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Two Parties, Two Attitudes Toward the Elderly
Stephanie Gutmann, "The Corner" @ National Review.Two offhand remarks by the winning and losing candidates in last nights New Jersey election reflect increasingly polarized attitudes toward the elderly and end of life issues. In making his concession speech, Democratic governor Jon Corzine was consoling his followers when he said, My mother is probably the only one thats happy tonight. Shes a Republican. Shes 93 years old so, were not going to worry too much about that. The line got a big laugh. When victorious Republican Chris Christie made his victory speech, he told the story of an elderly constituent he met on the campaign trail. He said to me, Im 90 years old, and Im going to vote for you. But you better do what you promise. Because if you dont, Im going to vote against you in another four years. The line also got a big laugh, but it sounded more joyous, less sneering, and less subtly derisive. Just a straw in the wind, but the Corzine remark mirrors a callousness, a coarse attitude about the dispensability of the aged, that one sees in the debate over health-care reform. Posted by: Mike 2009-11-05 |
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