Inspired by
rightchristian's diary, I am compelled to add what, with $1.44, will get you a cup of coffee.
As an undergrad, I met some fellows from an Ivy covered school who explained that they had just "done" Plato in their Intro. Philosophy course.
I asked them what they meant.
It seems they had had two lectures and a test. I had had no test, and was in the middle of a required, loosley guided reading of 13 of Plato's dialogues. At the time I had written this off as just another idiosychracy of the unusual course of study I'd chosen.
But since then, and in my capacity, now, as an Admission Officer for my alma mater, I am bothered by the consequences of this difference.
It is not that I think everyone who attended a different school is an incurious automoton. And I do not regret that someone who had "two lectures and a test" is better suited to answer a Jeopardy question on philosophy (not too much, anyway).
The problem is one that Chuck Schumer (NY) showed the other night on Jon Stewart: The Repubs. are in it to win.
The Dems are in it to do right. And this is going to cause us problems in this race, unlike any other in recent history.
I am not (and don't wish to sound) defeatist, but look at the way we all, apparently, watch TV. It is like doing sit-ups. We tense up whenever words like "poll" and "majority of Americans" are used. The only thing worse is when a candidate says "I feel..." or "I believe..." Sometimes it only takes one word: "We."
I pound my fist and growl... I remember doing the same during Rocky IV, when we had to be shown that the Russian, -in addition to advanced technology (what?), - takes steroids.
And of course, the bully pulpit is much more than a pulpit when YOU ACTUALLY ARE A BULLY! I swear, by October (regardless of the "surprise") I'll have to have a stick to bite down on whenever the news segways to "President Bush said today..."
Like saying it makes it so... Though I am sure, as well, by then Pat Robertson will be telling us that indeed, the sun rose today at the benevolent request of Leader Bush.
Okay... What I'm saying is that we should narrow our focus of attack. Yes there is a falsely named meritocracy. But if most people stayed as incurious as Bush, Borders, B&N, and Amzaon would not be doing the brisk business that they do.
Look at the blog phenom (VFair). I'm not nearly as computer aware as others here. But I have one. I bought a book, asked some questions, and learned enough HTML and CSS to do it.
I guess what I'm saying is that we (and by we, I include you, John Kerry) should sharpen the focus. We talk about "When is Colin Powell going to crack?" Well, we should make him crack. He never got anything handed to him. Bush doesn't deserve his service.
There is an incredible gulf in America between education and knowledge. The way poll questions are manipulated; the way words like "defense" and "security" seem to be used to talk about different things... It seems insurmountable. Yet, when I wonder why I haven't moved to a country with integrty (like Belgium [yeah]), I realize I still believe in this fight. Stop saying "bring it on" or at least stop saying it all the time. There is a place for that (I think it is the last month, when you are hop-scotching around).
Lastly, The lead WashPost editorial today, about the threats made to Mr. Foster about releasing Medicare Bill cost data, - is a case in point. The editorial gives Maclellan's defense, and then says "Hogwash."
Okay. It's a nice word for the pace of the sentence. But the word is "Lies", okay. "Lies."
If my blog were read as widely as Kos, I'd have an entry that just said "Lies" over and over (like the old basic program: goto 10).
Don't let them squeeze by. Don't give the White House one single day to catch it's noxious breath.
Thanks for listening.