Gary Stout

Many voters are uninformed about the history and meaning of the political system that is fundamental to our constitutional republic and now under attack- liberal democracy.

When I decided to write about the two recent national political conventions, my first thoughts turned to 1968 and Norman Mailer.

On July 1 the Supreme Court released its bombshell opinion in Trump v. United States. No one expected the six-justice Republican majority to reconstruct the office of the presidency by expanding presidential immunity. The opinion is a major victory for enhanced presidential power at the expense of presidential accountability.

In June, one of the most historic houses of worship in Washington County, the synagogue used by the Beth Israel Congregation, passed into history. The aging congregation with fewer members did not require a large facility. AMVETS (American Veterans) purchased the property to move its national headquarters to the building.

When our friends floated the idea of an end-of-summer getaway to the Shenandoah Valley, we immediately agreed. On a beautiful week following Labor Day, it was time to get reacquainted with this rustic, historical part of Virginia.

In 1956, John F. Kennedy, then a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, published “Profiles in Courage,” a landmark book on the American political class that would win the Pulitzer Prize. The book profiled eight Americans who placed courage and integrity above winning votes or retaining popularity to remain in office.

There has long been disagreement among political scientists whether vice-presidential candidates make a difference in presidential elections. The much-repeated quote about the vice presidency from John Nance Garner, Franklin Roosevelt's first vice president, sums up the traditional view that voters pay little attention to the second person on a national ticket.

Those of us in retirement have adopted a slower pace with empty nests. No longer are we anchored to a punishing work schedule while nurturing a growing family. As seniors, we get to slow down and watch the frantic activities taking place in other unique nests. The action is year-round with a changing cast of characters.

On a recent Thursday night, I found myself watching a baseball game. The New York Yankees were battling the Cleveland Guardians to determine who would represent the American League in the World Series. I could not identify any of the players with the exception of a few well-known Yankees.

“Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” -Winston Churchill