Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine November 2020

• Our country has seen unparalleled growth and prosperity after Trump was elected even though the demise of the economic

2020 Like No Other Not sense the days of Richard Nixon and George McGovern in 1972 have I seen an election like this one. In fact, Richard and George

system was predicted. • We have lived through an impeachment hearing and accusations of Russian collusion. • We have witnessed more accusations of lying coming from both sides than we would normally hear in a lifetime. (Only a little hyperbole) • We heard the Democratic candidate tell a sitting president to “ shut up ” and call him a “ joke ” during a debate. • We ’ ve lived through 8 months of a pandemic, seen over 8.2 million cases, and 219,000 deaths. • We ’ ve witnessed peaceful protests turn into riots with over two billion dollars in damage. • We ’ ve seen horrifying examples of brutality and hatred like we thought America would never again experience — but we did. • Supporters on both sides of the presidential election are convinced that this is the apocalypse if the other side wins I hope and trust that we have lived through too much together for us to let our beloved America sink into the ashes of history because of this time. America really is, as Ronald Reagan said, “… a shining light. ” Why else would so many want to come here, legally or illegally. I know too many people that started with

couldn ’ t even begin to compare to the turmoil and hue and cry of 2020. I remember thinking that McGovern was going to win without a miracle for Nixon. (I didn ’ t even remember that the polls favored Nixon — only that the media had McGovern as the desired winner.) A miracle is exactly what Nixon got. Nixon won 60.7% of the vote with the widest popular vote margin since WWII. He won every state except Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. It was in the stress of the Vietnam War and 18 year olds being given the right to vote that 5 of Nixon ’ s buddies broke into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate Building. Caught by a simple security guard, they did not resist and the rest is history. Nixon tried to cover it up and congress moved toward impeachment. On August 9, 1974, Nixon resigned to avoid being impeached and convicted. It was a turbulent time. Even so, it does not compare to the last 4 years of Donald Trump and a venomous congress. Being a little “ long in the tooth ” , I spend too much time talking about “ in my day ” but that is OK. Age gives one perspective even if it is not tempered with wisdom. Here is what I know. • Our country has endured worse; i.e., the Civil War.