Friday, May 23, 2008 | 2:03 a.m.
It is becoming apparent that the idealism of Barack Obama has given him the lead to be the Democratic nominee for president. In my view, those under 30 are caught somewhere between the visions of their adolescence and their parents.
They have become aware that to have what Mom and Pop struggled for years to provide, in terms of financial security, has to come from a change in government. They obviously believe that Obama will aid them in achieving their goals. They are fascinated by his simple, easily said panaceas, and are willing to vote for him. They do not seem to recognize that he is putting the cart before the horse. The vote is what he is after; the result is in the realm of the unknown.
On the other hand, Hillary Clinton reminds them of a teacher who knows all the answers that they failed on a test. Perhaps they received poor marks at that teacher’s hands.
Do they really think about the responsibilities and decisions Obama will have to study and make? Bush is the only example they have known well.
Do they truly believe that in this fragmented and multidivided country Obama can turn America into a utopia? If so, I call that naive emotionalism.
The culprit in all this voting business is our patriotic view of government, which overlooks its inherent weaknesses. Frankly, we do not have the time for an inexperienced Obama to learn the intricacies of the office of president; Rome is burning.
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