I dont' even know what to say to that.

You know my wife and I have talked about this a lot. We are inclined that he has a degree of elitism in him that he doesn't even see. It is almost like he thinks he knows what is best, and they we just have to trust him. I have looked at some of the things he has said, and the people who surround him and can't help but think that he is one of those guys who thinks that anyone who really works hard can make it. He sees himself therefore as being in a position to balance things out by being able to influence change as he sees it, that is consistent with his world view.

All I can say is that I must assume he really don't learn a hell of a lot while he was growing up about how people actually live their lives, and I don't think he understands that many of us just "can't make it", regardless of the changes he thinks are made to give everyone an equal chance. Its like he didn't notice that not everyone who worked with in the projects didn't make it and that sitting in reverned wright's chruch, while frankly, jets over his head.

What makes me say that is the choice he made of Arne Duncan as his secretary of education, the effort to distance himself for people like the Reverend Wright (if you can distance yourself from some of the things he said, and frankly, I am not convinced I don't agree with the basic crux of that message, though I dont'think I would have put it that way; maybe that is laughable to say, I grew up in a white house hold, comfortably, my dad was a teacher, my family were professionals, and I was an officer in the Navy. I mean, really what do I honeslty know about growing up either poor, or poor and black? Nothing), Arne Duncan, you know how the tune goes.

I spent 20 plus years in the Navy and I came to realize that not everyone is equally gifter, and so not everyone is going "to make it", as we understand that term to mean. I am no genius, not necessarily a person of highest intellect, or for that matter, maybe not much of a leader, but I do know that is not some abstract intellectual exercise where all we have to do is massage things on the edges and everything will fall into place. I guess I just don't believe the President really gets that.

It is too bad you know, he could have been another FDR. It was all there for him, and he didn't even realize it I think. I guess that is why I was looking for an explanation, and yours resonantes with me.

Hey, thanks for taking the time to reply. I thinK I get it better now, but I really don't know what to do with it. I feel pretty damn depressed. I really appreciate your insight and help with this. I hope my reply makes some sense back.

Listen, all the best to you and yours then, and maybe we'll chat again.

Very respectfully.

Art in Winnipeg.

by acramer on 09/04/2010 02:24:21 AM EST

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