Will Obama's change be able to "change" the DC atmosphere? (2009, buy)

[smithy77]

Well, at least it's more likely that the District will finally have a vote in the House. Having lived here for 29 years, I can honestly tell you that an overwhelming majority of the 5.3 million people who live in the area have nothing to do with the stereotypical yupsters mentioned in many of the posts on this thread, nor do they care about them. Some of you need to stop patronizing establishments that cater to the 'power crowd'. Your attempts to fit-in and be accepted will only leave you frustrated. These people are here for a few years to get a line on their resumes and move on. They're workaholics in their 20's and 30's who've no interest in developing lasting friendships, unless they're 'useful', and have no interest in establishing roots here. I've experienced the 'other' Washington (I live and play in it), and I find it full of friendly, smart, open, funny, tolerant people (of every ethnic, racial, and religious persuasion) who've lived here for generations, and I have the best friends anyone could hope to have.

As far as changes the new administration may cause----most are subtle (I suspect you'll see fewer limo's on the streets than we've been used to in the recent past).

[rlchurch]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

I live in Virginia and i dont envy anyone who has to live in DC.

Please if you are going to bash my state at least get the spelling correct.

Who has to live in DC? Who ever refers to the district as a suburb of Arlington?

[The_Fairfaxian]

Originally Posted by smithy77

Well, at least it's more likely that the District will finally have a vote in the House. Having lived here for 29 years, I can honestly tell you that an overwhelming majority of the 5.3 million people who live in the area have nothing to do with the stereotypical yupsters mentioned in many of the posts on this thread, nor do they care about them. Some of you need to stop patronizing establishments that cater to the 'power crowd'. Your attempts to fit-in and be accepted will only leave you frustrated. These people are here for a few years to get a line on their resumes and move on. They're workaholics in their 20's and 30's who've no interest in developing lasting friendships, unless they're 'useful', and have no interest in establishing roots here. I've experienced the 'other' Washington (I live and play in it), and I find it full of friendly, smart, open, funny, tolerant people (of every ethnic, racial, and religious persuasion) who've lived here for generations, and I have the best friends anyone could hope to have.

Well I think I speak for most people when I ask where is this "friendly, laid-back, open-minded, genuine" part of the DC area? I'll admit to seeing this part that you described in places like Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, but here's the dilemma for me: these places tend to cater to families (people in their mid-thirties to fifties) who have kids. I'm currently twenty-one, and from what I recalled in many threads, there aren't many places in those laid-back and friendly areas filled with twenty-somethings where a college grad can abide, but many of those places I'm stuck with are the yuppie-infested places of DC, inner-Montgomery county, and inner-beltway parts of Northern VA.

[NMSL]

I plan on moving there from Los Angeles. I loved the people I met sooo much better than LA. In Los Angeles, you are always running into wannabe actors. It is terrible! I would much rather chat it up with someone working on the hill or some ngo. I guess I could be considered a yuppie and I love it. Bring on DC. Down with Los Angeles. LOL.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by JimGriffith

Thanks for the advice.

I didn't think anything I posted here was a "bash" against DC.

I just find it hilarious the idea that our new President's attitude will "radiate throughout the area," causing us to drive out the "smug evil lobbyists, preppie-turned-yuppies," etc. yada yada yada we all know what the OP wrote.

That's just not a criticism of DC. Frankly I think it'd be rather pathetic for the city's entire complexion to change as administrations come and go.

You think the man from hope delivered change we can believe in for DC? Fine by me. I lived in Brookland for a stretch in the mid-90s, and I didn't notice. Things were slowly starting to get better then, but it wasn't utopia.

In fact, a lot of people would say that DC was never, ever better than it was during the past eight years, despite all the smug evil lobbyists and boys of privilege wearing pink polo shirts around Glover Park.

My main point is Obama is the President, not the mayor or city council member. His time is not best spent on local issues, and DC will change as part of an organic process, not because of any radiating attitudes.

Yes, yes, your point is valid. I didn't mean to suggest Clinton changed DC in any profound way. DC just keeps on chugging no matter what. You're right.

I was just speaking generally - you seem very unhappy in DC. Just trying to help.

[smithy77]

Originally Posted by The_Fairfaxian

Well I think I speak for most people when I ask where is this "friendly, laid-back, open-minded, genuine" part of the DC area? I'll admit to seeing this part that you described in places like Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, but here's the dilemma for me: these places tend to cater to families (people in their mid-thirties to fifties) who have kids. I'm currently twenty-one, and from what I recalled in many threads, there aren't many places in those laid-back and friendly areas filled with twenty-somethings where a college grad can abide, but many of those places I'm stuck with are the yuppie-infested places of DC, inner-Montgomery county, and inner-beltway parts of Northern VA.

Maybe my experience is different because I'm gay---dunno. I lived in the Dupont/Adams-Morgan/Mount Pleasant neighborhoods in the 70's and 80's and making friends was easy for me. Maybe it was the times. Who knows? I had a blast and I still have many of the same friends.

[juniperbleu]

Originally Posted by The_Fairfaxian

Well I think I speak for most people when I ask where is this "friendly, laid-back, open-minded, genuine" part of the DC area? I'll admit to seeing this part that you described in places like Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, but here's the dilemma for me: these places tend to cater to families (people in their mid-thirties to fifties) who have kids. I'm currently twenty-one, and from what I recalled in many threads, there aren't many places in those laid-back and friendly areas filled with twenty-somethings where a college grad can abide, but many of those places I'm stuck with are the yuppie-infested places of DC, inner-Montgomery county, and inner-beltway parts of Northern VA.

Originally Posted by smithy77

Maybe my experience is different because I'm gay---dunno. I lived in the Dupont/Adams-Morgan/Mount Pleasant neighborhoods in the 70's and 80's and making friends was easy for me. Maybe it was the times. Who knows? I had a blast and I still have many of the same friends.

Most of the people I know live in the Dupont/Adams-Morgan area and they're all pretty much what you had described. Those I know in Arlington or Alexandria are the same.

[JimGriffith]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Yes, yes, your point is valid. I didn't mean to suggest Clinton changed DC in any profound way. DC just keeps on chugging no matter what. You're right.

I was just speaking generally - you seem very unhappy in DC. Just trying to help.

Ok. I am unhappy with this town, but I was born here, both my parents grew up here and two of my grandparents grew up here. My roots are deep and I have a lot invested here, but I've grown to have some irreconcileable differences with this place and I don't think I want to raise my own kids here.

However I am self-employed and have worked really hard to build up a client base and good income, so it's not as simple as just picking up and leaving.

And part of my reaction to the OP doesn't have anything to do with DC at all.

Somewhere along the way, Americans decided that the President is responsible for...well, just about everything.

From finding me a job, finding me a doctor, saving my marriage, stopping baseball players from doing drugs, ensuring my local school is the best, inspiring me to behave like a decent human being and relieving my neighbors of their bad attidudes, it's all on Obama's shoulders. I find it childish and it's a huge pet peeve of mine.

[Moth]

I do not put much stock in this DC stereotype or maybe I have succeeded in insulating myself from it. Memo to All of You: Stop socializing with jerks.

Having said that, on to the OP. For arguments sake, I will assume you guys are right and DC is full of tools.

So then, we now have a President who, however intelligent and competent, which he is, has attained office partly through Messianic rhetoric. His supporters, the majority, often react like girls at a Beatles concert revealing a cult of personality not seen since Mao circa 1967. From the Little Red Book to Yes We Can.

Like all administrations, his will bring a new influx of people. These, more than others, will most likely be some of the most close-minded, self-rightous, holier than thou pundits not seen since the Baader-Meinhoff Gang ran rampant in Germany.

In short, the answer is Yes (we can and will).

[smithy77]

Originally Posted by Moth

I do not put much stock in this DC stereotype or maybe I have succeeded in insulating myself from it. Memo to All of You: Stop socializing with jerks.

Having said that, on to the OP. For arguments sake, I will assume you guys are right and DC is full of tools.

So then, we now have a President who, however intelligent and competent, which he is, has attained office partly through Messianic rhetoric. His supporters, the majority, often react like girls at a Beatles concert revealing a cult of personality not seen since Mao circa 1967. From the Little Red Book to Yes We Can.

Like all administrations, his will bring a new influx of people. These, more than others, will most likely be some of the most close-minded, self-rightous, holier than thou pundits not seen since the Baader-Meinhoff Gang ran rampant in Germany.

In short, the answer is Yes (we can and will).

You're probably right. We haven't seen this "cult of personality" since the Reagan administration, but I'll take the Obama era over the Bush era any day. Maybe it's just a normal human response after coming out of what I consider to be a very dark/scary era in American history. You also have to take into consideration what this election means to African-Americans. I'm old enough to remember what the Kennedy election meant to Catholics (I'm the lapsed variety). Almost every Catholic home I visited back then had a framed picture of Kennedy---sometimes next to Jesus. A little over the top? Sure, but I think Obama is an unusually gifted politician and human being-----a rarity in politics; and while I haven't bought my framed picture (I've lived here long enough to be cynical about politics in general), I wish him the best and I honestly hope that this country and the world benefit from his extraordinary leadership skills.

Maybe, just maybe, those skills will change the way we conduct our political business in this town and it will tone down the cut-throat attitudes of the power junkies. One can only hope. In the mean time, avoid men and women wearing power ties, and bars/restaurants on the Hill/downtown.