Gort Nation: Works Well With Others

Note: this essay was updated on 9/5/2024 to reflect the new reality of Kamala Harris taking the handoff from Joe Biden to be the 2024 Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

"The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next." - Abraham Lincoln

As we careen towards the upcoming Presidential election, I'm reminded that in a society as divided as ours, it's easy to let politics get in the way of who(m) we choose for that important office. You're probably saying to yourself, "Well... DUH!"

Seems pretty obvious, right?

But if you think about it for a moment, choosing a President is just about the most important thing we get to do as American citizens. Participatory small 'd' democracy will always be an experiment in how we live our lives and create the world we live in We need to be serious about the choices we make for the common good.

Voting for the person who will be our next POTUS is a de facto requirement for adults who consider themselves citizens. Withholding your vote from the better Candidate because of a few philosophical or ideological conflicts is not adult reasoning.

Does that statement upset you? Too bad, so sad.

An individual's politics is a major element in making that choice. The myriad shades of ideology and culture and personal beliefs involved can be a minefield when trying to decide who and why to put someone in charge of our Nation. With that in mind, I have a proposition to offer anyone who's planning to vote this coming November:

Focus on the person, leave out the politics.

That may sound counter-intuitive, but let me explain why it may be the only objective way to make the best choice for President in the 2024 election.

The image at the top is a 3rd Grade Progress Record for my younger brother Chuck (R.I.P.). I recently found it and several others, along with a short stack of his photos, stashed in a box in my garage. I flipped though the images, some familiar and some not... neat little time machines. The Progress Records caught my interest and shoved me into a direction of thought I hadn't thought of before.

As I read through Mrs. McEuen's report, I was fascinated by the areas of scholastic and individual growth Chuck was expected to achieve under her watchful eye. Language Arts, Arithmetic, Social Studies, Science, Health, and Citizenship. He was expected to show improvement in all these areas so Dad would know he wasn't a Big Dummy.

The Progress Record was a benchmark for the kind of person the school district hoped they could help create: a good student, a thinking adult, a well-rounded citizen. After reading all the ways in which Chuck was being evaluated, I realized they're excellent categories to apply when choosing a President, too.

Dig this: The categories were important guidelines used by educators to help kids grow and prosper in thoughtful, positive and meaningful ways. The student's measured progress was a hopeful promise for success in the future. Parents typically understood this without question and deferred to the education professionals.

We should vote for a President with that same level of hopeful promise, and choose the Candidate using no less a measurement than was applied to a 3rd Grader.

Focus on the person, leave out the politics.

The Progress Record format used by Lassalette Elementary in 1967 is a summary of what they believed was a 3rd Grader's potential. For 2024, measure the Presidential candidates using these basic guidelines. Leave out the politics or your personal biases, whatever they may be. Most of all, be honest about your conclusions.

The category of Language Arts is a good place to start. Do the Candidates understand and comprehend what they read and say? Do they express themselves well, understand words, and can spell and use them correctly? Do they misuse or misunderstand words and their meanings?

Arithmetic is vital. Do the Candidates know the meaning of numbers and show reasoning ability in their use? Do they understand basic rules of mathematics and how they work? Do they 'show the work' to demonstrate how they reached the answers?

Social Studies is just as important. Can the Candidates learn and understand about different people living and working together? Do they strive to learn about their communities and develop positive ideas about the world they lives in? Do they understand the importance of the creative arts?

Science and Health couldn't be more important. Do the Candidates understand themselves? Do they have good health habits? Do they show growth in their observations of the world around them? Do they engage and take part with others in intelligent discussion? Are they open to new ideas and facts based on science?

Citizenship is key. Do the candidates work well with others, show respect for property, practice good self-control, and display good work habits? Are they courteous and treat others with respect? Do they understand and respect the Constitution and the Rule of Law?

Focus on the person, leave out the politics.

Given our divisive political climate, it's easy to focus on narrowly-specific issues relating to the Candidate we'll be voting for (or against) this coming November. I developed this mental exercise as a way to be as objective as possible, yet it also needs to be honest and relevant.

When we evaluate someone to be part of our business, civic, social or personal circles, we're drawn to those who demonstrate the traits most suitable for that role, will be able to function normally, and will demonstrate intelligence and positivity.

Some areas of concern may arise, but that doesn't mean a person isn't right for the role. Rather, it's part of a spectrum we use to gauge the overall quality of that person, and it's up to us to use our best judgement. We're not evaluating their personal beliefs or if they agree with our political stance (unless that's your jam), but instead on their capability to perform the role or task at hand.

Are they the best choice overall?

And so it goes with choosing a Candidate for the US Presidency. It's easy to pick one or two areas of agreement or disagreement and forget the rest... maybe too easy.

Focus on the person, leave out the politics.

Chuck's 2nd Quarter Progress Record showed a marked improvement over the 1st Quarter by a country mile. He received 'High Quality Work' marks for many categories, and not a single 'Capable of Doing Better' mark. He did GOOD.

The Presidential Candidates for 2024 have demonstrable track records about how they operate as adults, citizens, and human beings. Their performance, based upon the categories of the Lassalette Elementary School Progress Record, is the best way to judge the person running for the office this year.

The person most likely to do a good job.

Bonus: their politics will also reflect their humanity.

Sadly, many voters can't be bothered to utilize 3rd Grade measurements of progress when deciding who(m) to choose in November. It's their right as American citizens to ignore consideration, facts or reason.

Plus, it also requires reading, spelling, understanding words and their meaning, taking part in thoughtful evaluation, learning about people living and working together, and gaining a growing knowledge of their community and the world we all live in.

On the other hand, Recess is easy.