At first, politics and online learning cry out for juicy comparison. But the seeming similarities quickly break down:

The online student experience offers
a) the ability to attend class whenever you like
b) the luxury of studying wherever feels right—couch, coffee shop, etc
c) the chance to work and graduate very quickly, ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, the common experience of American politics offers
d) the ability to vote every so often, then sit idly by, and
e) watch really obviously important issues go unattended
f) by two ostensibly different parties who can be said to work “very quickly” and finish things “ahead of schedule” only in an ironical sense.

So there’s not a lot to work with, if we go for a side-by-side comparison. And, regardless, you may not care if some lame-duck analogy of “college” and “politics” turns out to suck—it doesn’t have much of anything to do with you. Well, friend, we’re here to tell you it does matter. We’re done making excuses; are you? Instead of comparing ideas, we’re going to look at the human element, the words & wisdom of one particular man. Let’s examine the phrasings of the venerable president of These United States, and then think briefly about what educational lessons may be learned.

“One year ago today, the time for excuse-making has come to an end.” -Washington, D.C., Jan 2003
It’s not hard to put things off. With big things, like getting a college degree or admitting a mistake, it can be pretty easy. No more excuses: just get out there and do it. The future of yesterday is today.

“And my concern, David, is several.” -speaking to David Gregory, Washington, D.C., April 2007
Equipping yourself with the education you want is a multiple-step process.

“My job is to, like, think beyond the immediate.” -Washington, D.C., April 2004
If you want your future to be a happy one, it’s okay to think about it.

“Columbia carried in its payroll classroom experiments from some of our students in America.” -Bethesda, Md., Feb. 2003
Claim your education for yourself and no one else—your goals are your goals. Your experiments are your experiments.

“I got a lot of Ph.D.-types and smart people around me who come into the Oval Office and say, ‘Mr. President, here’s what’s on my mind.’ And I listen carefully to their advice. But having gathered the device, I decide, you know, I say, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’ “ -Lancaster, Pa., Oct 2007
Today’s computer device has gotten pretty sophisticated. College curriculums are being tailored for online students.

“[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling.” -Washington, D.C., Jan 2004
Don’t end up a statistic. Get out there and go for it.