The birthday parties celebrating my 101st were simply thrilling. Everyone has a family and most are great, but you make your friends, and to have them gather around really makes for a perfect birthday.
I phoned all of my classmates and both Irv Sager and Ed Reich told me life is good.
As for me, I worry about the direction my beloved country is taking. I am going to keep on battling to set it on what I believe is the right path. We keep piling on debt for future generations to pay because we keep refusing to pay for what we do and expect our daughters, sons and grandchildren to pay for what we undertake. How can we correct that? Easy! We just assume the responsibility. We just have to accept that dreaded word: tax! If we don’t want that, we just do not make the expenditure. The fault lies with us. Our children are brought up to hate our government. Why should they want to vote for something they do not trust? So they don’t vote and we have ended up with a corrupt plutocracy.
There is an answer. Convene a constitutional convention that will be set up in a way to attract our young people. Maybe we don’t trust our young, but this will be their country and we should concentrate on helping them build it. My firm belief is if you cannot afford to do it, just don’t do it. I like the direction Dartmouth is taking and think its leadership is great.
I am proud to be a Dartmouth alum.
Vox clamantis in deserto.
—Edward Gerson, 2400 Mariposa West 3A, Laguna Woods, CA 92653; (949) 829-8400; ejgerson@webtv.net