Barack Obama says technology is “putting pressure on our Democracy”
Barack Obama is now lamenting the emergence of new technology in the political system. While giving a speech at Hampton University in Virginia he stated that:
With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, — none of which I know how to work — information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation
Information becomes a distraction and a diversion according to Barack Obama. How scary is it that the idea of an informed public is seen by the president of the United States as a distraction? What is it about the easy access to information that Barack Obama finds threatening? Is it the fact that we can find people who oppose the president’s policies on the internet, while by and large the mainstream media has bought into his lies?
But he continued, and said something that I find even more alarming:
All of this is not only putting new pressures on you, it is putting new pressures on our country and on our democracy
Our Democracy (Republic) is being subjected to new pressures because people who differ with the president are free to offer their disagreements on a forum that might actually get other people to view their complaints with the president.
Many bloggers– like myself– read the news online and write our opinions of the news. We do not claim to be news sources or even journalists, we are just people who follow politics closely and write about our opinions on the issues. You may agree or disagree with what we write, but that does not mean that writing about political issues should be considered a distraction or a threat to Democracy. In fact, the idea that ordinary Americans now have a voice to offer our opinions and debate the issues should be considered a plus for our REPUBLIC, but people like Barack Obama are used to having the press in their back pocket, so naturally they consider the “citizen journalists” a threat to their vision of Democracy where the mainstream media reports a story exactly as the administration wants it reported. The new media has presented a problem for Barack Obama because he cannot use it as a propaganda arm for his leftist ideals. That is why he finds technology to be a threat rather than a liberating force.
Make no mistake about it; Barack Obama didn’t casually make these statements, he made the for a reason. And the reason very well could be that he will be coming after those of us who speak out against him in the near future. The FCC is poised to start regulating the internet, the question is, how far will they go?
America's Watchtower 
Thanks for this. I didn’t even realize The One was in my neck of the woods today!
Aw, he’s got such deep empathy to be concerned about these terrible new “pressures” on us poor distracted little people.
Maybe because, truth is, the pressure is on him.
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I don’t blame you for not taking notice that the president was down your way. 🙂
Yes, we little people are so easily distracted, why won’t we just give in and listen to whatever he says? 🙂
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I find it frightening how many things Obama and his ilk have their fingers into. There isn’t anything that they aren’t concerned about! Geesh.
We HAVE to boot these people out in NOVEMBER because if we don’t, I don’t think we will even recognize American by the end of this man’s first term!
As a side note, I read somewhere last year that Obama has his legal eagles looking for a way to change the 4 year limit on the Presidency! God helps us if they succeed.
BTW, my hats off to you. You are here ever day (almost) and you do a great job! Thanks for keeping me on top of what is going on!
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So true about November! We have this one chance to stop Obama’s agenda, I hope that we take advantage of it. If we don’t I also fear that we won’t recognize our country anymore!
Thanks for the kind words, I did miss Friday and Saturday but I do try to post every day. Sometimes it can just be too much and you need to take a day or two off.
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Please do more research before quoting text from a speech. The official transcript is absent of the phrase “none of which I know how to work” with regard to technology. This was added, which makes the source completely unreliable. I understand your sensationalism, and it definitely works, but know that misinformed opinions do the same that you accuse your opponents of – controlling a populace through fear. Here is the link to the full transcript. Please do your own primary research before making sweeping, fear-infused accusations on the internet. Thank you.
Full transcript: http://hamptonroads.com/2010/05/transcript-obamas-hampton-commencement-address
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So? Take out that phrase, does it change anything? Nope!
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A Voice,
You are correct, the phrase of which you speak is not in the official transcript. However, the rest of the quote appears to be accurate, according to the official transcript. Therefore, you can not say the source is completely unreliable. President Obama did, in fact say that this much information was a distraction. In other words, what Steve has written is true. You can not argue otherwise.
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Thanks Larry. A Voice tried to argue that because a phrase was added that the point I was making was not valid. But the prase that was added did not change in any way what Barack Obama said. I am not sure why the source I quoted would add that sentence, but the fact remains that it did not change the substance of Barack Obama’s staement at all.
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can’t win an argument on substance when you come from the left. so he has to do the usual ad hominem attack: Fearmongering! Unreliable!
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Very true, instead of debating, they attack the opposition.
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I heard the “none of which I know how to work” part of the speech a couple times yesterday. Here is a YouTube vid which includes that phrase: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BggfhwXAf-4
So . . . I reckon “A Voice” is the one who used a . . . how did he put it . . . “completely unreliable” source.
“A Voice” also pointed out the fact that “misinformed opinions control a populace through fear.” Mr. Voice is controlling us with fear caused by his misinformed opinions! Eek! I feel so fearful, so controlled!
Oh wait, nevermind. I see below that we’ve shifted gears. Now the argument is that the Pres is right: information is a distraction, and we silly bloggers are just wasting our life away. We should be out in the mountains, smelling the roses or some such.
You go on ahead to that nature trail, Mr. Voice. We’ll catch up with you later.
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Double speak is one of BO’s favorite hobbies.
Lets rephrase his comment
With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, — none of which I know how to work — information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation
As is usual the first part is factual but the second part….
Information becomes a Distraction, meaning information on the internet diverts your attention to facts rather then the disinformation BO wants you to be informed with.
Information becomes a Diversion, meaning information on the internet causes you to be informed enough to understand the course of action and activity focused on the real objective, emancipation that is disenfranchisement of Group A
The information you gather on the internet is becoming a tool of empowerment for the people and is getting in the way of state control.
Way too much pressure on you and I to evaluate the facts, how is a despotism supposed to compete?
Therefore we in Government must act to protect your vulnerable mind.
We shall enact the golden rule.
Which states the testimony of two men is true.
You and at least one Government official must be in agreement when ever you blog anything.
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The evolution of technology, information, ideas and government, i.e. human creations, climaxes at chaos and confusion at best, and violence and tyranny at worst. Left or right are the same thing in this race to madness. The only side worth being on is life itself, since it always finds a way to keep going, with or without humans.
If one chooses to mistake a demand for better research and sourcing accurate citations a political slant, the point is missed. Read and think new thoughts, produce ideas that will better the race. Life is a beautiful, creative process, not to be missed over politics and defending fears.
And for the record, information is a distraction. Just look at the internet. We’re obsessed with defending our barely informed opinions (myself included) at the expense of life passing by. There are some pretty sweet mountains, trees and rivers in this beautiful country.
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