CLAYTON RYE
What happens when someone tells the age of a dog? Our next thought is to multiply that number by seven so we can say what the dog’s age is in human years.
A dog that is five years old becomes 35 years old in human years. We do it almost automatically.
After watching the political theater that has been going on in Washington, D.C., in recent weeks, I was wondering if there could be a way to determine the age of a politician and express in political years much like we give a dog’s age in human years.
After giving this some thought, I came up with using the politician’s age and years of holding office as a measurement of a politician’s age.
There is a difference. While we multiply a dog’s by seven, we would divide a politician’s age by their years of holding office to determine political age.
Thus, a politician that is 50 years old and in office for 10 years has a political age of 5. Someone aged 42 and in office for six years, has a political age of 7.
Using my method of determining political age, we will see that our nation is being run by 5- and 10-year-olds. Who can argue with that?
I have proof.
The discussion in recent weeks has gone something like this.
“I can.” “Can not.” “Can too.” Can not.” “Can too.” Can not.” “Can too.” “Not.” “Too.” “Not.” “Too.” “Not.” “Too.” “Not.” And finally the last word in our political discourse, “Nan-yah, nan-yah, nan-yyyahhh!”
In the end, one side is gloating and the other side is crying about how unfair it is.
Notice that my method of measurement treats everyone the same regardless of party affiliation. It makes no difference whether a politician is a member of the Right, Left, or merely leaning one way or the other. A politician’s political age has nothing to do with his philosophy.
It also shows how politicians seem to lose wisdom the longer they are in office. With my method, a recently elected office holder of age 50 in office for two years has a political age of 25.
Ten years later, they are 60 and in office for 12 years giving them a political age of 5. Isn’t that how it seems to work in Washington?
My method of measuring a politician’s age may be too severe because I am sure there are a few people who do serve honorably and are deserving of respect.
I am tired of the political gamesmanship that has been going on for years and lately has escalated to even higher levels. The goal of almost everyone seems to be “Gotcha” and we have a media and political lobbying organizations with that same goal.
I am very saddened by the juvenile behavior shown by people we have trusted to show wisdom and strength in their decision making rather than making decisions that merely position themselves for their next election.
As a country, we must be capable of doing better.
Rye is a Farm News staff writer and farmer from Hanlontown. Reach him by e-mail at crye@wctatel.net.