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Monday, November 17, 2008

CIVICS 101 3rd GRADE

From a teacher in the Nashville area

We are worried about "the cow" when it is all about the "Ice Cream"

The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year. The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest. I decided we would have an election for a class president.

We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.

To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members. We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have. We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.

The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids. I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support. I had never seen Olivia's mother.

The day arrived when they were to make their speeches Jamie went first. He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best. Every one applauded. He sat down and Olivia came to the podium.

Her speech was concise. She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream." She sat down. The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."

She surely would say more. She did not have to. A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream? She wasn't sure. Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it. She didn't know. The class really didn't care. All they were thinking about was ice cream.

Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a land slide.

Every time Barack Obama opens his mouth he offers ice cream, fifty percent of the people react like nine year olds. They want ice cream. The other fifty percent know they're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess.

6 comments:

Nikki said...

This is the exact same thing I think about anytime when there is an election. Personally I feel ALL candidates say what you want to hear and give empty promises. We just vote on who is more believable. I know there is more to it...but you gotta admit its a pretty close assumption.

Anonymous said...

Of course if it was really fifty/fifty he wouldn't be our next president would he?

And when exactly did McCain lay out a consise plan for this country? That would be never.

Let the foolishness go please

Anonymous said...

Barack Obama has said, repeatedly, that tough times are ahead and that Americans are going to need to make sacrifices if we are to come out the other side as a stronger country.

This bs about 'giving away the store' is just that: BS.

Anonymous said...

McCain said ,shortly before the economic collapse, something like this "the fundamentals of our ecomony are strong". Give me the ice cream...whats the difference!!!

Anonymous said...

Did she come through on giving ice cream?

Anonymous said...

The lesson here is that the republicans think the electorate are 9 year olds. They think that we cannot decide between ice cream and the cow. We voted for the cow, and we will be able to feed ourselfs and have the benefits of the cow, but only if we take the responsibility of caring for the cow.

The republicans have held the cow to themselves, and not shared the gifts of the cow, and now all the people are hungry, and angry.

So folks that is the real analogy, I am tired of being thought of as stupid, the american people are very smart, they did the right thing, the republicans will not have the cow anymore, and the democrats will take much better care of the cow, and more people will be fed we will have milk, cheese, butter, and icecream, and given opportunity to make and sell all of those things.