The Gist of It
I'm listening to Obama's speech and what it boils down to is this: He's asking for a little ingenuity. He's asking Americans to stop being lazy and passive and resting on the accomplishments of our forefathers. He's asking for the engineers and inventors and geniuses among us to step up and give us some new technologies that will propel us into the future. And what he's offering in return is the funding to pursue these innovations.
Just listening to this, it becomes clear that part of our problem is our passivity. We let someone else do the hard work. It's a generational issue. And it seems that the newer generations are going to have to become like the older generations: become hard workers who are willing to sacrifice to secure the future.
I like this quote: "Dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It's not just quitting on yourself; it's quitting on your country. And this country needs and values the talents of every American." That should be posted in the hallways and classrooms of every school in this country. "By 2020, America will once again have the highest percentage of college graduates of any country in the world. If you are willing to volunteer in your neighborhood, give back to your community or serve in the military, we will make sure you can afford to go to college."
"In the end there is no policy that can substitute for the parent." Isn't that the truth!! Much of the reason I was so glad when my parents retired from the education system was due to the apathy and sense of entitlement of the parents.
Moving on to the government budget, what Obama is proposing is no different than what we've had to do at the church. That is: cut out all unnecessary spending from the budget. Our program staff sat at a table together and went "line by line through the budget" before the beginning of this year and made absolutely certain that we were being responsible with the money that people have given. That's exactly what Obama has said they are doing with the government's budget. Good call. And no hiding billions of dollars of expenses (i.e. war or in the church's case - debt). No different.
"Living our values doesn't make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger." "The United States of America does not torture." Yes!
"A new era of engagement has begun...." That whole section is golden.
And on and on... so good. Genuine. I just wish that the people who "can't stand him" can get over themselves and actually listen to what he's saying. Because you can't argue with his logic. You can't argue with his acknowledgement that we're all - conservative, liberal, or neither - just after the success and prosperity of this country.
Just listening to this, it becomes clear that part of our problem is our passivity. We let someone else do the hard work. It's a generational issue. And it seems that the newer generations are going to have to become like the older generations: become hard workers who are willing to sacrifice to secure the future.
I like this quote: "Dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It's not just quitting on yourself; it's quitting on your country. And this country needs and values the talents of every American." That should be posted in the hallways and classrooms of every school in this country. "By 2020, America will once again have the highest percentage of college graduates of any country in the world. If you are willing to volunteer in your neighborhood, give back to your community or serve in the military, we will make sure you can afford to go to college."
"In the end there is no policy that can substitute for the parent." Isn't that the truth!! Much of the reason I was so glad when my parents retired from the education system was due to the apathy and sense of entitlement of the parents.
Moving on to the government budget, what Obama is proposing is no different than what we've had to do at the church. That is: cut out all unnecessary spending from the budget. Our program staff sat at a table together and went "line by line through the budget" before the beginning of this year and made absolutely certain that we were being responsible with the money that people have given. That's exactly what Obama has said they are doing with the government's budget. Good call. And no hiding billions of dollars of expenses (i.e. war or in the church's case - debt). No different.
"Living our values doesn't make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger." "The United States of America does not torture." Yes!
"A new era of engagement has begun...." That whole section is golden.
And on and on... so good. Genuine. I just wish that the people who "can't stand him" can get over themselves and actually listen to what he's saying. Because you can't argue with his logic. You can't argue with his acknowledgement that we're all - conservative, liberal, or neither - just after the success and prosperity of this country.