General Discussion

quakerboy

(14,741 posts)

85. A good goal

Fri Jun 20, 2014, 07:29 PM

Jun 2014

But practically impossible.

Theres something about knowing that if you say "f this" and walk out, you will be going hungry.
Theres something about working the night shift in a 7-11 and not knowing if the next slightly skeevy looking guy through the door is there to buy some doughnuts and coffee, or stick you up.

These and many other experiences are practically speaking, out of the range of possibility for the presidents children.

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Obamas want daughters to get taste of life on minimum wage [View all] n2doc Jun 2014 OP

I hope they get their desire fulfilled rurallib Jun 2014 #1

Work is work. darkangel218 Jun 2014 #2

If they get to work/volunteer at any minimum wage job place, it will be enough to understand and res yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #30

article goes on to say Malia was spotted on set of CBS KoKo Jun 2014 #9

That's called "slumming it," and it's very easy to do when you know there's an end point. Brickbat Jun 2014 #3

The point is not the money. It is realizing how hard it is to do almost any job that is not being a jwirr Jun 2014 #4

Most jobs are not hard at all. former9thward Jun 2014 #5

That has not been my experience. But then I have worked as a maid and housekeeper a greater jwirr Jun 2014 #7

Mine Neither RobinA Jun 2014 #50

sounds like you have had a soft life. mopinko Jun 2014 #8

Humans are meant to be on their feet. former9thward Jun 2014 #17

not exactly. laundry_queen Jun 2014 #19

I agree with the concrete. former9thward Jun 2014 #21

My Understanding RobinA Jun 2014 #51

Really? toddwv Jun 2014 #13

Which is why this thing with the Obama girls is a stunt. former9thward Jun 2014 #15

Bullshit. Experiencing something uncomfortable that you don't have to experience teaches empathy. phleshdef Jun 2014 #20

It teaches you that you have to do photo ops when you are in the public eye. former9thward Jun 2014 #22

Wow, theres healthy cynicism and then theres you. phleshdef Jun 2014 #25

If this was the Bush girls posters would be laughing at it. former9thward Jun 2014 #29

And I'd chastise them for their unwarranted bitter derangement in that case as well. phleshdef Jun 2014 #33

You do get that the Obamas both worked . . . brush Jun 2014 #39

When did Michelle Obama have time to work a minimum wage job? former9thward Jun 2014 #47

it's right in the original post where she worked minimum wage. nt brush Jun 2014 #55

It says she worked at a book binding shop. former9thward Jun 2014 #60

Well we know she wasn't making much at a bookbinding shop. nt brush Jun 2014 #62

no comparison. mopinko Jun 2014 #41

yes because whenever two different people qazplm Jun 2014 #53

Irrelevant because the Bushes would never do this in the first place treestar Jun 2014 #73

Yes, most parents do. former9thward Jun 2014 #75

Time will tell treestar Jun 2014 #86

Yes, look at all the empathy packman Jun 2014 #45

Bullshit. That's one *possible* lesson. X_Digger Jun 2014 #80

a-ha. just like a slip, your agenda is showing. Tuesday Afternoon Jun 2014 #93

Had yours for a long time. former9thward Jun 2014 #95

I take it you never had to hoof roofing shingles up a forty foot ladder Dragonfli Jun 2014 #24

No, I just worked on top of a 2000 degree coke oven battery at a steel mill. former9thward Jun 2014 #26

But that wasn't hard work huh? Dragonfli Jun 2014 #31

Well some days I would have rather been in Hawaii... former9thward Jun 2014 #40

Then , having experience how hard work is, how can you deny it's hard? Dragonfli Jun 2014 #46

no, the term "slumming it" is when you and your friends go to a dive bar late at night snooper2 Jun 2014 #16

"Walk a mile in my shoes" Demit Jun 2014 #18

But "working" like this doesn't do it, when you always have an out. alarimer Jun 2014 #71

I'm sad that you define empathy like that. Demit Jun 2014 #78

It could also be called valuable perspective for people who will be in powerful positions one day BeyondGeography Jun 2014 #37

^^^^ this. Saphire Jun 2014 #38

Come on! They are kids! dem in texas Jun 2014 #43

Sadly you are correct. But it's the most the Obamas will be able to do at this point. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2014 #48

I was forced to pick cotton one summer Nevernose Jun 2014 #74

I can respect that. Ed Suspicious Jun 2014 #6

During the summers when I was a teenager, I worked in an egg processing plant where LibGranny Jun 2014 #10

It's a noble idea, but awfully hard for to put in practice KoKo Jun 2014 #11

Simple solution to that Proud Public Servant Jun 2014 #14

Yes! OldEurope Jun 2014 #66

+1. SammyWinstonJack Jun 2014 #79

Not possible, alas. Orsino Jun 2014 #12

It's only real if you work without a net. Iggo Jun 2014 #23

Better than nothing, I guess. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #27

Oh, absolutley better than nothing. Iggo Jun 2014 #36

Better than most rich people who would never have their children experience this randys1 Jun 2014 #28

I appreciate the attempt Egnever Jun 2014 #32

Well you could never teach me how it feels to be an amputee without cutting off my legs. phleshdef Jun 2014 #35

Typing envelopes for .01 cent each and ... CountAllVotes Jun 2014 #34

The thought's nice... freebrew Jun 2014 #42

At least they're trying, JoeyT Jun 2014 #44

n2doc, It's good to know the parents remember their struggles. saidsimplesimon Jun 2014 #49

i've worked with rich kids slumming it, knowing they'll go back to a pivileged lifestyle unblock Jun 2014 #52

Got my first real job at age 15. A combination of the hellacious heat, concrete floors, & low wages Tarheel_Dem Jun 2014 #54

With the parents they have, I think they will learn. It'll be a little easier when they move back... Hekate Jun 2014 #58

I couldn't agree more. However, the girls lives' are changed forever. Normalcy, whatever that..... Tarheel_Dem Jun 2014 #59

How much will the Secret Service cost to watch them at their minimum wage jobs? rug Jun 2014 #56

How much did the SS cost to watch the Bush Twins party hearty? Hekate Jun 2014 #61

Anything but a lame photo op to show "solidarity". rug Jun 2014 #63

How about Malia's school trip to Mexico to do some charitable work? Hekate Jun 2014 #65

I hadn't heard about it. Proves the point. Good for them. rug Jun 2014 #67

Tut, tut. Sarcasm doesn't become you. Hekate Jun 2014 #68

. rug Jun 2014 #69

I applaud them for this. Sissyk Jun 2014 #57

The fact that they "know" it's only temporary, makes the experience into a fun thing to do SoCalDem Jun 2014 #64

this is silly qazplm Jun 2014 #70

someone who's never lost a child will never understand someone who has- KittyWampus Jun 2014 #81

This reminds me of an interesting thought experiment I recently had WatermelonRat Jun 2014 #72

We should all be FORCED to be RICH for a MONTH!! leftstreet Jun 2014 #76

^^^thread winner KG Jun 2014 #91

Minimum wage workers get bodyguards, and journalists snapping photos, and an entourage? davidn3600 Jun 2014 #77

I give them points for trying - TBF Jun 2014 #82

My kids have experienced low wage, grinding jobs. hunter Jun 2014 #83

Well, then, Malia and Sasha better get packing for Seattle KamaAina Jun 2014 #84

A good goal quakerboy Jun 2014 #85

The Obama girls sure have a LOT of that "white male privilege", that's for sure! nt Romulox Jun 2014 #87

No 600,000 dollar a year jobs looming in their futures? CBGLuthier Jun 2014 #88

I worked in a sweat shop when I was twelve, but it was voluntary... sort of. meaculpa2011 Jun 2014 #89

And a taste is all it will be Generic Brad Jun 2014 #90

I would be more likely to believe that the president cares about struggling Americans, woo me with science Jun 2014 #92

(chuckle) KG Jun 2014 #94