Shootings, kidnappings, murders, cyberattacks.  On a typical day, the news can be gruesome and discouraging. But today, as I was cycling along the Eastern Shore’s wonderful bike lanes, I started to think about some good things that have occurred in recent years. Here are just a few.

A Cleaner America.  As a child, I remember riding in the backseat of my parents’ Dodge and noticing trash along the highways. Today that is much less the case. In fact, when biking, I frequently see people picking up other people’s trash and disposing it. Although not perfect, our parks and roads are much less littered than they were in times past. 

A Commitment to Recycling. In every city I visit, I see diligent people recycling paper, plastics, etc. We’ve come a long way on that front. Clearly, we still have a long way to go, but we are making progress. Plus, there is a welcome movement to move away from plastic bags, Styrofoam cups and containers, unnecessary packaging and other single-use items.  

Bike Lanes. The U.S. has more and more bike lanes, and I say that’s a good thing. On my last international trip before the pandemic, I went to Amsterdam. I could not believe how many people bike everywhere. They bike to trains, to offices, to markets, to churches—families bike together. It appears everyone has a bike. Biking is growing in popularity across the U.S. Many cities are building more accessible bike lanes and providing racks for bike parking. Some cities even provide opportunities to rent bikes and drop them off at other destinations.

Increased Connectivity. It wasn’t all that long ago, that I would read about a book in the NY Times Book Review and then wait until I drove to a bookstore or library to access it. Today, I can read a review and order the book on my iPad in a matter of seconds. It’s the best thing ever. Not just that, but it’s so easy to access information now. The other day I had forgotten who George McGovern’s running mate was in 1972. Within seconds, I Googled the info and said, “Oh yeah, first he picked Eagleton, and then Shriver”. We take all this access for granted. Some may say we are too connected, and they have a point. But think how lucky we are to have access to the The Spy each day so we can stay informed about local goings on. And though many of us are “Zoomed” out, it has been incredible how much work has gotten done remotely during this past pandemic year. 

Organic Foods. Over the last decade, there is much more emphasis on reducing pesticides and additives in foods. These organic foods are still more expensive, but innovative people are finding ways to make these foods more available at more reasonable prices. Farmers’ markets—including Easton’s and other Eastern Shore towns–are more popular than ever and for many there is a return to growing their own vegetables and home cooking with fresh local ingredients. This farm-to-table movement is gaining traction with creativity in offerings spawning wonderful new cottage industries. 

Medical advancements. We still have a long way to go to cure cancer and other diseases. But progress is being made. Substantial gains have been made to identify diseases earlier, treat them, and take precautionary preventative steps to alleviate many diseases from occurring. In the last week alone, there have been breakthroughs on treatments for prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Additional medical breakthroughs may be just around the corner. In his new book The Code Breaker, Walter Isaacson discusses the discovery of gene editing—a technology that could help eradicate cancer, heart disease and a host of other ailments. On the other hand, so far progress has been disappointingly slow regarding addiction and mental illness, although gene editing holds some promise there as well. 

Exercise. Many more Americans are focusing on the importance of exercise. And it’s easier than ever to make that happen. Not everyone can afford a Peloton or similar device, but for those who can, it has never been easier to access strength, cardio, yoga, meditation, spinning classes and more. Others are running, power walking, swimming, kayaking, biking, etc. It’s a delight to see an active, energetic America.

Cleaner Waters. We still have issues across the U.S. with red tides, bacteria in the water, Flint, Michigan water types of disasters, etc. However, there has been progress on this front. The Chesapeake is cleaner than it was 10 years ago. One study from the Chesapeake Bay Program indicated that about 42 percent of the bay and its tidal tributaries recently met clean water standards.  And thanks to the efforts of several ecological associations, the water quality in many rivers, lakes, and streams across the U.S. has improved.

Smoking. Cigarette smoking has reached an all-time low. Slightly more than 13 percent of Americans smoke – a decline of approximately two- thirds in the more than 50 years since the first Surgeon General’s report warned of the dangers of smoking. Still nearly 38 million Americans smoke every day. And smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. 

Hybrids. In recent years, we have been introduced to hybrid cars, bikes and even boats. This means less reliance on fossil fuels, and, in the case of bikes, more flexibility and, for boats, less noise pollution. Hybrid cars, of course, are the stepping stone to completely electric cars. I see more of them on the road and at charging stations every day.  In a somewhat tangential aside, let’s not forget the invention of the hybrid dog which meant more choices for hypoallergenic dogs. My niece who has cystic fibrosis now has a hybrid hypoallergenic dog as a pet—yet another breakthrough. (I, of course, can’t say enough good things about my goldendoodle Lucca—perhaps the best dog in the history of best dogs.)   

Endangered Species. We have made substantial progress in saving endangered species. The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) is the most effective way to protect at-risk species from extinction. Currently 99 percent of the species on the list have avoided extinction. The best way to protect these species is to protect the places where they live. We are doing a better job at that as well.

Democracy. It’s hard to believe I’m touting democracy as an accomplishment during these turbulent times. But let’s remember that more Americans voted in the 2020 election—two-thirds of the voting eligible population—than in any other in 120 years. That says something.  Let’s hope more and more people continue this trend so that their voices can be heard. The key to strengthening our democracy is having more people vote—not fewer.

Racial Understanding.  Finally, although there has been considerable racial unrest in this country, there has also been an increase in understanding the various challenges this country faces from a race perspective. It has been heartening to see people of all races fighting for racial equality and justice and supporting efforts to ensure that racial equity improves in the U.S. 

Thomas Edison once said, “Restlessness and discontent are the necessities of progress.”  I agree. Still, at times it’s satisfying to pause and reflect on just how far we’ve come—and then remember how much more there is to do.  

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the Federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. Today she focuses on writing, reading, piano, gardening, nature, biking, and kayaking.

This weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of attending Chesapeake Music’s inaugural concert at Easton’s Ebenezer Theater.

Like everything the Prager’s do, the Ebenezer Theater, now part of The Prager Family Center for the Arts, is perfection. The intimate setting for the new home for Chesapeake Music concerts is housed in Easton’s former Ebenezer Methodist Church, originally built in 1856, on Washington Street—a sublime setting for the chamber concerts that Chesapeake Music offers. 

Original stained-glass windows are flanked by luxurious gold drapes. Carpeting, Victorian-era wallpaper and gothic arches blend perfectly with the rich and vibrant colors of the stained glass. A state-of-the-art sound system, the 24-Karat gold-leaf ceiling, the chandeliers—all form a perfect union that creates an understated ambiance that warms the soul. And finally, a restored nine-foot Steinway piano, generously donated by several music supporters, produces a stirring sound that only such a marvelous instrument can provide.  

All this set the stage for the 36th Chesapeake Chamber Music festival’s inaugural concert on Friday. It was, in short, magnificent. I have been to concerts at the Kennedy Center, Vienna, Prague, Venice, and more. They have nothing on the amazing group of musicians who have been assembled for this year’s Chesapeake Music Festival.  

The program we heard included Mozart’s Piano Trio in G Major, Webern’s Langsamer Satz, and Dvorak’s Piano Quartet No 2 in E-Flat Major, Opus 87—an interesting combination of pieces which made for a compelling listening experience. Each musician was skilled, intense, and committed to doing the music justice. They did that—and much more. The backgrounds of each of these musicians is impressive to say the least. And they gave their all with passion, grace, and an intensity to get the music “right.”

This year’s Chamber Music Festival runs from June 4-12 and includes six concerts. The Festival also offers the option to live stream the concerts, a wonderful opportunity given this spectacular sound system. To learn more about options for hearing these concerts, visit Chesapeakemusic.org.

When not used by Chesapeake Music, the venue is scheduled to be used for other musical performances, book readings, art exhibits and other special events.  

To the Prager family, once again, thank you. The Ebenezer Theater is a bonafide treasure that will enrich the lives of Eastern Shore residents for years to come.  

Maria Grant was the principal-in-charge of the Federal Human Capital practice for an international consulting firm. Today she focuses on writing, piano, reading, nature, travel, kayaking and gardening. 

Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship last Sunday. At age 50, he is the oldest person to do so. Anthony Hopkins received the Best Actor Oscar award this year for his role in The Father, making him at age 83 the oldest person to receive an Oscar. He edged out Christopher Plummer’s supporting actor win at age 82 in the 2010 film Beginners.  At 77, Joe Biden is the oldest person to be elected president. Donald Trump was 70 when he took office. Ronald Reagan was 77 when he left office. Bob Dylan celebrated his 80th birthday on Monday. Dylan released his 39th album Rough and Rowdy Ways last summer. Janet Yellen is 74 and is the first person in American history to have led the White House Council of Economic Advisors, the Federal Reserve, and the Treasury Department.  Martha Stewart is 79. Dr. Fauci turned 80 last December. Nancy Pelosi is 81. Warren Buffett is 90. So, what is my point?

I am amazed at the energy, grit, determination and talent each of these people displays. In a sense, all of them have used their age to their advantage, giving themselves the benefit of experience and perspective.  

Approximately one-third of Americans are age 50 or older. Yet so much of American culture is focused on youth, looking younger, marketing to young people—90 percent of marketing dollars are targeted to people under 50 even though people over age 50 have substantially more disposable income.  

And for those who doubt that rampant ageism exists in this country, ask anyone over age 50 how difficult it is to find a job. This is true even though studies have repeatedly shown that assumptions about older workers–that they are inflexible, slow, unorganized, difficult, and expensive to train have proven to be false. Instead, studies show that older workers are more committed to their jobs, have less turnover, and less absenteeism than younger workers. They are also less likely to get mired in office politics and more likely to share their knowledge, mentor and coach junior staff, and put issues in their proper perspective.

Vivian Clayton, a geriatric neuropsychologist, developed a definition of wisdom which consists of three key components:  cognition, reflection and compassion. She explains that it takes time to gain insights and perspectives from one’s own knowledge and to use those insights to help others. I think we can all agree that more compassion, kindness and teamwork in the workplace would be a good thing.  

A current phenomenon is the pairing of a younger person with an older person for remarkable results. Think Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga concerts. They were amazing. Lady Gaga beautifully sang Tony Bennett’s classic songs, and Tony Bennett became quite popular with the younger generation. Or Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg. Despite their 30-year age difference, they thoroughly enjoy and appreciate each other’s company and perspectives. And they both have become relevant to the other’s followers. Snoop Dogg once said, “When we come together, it’s a natural combination of love, peace and harmony.”

Studies have shown that such cognitive diversity—that is building teams with a spectrum of ages and experiences—is more likely to produce successful results. Such teams also encourage innovation, freedom to brainstorm without fear, and acceptance of different points of view.  

As Bob Dylan once said: “Ah, I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now.”  Sometimes wisdom comes with the realization that things we were so certain of in our youth must be reexamined with a whole new lens. Age brings this type of wisdom. Let’s embrace it, celebrate it, and mine its potential.

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of an international consulting firm. Since she retired, she has focused on writing, reading, piano, gardening, kayaking, nature and travel.

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Many of us imagine how wonderful marriages of wealthy high-profile individuals must be. We think extravagant vacations, mansions in the sky, designer clothes, private schools, fancy cars, private jets, the ability to start businesses without the constant worry about profitability, and more.  But the recent announcement of the split between Bill and Melinda Gates once again causes us to pause. If they can’t make it, what kind of hope is there for the rest of us?

Think Jeff Bezos and Mackenzie Scott. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux. Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis. Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Al and Tipper Gore. Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock. The list goes on. Can’t any of us get along anymore?

The fact is that relationships are difficult—even in the best of circumstances. In these high-profile situations, temptations are endless, egos are fragile, and separations are frequent. 

I once asked a therapist who specializes in couples therapy when she knew it was truly over for a couple—when all hope of salvation was gone. She replied that once she saw that there was a true lack of respect—almost a disdain for the other person—she knew it was over. At that point, there wasn’t much she could do to repair the damage.  

Over the years, I have talked to many friends about relationships. For some, there were showstoppers—something that occurred that was the final straw. These final straws included a constant roving eye, infidelity, an inability to overcome addictions after several years of support, incessant jealousy, financial recklessness, anger management issues, lack of any type of emotional support, absence of intimacy, lack of appreciation, and lack of trust.  Some of my gay friends were so happy when they were finally legally able to marry. The celebrations were joyous. The speeches painstakingly crafted to reveal their journeys. Now two of them also are divorcing. 

Personally, I’ve always found spouses who are completely devoted and loyal to their spouses to have the best trait ever. There is nothing worse than going to a restaurant and having your best friend’s husband endlessly flirt with the attractive waitstaff. 

My Eastern Shore book club recently read Melinda Gates’ book The Moment of Lift. The consensus was that the book was good, and there was much to be admired about Melinda Gate’s mission, her commitment to philanthropy, and her increasing comfort and effectiveness as a public speaker. I agree, although I must say that some of her comments about how difficult it was to be Bill Gates’ wife were a bit hard to swallow. She was aware of how fortunate and privileged she was. Still clearly, nothing is perfect, and it is a slippery slope to complain about your lot in life when so much is given.

In recent days, several articles have been written about the increasing frequency of “graying divorces”—that is divorces in the people over-age-50 category. The reasons these articles cite are that children may have left the nest; couples may realize they no longer have much in common; they may believe they have one more shot at happiness and why not go for it. Also, many of these couples may have the financial wherewithal to split resources and still be OK.   

I have also read several articles claiming that the pandemic has taken a toll on many marriages. Being in somewhat forced isolation heightens issues that were festering over time. As a result, many divorce lawyers and therapists predict a rise in divorce proceedings in the coming months.

Articles from so-called relationship experts about what makes relationships work are in no short supply. Theories abound. One expert recommends a minimalist approach to life. Don’t get caught up with materialistic quests. Stick to the basics. Another has a seven-part solution on what to do if you have disagreements.  Still another recommends spiritual pilgrimages.  

Bottom line, I don’t believe there is any secret sauce to happy marriages. I suspect that respect, acceptance, communication, patience, compassion, listening, fidelity, intimacy, selflessness, loyalty, a sense of humor, and kindness all play into it. And then toss in a bit of luck for good measure.  

Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “It is not a lack of love but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.” I agree. And true friendship is a beautiful thing indeed.

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the Federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. Since her retirement, she has focused on writing, reading, piano, travel, kayaking, gardening and nature.

 

It’s a disillusioning experience when people whom you’ve idolized your whole life turn out to be less than idol worthy. It happens way too often.

When I was in middle school, the youthful and vigorous JFK was my hero. I waited in line in front of a drugstore on Gratiot Avenue in Detroit for what seemed like hours just to wave at JFK’s motorcade. A few years ago, I read an article in The Atlantic that detailed some of JFK’s exploits while he was in the White House. It included shocking descriptions of JFK in the White House swimming pool with interns and other White House staff. Sound familiar?

Even before I got to college, I was obsessed with Ernest Hemingway. I read every novel (The Sun Also Rises was my favorite), every short story, and took Hemingway courses in college. The more I learned about Hemingway’s personal life, the more disillusioned I became. I eventually wrote a final paper on how Hemingway never depicted real women—instead, as I recall my description, they were either angels or bitch goddesses. And I used quotes from Catherine Barkley (an angel) in A Farewell to Arms as an example. She said, “I want what you want. There isn’t any me, anymore. Just what you want.”   

When I went to graduate school at Georgetown, I remember my friends and I listing our top 10 movies of all time. Two of mine were Woody Allen films—Annie Hall and Manhattan. I knew the dialogue by heart. Last week, I finished watching the HBO Max documentary Allen vs. Farrow. It’s hard to look at those movies in the same light.  Somehow those innocent and charming scenes with Mariel Hemingway in Manhattan just aren’t that charming anymore.

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger is on my “top 10 books of all time” list. Last weekend, I read an article by a woman to whom J.D. Salinger wrote love letters. She was 17 and at Yale. He was in his 50’s. She quit college to be with him, chocked everything up. She later discovered that she was only one of many nubile women to whom Salinger wrote. He later discarded her like a used shoe. It took her several years to recover from the trauma. 

I just finished the new biography Eleanor by David Michaelis. It’s beautifully written, well documented and engaging—also long. But it shows a side of FDR—my mother’s hero—that I never knew. He cheated on Eleanor with several other women, was quite the anti-Semite, and had a racist streak as well. I realize these were different times, but Eleanor evolved in ways that FDR never did. 

The list of such disillusionments is long. Having said that, I still think JFK was a great President. He founded the Peace Corps and stood down Khrushchev during the Cuban missile crisis. He also inspired many young people to get involved in public service. Hemingway’s writing remains amazing. He used language in simple uncompromising ways. Few authors come close to mastering such focus on the bare essence of each word. The dialogue in some Woody Allen movies is superb. And something tells me that The Catcher in the Rye will remain an all-time classic for years to come. And despite FDR’s shortcomings, he gave us the New Deal and led us to victory in World War II. That compensates for a lot.

What’s the moral of this tale? Nobody’s perfect. We all disappoint in one way or another. Is it sad when someone we revere turns out to be less than we had hoped? Yes. But can we still appreciate their accomplishments and admire their strengths?  Carl Jung once said, “There is no light without shadow, and no psychic wholeness without imperfection.” Still, somehow, I wish that when temptation knocked, these heroes had chosen to see the light rather than lurk in the shadows. Something to think about. 

Maria Grant was principal- in-charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of an international consulting firm. Since she retired, she has focused on writing, reading, piano, kayaking, nature, gardening, and travel.

 

During the winter months, I live in a Florida community that is touted as a nature preserve. I love seeing birds, alligators, flowers, etc., and biking on miles of secluded paths. That’s the good news. 

The bad news is that it is also a golf community with three courses on-site and two more off-site.  One of these courses is directly behind our house. I have come to hate the game of golf. Here are five reasons why.

Environment. The labor that goes into maintaining golf courses is incredible. To me, it seems like non-stop mowing and watering. Each morning, I hear noise from an endless stream of machines preparing courses for the day’s play. I read that the average golf course takes up 150 acres of land and uses 90 million gallons of water each year (not a typo). There are more than 34,000 golf courses worldwide. More than half of them are in the U.S. Worldwide, golf courses cover more than five million acres of land and use more than 13 trillion gallons of water. The impact of all this water is particularly devastating to dry states such as Nevada and Arizona which have water shortages and require even more water to keep those greens, green.  In addition, most courses are “repaired” every so many years which entails killing the old grass and starting all over again. Consider the herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers used on courses for everyday maintenance, as well as these periodic “refresher” exercises. 

Also, the transformation of farmlands and wetlands into golf courses has altered the ecosystem in significant and damaging ways. It has eliminated indigenous flora and fauna. Environmentalists claim that the large numbers of golf balls found in water are harmful as well. These balls break down into microplastics which are detrimental to water quality and sea life.

Wildlife. Often golf courses were formerly habitats for mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies, and plants. Many of these creatures and plants have disappeared. Some wildlife have sought other places to survive. Naturalists claim that golf courses have resulted in fewer birds overall and some have been placed on the endangered list as a result. Also, hikers complain that areas that could have lent themselves to wonderful hiking trails have instead become yet more golf courses off limits to all but an elitist few. 

Time and Money. Next, let’s review the time and money people spend playing golf. The average 18-hole game takes about four hours. Some people in the community where I live play five times a week—sometimes two rounds a day. That could mean 24 hours of game time in a week. Many of these same golfers practice, take lessons, or watch golf on TV after they finish their play. These golfers pay exorbitant prices to become members of the club and then pay fees each time they play. According to the National Golf Foundation, the average price of a round of golf is $61. That does not include the sometimes astronomical fees for joining a club (which can range from $3,000 to well over $150,000) or the cost of clubs, lessons, golf clothes, golf bags, cart rental and tees. 

Conversations. Ok I realize since I’m anti-golf, I don’t find conversations about one’s golf game particularly interesting. But I can’t believe how boring cocktail parties become when the conversation—which it inevitably does—turns to golf. Is there anybody out there who is really interested in exactly what club was used on the sixth hole? Was it a difficult choice? Or whether the 13th green was hard or soft after last week’s rain? 

Waste of Intellectual Resources. I keep thinking about what could happen if we harnessed all this time from ex-CEOs, CFOs, small business owners, etc., who spend half their waking hours on the course. What if even a portion of those hours were used working for Habitat for Humanity, tutoring kids, or working in some fashion to make the world a better place? It seems almost patently immoral for these golfers with impressive careers and valuable experience to spend so much time on the course.  Maybe twice a week would be fine but seriously half your waking hours? 

Please know that I am fully aware that I live in a glass house. I’m sure many would find my excessive reading of novels a complete waste of time. Perhaps they are right. Also, one might correctly ask why I chose to live in a golf community when I hate golf. Good question. I guess the answer is that the nature aspects of the community were such a plus, as well as the beach and other amenities, that they outweighed the focus on golf.   

In summary, given the damage to the environment, wildlife, and the excessive time and money involved, I couldn’t agree more with the saying, “Golf is a good walk spoiled” which has been attributed to Mark Twain and a few others.  

Maria Grant was principal- in-charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of an international consulting firm. Since she retired, she has focused on writing, reading, piano, kayaking, nature, gardening, and travel.

Let’s talk about freedom and liberty, shall we?  Over the last few days, I’ve heard many newscasters, reporters, concerned citizens, and Texans and Mississippians claim that opening Texas and Mississippi completely with no mask mandates protects individuals’ freedom and liberty. If you don’t want to return to work, don’t. If you want to wear a mask, you can. It’s all about individual freedom and liberty. 

Get serious. While you’re being free to do as you please, you are endangering others if you are not wearing a mask. When the CDC, competent medical doctors, the Biden administration say, “hang tight, not yet–we’re almost there,” it’s crazy to throw caution to the winds and let the freedom flag fly. Why are these two state governors making this move?  To earn points with their constituents by opening the economy and appealing to their Republican bases, especially restaurants and other small businesses. I might also add that according to The Washington Post, both Texas and Mississippi have experienced a rise in cases in recent days. Plus, Mississippi is 47th and Texas is 49th in comparison to other states for the number of people per capita who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.  

These so-called freedom and liberty zealots are the same people who want to be free to carry arms and concealed weapons. Do they also want to be free to pollute streams, rivers and oceans?  Free to drink and drive? Free to drive cars that will not pass proper emission standards?  Free to incite an insurrection at the Capitol, endangering lives of many and causing death to others?

There is such a thing called empathy–worrying about others besides yourselves. Your failure to wear a mask endangers others. We’ve all witnessed the devastating effect of super-spreader events, causing many people—some very young–to die. To believe you are free, you have rights, you must also believe you have the responsibility to protect others. Freedom without responsibility just doesn’t work. You are free to use public spaces, hike in national parks, but you must use them responsibly. You must not endanger others.

We all want to breathe clean air and drink clean water. That means we all need to follow rules. Be responsible. So that the quality of our air and waters improves—a subject near and dear to most Eastern Shore residents’ hearts. 

All institutions have rules that must be obeyed.  When you choose to work at a particular job, you must follow the rules—they’re called conditions of employment. When you decide to live in a particular community, you may have neighborhood or HOA requirements. Our government has rules too.  And in times of strong turmoil or duress, it is even more important that we follow those rules—the rules that try to keep as many Americans as safe as possible and protect as many people as we can. No rules doesn’t mean more freedom. It means chaos, anarchy, and impairs the rights of others, including, in some cases, the right to live.  

The ironic part of this whole “freedom” business is that the very people who are preaching freedom and liberty to the rafters are the same people who claim that women should not have the freedom to have control over their bodies—to make personal decisions that work for them. 

The hypocrisy of the whole freedom argument is mind boggling. I agree that kids need to get back in school.  That we need to get back to business as usual.  But let’s do it responsibly. Let’s not get almost to the goal line and then cave. That’s a losing strategy—not a winning one. When you undermine good-faith guidance that helps all Americans, you are undermining democracy, liberty and freedom.   

Bob Dylan once said, “I think of a hero as someone who understands the responsibility that comes with freedom.”  Well said Bob. And a special shout out to the many who are acting responsibly and protecting their fellow Americans.  Thanks.

Maria Grant served as Principal-in-Charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of Deloitte Consulting. Since her retirement, she has focused on writing, piano, reading, biking, kayaking, gardening, and travel.

Will this be the last editorial I write about the Trump dynasty?  I hope so. But I’m so outraged by current goings-on that I felt I had to put pen to paper. My biggest, “are you kidding me” moment deals with Jared and Ivanka.

Let’s just review a few facts. When Jared and Ivanka moved to DC, they rented a house in Kalorama for $18,000 a month. Kalorama is the ritziest part of DC and home to many big names–Obama, Clinton, Jeff Bezos, Bloomberg Media CEO Justin Smith, and Fox News host Chris Wallace, just to name a few. You’ve probably read the stories about how Ivanka and Jared refused to allow their Secret Service protection bathroom privileges in their home (which only had seven bathrooms). So, what to do? Eventually, after neighbors complained about the unsightly port-a-potty in their posh neighborhood, the Secret Service rented a studio nearby for $3,000 a month (now totaling more than $100,000) so that these protectors of “royalty” could access bathroom facilities.

Recently, Jared and Ivanka bought a $31.8 million two-acre piece of property in highly sought-after Indian Creek Island near Miami known as the “Billionaire’s Bunker”.  It doesn’t have a house on it yet so expect many more millions to be spent. The property has 200 feet of waterfront, and taxes are approximately $472,000 a year. The island, home to only about 30 residents, (and soon to be the new home of Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen) has its own police force and an armed marine patrol circles the island 24 hours a day. While they await the construction of their new mansion, Ivanka and Jared rented an apartment in an exclusive Miami high-rise for $40,000 a month. (One of Trump’s last negotiations before he left the White House was to ensure that all his grown children received six months of Secret Service protection at taxpayer’s expense. Trump will receive this protection for life.) 

Where all this money comes from, I have no idea. According to my research, neither Ivanka nor Jared are particularly astute businesspeople. Ivanka’s fashion business which sold mostly shoes, jewelry, handbags and clothing, wasn’t exactly a booming empire. The business started in 2007 and closed shortly after her father took office.  Like most Trump businesses, it’s difficult to discern exactly how profitable it was. 

Jared Kushner is famous for paying way too much for 666 Fifth Avenue in early 2007—a record-breaking price of $1.8 billion—at that time, the highest price ever paid for a New York office tower. He bought it just before the financial crisis hit and has struggled to cover its debt ever since. There are a host of stories about how a financial company tied to Qatar brokered a deal that bailed him out. Apparently, Jared had spent a lot of time negotiating blockades between Qatar and Saudi Arabia during this time—something about which the State Department was completely unaware.  

Why do I find all this conspicuous consumption so upsetting?  Because during the time that this “power couple” is spending ungodly sums of money that most people can’t even begin to fathom, Jared Kushner’s real estate company, which owns and manages thousands of apartment buildings, continued its aggressive practices of evictions and debt collection lawsuits in New Jersey and Maryland—even while their tenants were waiting for promised government relief. Both these states had declared states of emergency and both governors called for moratoriums on evictions and court filings. (Netflix recently released a mini documentary called Slumlord Millionaires which documents the abusive practices of Kushner’s real estate companies.)

Call me crazy, but it seems particularly insensitive at a time when so many people are suffering, that the Kushner business would so aggressively work to evict and sue people, particularly when he was “in the room where it happened” in terms of suspending evictions, student loan payments, and more. 

In addition to all this outrage, I now read that Ivanka is considering running for Marco Rubio’s senate seat in the 2022 midterm elections. Please say it isn’t so. Rumor has it that Jared is starting a campaign to support his wife’s efforts in this regard. Reports claim that he is bad-mouthing Rubio, saying he is terrible and worthless, and encouraging people to pledge their support to Ivanka. 

Let’s be clear. I’m no fan of Marco Rubio. But when does it end? Just like Jared had no clue or expertise on the myriad of assignments Trump gave him as a White House advisor (remember overseeing border wall construction, solving the opioid crisis, ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, addressing the coronavirus crisis), so Ivanka has no relevant experience to serve as a senator of Florida. Like her father, I doubt that she could explain how a bill becomes a law. Nor is she knowledgeable about the many unique challenges that Florida faces.  Apparently, Steve Bannon is on this Ivanka-for-Senate bandwagon as well. In his book Fire and Fury, he called her, “dumb as a brick”.  I guess getting a pardon changed his thinking—radically.

So why does this “Javanka,” as they are known, phenomenon bother me so much? Every night on the news we see people waiting in line to be tested, to get vaccines, to procure boxes of food. We see selfless volunteers delivering medicines to those who are housebound, working at distribution centers stuffing care bags with groceries, healthcare workers working double and triple shifts to help those who are flooding emergency rooms. In contrast, Ivanka and Jared have this entitlement mentality. They truly act as though they are royalty—the king and queen of America—above the fray with divine rights. No getting their hands dirty dealing with the masses for them.  

We’ve all read how much the super wealthy have profited during this pandemic. Some estimates claim that the wealthiest Americans have increased their wealth by almost 40 percent. In contrast, more than 429,000 people have died from the virus, more than 22 million people have lost their jobs, more than 100,000 small businesses have closed forever. 

It would have been nice to have just a small amount of empathy, compassion or aid from this royal duo. But so far, that is not the case. Just for comparison’s sake, let’s contrast this “first daughter’s” focus with Dr. Jill Biden’s first week as first lady. So far, she has met with the governors’ spouses over Zoom, videotaped a message to the American Library Association’s midwinter virtual conference, visited the Whitman-Walker Health Clinic, and brought treats and thanked many national guard workers for their service and protection. 

What a difference an administration makes! In my mind, it’s a welcome one.

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of Deloitte’s Federal Human Capital practice. Since her retirement, she has focused on writing, reading, piano, travel, nature, and gardening.

 

I find it interesting that in times of almost obscene amounts of available information, we often fail to discern facts and seek to put allegations into appropriate perspective. Examples of our failures to do so abound in recent years.

Exhibit 1. Hillary’s emails and the Benghazi attack. Consider the time, effort, and money—the number of damning editorials and exposes discussing Hillary’s failure to secure her email traffic in the most secure  way possible. Did Hillary make mistakes and errors in judgments regarding her emails? Yes. After months of investigations, the conclusion was that she was careless but no top-secret information had been shared and no nefarious incidents occurred. Still FBI Director Jim Comey felt obligated for “full transparency” to once again open the case just a few days before the 2016 election. 

The attack on the Benghazi embassy resulted in the ambassador and three of his colleagues being killed. The White House officials and Hillary’s State Department were accused of negligence in protecting the embassy. The investigation took nearly two years. Twenty hearings were held. Hillary testified for 11 straight hours. Scores of people were interviewed. The investigation cost millions.  After two years, the final Republican report concluded that the CIA ensured sufficient security for CIA facilities in Benghazi and without a requirement to do so, ably and bravely assisted the State Department on the night of the attack in 2012. Their actions saved lives.

The situation is complicated because Benghazi wasn’t considered an embassy or even a consulate which put the mission outside normal State Department procedures. Two security teams had nominal authority but no one group was on point. Plus, it has been verified that this was a spontaneous insurrection with little pre-planning that should have been identified.  Republicans however saw it as a major opportunity to excoriate Obama and Hillary and took the ball and ran with it. It became one of the most litigated events during the eight years of the Obama administration. 

Trump, of course, emphasized both issues whenever possible during his campaign, giving her the name of Crooked Hillary and promising to put her in jail if he became President.  Never mind the fact that other embassy attacks were much worse and got nowhere near the scrutiny and criticism of Benghazi. In the George W. Bush era alone, it has been estimated that there were 13 attacks on various embassies and consulates around the world and more than 60 people died. 

Exhibit 2. The vilifications of Al Franken and Billy Bush. When the “Me-Too” movement arrived on the scene it became a giant wrecking ball. No one was safe as it swung back and forth knocking down everyone within its range. Did many accused of sexual misconduct deserve to go to jail or lose their jobs, etc.? Absolutely. Some crimes discovered and tried were abhorrent and clearly demanded prison terms and lost jobs. Think Matt Lauer, Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, Bill O’Reilly, Roger Ailes, and Bill Cosby. 

Now, let’s consider Al Franken and Billy Bush. As we all know, Al Franken was a comedian before he was a senator. While on a USO tour in 2006, an inappropriate picture was taken with him caressing a woman’s breasts while she was sleeping on a military airplane. It was a gag shot from 12 years ago.  Was it inappropriate?  Yes, I’m sure most of us would say it was.  Did it justify Franken being ousted from the Senate several years later? I think not. Franken was an excellent senator. He took his work seriously, did his homework, and, according to his colleagues, was respectful of women with whom he worked.  He was in an inappropriate picture several years ago, and he apologized for it. That was it. 

Billy Bush’s major-league crime was laughing at what Trump said when Trump described what he could do to women because he was famous. We all have heard that Access Hollywood tape ad nauseum which was about 11 years old when it aired.  Should Billy Bush have laughed? No, of course not.  But was that grounds for him to lose his job at NBC?  I think not.  He ended up losing his job, getting a divorce, basically becoming a pariah. He’s slowly returning to the scene, but it’s taken years.

Exhibit 3. In more recent times, we have the crucifixion of Hunter Biden. No doubt more information will be forthcoming about Hunter’s exact actions. But again, so far, once again we see an error in judgment for taking the Burisma Board position while his father was Vice President—especially when Ukraine was being accused of not cracking down on corruption. The Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Finance Committee report alleged that Hunter Biden showed errors in judgment but there was no indication that his activities influenced Obama administration policies. Hunter’s taxes are currently under investigation in Delaware, and the jury is still out in determining whether tax fraud occurred.

Obviously, many more examples of our over-reactions to perpetrators of whatever crime of the day is on tap could be cited. My point in all this is that some occurrences are errors in judgment. Others are downright despicable crimes. It’s important to differentiate the two. 

The examples I’ve referenced may smack of cancel culture or scapegoating—almost Puritan-like public shamings that make their purveyors feel superior. I see these examples more as inclinations to rush to judgment and denounce “perpetrators” at the slightest provocations—without due diligence or industrious weightings of facts and circumstances. 

Mark Twain once said, “You cannot depend on good judgment when your imagination is out of focus.”  Many of us imagine we know the true story. But playing judge and jury is a dangerous game—especially when it can ruin people’s lives. Taking time to assess facts, consider circumstances in an unbiased objective fashion, and putting issues in their appropriate perspectives are worthy endeavors and sadly ones that far too often fall by the wayside. 

Maria Grant served as Principal-in-Charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of Deloitte Consulting. Since her retirement from Deloitte, she has focused on writing, the piano, reading, travel, gardening and nature.

 

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the fallacy of populism—particularly the hypocrisy of those who espouse it. Scholars define populism differently but the gist of it is a rejection of “corrupt” elites who are seen to act in their own self-interests. In contrast, populists claim to pursue the “people’s interests.”   Populists can be left leaning or right leaning—think William Jennings Bryant/Bernie Saunders/Elizabeth Warren or Joe McCarthy/Barry Goldwater/Donald Trump. 

A populist philosophy leads to a rejection of globalization, standard institutions, bureaucracies, the media, and basically checks and balances of any kind. Rapid demographic changes in the US have caused older established Americans and younger under-educated Americans to feel they’ve lost status and influence. These Americans tend to be anti-immigration and skeptical of recent global trends which have led to job losses in the US.  

Successful populists today latch onto fears and prejudices of the masses to gain political power. They often use catchy slogans, nicknames, etc. as bait to reel in their prey. Such techniques smack of the Pied Piper who plays music that supporters want to hear, and these supporters blindly follow where he leads—no matter how divorced from reality his play card is.  

The concept that disenfranchised Americans bought what Trump was selling still boggles the mind. Is there any way that Trump understood the average American?  I think not. The son of a multi-millionaire who gave his son millions and bailed him out time and time again from one bad business decision after another is hardly a man of the masses. (We won’t mention his illustrious college career that started at Fordham and ended at Wharton after someone else reportedly took his SATs, an academic record not to be found—much like his bone spur diagnosis to avoid the military.)

 The fact that any average American thought Trump related to them and their plight borders on the absurd. Do you really imagine that Donald Trump would welcome any of his rally participants to one of his properties?  And who really gained during Trump’s reign, including the loathsome year of 2020?  Was it the masses or the “corrupt elite” who made a killing in the stock market –many with record returns?  And let’s not dissect the makeup of his pardon list—loyal cronies— “corrupt elites” — who committed felonies and kept singing his tune. Yet Trump continued to play that tune, and his followers continued to sing his praises while thousands of Americans died, and Trump virtually checked out of managing a pandemic of epic proportions.

Now enter Josh Hawley; the brave Republican Missouri senator who has chosen to object when Congress meets to certify the electoral college vote for President-elect Joe Biden on January 6, 2021. Hawley has been coined the post-Trump populist, and he has decided to hitch his wagon to that falling star in a bid for the 2024 Republican nomination. He bills himself as “for the people” and a fighter of elitist policies.  But let’ take a closer look.  OK first, a banker’s son, he went to Stanford and Yale, two of the most elite schools in the country. Then he taught at England’s most prestigious school, St. Paul’s. Then he went to work at a prestigious law farm. Then he clerked for Justice Roberts.  Not exactly your everyday guy.   

And this decision to object to the electoral college vote is not Hawley’s first grandstanding move. During the Amy Coney Barrett hearings, he railed on and on saying, “When you tell somebody that they’re too Catholic to be on the bench, when you tell them they’re going to be a Catholic judge, not an American judge, that’s bigotry. The pattern and practice of bigotry from members of this Committee must be stopped and I would expect that it be renounced.” The irony here is that no Democratic member of the Committee even pounded on religion–the only members who spent time on Barrett’s faith were Republicans. Democrats avoided that pitfall at all costs. But Hawley, ever the opportunist, took every opportunity to grandstand here as well, never missing a chance to boost name recognition and ingratiate himself with the religious right.  

Hawley’s move to object to electoral college certification is a risky one. Perhaps it will serve him well in coming months—perhaps not. He claims he “has to do something”—even though case after case, recount after recount have ratified election results. Ben Sasse, a Republican senator from Nebraska, has taken the opposite route. He called Trump’s pardons “rotten to the core.” He also called Hawley’s proposed actions “a dangerous ploy.”  It will be interesting to watch how this drama plays out.

My point with all this is “beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” It is true that you needn’t be poor to be an advocate for the masses and propose policies that would enhance their standards of living.  But it is incumbent on all of us to look closer at truly fraudulent claims. 

Donald Trump is not a religious man. He never was. Josh Hawley, it has been said, doesn’t even live in Missouri. (He denies this, but records show he has used his sister’s address as his—where his sister pays the taxes– and put his name on his parent’s piece of land where he claims to be building a house.) Others in Congress have gotten harsh reprimands and worse for similar tactics. 

My hope for 2021 is that we respect, honor, and promote expertise. I would venture to guess if you asked Trump today how a bill becomes a law, he could not explain the process. America has some of the best and most respected educational institutions in the world—the best facilities, the best training, etc. Why in God’s name wouldn’t we select the most qualified people for those positions? 

Steven Hassan, the author of The Cult of Trump explains how the President uses mind control to convince his followers that only he can save them from ruin.  Supervising editor of The Apprentice Jonathon Braun told The New Yorker, “Most of us knew Trump was a fake. He had just gone through I don’t know how many bankruptcies.  But we made him out to be the most important person in the world. It was like making the court jester the king.”  Bill Pruitt, another producer recalled, “We walked through offices and saw chipped furniture. We saw a crumbling empire at every turn. Our job was to make it seem otherwise.”

In 2021, let’s all commit to doing a better job of seeking truth, verifying credentials, experience, and references. Let’s respect and trust science, expertise and facts. It’s important. And it’s the right thing to do.  It’s also a worthy new year’s resolution. 

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of Deloitte’s Federal Human Capital practice. Since retiring, she has focused on writing, reading, piano, travel, nature, kayaking and biking.