Daddy O brings parenting into politics

[firedupdem]

Just call him Daddy O.

Most leaders’ playbooks take at least a page or two from “The Art of War,” but President-elect Obama’s rhetoric seems to be torn from very different kind of text: the modern parenting manual.

The “change we can believe in,” it turns out, shares a lot with the revolution in thinking about child-rearing sprung from the work of Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler, which centers on principles such as mutual respect — or what the president-elect has called “the presumption of good faith” — fostering independence (“Team of Rivals,” anyone?), and encouragement (“Yes we can!”).

This passage from Obama’s victory speech, for example, is a family meeting waiting to happen, complete with attempts to acknowledge his own limits, make room for dissent, make sure the listeners feel heard, and stress the importance of everyone’s contribution:

“There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16809.html

[K Gardner]

1. K&R

[Gregorian]

2. It must include an intelligent discussion of population growth.

I'm in the process of writing Obama on this subject right now. It is the most critically important subject facing every human on the planet. And yet you'd never know it. And partly because there is no obvious crisis.

It's 11:59 and the bottle is half full. At midnight it will be full. (Sorry. That's a reference to a growth example. If anyone has any interest, I'll dig up the video it comes from. I doubt anyone even cares.)

[Uzybone]

3. Considering that we have entire religious structures

who are dedicated to abolishing any talk of population control, we have a long way to go.

Population growth is one of the biggest issues we have, but its hard to find anyone else who even cares about it.

[Gregorian]

4. We need the same fear campaign regarding it as Bush/Rove place on WMD's

It's the first time I have thought about how inhumane it actually is to be against population control versus letting the entire planet burn up with exhaustion due to irresponsible breeding behavior.

We need to put fear into people for this to become the issue it is. It's the single most critically important subject of any. The devastation of places like the war we just waged against Iraq will pale in comparison to what is just moments away.

They were wrong about a flat planet. No religious agenda should curb responsible and intelligent behavior. I wonder what Jesus would say about the situation we're in. Would he say to disregard the suffereing that will surely follow? Would he say to just care not? I think he'd say to do unto others as we would have them do to us. Hey, I don't have children. The world can fry for all it matters after I'm gone. But I care.

The problem is, it requires intelligent thinking to even see that there is a problem. Because this problem happens before there are any appreciable evidences.

[elehhhhna]

6. and why is that? B/c they can't effectively RECRUIT -- adults don't fall for that.

They have to procreate to make new members.

[knixphan]

10. quite true.

[annabanana]

17. The encouragement of growth was very useful

back in the caveman days. There may even be a biological, dna-type predisposition for it.. It's a need we have outgrown, like the appendix.

[mopinko]

5. equal rights for women is the answer

including the undisputed right to control their own bodies. education for girl children cuts population growth to near zero within a generation.
anyone else remember the e.r.a.?

[niyad]

7. YES!!!-- and just a few minutes ago, I was listening to kristen lems' "battle for the ERA"

it is incredibly sad to think this battle has been going on from the beginnings of the nation (remember abigail adams "remember the ladies"?)

and WHEN will this government ratify CEDAW?

[mopinko]

11. if i'm a clinging vine you are a pumpkin

boy, that name brings back some memories.
and yes, it has been a long fight. one of the things for which i will never forgive gov george ryan, no matter how many people are spared execution, is that he is THE man responsible for killing the e.r.a.

so, sorry i don't know what cedaw is.

[Gregorian]

8. It's all about education.

In one way I feel that limiting the focus to women is like blaming them. Maybe not. It just seems that it's like saying an uneducated woman is ruled by a nesting instinct. And I probably am missing the point of your post perhaps.

But right now more than ever, I see that the single most important thing on this planet is KNOWLEDGE. I am resentful to this day that my degree was more like a corporate weeding out process than an education. We all faced probation if we didn't perform above a standard level. Well if it were a place to learn, then probation has no place. Regardless of how one performs, they may be learning.

I say that uniformly across the board, everyone must learn. I mean that in a dictatorial sense. I demand that we know. No outcasts. No idiots. No Palins. We are living lives that utilize modern means that empower and amplify our actions. And we must be responsible. Flying around in a copter shooting at wolves. What a metaphor. An idiot in a machine that took standing on the shoulders of massively intelligent and creative people like Isaac Newton.

Bla bla bla. Whatever. I know no one is listening.



Oh, my point is that if we don't know what results from our actions, we won't be able to behave in a way that is responsible. When one realizes that even a 1% population growth means a doubling time of only 70 years, then people will think about that third child.

[niyad]

9. it isn't limiting the focus to women--it is about putting women IN focus for a change. it is a well

known fact that educating and empowering women is one of the fastest ways to reduce poverty, and birth rates.

[mopinko]

13. i take your point, but

it is still a fact that empowering women, even just good reproductive health care, will lower the birth rate without anyone forcing anyone to do or not do anything. iirc, over half of all pregnancies, even in the u.s. are unintended. unsupported mothers usually have babies that are prone to pretty much all the bad things in life.

you are, of course, right about education. but i still think that goes back to women. mothers. every child a wanted child, like we used to say back in the day. supported mothers usually have babies that are hungry for knowledge. that are ready on day one to start learning.

[Gregorian]

14. Let us replace military spending with education.

I know we're on the same page. And I did know about the studies that have been done that demonstrate birth rates versus level of educated/modern society.

The only thing military spending does is increase the military. That is only a negative thing. I don't make any exceptions. It's all about FEAR.

I hope this isn't too far removed from the OP, which I have since forgotten. But I'm just reinforcing that I am advocating a new society. And I want Obama to fight off the massive forces that push toward, and depend upon, military spending. And to put that towards education.

Ok, I've more than wasted everyone's time arguing for something we mostly agree on. The military thing seems to be a problem for many, though. I wish more people would see what a scam it is.

[mopinko]

15. i think we need to

honor our past, and recognize that war has served the human animal well. recognize that we are hard wired to worship our heros, alive and dead. then evolve.

[Gregorian]

16. Viva l'evolution!

I hope it leads to an improved version.

I see the future. We're all cloned after Graham Norton. Population problem solved! Shoddy humor for everyone!

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. k&r........

:kick:

[DeepModem Mom]

18. K&R

[ddeclue]

19. K&R

[firedupdem]

20. kick...n/t