I've said this before: It's not "his community." He lives in a multimillion dollar house in Palo Alto, w/24 hr. security. He might work in east Menlo, but it's not like he works at one of the grocery stores or taquerias. It's so disingenuous & insulting that he's trying to convince people that he's down w/the locals. Of course, there's also his political angle...

Hmmm:

couldn't agree more. Total phony. You too can drop out of Harvard and become a billionaire. Next life for 99% of us. Of course 99% of us couldn't go to Harvard so, can you say "disingenuous"?

Indeed, MV. That's why we have good school here in Calif - we don't have to feel compelled to believe Harvard's the only option, & that then dropping out of it is an even better option.

I'm related to a founding father of this country, some east coast blue bloods w/boarding school/Ivy League educations & even a Nobel in the mix. I'm familiar w/the power that any of that combo can wield - or not. I understand that how I live my life is different from them & vice versa. We don't pretend that one is the other & we're all more honest & the better for it. Guess what? It also allows us to contribute to our communities more authentically, because we're not pretending.

I currently am exposed to some of Stanford's most elite - & their imperfections. I value their friendship but don't pretend to occupy the same rarefied environs 24/7. They also work hard all of the time. Even though I live in EPA, I can't pretend that I wasn't raised w/more privilege & that I still have that, because I do. It's uncomfortable sometimes, because it means that we're community & we're not. But I'm not going to pretend that I'm down w/all of them & that my life isn't what it is- that would be insulting to them & dishonest of me. So why does he do it? People like him do it when they have an agenda that they're not honest about.

I'm also familiar, as most readers are, w/the type of self-interest & vanity at the heart of this article's subject. Why isn't it more about the kids, what they accomplished, how this may benefit their futures & if there's anything in place for continued support and/or tracking them? Now, THAT would be interesting! The Boys & Girls Club makes a real difference, every day, more than Marky Mark & his personal Funky Bunch do when they focus on *themselves*. Tiresome!