Dozing off, obsessing about yesterday’s slights, real or imagined, making some irrational decisions, insisting on always being right due to unique life experiences, these are all “old” grandfather traits we personally have seen before and laughed off.

But never was America’s future as a democracy, or our reliability and respect as a world leader, at risk due to such “benign” peculiarities. 

The time for mere “complaining” has passed. We need responsible national leadership that cares about its “common” folk, the nation’s organization, efficiency and its world reputation as a caring and reliable leader. Republican Party leadership currently controls our Congress. However, they are dominated by the “grandfather” referenced above.

Our Democratic Party is, at present, leaderless. It has congressional leaders, but their hands are fully occupied with legislative duties and requirements. There are isolated Democrats, such as Rep. Jamie Raskin, who capably represent the country and its people in constitutional arguments, but there is no organized and coordinated party voice.

Democrats must wake up, organize and openly represent the common people of our country. They must state clearly what specific actions they propose for the future of this country, and the benefit of those proposals to the ordinary person on the street. Saying they oppose President Trump’s radical policies and actions is not a positive plan of action that people can relate to — it speaks only to the past and not the future.

Time is of the essence. Our country needs responsible leadership and the time for action is now. Tomorrow is too late. 

Carl Morin
Topsham