While it would be nice to write off all state income and property taxes, as we used to, I’m willing to stand the gaff if it means that President Biden’s broad spending plan will pass. The New York legislators who have said they won’t vote for the bill if our state income and property tax write-offs remain capped at $10,000, should abandon that stand in favor of the greater good.
David Brooks in his column last week said Americans seemed no longer capable of thinking in terms of the greater good as they once did. (I think they do here, but perhaps on a national scale that’s right.)
He was writing in this instance about those who decline to be vaccinated, which makes it likely that herd immunity will never be attained and that the deadly Covid-19 virus and its variants will linger and linger.
If wearing a mask is a pain / Get the shots and you’ll not / Have to wear one again. That has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? Make a poster of it.
Anyway, despite all, one cannot help but feel sanguine at the moment, what with everything so green and the trees about to enfold us in an embrace that confers a feeling of community, if not of herd immunity.
Mike Finazzo, whose obituary I wrote last week, used to say young people were pre-eminent among our natural resources. While mindful, as he was, of the claims of our bays, harbors, creeks, estuaries, beaches, and open spaces, it has largely been young people who have buoyed my spirits lately. Just seeing them play out under the sun again is a joy.
Baseball, softball, lacrosse, track, tennis . . . everyone’s outside now. I’m glad my job requires that I pay attention.
Things are looking up. Things seem as if they’re becoming the same as they once were, and that’s fine by me.