I did not watch the debate

 The last presidential debate I am certain I watched was in 1992 between Bush, Clinton, Perot. I remember it quite well as I was on location working with one of the campaigns and standing behind the cameras at Washington University in St. Louis. I may have also watched one of the Bush-Gore debates as well. 

However in the last twenty years or so, it seems that the debates have slowly declined in importance and information content. Wouldn't it be nice to have a thoughtful discussion between our former Vice-President and our current President on say; HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, the various territorial claims to Antarctica, foreign relations with Venezuela (to pick three important topics that no one is discussing today)? 

Take a moment and read the transcripts of the 1980 Carter-Reagan debates. I prefer reading the transcripts to watching videos as it forces one to think about their words over the style of their delivery. What you find are two men who disagree very strongly with each other. They probably didn't like each other. Yet, they presented their views with dignity, in a gentlemanly fashion, with respect for their opponent. 

Their different views made sense. Each position had some value and merit. In their time they were considered important, but no one would have thought in 1980 that the voters of 2020 would look back on them with admiration. Yet we do, not because they were that great, they weren't, but because of how far the tone of current public debate has declined.  

The politics of running

This week I went for a long run on one of the many state trails. This one runs along the Minnesota River from Chaska to Shakopee Minnesota. 

It was two days after the death of a famous politician.

Along the trail there were little signs with directional arrows and rules such as "no motorized vehicles", "stay on the trail", "clean up after your dog", and the like. 

On each of the signs someone had placed a sticker, "Rest in peace, politician's name". Someone felt that while I am out running on this beautiful trail I needed to think about their hero. No, I did not. I could write much on what sort of person would do that, but since I once was that sort of person, I won't. Anyway, whomever you are, you briefly interrupted my solitude, but you won't interrupt that of others. The stickers came down, sign by sign, one by one. 

...and he left the woods better than he found them.  

The tree down the street

 There is a large old oak tree in my neighbor's yard. It lived to be around a hundred and fifty or so years, and then died. This year. The other old oaks are just starting to shed a few leaves but this one has nary a one, and has not had all year. 

Talk is, the owners have had three arborists out to look at it. I guess in tree world that's the same as getting a second opinion. Yep, it's dead. Or as a Minnesotan would say, It's a goner, ya got that right. They must want to keep it. Though they have only owned that land and tree for about three years, perhaps they feel that such a decision best goes slowly. Or maybe it is something simpler, procrastinating, or not being able to afford the removal, or the hope that maybe next spring it will come back to life. 

Our perspectives differ. Those who live in the house look out the window and see the same huge trunk as the year before. Same same. Those who live down the street see bare branches and death. 

There is this deep thing in us that keeps things in their place. Before Minnesota was a state that tree may have been here. We long for permanence. 

The neighbor should cut down the tree. It's dangerous and is becoming an eyesore. But I understand the reluctance to cut. Just last week I got around to paying someone some money I owed them since 1978. They didn't even know I owed them. It was easy to put off. But I'm getting old. But not like that tree.