Barack Obama, back in Chicago - The Economist

[applegrove]

https://amp.economist.com/democracy-in-america/2018/11/20/barack-obama-back-in-chicago?__twitter_impression=true


"SNIP....

Some of what comes next is clear. Mr Obama is supposed to be writing a memoir, though he admitted with a grimace in Chicago that it is proving difficult to grind out—for every two words he types he says he hits “delete”. (His wife, Michelle, is said to taunt him for it). The Obamas are also involved in commissioning programmes, including documentaries, to be shown on Netflix.

His foundation is beginning to grow. The annual event in Chicago was the second so far. Its focus is less to create a fund-raising machine like the Clintons’ foundation (though Mr Obama is courting donors) and more to create something akin to Jimmy Carter’s centre, which has promoted human rights, public health and a range of good causes for nearly 40 years. David Simas, the CEO of Mr Obama’s outfit, says the goal is to “build a generation” of connected youngsters who can respond as “our civic fabric is tearing apart”.

Some progress is also being made on the Obama Presidential Centre, which will house his official library, archives and museum. A model mock-up and a virtual reality tour show that this will be a striking if rather austere and fortress-like building, a stone and mostly windowless tower in a park in southern Chicago. An architect says Mr Obama wanted a tall structure to represent aspiration and a rising up—and to be a visual landmark for the neighbourhood. Ground is to be broken next year; with the whole thing to be finished by about 2022.

Listening to Mr Obama speak, it sounds like he is most driven by storytelling and abstract argument, rather than partisan politicking. He wants to engineer gradual, social progress over the long term—even as he accepts that is not always possible. He relishes lengthy discussion about the challenges of tackling climate change, low agricultural yields in Africa, the difficulties of troubled urban places such as Chicago’s south side. He says he believes technological solutions exist for many such problems—“people call me Spock for a reason”, he jokes. But the biggest barriers to progress are always social, he says. People are “confused, blind, shrouded by hate, anger, racism, mummy issues…we are fraught”, he says. He does not sound like a man who is yearning for the national spotlight, nor one who wants a high-profile part in Democratic wrangling over the next two years. He sounds, rather, as if he yearns to promote a national healing, greater moderation and compromise. Given the mudslinging in political discourse it will be tough, but, he said, “part of my job now...is to wipe the windshield so people can see clearly.”

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[DAMANgoldberg]

1. Love the reference to the Carter Center (am.spl)

The impression I got from this snippet is that Obama wants to be a Hybrid of the 2 Democratic Presidential models for his foundation. The closest thing on the Republican side is the Points of Light Foundation by GHWB/Bush 41.

History will judge Obama more kindly if he follows the Carter model.

[applegrove]

2. Civil society is what has divided the north and the south in the USA:

high in the north traditionally, low in the south. Wealthy Democratic countries typically have loads of it. It is a very ambitious goal to try and rebuild that throughout the USA. After all the tikki torches are out and people who are black get turned into authorities for operating a business or a lemonade stand while black these days.

"SNIP....

civ·il so·ci·e·ty

noun

society considered as a community of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity.


https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=tdT0W8zSK-SkggfqhZG4Ag&q=civil+society+definition&oq=civil+society&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-hp.1.0.35i39i70i249j0l4.1328.7559..12289...2.0..0.105.1232.13j1......0....1.......5..46j35i39j0i131j46i39j46i131.aDDWRC9BBfY

What is civil society and why is it important?

Civil society organizations engage in advocating the public's rights and wishes of the people, including but not limited to health, environment and economic rights. They fulfill important duties of checks and balances in democracies, they are able to influence the government and hold it accountable.Nov 5, 2016


....SNIP"

[lostnfound]

3. Sigh.

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