Obama once dreamed of being Trump, manuscript shows

[Dashinka 25,917]

Interesting

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/03/obama-once-dreamed-being-trump-manuscript-shows.html

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"Americans have a “continuing normative commitment to the ideals of individual freedom and mobility,” Obama wrote in the manuscript, revealed in a Washington Post book review. “The depth of this commitment may be summarily dismissed as the unfounded optimism of the average American — I may not be Donald Trump now, but just you wait; if I don’t make it, my children will.”

 

To me it seems pretty clear he is speaking about individual freedom and mobility, and with that in mind his reference to Donald Trump is as a rich man. Americans believe and are overly optimistic about the ability for themselves to become wealthy and successful, is essentially what he is saying. I think it would be taking it a bit out of context to suggest he was implying he would like to fully "Be Donald Trump".

[Dashinka 25,917]

Just now, bcking said:

"Americans have a “continuing normative commitment to the ideals of individual freedom and mobility,” Obama wrote in the manuscript, revealed in a Washington Post book review. “The depth of this commitment may be summarily dismissed as the unfounded optimism of the average American — I may not be Donald Trump now, but just you wait; if I don’t make it, my children will.”

 

To me it seems pretty clear he is speaking about individual freedom and mobility, and with that in mind his reference to Donald Trump is as a rich man. Americans believe and are overly optimistic about the ability for themselves to become wealthy and successful, is essentially what he is saying. I think it would be taking it a bit out of context to suggest he was implying he would like to fully "Be Donald Trump".

Isn't that the American Dream?  When did Barack Obama become more of a socialist big government type?

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2 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Isn't that the American Dream?  When did Barack Obama become more of a socialist big government type?

Seems like after he himself became more successful (since the quote we are discussing came from his law school days/youth) he realized that it may be better to try to help everyone. At this point I'm speculating though obviously.

[Dashinka 25,917]

1 minute ago, bcking said:

Seems like after he himself became more successful (since the quote we are discussing came from his law school days/youth) he realized that it may be better to try to help everyone. At this point I'm speculating though obviously.

I am all for helping, I just don't believe the Federal or even the State governments do it efficienctly.  That is not to say all charities are efficient, but there are good one out there.

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Just now, Bill & Katya said:

I am all for helping, I just don't believe the Federal or even the State governments do it efficienctly.  That is not to say all charities are efficient, but there are good one out there.

I agree our government isn't that great at all, though to me that just means we have to fix it instead of assume that the government can't do it.

 

If we focus back on Obama though, I don't think he no longer believes in the American Dream, but I think he also believes that other people shouldn't be "left behind" too much. I've never seen him support a system where wealth is 100% equalized. There will always be wealthier people, but I believe he thinks (as I do) that in an organized fairly wealthy society we have a duty to at least provide our citizens with a bare minimum (food, shelter, healthcare).

[Dashinka 25,917]

6 minutes ago, bcking said:

I agree our government isn't that great at all, though to me that just means we have to fix it instead of assume that the government can't do it.

 

If we focus back on Obama though, I don't think he no longer believes in the American Dream, but I think he also believes that other people shouldn't be "left behind" too much. I've never seen him support a system where wealth is 100% equalized. There will always be wealthier people, but I believe he thinks (as I do) that in an organized fairly wealthy society we have a duty to at least provide our citizens with a bare minimum (food, shelter, healthcare).

The only problem with "fixing it" is that this usually means just throwing more money at the problem creating even more inefficiencies.  If it really needs fixing, they may just go on to create a new department and add even more bureaucracy.

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5 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

The only problem with "fixing it" is that this usually means just throwing more money at the problem creating even more inefficiencies.  If it really needs fixing, they may just go on to create a new department and add even more bureaucracy.

Ya I'm not saying the way that Democrats have tried to "fix it" in the past has all been right, and honestly I'm not sure I can offer that many solutions. 

 

I'm not saying the issue isn't difficult and fraught with challenges. I just think that the whole point of living together in a society is for each citizen to benefit from that relationship and I think those core benefits should be shelter, food, healthcare, protection/safety. When people get angry about "paying for other people's healthcare" (or food, or shelter etc...) it just makes me sad. That is the whole reason why we join together and live in a community. People don't complain when they pay for roads that they don't drive on. If I ride a bike every day I'm not going to pay because some of my taxes go to highways etc... We are constantly helping and supporting our fellow citizens, that is why we gathered into communities thousands of years ago.

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6 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Isn't that the American Dream?  When did Barack Obama become more of a socialist big government type?

Around the same time big businesses realized they could use Uncle Sam as collateral, for what should be their own risk along with reward (instead of using taxpayers as risk and getting a golden parachute for failing) and get help from people like Obama, Bush, Congress, et al. I'm still coming to grips with this being the way to do business nowadays.

[CaliCat 3,957]

8 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Interesting

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/03/obama-once-dreamed-being-trump-manuscript-shows.html

 

 

Obama dreamed of being orange skinned? LOL.

[IAMX 3,055]

mfw skin color becomes the punchline