Slow campaigns and high end coffee

Lessons from non-queues

We encountered a Glaswegian this afternoon fascinated by our politics. He said he follows multiple streaming services because he finds their efforts less biased to show him the news. I have no idea which ones he follows but I don’t think he was a Trump devote’, from what little he said. He is really enjoying this campaign, it seems.

The world definitely is on hold through the November election as much of our country appears to be. The problem is that being “on hold” creates consequences as much as either of the two parties winning the presidency or the houses of Congress or state houses and governorships.

In fact, the world is moving on whether it is swirling tensions along the periphery of the South China Sea or mpox overwhelming the international health authorities (unfortunately, Marylanders also now have a West Nile virus confirmation which is yet one more concern. Women have babies, people get hit by cars, kids start school while adults depart their jobs, and a whole slew of changes to the world continue regardless who runs, wins, or governs. The head of state is actually pretty incidental to the passing of time, even if the whole selection process for anyone politically aware is both scary and interminable much of the time.

Most political campaigns don’t address specific problems in the overwhelming majority of cases. Those hand wave generalities are all we ask for, in truth, because we prefer personality over policy in our campaigns (Ironically, some of the rambling campaign events in the part of the MAGA candidate have actually been way too specific for many people as if that were the whole of the nation’s problems). Politicians offer grand visions, though I always prefer some recognition that they won’t become so powerful upon election to assure everything happens magically. As too many election victors, such as Jimmy Carter so sadly found, winning votes in the general doesn’t guarantee further support in the specific legislative games.

Governing continues through campaigns because life doesn’t wait for anyone, contrary to what it feels, through 20 January. Yet the world remains fascinated with how we could still have a candidate of declining facilities and virtual incoherent rants perhaps garnering the votes of roughly half the country, much as one watches a movie play out with perverse effects for all involved.

We personally did see that commerce moves ahead in Britain, however, when we stopped at a roadside services’ island this morning. Turns out one can buy Starbucks out of high end machines, rather than standing in the queue for the personal touch of the barista conjuring up the purple and skimmed white flat caramel macchiato with triple shots (or whatever. I am a traditionalist: black coffee is the only thing). The machine pretty much lets you make those same choices, amazingly, in less time. It is not cheaper than Starbucks at £3.50 ($4.60) but my time is valuable, too, even on holiday.but, it was pretty whizbang and virtually instant compared with queueing for decades.

Maybe everywhere but Annapolis and the other stateside places I have been this year have these so I am out of touch (could well be). But, it was a modern marvel like the beer machines at Narita Airport that fascinated Americans twenty years ago. Progress to speed up life!

Now, if we could speed up the election campaign…I am ready to get it over, though far from ready to hear about the next cycle as would definitely occur. And I do worry a great deal about potential gridlock or worse following the campaign. We are awfully split as a people these days.

Thank you for taking time to read my whimsy today. I find it critical to keep some limited attempts at humor as our days seem laden with angst these days. Do you disagree? Please chime in. Thank you to the subscribers who support this newsletter.

I wish you a happy Labor Day weekend, if you are in the United States. In any case, wherever you are, be well and be safe. FIN