One of the core precepts of the Progressive Left is that all is within the state, nothing is outside the state, and nothing is against the state. The biggest obsticle to this is the family. No wonder, then, that the Left insist that your children really belong to them, and there is no family but the state.
In this brave new world of theirs, the hoi polloi are kept in permanent childhood, where the world is one big “college experience” of “self-discovery” and “finding onself” while “raising awareness”… among other such bromides.
But the downside to acting like a child, is being treated like one. Not, of course, by one’s actual parents, but by Leviathan, will this occur. Nothing better illustrates this than the latest bit of Obamacare propaganda:
#GetCoveredNow: http://t.co/CCIiQwqTtc pic.twitter.com/3UTHpta8Bv
— HHS.gov (@HHSGov) March 12, 2014
Paul Mirengoff over at Power Line, points out that even then, the parental attitude is not excessively direct, but rather in a passive aggressive tone:
“In essence… modern parenting is characterized first by extraordinary involvement with their children and second by extraordinary patience with them. “Young children seldom have to face a head-on No. Reprimands often end with ‘Okay?,’ as if they were the opening of a negotiation or assent were required.
“…
“How will the ‘angry mom’ ad likely play with young adults raised under the circumstances described by Angell? Team Obama wisely portrays the mom as patient. She isn’t explicitly demanding that her child do anything; she’s simply waiting for him/her to ‘do the right thing.’ And the involvement of this ‘helicopter mom’ in the decision will be viewed as natural, rather than resented.
“Still, the mom, arms folded and with a slight scowl, seems pretty peeved, rather than friendly. And she isn’t negotiating, allegedly is the approach of choice for the modern parent. Instead, as John observed, she seems ‘bossy.'”
In the Progressive utopia, you are not free from the authority, but rather under the constant thumb of the state, for “The state is Mother; the state is Father“.
Well…as far as the “OK?” is concerned, I’ve always taken it (in this particular context) as meaning, “Understand?” Which can be uttered mildly and understandingly, which is sometimes appropriate, or in a tone indicating that the Wrath of God will befall the miscreant youngster if he commits the offense again.
Continuing past the ellipsis, I’m left wondering what Mr. Mirengoff thinks the parent SHOULD do. If he or she can’t be understanding AND can’t be the opposite–peevish or bossy or, I suppose, threatening–just how IS he or she supposed to be?
Furthermore, as my Dad used to say (and I hated to here it, being a black-and-white type by nature), “circumstances alter cases.” I am not inclined to look kindly on “blanket rules,” which are rarely correct in all cases.
. . .
However, Proper Parenting is not really the issue in Mr. Hat’s posting. And as to his main point, that The Gov has no business in the nanny-state/parenting business in the first place, WELL SAID!!
Nor in the theft business either, of course. (Obamacare being the latest example, and in my opinion possibly the worst law passed in the last 30 years or so. It doesn’t only take our money for Constitutionally prohibited purposes; it also transgresses to the point of nullifying them our general rights as free people.)
And everything that Daniel says about Progressivism is perfectly correct. I would only add that it’s not only the Left who promote this dreadful project.
PS. I cannot believe the tin ear and outright idiocy of this administration and its minions. I thought for sure that poster was put together by the Disloyal Opposition (among whom I am proud to consider myself, in the case of this particular outfit!) as a satire AGAINST Obamacare.
The more fool I. The thing does indeed appear under the HHS.gov link, on their site that shows their collection of “twitters” & “retweets.” (My god, all I can think of wrt “Twitter” is Tweety Bird.) I looked VERY carefully for spoor indicating it might have been posted by a ringer, but I guess not.
You’d think we’d have little to fear from any bunch so clueless as to post that thing in order to hawk their product! (Shades of the 10-10 video, only stupider because even more blatantly threatening, and shorter.) Yet there they are. Who was it who said something to the effect that the only thing more dangerous than the fool who gets elected President is the fools who elected him?
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