This is the eve of a great holiday celebrating a special moment in human- not just American- history. 247 years ago some relatively young men argued vigorously in Philadelphia about a new system of government to replace the dictates of a King across the water. They were property owners, but more importantly, they represented the families for which they were the public faces.

They decided on armed resistance, a dangerous course of events that if unsuccessfully pursued could wind up with their necks suspended from a noose. Improbably, they won. For 247 years the system they argued about has generally worked to the benefit of all who live here in America. By example, also for all people who agree that Representative Republics provide a measure of freedom and liberty previously unknown in human affairs.

That system is under attack, as you may have noticed. Here in our nation’s capital last night there was an example. Someone detonated three explosive devices at stores in the NE quandrent of Pierre L’Enfant’s marvelous civic design. We are not sure why, since the bomber has not been apprehended. It is unlikely to be a demonstration of support for the Holiday, of course, but does seem to be a product of the recent movement to de-fund public safety programs in many cities across our great land.

One of the reasons Socotra House returned to this particular city was the hope that the capital would maintain safety at least for whoever is running this government. We will see how that assumption plays out, since other large enterprises seem to be teetering without being under direct assault. As a group, we used to travel frequently as part of our employment. Travel to Baltimore to see a baseball game or a visit to the Miracle Mile in Chicago did not represent risk-taking.

One of the other stories this morning was about the systemic failure of our airline transportation system. It used to be routine and not involve sleeping on the concourse at the airport. The individual responsible for Transportation in our government just appeared on screen to blame “the wind” for travel problems.There have been other snippets of news about technical incompatibilities involving new 5G transmission devices between the jets and in the towers and the number of people involved to manage them.

That befuddles us, since “wind” is one of those variables of nature expected regularly at this time of the year. The equipment is what is different. It is human-made, and system integration is supposed to be managed by the technical experts appointed to Government positions. Instead, we were notified that President Eisenhower’s interstate highway system and incorrect pronouns are responsible for cities divided fifty years ago by concrete roadways. We haven’t blamed the Eisenhower Administration for much lately, since they are not subject to effective recall. But it does represent one of the reasons why things don’t seem to work very well.

On this holiday eve, we offer this observation: The system actually is working pretty well. It is just the intent that isn’t completely clear. Like Ike’s highways. The new electric cars we are supposed to adopt to save the planet rely on heavy batteries for power, all the lithium of which they are composed being dug up in China and hauled across oceans.

Since the EVs are electrically charged (by coal-fired power plants) they pay no gasoline taxes, and the vastly increased weight of the cars (not to mention the enormous trucks) will cause the roads to buckle without taxes to pay to fix them. Pipelines would be more efficient to transport some of the necessary stuff, but that is not a matter of discussion. It used to be one of those engineering factors ordinarily considered at the beginning of major engineering projects.

So, the point must be something else. Maybe reducing the number of cars of all kinds, gas or electric? Not to mention the impressive plans to introduce electric school buses that occasionally burst into uncontrollable conflagrations.

Those would be matters worth discussing, don’t you think? On this 4th of July holiday, maybe we should. At least we succeeded in decorating the Gnome out on the Patio, and we do what we can even if the wind is rising!

Copyright 2023 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com