Michelle Obama is a babe. She’d be, unambiguously, the hottest First Lady ever.
She’s really creeping me right the hell out, though. Check out what she had to say in a recent speech at UCLA (quoted at National Review Online):
Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.
Got that, folks? Barack Obama is going to be on your sorry ass every minute. Did you know that the U.S. Constitution granted the executive branch the power to compel your interest? I had no idea.
For all I know, an Obama “regime” really would institute apathy hit squads, all set to toss you in the stocks should you be discovered in an insufficiently engaged and enthused state. After all, when it comes to federal power grabs, what would it take to really surprise you anymore?
But more likely, this is just poorly chosen rhetoric. Adjust it, please, folks. Free people also enjoy the freedom to not care.
(Even about the magical, unifying, self-rising, messianic, bring-balance-to-the-Force Barack Obama.)
I don’t necessarily think that getting people energized is such a bad thing, really. I mean, I understand that there’s nothing our president can make anyone DO, but having a leader who inspires people to get off their asses and care about what happens in their community and their country can really only do good, I think.
Depending on the arena, it may be bad for people to be uninvolved. But it is, and certainly should be, “allowed.” The federal government has no authority to compel interest in itself. Any government that does is a good piece down the road to fascism.
Moreover, I’d argue that the sorts of changes in people you’re likely advocating–community involvement, helping others, and the like–need not (and in some cases should not) involve the federal government anyway.
As I said, I think it’s likely this is simply bad rhetoric. I think she’s going for something uplifting, lofty, and positive. She just needs to watch her terms. We don’t need to be throwing around words like “require,” “demand,” and “allow.” Let’s stick with things like “inspire” and “persuade.”
Oh, most certainly I think she needs to be clear in her terms.
I would also posit that it might be nice for the federal government to not make it so DIFFICULT to get involved and to be inspired. I’m just sayin’…
Are you speaking to a need for tort reform?
That’d be a good place to start…
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[...] you know what this reminds me of? Remember this post (relevant Michelle Obama quote below)? Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand [...]