Statespersonship

It was not exactly a typical election night speech.  The governor of Virginia stepped up to a bank of microphones, not in a ballroom, but in front of his home.  Those there to listen were not supporters who were reveling in victory, but a handful of media members.

And then there was the speech.

Congratulations to the governor-elect of Virginia.

I am confident she will serve the residents of the Commonwealth well.

We will do everything to ensure a smooth transition to the new administration.

Of course, we will continue to do the people’s work until our last day in office.

Act Two of this odd political play occurred the next day, when the governor emerged from his home after lunch, with the governor-elect just trailing him.  The governor’s remarks were less memorable this time, but his actions were not, embracing the governor-elect, both beaming with delight.

The governor of Virginia is a Republican, who was term limited.  The governor-elect of Virginia is a Democrat.

Term limited elected officials are supposed to be bitter and exhausted, angry they can’t continue to add to their political legacies, but still ready to just hand over the whole bloody mess with a sense of “here ya go, good luck”.  Freshly elected officials are supposed to make speeches distancing themselves from the current administration, promising better, fresher, newer.

And yet, there they were.

This exemplary event is even more notable because Virginia is a purple state.  This means both parties should really make the most out of any opportunity to gain turf, to look smarter, more caring.  No matter the result of this election, there is always the next election, and the current thinking in politics is, it’s never too early to think about next time.

That’s always been true, but how politicians think about next time has changed drastically.  Elected officials used to believe the best way to show they were deserving of the next job they wanted—or even keeping the job they had—was to use the resources of their office to help people, all with an air of service, even humility.  Make roads safer.  Improve access to health care.  Look at the needs of those in need and see how to improve them, without excessively gouging the people who aren’t in need—but not being afraid to say to those who have much, you’ll be fine with just a little less.

Any peek at social media recognizes this approach has gone the way of the dodo.  Facebook shows elected officials thanking the crowds at recent talks for the “great turnout” as if it were a Taylor Swift concert.  Notices on X (I really have to call Twitter that?) boast of policy achievements by belittling the opposition. What was supposed to be a government of service has become a venue for a perpetual WWE smackdown, leaving more than a few citizens wondering where to turn for political role models.

Try the governor of Virginia.  What’s at stake is more than the survival of grandma’s admonition to be nice.  It’s about preserving the spirit of a nation built on ideals of mutual respect and a union of, well, unity, made richer by the right to agree to disagree.  We’ve always been far from perfect at this, but we’re supposed to be making those ideals more manifest, not less—you know, a more perfect union? 

Cries of “I believe that, but they—” are understandable, but sometimes too convenient.  Our behavior is within our control, not theirs. Give that up, and the union is less perfect.

Just as important, so are you.

Self Time

That thing
About ships being safe in a harbor…
…BUT…
What is that about?

Yeah
They’re supposed to be at sea
But not always.
That’s why harbors exist
To scrape barnacles
Refresh
Revel in Labor Day regattas.
That doesn’t happen
In twenty-foot waves.

So chill
About chilling.
That’s important too
Matey.

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