Jimmy Carter, hypocrisy, history repeats, and a good read
From the attic: random thoughts: Week of January 13, 2025
By Jim LaJoie
Uncluttering the mind’s attic……
Jimmy Carter
The twenty-sixth amendment to the US Constitution was ratified on July 1, 1971, establishing a national minimum age of 18 to vote in state and federal elections. I was 12 at the time. I was five months away from turning 18 in the presidential election of 1976 that resulted in Jimmy Carter taking office in 1977. When Carter ran for reelection in the 1980 presidential race, losing to Ronald Reagan, for the first time I cast my vote for a presidential candidate. That candidate was Jimmy Carter. The reasons why I voted for him are lost to me in the fog of time. I am guessing it was because he was younger than Reagan, more liberal than Reagan, seemingly more down-to-earth than Reagan. As a freshman in college, experiencing all that college can offer a young man of 18, I am sure there wasn’t a lot of thought put into the decision. But, like many of the firsts in one’s life, I remembered Carter fondly.
Former president Carter passed away at the age of 100 on December 29. Most historians describe his presidency as mediocre, at best. I have never given him much thought after 1980. What I have always admired about Carter, however, is all the good work he and his wife Rosalyn did after his presidency ended. Carter was a religious man and his post-presidency life exemplified his beliefs. He was a very good man, if not a very good president.
Commercial hypocrisy
I am neither a hardened cynic nor blissfully naive, being somewhere -sensibly - in the middle of those two extremes. While watching an NFL game recently, I saw a sports betting site advertisement - one of many - that day. Not a betting man myself, and tending toward wishing it was not such a big part of our culture, I paid them little notice. However, when an advertisement came on from a betting site that discussed the need to bet moderately, I didn’t know whether to laugh or sputter with rage. The rank hypocrisy was maddening. There is no way in hell that this company truly wanted anyone to bet moderately, in the same way no liquor distributor wants us all to become moderate drinkers, no gun manufacturer wants a nation of moderate gun enthusiasts. No, betting sites want you to bet. As much as possible. That is how they make money. No, the ad the betting site ran suggesting betting moderately was a cynical, transparent attempt to appease those who object to sports betting, and those who realize the end result of those who have addictive personalities and limited financial means. I would have more respect for these sites if they ran ads that said: “Bet until you are penniless, that will make our shareholders money.”
History really does repeat itself
The phrase “history repeats itself” may seem trite, but is has proven itself true again and again throughout time.
In the 1850s, there was a political party colloquially, and derisively, referred to as the Know Nothing party. From Wikipedia: “…The Know Nothings supplemented their xenophobic views with populist appeals….” Wikipedia
The Know-Nothings were concerned that the large number of Irish and German Catholics that were immigrating to this country seeking a better life would corrupt American ideals. What they were likely more concerned of, however, was the perceived political clout this large bloc of Catholics, mostly poor, could yield, potentially upending the established WASPY order of the time.
Change the nationality of the groups being vilified and you could be referring to events taking place today.
History does repeat itself.
A mystery novel worth checking out
I am a fan of mystery novels. Currently I am reading Kevin Kluesner’s The Killers’ Terms, the third in the series, based in Wisconsin, centering on FBI agent Cole Huebsch.
The Killers’ Terms doesn’t reinvent the mystery genre, Kluesner sticks closely to its basic tenets: the leading man is morally upright, smart, tough, brave and, yet, tender-hearted. He valiantly fights injustice, bad men, faces obstacles he must overcome and ultimately proves victorious. He has a strong, intelligent, romantic partner who he adores. Classic stuff. Where this series sets itself apart, in my opinion, is the characters are imminently likeable and relatable, and the writing is crisp, nothing extraneous here. It also doesn’t hurt that Kluesner does such a great job of painting the city of Milwaukee in a light that makes me - one who has never been there - want to visit.
Like the first two books, this is a great read, one I am sorry to be nearing the end of.
If you enjoy mystery novels and good writing, do yourself a favor and check out Kluesner’s books: Kevin Kluesner
About the author: The author regrets not having more time in his day.