As I watched the presidential debate, dismay over how much Joe Biden had aged in the last four years gave way to anger – not at the president, who has served well and with honor – but at the leadership of my party. As a lifelong Democrat, I was appalled that those closest to the president seem to be too craven to confront what countless people of my generation face as their parents’ powers diminish.

Many friends, for example, have had courageous conversations with aging parents about giving up driving. Though painful for everyone involved, these discussions are necessary, motivated by a concern for the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and other motorists, as well as for the drivers. Such sacrifices are part of our social contract, our responsibility to the common good.

Confronting the threats to democracy posed by Donald Trump and his acolytes is certainly more challenging than driving a car, and the potential damage of a second Trump term is incalculable. Consider: Our next president will preside over the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Will our nation still be recognizable as a democracy on July 4, 2026? It’s up to all of us to determine the answer. Even so, I want my president to be a tireless champion of democratic ideals.

If Joe Biden can no longer be such a champion, who is brave enough to have the very difficult conversation about handing over the keys and making space for the next generation of defenders?

Amanda Avallone
Cape Elizabeth