Wow, it’s been quite a week. Turning 65, celebrated with a fasting blood draw. Weekend fun collecting a 24-hour urine sample. And then, the 2024 Election. With my age, wisdom and life experience, what other conclusion can I draw but this: It is time for a matriarchy!
Is that like a patriotic butterfly?
Let me think about, 9. Meanwhile, here’s an unattributed online definition:
noun: matriarchy; plural noun: matriarchies
- a system of society or government ruled by a woman or women.
“a matriarchy run by morally superior women”
I like the morally superior part.
Spoken like a true 14-year-old, Lily. And although our government (so far) is headed, not ruled, by a president, the United States of America just blew another chance to elect a highly competent and well-qualified woman as our head of state.
Oh no! Did Nixon win again?
Unfortunately not, 9, because believe it or not, in my opinion that would be an improvement.
A brush-up on patriarchy while waiting for the matriarchy.
Which brings me to a conversation I had today with my swim buddy. I will call her Louise, since that is not her real name and, as usual, I have not asked her if she was okay with being identified. Anyway, Louise and I, though I think we are both more centrist than extremists, hold different political opinions. Our newly elected state officials are ones I trust to keep Washington State operating safely and sanely, but on the national level- –
I’ll stop there, because it’s really not relevant to the most interesting part of today’s conversation with Louise. She was respectful of my grief and we actually talked about our ideological differences. But there was a quite novel part of the conversation where were in agreement: When would America be mature enough to elect a female president? And what would happen if both the major parties chose a woman for their candidate?
This was on my mind thanks to an article in a recent issue of The New Yorker, “Purchasing Power: What do the biggest donors to Donald Trump’s campaign expect to get in return?” It is difficult for me to read articles about oligarchs and how they throw millions of dollars at whoever they think will advance their own agendas. But there was an interesting payoff: As it happens, some of the very largest donors had supported Nikki Haley. Her super PAC out raised Trump’s for the second half of 2023.
The New Yorker brings to light some major Republican donors who initially supported Nikki Haley, and the potential for a conservative-leaning matriarchy.
So Nikki Haley is a woman?
Correct, 9, and unfortunately she dropped out of the race. Her donors, who for their own business and power gathering purposes are party loyal, reluctantly turned their support to the anointed candidate.
But what if- -?
Louise and I spent a few minutes contemplating the scenario of two female candidates representing the major political parties in a future presidential election. I think lots of people have a gut feeling that a substantial number of voters are overtly or covertly misogynistic. So I wonder: how many people literally could not bring themselves to vote in such a race because they just couldn’t bear the thought of a well-qualified, thoroughly capable female person with strong leadership skills serving as president?
It’s almost as if there’s a widespread fear that a female commander-in-chief would automatically inflict a zero-sum game on American males. In short, fear of matriarchy.
Should this amazing event ever come to pass in our lifetimes, Louise and I (who are both in our mid-60s) have made a pact: We will stay up late and watch the returns together, popcorn included.
Meanwhile, I will work on building connections with moderates of all political parties, and replenish my inspiration and hope for a matriarchy in the future.
Inspirational reading for the coming matriarchy.
