virtually everyone I know has no government experience, which in today’s market would make them perfect for high level positions on my government staff, should I have been considering a run for something.  My wife, for example, while not technically holding law degrees, does have years of experience watching television courtroom drama. She can spot a perpetrator or the criminal element at fifty paces.  She is fluent in the objection process.  This I know from almost 50 years of marriage, so, I know that you’re thinking – Attorney General or possibly a seat on the Supreme Court.  My daughter has watched any number of foreign films – she’s even been involved in judging foreign film festivals, so she could add new dimensions of insight to the State Department.  My brother spends inordinate amounts of his time posting random stuff to Facebook, so Communications Director is a natural fit.  It might take a while for the White House Press Corps to get used to his layered flannel shirts, though, nor does he have long, flowing blond hair, a critical job requirement of the current administration. 

One of the vital lessons in a democracy, ours in particular, which contains not only a broad diversity of ethnicities, but also a broad and diverse set of beliefs and viewpoints, is that it is the job of all true leaders to be accepting of those positions and work to create both a global view and to build consensus.  We know that Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill worked pretty well together, even though many of their personal views were polar opposites.  Those that knew the late Senator Bob Dole spoke of his great capacity to bring consensus to groups with whom he worked, and to use humor to resolve conflict.  Not every leader will be in favor forever, as we know.  Winston Churchill, one of the most effective leaders of the last century, was voted out of office on several occasions.  However, he found ways to work with even those he intensely disliked, including Labour Party leader Clement Atlee, who he described as a “sheep in sheep’s clothing.”  

While I’m not ready to stand for elective office this time around, or likely any time in the future, I’d like to urge my faithful readers that, when voting, we should remember that philosophical rigidity can be an enemy to both an ability to lead and to social progress.  One shouldn’t run for public office when one can’t tolerate criticism, because it comes part and parcel with the job. And seniors like me, remember that we can’t move forward if we’re constantly looking into the rearview mirror and smiling fondly.