Michelle Obama
Indeed, according to family friends, Michelle’s father was a volunteer organiser for the city’s Democratic Party, a by-word for machine politics in America, and his loyalty was rewarded with a well-paid engineering job at Chicago’s water plant. Even before overtime, he earned $42,686 – 25 per cent more than High School teachers at the time.
Michelle’s mother stayed at home and devoted her energies to her and her older brother Craig. Marian Robinson nurtured great ambitions for both her children, along with the traditional values which are now serving Michelle so well.
Television was all but banned in favour of homework, debates about the issues of the day and improving games of chess.
Bright and determined, Michelle was awarded a place at one of Chicago’s first ‘magnet’ schools, which offered special programmes for gifted children. By the time she was 13, she was taking a college-level biology course.
Source: Daily Mail
Ok, ok – she once played chess and maybe she does. However, it is not a big deal, and we have heard it before – on this blog.
I dont think you know the definition of machine polictics. It is something bad! The late Mayor Daley of Chicago had machine politics in Chicago because of many years of being in that office. As a result he had chronism and men on the take much like what you are encountering in the USCF. Machine politics is when the system has been intact so long that a blur between running government effectively and patronage to corporate sponsors who get you elected fades. Thats when corruption takes over. A great movie of this dilemna is the original film ‘All The Kings Men’ starring Broderick Crawford. He started his political aspirations as a small town guy who was a man of the people and through many years of governorship he and his political system became dark and corrupt.
I do think your use of terminology “machine politics” sounds quite odd. He was a precinct captain. And as far as the salary, was that his starting salary or after many years on the job? Are the teachers salaries being compared average salaries or starting salaries? Just trying suggest clarity in posting. Thank you for the information about her chess experiences.
Question now is: is she still playing and what’s Barack’s ICC rating?
Barack’s rating is over is over 9000!
It is good to see more women to play chess.
The website: http://www.geocities.com.chessdiva.show
promotes more women and girls to play chess!!