Ronni... it is YOUR blog. You can write or talk about whatever you want. I or John can read it or not. We can agree with what you say or think you are off your rocker. It is yours to pontificate about whatever is on your mind. If it is offensive or irrelevant to John, he should stop reading it. I think he's trying to get a rise from you or from your readers. Little boys do that to little girls all the time.

Trudi said it all in the first sentence of her comment. I ask people to stay away from politics in comments on my own blog; but, Ronni can do whatever she wishes - and - she does it thoughtfully.

BTW: My husband has always claimed to be slightly to the right of Attila the Hun, and even he is anguished by the stupidity displayed by our current administration. The mention of the president's name sets off fireworks in my husband's head (and mine).

An excellent piece, and much appreciated. I’ve always appreciated TGB not just for the posts, but the feedback you receive. And of course I realize we’re not all bound to agree on everything, but the first time I read politics was better left to younger people, politicians aren’t interested in older people’s opinions, I was flabbergasted. MY voice, my vote is just as important as anyone else and always will be! I began to suspect this person either wasn’t as old as most of the other readers here, or didn’t have a very high opinion of himself.

(That “senile” comment about Joe Biden last week... I just assumed it was an angry Trumper’s lashing out since the deck is becoming increasingly stacked against him.) Sticks & stones...

Ronni I just wanted to say thank you for the political discussions that DO take place here. Yours is a voice I want to hear, as is many of your readers. But I admit I will never understand the thinking that goes on in these Trumpers. I’m a moderate Democrat, but before Trump & his minions wrecked the GOP, I listened. When Mitt Romney ran against Obama, I listened. But wow... no more!

Thanks Ronni for your comments and the support and statements already made here by followers of your blog. I agree with them all.

I don’t understand the John’s of this country. Are they under informed? Are they incapable of seeing the mental illness and outright constant lying of this President. Don’t they know that now he actually is responsible for many many deaths? As far as growing old is concerned....are the Johns not aware that if Trump wins again...our social security and Medicare are at great risk?? Do the Johns not care about and not even remember that there are so many children still locked up and still separated from their parents? What? Why? Who are they? What is wrong with them? When someone is a trumper....it says A LOT about them...and NONE OF IT IS GOOD.

Thank you Ronni. This is a great blog in my humble opinion. The diversity, helpful information, and humanity shown is excellent . I never miss it.

Ronni I wish I could express myself as you do. You are right on the button and John and his ilk can as we said at one time "go fly a kite".

Agree with every single word of your blog post! John is wrong. Part of what growing old is about is contributing our wisdom to our communities and society and yes a conduit for that is politics.

Ronni, I too am offended by the inhumane and intentionally divisive remarks you refer to. I appreciate your honesty in admitting that it gets to you—you are strong in your vulnerability and integrity.

Inciters of prejudice and exclusion have to take the consequences of their behaviors. If you were to post your own views on a hard right forum, you would be demonized, possibly personally harassed, and run out of town.

I respect and support however you decide to handle this challenge. Your written statement is powerful, and your last paragraph is unforgettable.

I agree, it's your blog and you can and probably should reflect and lead the views of your audience. But in general I think we should not attack the people we disagree with, but try to understand them, where they're coming from, and why they think the way they do. I'm no Trump supporter, believe me, but my eyes were opened a bit when we took a drive cross country last year. We met a lot of gun-owning Republicans in Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon (eastern Oregon), and for the most part they were really nice, helpful people who were friendly and welcoming even though it was obvious we were urban East Coast liberals. We even got into a few semi-political discussions, and we didn't get into any fights. For the most part we agreed to disagree, but we also gained a greater appreciation of fellow Americans who ... well, they kind of live in a different world where neighbors are far away and they are forced to be more self-sufficient and family and church matter more. Oops, sorry if I'm preaching here. Just preaching tolerance.

Ronni, Agreed and Amen!!

Why John doesn't just take a pass on this blog is beyond me. Maybe there's something in it for him..........yes, John? Anyway, as we all know, some of us to our chagrin, the personal is the political. I remind myself and all that we need to keep up with signing petitions, calling our senators and congresswomen, and, if we can, donating to causes that are important to us. We've got to shift this thing. And Biden is not senile, and Trump is, at the very least, a sociopath.

It has long been distressing to me that so many people seem to think that politics is something that happens "over there." They seem to believe it has nothing to do with them. I hear them say that they don't pay attention to politics, that they hate politics. It's frustrating to me that they don't want to understand that politics determines how power is distributed, and that how this power is distributed has real consequences in their lives and in the lives of their children, relatives and friends. When my fellow Americans refuse to be involved in political discussions, political actions, then they open the way for opportunists to step into the gap and take the power that affects us all, old, young, or in between. Keep talking about politics, Ronnie.

Ronni - -
While adding my note of agreement to those of all your other readers, I'd like to suggest a different ploy:
Using your carefully-deployed choices of whom to print and whom to quote, - - such as today's 'John', I'd suggest: From time to time, replicate it with the occasional decently-considered and not abusive letter from a Trumpian.
Why? It obviously reminds you and your readers that: "They are out there!, and that they vote". Just look at the volume and tone of today's Comments. Keep us stirred-up!

Thank you and hang in there Ronni, we need to keep reading your blog and stand up to the John's etc. One thing I'd like to recommend if anyone can catch Netflix's series about Pandemic, (that's the name) done last year, it's about five hour broadcasts, about what we have and haven't been doing, and can be interesting, as they show teams of people preparing and looking for monies to protect us with vaccines and warnings etc. Even showing one woman who goes to Congress to try and prepare, love to you, and all the readers...

Rubbish. Can dish it out but cannot take it. Typical liberal seeking comfort of the choir

I, like others, am amazed at your restraint. I will confess that for some time now I have been looking to see who wrote a comment before reading it. “Cop Car,” “Bruce Cooper,” “Salinda Dahl,” and on and on. I’m happy to read their comments. But if I see “John” I just skip it — nothing for me to be learned there and, frankly, I don’t need the aggravation.

But your willingness with today’s post to be so thoughtful about the “Johns” out there, to actually make (and, in my opinion, make conclusively) the case in refutation of his complaints, is why you, o brilliant Ronni, are one in a million.

Ronni, thank you for this post. Although I live in the UK, what happens in the USA affects us too. Trump threatening to withdraw from the WHO affects the world - suspect John would say that is a political statement. Thank heavens Governors of the states took the actions they did while Trump was still stating that Covid 19 was a Democrat hoax. As someone in her 70's I know I'm more at risk and have made sure to keep myself self isolated ; I also know that, if I were to catch Covid 19, my age would put me at the back of a queue for a ventilator and I suspect the same is true in the USA - the personal is political as someone once said. Keep up the good work, your blog makes a difference.

Brava, Ronni. Not that you need my approval, but I completely agree with you.

Y-a-a-y, Ronni. I vote to give John the sendoff he deserves--permanent consignment to Fox "News" (which is where he probably gets his information anyway). I simply do not understand how anyone can defend tRump's response to COVID-19. He squandered precious time with "happy talk" early in the pandemic; I don't think anyone can deny that! He is threatening to repeat that egregious error by not listening to medical advice about when/how to reopen the country.

His alienation of other nations, and in some cases tariffs, have contributed to the unavailability of medical supplies we now desperately need. His policies have emphasized and clearly shown the fault lines in our society. No, he wasn't responsible for COVID-19, but we likely wouldn't be in the unprecedented situation that confronts us now had there been a coordinated federal response early on, including a much faster ramping up of TESTING. Other countries have tested many more of their residents per capita than the U.S. How the h*** can we reopen the country without some idea of who's infected and where they are?

tRump is indeed "uniquely UNqualified" for the position he (unfortunately) holds. We can only hope he holds it temporarily and will be resoundingly defeated in November--or whenever the country is able to hold the election without causing many more infections and deaths. I agree with Elissa: tRump was at least initially receptive to "riding" the virus regardless of how many (mostly-old) people would have died. Is John ready to die for this guy? He needs to ask himself that question.

Dear John,

You say liberals "can dish it out but cannot take it." That, sir, is a perfect description of your man Trump. He goes around insulting everyone in sight, gives them silly nicknames, calls them "nasty," but if anyone criticizes him even a little bit, he flies into a rage, sticks his lower lip out and hollers "You're fired!" He apparently thinks that no one who works in government should ever disagree with him. What a stupid, pig-headed attitude.

Patty-in-New-York -- How kind of you! Thank you.

John -- Unlike some others of Ronni's readers, I encourage you to continue to drop by "Time Goes By". I, myself, make it a habit to visit blogs of various persuasions in order (hopefully) to prevent my becoming one-sided, lacking information from other points of view. I not only watch MSNBC, but also Fox. I cannot say that I enjoy them, equally, or that I spend equal time with them, but I do want to hear different points of view.

Even when I was young, I valued having opposition to whatever I was doing. (Among other activities, I have served in a local, non-partisan elective office.) How else could I learn of my errors and inadequacies to which I have become "tone deaf"? I learn from the opposition much as I learn from making mistakes. I have always, however, appreciated being able to carry on conversations with the opposition in a courteous and fair manner. I am most disappointed in myself when I fail to live up to that standard, myself.

After more than 15 years, it would be difficult for me to kick the Ronni habit. Sail on, Ronni!

thank you for calling John to the reality of life. When Trump indicating that he doesn't know the difference between bacteria and virus was reminded again of how ignorant he is. Thank you for being the person you are.

I fear I did not stay on topic when I posted earlier. I spoke from today's pain after being essentially discardeds as worthless by former friends, proud Republicans (who prior to their seething angry emails currently) had professed their belief that Democrats were "bad".

I doubt if "John" is a real person. Just another Republican contrivance to get under the skin of Democrats.

I'm afraid it works. This whole blog today is devoted to "John."

Why on earth is John reading a blog about aging if he doesn't care about aging?
Politics is about power. In a democracy, all adult people have a say about who is in power.

I love your blog, and today's wonderful phrase was Beautifully put.

Bravo Ronni!! 👏👏👏Thank you for stating the obvious. Our health and safety is being destroyed by the incompetence of this administration and the arrogant, revengeful, hostile behavior of the man, who is unfit to be president, leading it.

Older adults are the Americans who vote most consistently and politics is our business.

Lucy, I so agree - politices IS life (unfortunately, at the moment). We cannot set it aside in a separate little box. It affects absolutely everyone and everything, including the very survival of our planet.

Loved everything you had to say today, Ronni. Thanks.

Is it racism, religious extremism, financial priorities over the public’s well being, disdain for people who are not as fortunate in life, arrogance, lack of empathy or a real need to be a bully, but having to do it vicariously through trump.

We will never know what drives the Johns and Janes of this world, but we do know what doesn’t...kindness, rational thought, critical thinking, intelligence and empathy to name a few.

A few months ago I reached my tolerance level with trumpers. They are toxic and I have nothing to do with them. Keeps me happy and my blood pressure down and my head doesn’t explode.

And Pat, don’t waste a minute feeling hurt about your two so called friends. These are simply not nice people..pure and simple.

I think there’s a non-zero chance that "John" is either a Russian troll or a Republican operative. His comments were slickly and slyly worded, and crafted to be divisive to the diverse readers of this excellent blog. Whatever "he" is it’s not benign, but rather quite malignant. Folks, don’t bite.

Continue to get people you know to register to vote. Vote early (or by mail, if you can). Fill out your census form and encourage family and friends to do likewise (literally five minutes on line). Donate to your local candidates. If you cannot give money, make phone calls (since going door to door is off the table). Write and call your representatives. Often.

Politics is about your life. Why, in heaven’s name should you ever allow anyone else to decide about your life? If you don’t get active and noisy, be assured "they’ will take control of it.

And Ronni? Rock on!