Thkanks, Tom. Will do tmmrw. N On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 4:34 PM Tom Johnson <jtjohnson...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Nick- > Send this to My View at the New Mexican. > Tom > > ======================= > Tom Johnson > Inst. for Analytic Journalism > Santa Fe, New Mexico > 505-577-6482 > ======================= > > On Wed, Jul 3, 2024, 10:56 AM <thompnicks...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> My Phellow Phriammers, >> >> I am frantic about the last week’s events. In a fit of absurd geriatric >> arrogance, I have concluded that the attached document contains a good idea >> that nobody else has thought of. Beset by this illusion, I asking you-all >> to forward this letter to anybody for whom it might make a difference. >> Attachment and/ or in line text below. Suggestions, calming comments, etc., >> welcome. >> >> Nick >> >> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >> >> Dear Joe Biden, >> >> I write to offer some thoughts concerning your decision to continue your >> run for a second term. These thoughts come in two forms: (1), A >> description of what it is like to live from 81 to 86, something that I have >> done, and you have not. And (2), a way to leverage your power as >> presumptive nominee to guarantee the best possible solution for all of us. >> >> >> 1. *A Guide The Early Eighties* >> >> I was born in ’38, you, in ’43, back in the good old days when two >> numbers and an apostrophe were sufficient to identify a year. We both were >> raised during World War II. We have other things in common, a life-long >> disability, yours a stammer, mine a devastating hip infection as an >> infant. We both had heart attacks, yours at an early age, mine much >> later. I say all this to claim some standing with you as a spokesman for >> the early eighties. I certainly have not suffered the awful human losses >> that you have endured in your long life. >> >> The problem of the early eighties is not what a younger person thinks it >> is going to be. When I was younger, I worried about the dramatic event >> that killed me or left me totally incapacitated, the stroke or the heart >> attack. Mind you, these sorts of endings are possible, and the more stress >> a body is under, the more likely they are to happen. And mind you, also, >> such sudden deaths are devastating to the people you love. >> >> But rational fear of these outcomes is not the hardest part of living >> through the early eighties. The most terrifying feature is the vice-like >> squeeze between the time available to do ordinary things and the time it >> takes to do them. Please consider a simple example. Once upon a time, I >> could spring from behind a desk like a scalded cat, stride quickly across a >> room, and plop myself down in a couch, while not losing a beat in the >> conversation. Now, such a move requires preparation. Arthritis in my >> hips, knees and back makes me stiff after a prolonged period of sitting. >> Am I going to lift with my legs, or with my hands on the surface of the >> desk. Once up, before I take my first step, I must be sure of my balance >> and footing. Is that a fold in rug between me and my destination? My path >> must be adjusted to take account of it. When I get to the couch, I must >> plan my sitting. I need to sit at the end, so to have the arm of the couch >> to let myself down gently lest I collapse on to the cushions like a pile of >> old bones. And if I was talking when I decided to make this voyage, I must >> pause. Those to whom I am talking feel obligated to stay silent till I am >> reseated, lest they endanger my progress. All of this is disconcerting >> enough. I can only imagine the discomfort I might feel if my spectators >> were generals, congresspersons, senators, or cabinet members. >> >> The expansion of the time it takes to do such small acts is multiplied a >> hundred times a day. Since fatigue sets in a few seconds earlier every >> afternoon, this time is deleted from a day that is itself shrinking >> inexorably. Sure, adjustments can be made, sure there can be naps, sure, >> staff can step up, others can fill in, but each of these people is also on >> their own vice-like time schedule. As this vise tightens, there is bound >> to be a moment when someone’s life shatters between its jaws. And with >> all the devoted people working around you, you can never be sure that the >> life that shatters is your own. >> >> 2. *Make them put up or shut up.* >> >> Despite these dark realities, I grant that you have many good and >> generous reasons to challenge the odds and hang onto the nomination you >> have amply earned and won. Ezra Klein’s dream of a orgy of democracy at >> the convention is bonkers. Unleashing the competitive instincts of a bunch >> of career politicians (and their organizations) at this time would almost >> certainly lead to Trump’s second term. >> >> But there is a way out of this dilemma. I suggest that you go before the >> nation with the following proposal. >> >> *My fellow Americans, * >> >> *It has come to my attention that many of you are concerned about a >> President’s ability to carry on with the job into his eighties. You >> should know that most of the work of being president is in hiring the >> people who make up the administration. That work is done. The people >> around me are extraordinarily skilled and well-informed, and once such a >> team is assembled, the role of the president is to keep them moving forward >> steadily in a coordinated direction. One does not have to be able to >> dance a jig to get that job done. One can do it from a chair. * >> >> *As things stand, of course, the country has no way to avoid being >> governed by an octogenarian. The choice now is between an elderly man with >> a loving and hopeful heart and the alternative, a selfish and mendacious >> schemer who admires dictators and seeks vengeance all who oppose him. Now >> that the Supreme Court has removed constraints against presidential >> criminality, this choice becomes ever more stark, * >> >> *As it stands, that choice seems obvious to me. Still, many of you would >> prefer another option. I see that. But I think you all would agree that >> if I were simply to withdraw at this late date, without any guarantee of >> order and continuity, chaos might follow. * >> >> *So, here is my proposal. Let the candidates who would succeed me, [all >> extraordinarily people in their own right], agree upon an alternative. If >> they can, I will release my delegates and endorse that alternative. If, >> however, they cannot, then I will continue to pursue a second term.* >> >> *Whomever you choose, you should be reassured that my team, highly >> qualified, steady, and firm in their allegiance to the institutions of >> democracy, will be at the service of any candidat. * >> >> *Good night, and sleep well, all of you. * >> >> *And when you wake up tomorrow, please think about this proposal, and >> make your wishes known to your leaders.* >> >> >> >> In closing, thank you for all you have done to stave off this assault on >> democracy. >> >> Yours faithfully, >> >> A fellow octogenarian. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Nicholas S. Thompson >> >> Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Ethology >> >> Clark University, >> >> nthomp...@clarku.edu >> >> >> -. --- - / ...- .- .-.. .. -.. / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . >> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >> Fridays 9a-12p Friday St. Johns Cafe / Thursdays 9a-12p Zoom >> https://bit.ly/virtualfriam >> to (un)subscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com >> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ >> archives: 5/2017 thru present >> https://redfish.com/pipermail/friam_redfish.com/ >> 1/2003 thru 6/2021 http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/ >> > -. --- - / ...- .- .-.. .. -.. / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Fridays 9a-12p Friday St. Johns Cafe / Thursdays 9a-12p Zoom > https://bit.ly/virtualfriam > to (un)subscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com > FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ > archives: 5/2017 thru present > https://redfish.com/pipermail/friam_redfish.com/ > 1/2003 thru 6/2021 http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/ >
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