Jenny EriksonIn a post I wrote regarding Michelle Obama and her plans to parent our children for us, I remarked about her $495 Tory Burch gardening boots. A few of the comments wondered why I brought them up, and why, as a capitalist, would I have a problem with pricey shoes?
The boots were mentioned to remind readers of how out of touch with reality the First Lady is. The average American mama doesn’t have a single pair of shoes in her closet that cost that much, let alone gardening boots. When I’m inclined to work outdoors, I put on a pair of three-year-old sneakers that are practically falling apart.
Referring to the self-appointed mom-in-chief’s aloofness when it comes to relating to us regular moms was useful to drive home the point that she is not qualified to make our parenting decisions for us. Only the best for the Obamas, whether it’s boots, school, vacation, vacation, vacation, or vacation. The rest of us can eat cake. Or carrot sticks.
These are hardly people I want making decisions for me.
How I can be a capitalist and also be peeved at the first family for spending money? After all, aren’t I supposed to love it when money is injected into the economy by a purchaser’s free will to buy and a seller’s free will to provide goods and services? I do like that. What I don’t like is extravagant personal purchases being made by someone who subscribes to a philosophy of economic justice and wealth redistribution.
It’s highly hypocritical of Mrs. Obama to buy niceties for herself while her husband insists that I part with more and more of my hard-earned dollars to pay other people’s medical bills. My gas bills are going up because Obama won’t allow any drilling. I’m paying $2 or more for a head of lettuce because Obama won’t put pressure on California officials to put people ahead of fish.
Due to Barack and Michelle Obama’s policies, I can’t afford to buy fancy boots, yet she has the audacity to do it herself and rub my nose in it by gardening in them. If she and her husband were helping create an economic climate in which I could keep more of my money and buy my own boots, I wouldn’t care. To each their own. But she and her husband are denying me that opportunity.
That’s why I have a problem with Michelle Obama’s fancy-schmancy boots, and why I thought they were worth a mention. Thanks for asking.
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Comments 69
But Palin and Bachmann aren't telling people that they have to "sacrifice" for the Greater Good. Palin and Bachmann (and other Conservatives) aren't saying that they want to "take what you have and spread it around". The Obamas ARE saying that. The Obamas don't want you to have $495 boots, because that means that you have too much money, so they need to take those boots from you and give them to some homeless person on the street.
THAT'S what the problem here is.
Michelle is a woman who came from extremely modest means. She has worked hard all her life, and has earned the title of adult. Can't the woman wear what she wants at this stage in her life without bellyaching about it. Seems to be a pretty catty approach to outlining your objections to her husband's policies.
To suggest that her policies actually prevent you from purchasing your boots of choice is not only categorically wrong, it smacks of bitter jealousy. You are not being denied the opportunity to earn a more gracious living by anyone in this country, administration-wise or otherwise. Every man/woman for him/herself, right? Find your bootstraps, and start tugging.
She's not irked by Sarah Palin wearing expensive clothing because Palin's political views don't involve taxing the wealthy:
"It’s highly hypocritical of Mrs. Obama to buy niceties for herself while her husband insists that I part with more and more of my hard-earned dollars to pay other people's medical bills."
That logic applies to the Democratic agenda, not the Republican agenda. Personally though, I think it's far more off-putting in reverse. Michelle Obama is actually a stellar example of how you can work hard, pay taxes, and still have enough money left over to buy $500 boots and a $35 dress. If she were saying "I don't care that most Americans can't afford health care, I want to keep what's mine" and then she rocked the boots, it would be a slap in the face to everyone who struggles. THAT would be an example of someone who was out of touch with the people. THIS is actually a big fat win for the Dems.
TiffanyinSF makes an interesting point. Michelle Obama works hard, pays taxes, and STILL has enough money left to by $500 boots and a $35 dress. Perhaps, you need to make the decision to get a better paying job so that you'll make more money and can then at least buy some new sneakers? Or, on the other hand, shouldn't we be glad that Michelle Obama is SPENDING money, because that stimulates the economy, and in order for the economy to grow, we need those at the top to spend, spend, spend so that the money trickles down to those below? Or does that only work if those at the top who are spending money are Republicans?
"Us conservatives just want to be left alone to live our lives, making our own decisions."
That's funny. That's what a lot of women of reproductive age and homosexual couples want, too. Too bad conservatives have a creepy preoccupation with other people's sex lives.
Oh, wait. It's also funny because you're attacking Michelle Obama's decision to buy a pair of boots she can easily afford even after she pays her taxes because she and her husband earned a bunch of money.
Again, they're not asking the wealthy to do anything that they're not doing themselves. They are paying taxes, too. They are willing to pay more for the good of the many. So, what's the issue? I'd have a much bigger problem with people asking others to do something that they wouldn't do themselves. In fact, I do have a problem with it. People asking others to suffer in pain, die, and starve because they don't want to shell out a few pennies is ridiculous when you know they'd be asking for healthcare, food, and medication if it were them in those shoes. Or boots.