Babied Boys of DC - Guest Commentary

Dr. Elizabeth Morgan of Atlanta GA contributed a letter to the Financial Times last week.  I am going to repeat it here simply because it is exactly on target.

"Sir; As a counterpoint to all the male analysis of Tuesday's elections and Barack Obama's failings, let me offer a simpler one, that of a working, single mom."

"Our president, his pals, and most men in higher walks of the federal government are de facto college freshmen.  They come from elite, usually Ivy League institutions and are imbued by their professors with the peculiar arrogance and ignorance that comes from over-education, lack of experience and fear."

"Academics are risk-averse.  They and the students who admire them uncritically avoid scary experiences like working in the real world but they always know better than those who do.  Washington is now largely run by these kids and their loyal gal pals.  Like all privileged kids, they think they have it hard, they like to spend other people's money (once their parents, now the taxpayers'), they never think their allowance is enough, they blame everyone who criticises them - again substituting taxpayers for parents - and duck for cover when things get tough.  They like to party, to fight the other team - it's required for team membership - and they are out to fix the world.  These babied boys of DC have for years wrecked the car, time and again, passing the bill to their parents, that is, the taxpayer."

"In contrast, moms - not the privileged but those who have faced adversity- are easy to make fun of and look down on, but when you wreck the car, you need this kind of mom or equivalent dad.  They have courage, common sense and emotional maturity.  They fix problems.  These are not traits developed by taking the bar exam.  This is the appeal of Sara Palin and those she supports.  They are among the few grown-ups in national politics."

"With mostly kids to vote for, what can Americans do?  Vote out the latest car wrecker until you get one who knows how to drive."

I couldn't have said it better.