Not another writer I know of has discussed a problem facing America today which is at the center of why we have a dirty old man in the White House, and why several social issues have become political issues and how these issues should be personal and not political.

The problem has to do with generational beliefs and how the differences between the American people are less about beliefs, and more about the natural evolution of ideas and social mores.

A personal history may help you to understand my premise.

I became 13 in 1959. It was understood that several personal issues were not discussed in public. These included religion, sex, homosexuality, race relations, and political preference. Divorced women were shunned by many. Women who worked and refused to stay home with their children were criticized.

Of course, today we live in a different world. The Christian religious right is heavily involved in our political system. Millions of Americans accept the fact that their illegitimate president is a sexual predator and has committed multiple actions of sexual assault. Most Americans support the rights of the LGBTQ community, with the exception of one entire political party. Minorities have equal rights unless they live in red states. Our nation is deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

The dominate issue is never spoken out loud. A battle exists quietly between our aging government and the majority of Americans. The history of mankind proves that the generation which is in demise views the world and world events in a way which are often in direct opposition to the next generation which will be in control of nations is just a few years.

Before I explain how important it is that younger Americans begin to take control of our nation today; a few facts. The largest voting bloc is now millennials. If they had voted in larger numbers in 2016, Trump would be nothing more than fodder for writers of comedy. Women compose the majority of our nation’s population, and although they voted in record numbers in 2016, many remained at home unsure of whom they should offer their support. Events in the last 17 months and 13 days reveal the fact that these situations are changing.

The truth is that old, white men who have received the votes of ignorant Americans for far too long, have caused enormous harm to our nation. Term limits are mandatory and would immediately repair our broken government. They have enormous power and the old adage applies perfectly to them. “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

The average age of an American citizen is 37.8 years of age. The average age of a Washington politician is nearly 60 years of age. What’s wrong with this picture? Women compose 50.9 percent of our population. Only 19 percent of women serve in the House and Senate, and most of them are Democrats.

At 72-years-of-age I cannot be called an ‘ageist;’ I am a realist. Our nation cannot be led by a 72-year-old man who is without morals and whose personal beliefs exist in the mid-20^th century. Moving forward means leaving the past behind and learning from our mistakes; Trump is a huge mistake.

I have two new heroes. One is a Representative from California who will be 80 years young in August but is far more progressive and youthful than many half her age. Maxine Waters loves her country and all Americans. The other is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who is 28 years of age and will be the next Representative from the 14^th district of New York. She is a true progressive and the face of a new and improved Democratic Party.

These women are the future of America. My generation is the past, and for the most part, that is a very good thing.

Please tell others about my blog and an opportunity to learn the truth. Thank you.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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Image courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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