The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was whileteaching third grade. The presidential election washeating up and some of the children showed an interest. Idecided we would have an election for a class president. We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaignspeech and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates were nominated byother class members. We discussed what kinds ofcharacteristics these students should have. We got manynominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked torun for the top spot.
The class had done a great job in their selections. Bothcandidates were good kids. I thought Jamie might have anadvantage because he got lots of parental support. I hadnever seen Olivia's mother. The day arrived when theywere to make their speeches.
Jamie went first. He hadspecific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best. Every oneapplauded. He sat down and Olivia came to the podium.
Her speech was concise. She said, "If you will votefor me, I will give you ice cream." She sat down. The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."
She surely would say more. She did not have to. Adiscussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the icecream? She wasn't sure. Would her parents buy it orwould the class pay for it. She didn't know. The classreally didn't care. All they were thinking about wasice cream. Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opens his mouth he offers icecream, and fifty two percent of America reacts like nine yearolds.
They want ice cream.
The other forty eight percent knowthey're going to have to feed the cow.
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