Aging Americans still have a role to play in our society

In the middle of World War II – before television — there was a popular radio show called “The Life of Riley,” featuring a lower-level worker in a munitions plant. Every week, people would gather in their living rooms and listen to Riley’s latest comic misfortune or misadventure. Riley, after he had surveyed his situation, would say, “What a revolting development this is.”

The show came to my mind when I was reading a review of all the aging political leaders we have at the head of our government. The article recited the ages of Trump, Biden, McConnell, etc. I stopped, looked at those numbers and said to myself out loud, “Hell, I am old.” I can tell you this is a very revolting development.

But the question then becomes, if you are aged, what additional role, if any, do you have in a modern, youth-oriented society.

The famed Gen. Douglas MacArthur was fired by President Harry Truman at the height of the Korean War when he chose, against the president’s wishes, to proceed across the boundary line between the two countries to fight in North Korea. He also wanted to start bombing cities in China.

Fired, the hero of the Pacific military effort during World War II, was invited and accepted the Republican invitation to address a joint session of Congress. The GOP was thinking that he would make an excellent candidate for president in the coming 1952 contest. The general did not take the bait. He remained a soldier and simply announced this memorable statement: “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

That is probably true for many of us. Journalists do not die, they simply lose their interview notes. Politicians, unless holding office, do not retire — we just give speeches to vacant union halls, our words falling on empty chairs.

But Millennials should also realize that there is a new category of older Americans, who want to do more than simply sit in a rocking chair and try to avoid drooling on themselves. Because of improvements in health care and better knowledge about the aging process, some seniors are retaining their intellect, have better bodies and still want to be involved. They should be regarded as an asset, not an impediment to achievement.

For example, people who are elderly, but who were politically active, are still called upon for advice, outside objective observations and, yes, financial support. To those who would fit this category, I have the following suggestions:

First, give counsel only when asked. Do not offer it without invitation.
Second, do not follow the advice with more guidance. Once you respond, let go, whether they follow your wisdom or not. You do not want to immerse yourself in a campaign, you do not want to become the mother-in-law of the candidate’s team or a legislative body.
Finally have patience. On occasion, you will be treated more like the grandparent who is brought home from the nursing home on Thanksgiving and put in a chair. Everyone will walk over and tell you how good you look, even though you’ve read a book last week and walked 10 miles that morning. Remember, they mean well. Older people should not step down but should step back.
One final note. Of all the advice and advocacy that I have given, none disappoints me more that the Iowa Democratic Party giving up rural America’s place in the presidential nominating process. Our state, as it should be, is flooded with Republican candidates, advisers, and staff. The Republicans have done the caucus well, enabling real voters to interface with candidates up close and personal. All the candidates are calling out what they perceive to be the faults of the president and not one voice graces the national news in opposition.

Iowa Democrats say the Republicans will all be tired by the time fall arrives, while we are saving ourselves for the upcoming campaign. Just look at the turnout on caucus night, where they will have 120,000 to 150,000 active party members, while we will have between 25,000 and 40,000.

Yes, I know the Democratic National Committee gave the state party $250,000 for party building, which means we can keep the headquarters open and staffed for now. I wonder if the money was paid as $250,000 pieces of silver. Hopefully, the party of the donkeys will reconsider in four years and return and perform an important national purpose.