What is this article about, exactly? I'm failing to see the substance. There doesn't seem to be anything nefarious about the President of the United States addressing schoolchildren. Making goals and getting kids to think about the future, and contributing to society is a good thing.

If by "contributiing to society" means bulding up everything American, I have to agree there is little substance in Michelle's article. If, on the other hand, by "contributing to society" means supporting the taking of everything American and giving it away to those who merely "want to be fair about it all" I see much substance in Michelle's article. Being equal does not mean all is fair, just as fairness does not mean all things are equal! If I work hard I get a reward for my efforts, if I don't work do I still get a share of yours? Might not be equal but it's only fair! I hope all the new jobs go to those who "want to be fair" so I can sit on my sailboat in the Caribbean and collect from their efforts! Thanks Bo! You da man!!

But, Bill, the article was about Pres. Obama speaking to students about the importance of education and succeeding in school! It isn't about bailout packages or taxes. It says, "Create posters of their goals. Posters could be formatted in quadrants or puzzle pieces or trails marked with the labels: personal, academic, community, country. Each area could be labeled with three steps for achieving goals in those areas. It might make sense to focus on personal and academic so community and country goals come more readily." So, presumably, personal and academic goals would have something to do with working toward a future career. Say, for example, you want to be a police officer, than your community/country goals would have something to do with keeping people safe. Or, maybe a kid wants to start a business, then his community and country goals would have to do with providing jobs for X number of people. Why get in an uproar about that? There is nothing to be outraged about. If there is a connection between talking to schoolchildren about working hard and getting good grades, and an 11-year-old Kennedy praying for health care reform at a funeral, it's very, very weak. I don't see it.