This fall is a time of uncertainty for our country. What will happen over the next several months?
Our Leadership: I just found an on-line count-down clock to the 2020 general election - you can see a copy from a couple minutes ago. Never in my lifetime has an upcoming election seemed so consequential. The direction of our country will be so different under a second term of President Trump's administration vs. a President Biden administration. There are such divergent opinions, based on different experiences and cultural roots. With income distributions skewed toward middle and upper classes, lower class workers have been under increasing levels of economic stress for decades. Along with that stress comes so many issues for individuals and families that are not being addressed adequately in our society. In our fantastically wealthy country with living standards most of the world can only dream about, not enough resources are being shared to provide basic housing, health services, food and education. What will be done about this going forward, to help relieve the depression, anger and desperation of many Americans?
2020 US Presidential Election
| 16 | days |
| 392 | hours |
| 23569 | minutes |
| 1414181 | seconds |
until Tuesday, November 3, 2020 (Washington DC, District of Columbia time)
It is 16 days, 8 hours, 49 minutes, 41 seconds
Our World: Over the past couple years, it has become obvious that human activity is drastically changing our climate. There have been unprecedented, devastating wildfires (Australia, the US west coast), hurricanes & typhoons, floods and wind storms. The truth is we are way behind in taking action to head off the worst implication of climate change. Your generation recognizes these threats for what they are - and will force important decisions on how we cut carbon emissions, use cleaner fuels and incent industries and society to make fundamental changes.
Racism: During 2020, there has been a more honest reckoning with ourselves as Americans about the damage and pain caused by various forms of racism. But especially involving people of color, relating to unequal treatment - most notably by law enforcement and the legal system. Our country's roots in violence and slavery need to be understood more broadly, and pro-actively addressed by all of us. In your generation, you will be help to decide how we can eliminate apathy about the unacceptable differences in the real opportunities and life experience of Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and others including recent immigrants.
Pandemic: Coming back to the immediate future, what is going to happen with COVID-19? As October passes by, in many parts of the country the infection and death rates are going up (wave two in some places like the Northeast, wave one in others). Will the federal government provide better guidance, communicate better standards and will our leaders be better role models? Will all states take more a more uniform, practical approach to decreasing transmission risks? Will individuals make better decisions including about the simple things - social distancing and wearing masks? I found out this week that Prudential will require most employees to work remotely at least until July, 2021. Rob, your senior year at Wyoming Area has been fully remote as well. Alex, Misericordia still has a hybrid format - but you are wondering how long that can last. Steve is just started work, on-site, at Goodwill Industries in Scranton. It's very sobering. Besides addressing the current pandemic, it is essential to understand the risk of future epidemics in our world.
The next big decision point will be election day - Nov. 3, 2020. Rob, you are voting for the first time this fall (due to the pandemic, we are all mailing ballots rather than going to polls in person) - congratulations! In fact, I mailed your ballot today. I'm certainly anxious about what is coming next. I so much hope that all of us, including the powerful older white men who have the greatest say in running this amazing country, will be strategic in changing our national priorities as we navigate changes to our planet and society while the United States of America stays true to its origins as a democratic nation.
