A Letter to Presiden Obama

[doane2u]

Maybe some of you agree with some, or all of this.. probably some of you don't agree with any of it, but it's still worth reading and thinking about.



An Open Letter to President Obama
Monday, November 19th, 2012



Dear President Obama:
Good luck on your journeys overseas this week, and congratulations on decisively winning your second term as our president! The first time you won four years ago, most of us couldn't contain our joy and found ourselves literally in tears over your victory.
This time, it was more like breathing a huge sigh of relief. But, like the smooth guy you are, you scored the highest percentage of the vote of any Democrat since Lyndon Johnson, and you racked up the most votes for a Democratic president in the history of the United States (the only one to receive more votes than you was ... you, in '08!). You are the first Democrat to get more than 50% of the vote twice in a row since Franklin D. Roosevelt.
This was truly another historic election and I would like to take a few minutes of your time to respectfully ask that your second term not resemble your first term.
It's not that you didn't get anything done. You got A LOT done. But there are some very huge issues that have been left unresolved and, dammit, we need you to get some fight in you. Wall Street and the uber-rich have been conducting a bloody class war for over 30 years and it's about time they were stopped.
I know it is not in your nature to be aggressive or confrontational. But, please, Barack – DO NOT listen to the pundits who are telling you to make the "grand compromise" or move to the "center" (FYI – you're already there). Your fellow citizens have spoken and we have rejected the crazed ideology of this Republican Party and we insist that you forcefully proceed in bringing about profound change that will improve the lives of the 99%. We're done hoping. We want real change. And, if we can't get it in the second term of a great and good man like you, then really – what's the use? Why are we even bothering? Yes, we're that discouraged and disenchanted.
At your first post-election press conference last Wednesday you were on fire. The way you went all "Taxi Driver" on McCain and company ("You talkin' to me?") was so brilliant and breathtaking I had to play it back a dozen times just to maintain the contact high. Jesus, that look – for a second I thought laser beams would be shooting out of your eyes! MORE OF THAT!! PLEASE!!
In the weeks after your first election you celebrated by hiring the Goldman Sachs boys and Wall Street darlings to run our economy. Talk about a buzzkill that I never fully recovered from. Please – not this time. This time take a stand for all the rest of us – and if you do, tens of millions of us will not only have your back, we will swoop down on Congress in a force so large they won't know what hit them (that's right, McConnell – you're on the retirement list we've put together for 2014).
BUT – first you have to do the job we elected you to do. You have to take your massive 126-electoral vote margin and just go for it.
Here are my suggestions:
1. DRIVE THE RICH RIGHT OFF THEIR FISCAL CLIFF. The "fiscal cliff" is a ruse, an invention by the Right and the rich, to try and keep their huge tax breaks. On December 31, let ALL the tax cuts expire. Then, on January 1, put forth a bill that restores the tax cuts for 98% of the public. I dare the Republicans to vote against that! They can't and they won't. As for the spending cuts, the 2011 agreement states that, for every domestic program dollar the Republicans want to cut, a Pentagon dollar must also be cut. See, you are a genius! No way will the Right vote against the masters of war. And if by some chance they do, you can immediately put forth legislation to restore all the programs we, the majority, approve of. And for God's sake, man – declare Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid untouchable. They're not bankrupt or anywhere near it. If the rich paid the same percentage of Social Security tax on their entire income – the same exact rate everyone else pays – then there will suddenly be enough money in Social Security to last til at least the year 2080!
2. END ALL THE WARS NOW. Do not continue the war in Afghanistan (a thoroughly losing proposition if ever there was one) for two full more years! Why should one single more person have to die FOR NO REASON? Stop it. You know it's wrong. Bin Laden's dead, al Qaeda is decimated and the Afghans have to work out their own problems. Also, end the drone strikes and other covert military activities you are conducting in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Colombia and God knows where else. You think history is going to remember the United States as a great democracy? No, they're going to think of us as a nation that became addicted to war. They'll call us warlords. They'll say that in the 21st century America was so in need of oil that we'd kill anyone to get it. You know that's where this is going. This has to stop. Now.
3. END THE DRUG WAR. It is not only an abysmal failure, it has returned us to the days of slavery. We have locked up millions of African-Americans and Latinos and now fund a private prison-industrial complex that makes billions for a few lucky rich people. There are other ways to deal with the drugs that do cause harm – ways built around a sense of decency and compassion. We look like a bunch of sadistic racists. Stop it.
4. DECLARE A MORATORIUM ON HOME FORECLOSURES AND EVICTIONS. Millions of people are facing homelessness because of a crooked system enacted by the major banks and Wall Street firms. Put a pause on this and take 12 months to work out a different way (like, restructuring families' mortgages to reflect the true worth of their homes).
5. GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS. You already know this one. The public is sick of it. Now's the time to act.
6. EXPAND OBAMACARE. Your health care law doesn't cover everyone. It is a cash cow for the insurance industry. Push for a single-payer system – Medicare for All – and include dentistry and mental health. This is the single biggest thing you could do to reduce the country's deficit.
7. RESTORE GLASS-STEAGALL. You must put back all the rigid controls on Wall Street that Reagan, Clinton and the Bushes removed – or else we face the possibility of another, much worse, crash. If they break the law, prosecute them the way you currently go after whistleblowers and medical marijuana dispensaries.
8. REDUCE STUDENT LOAN DEBT. No 22-year-old should have to enter the real world already in a virtual debtors' prison. This is cruel and no other democracy does this like we do. You were right to eliminate the banks as the profit-gouging lenders, but now you have to bring us back to the days when you and I were of college age and a good education cost us little or next to nothing. A few less wars would go a long to way to being able to afford this.
9. FREE BRADLEY MANNING. End the persecution and prosecution of an American hero. Bush and Cheney lied to a nation to convince us to go to war. Manning allegedly hacked the war criminals' files and then shared them with the American public (and the world) so that we could learn the truth about Iraq and Afghanistan. Our history is full of such people who "break the law" for the greater good of humanity. Army Specialist Bradley Manning deserves a medal, not prison.
10. ASK US TO DO SOMETHING. One thing is clear: none of the above is going to happen if you don't immediately mobilize the 63,500,000 who voted for you (and the other 40 million who are for you but didn't vote). You can't go this alone. You need an army of everyday Americans who will fight alongside you to make this a more just and peaceful nation. In your 2008 campaign, you were a pioneer in using social media to win the election. Over 15 million of us gave you our cell numbers or email addresses so you could send us texts and emails telling us what needed to be done to win the election. Then, as soon as you won, it was as if you hit the delete button. We never heard from you again. (Until this past year when you kept texting us to send you $25. Inspiring.) Whoever your internet and social media people were should have been given their own office in the West Wing – and we should have heard from you. Constantly. Need a bill passed? Text us and we will mobilize! The Republicans are filibustering? We can stop them! They won't approve your choice for Secretary of State? We'll see about that! You say you were a community organizer. Please – start acting like one.
The next four years can be one of those presidential terms that changed the course of America. I'm sure you will want to be judged on how you stood up for us, restored the middle class, ended the s***ting on the poor and made us a friend to the rest of the world instead of a threat. You can do this. We can do it with you. All that stands in the way is your understandable desire to sing "Kumbaya" with the Republicans. Don't waste your breath. Their professed love of America is negated by their profound hatred of you. Don't waste a minute on them. Fix the sad mess we're in. Go back and read this month's election results. We're with you.
Yours,
Michael Moore

[Blogson]

I add:
Work to repeal the National Defense Authorization Acts of 2011 and 2012 as well as the civil rights takeway provisons of the so-called PATRIOT Act and its reauthorisatons. Undo the expansion of the spy-upon-Americans "security" agencies and contractors which have ballooned to more than 900 since your first term began.

[Dr. Dyno]

Originally Posted by doane2u

Maybe some of you agree with some, or all of this.. probably some of you don't agree with any of it, but it's still worth reading and thinking about.

Michael Moore

Sorry, I don't agree with one sorry word of this tirade, at least as much of it as I could stomach reading.

At first I thought you wrote it. Then I'd at least have read it thru. Bob-O no, you yes.

Should have just looked a the "Michael Moore" at the bottom first.
"Get the money out of politics," by one who puts tons of $$$$$ into it. What do you think we are Mike, idiots? Don't answer that.

BTW, is "presiden" the Spanish spelling for president or just a Freudian slip?

[doane2u]

Hehe... yeah, I didn't think you would agree with any of it, I'm surprised you even read it.. or part of it.

Moore has made lots of money off his films, but he's also donated a lot of it to charities and other worth while social causes. And, don't you think it's strange that he would make films that go against greed and corruption when there is nothing in it for himself anymore? Why didn't he, like many other very rich people, back Romney? It would have made him a lot more money if he had decided to go in that direction.

Right-wing critics attack Moore for his supposed “egoism” and propensity for self praise. These reactionaries are infuriated that the filmmaker has the balls to take on the powers that be when so many others have been intimidated or bribed. His films reveal a huge part of our population who have been suppressed and unable to express themselves while being continually taken advantage of economically through stagnating wages, lack of jobs and tax burdens.
Our news media has sunk down to the level of mostly non reporting, or reporting on what benefits those in power. Half of it, the Fox network, isn't even based on legitimate investigative news. And almost all of our news is total propaganda and is now full of corruption and venality. It's main task has been concealment and finding ways of preventing the population from discovering the truth about its government and society.

Moore continually digs down and hands us mostly truths about what is causing the problems in this country.. it's up to us to do something about it before we have no power left.. this last election shows that the vast majority of our citizens are waking up to what is going on and are voting for someone who they think represents all of the country, not just those in the top 10% Obama may not be the best, but he's a lot safer then what we would have ended up with.

"Presiden" It was a typo. Oh, and you better hope those 'Spanish types' don't take over.. the spelling for "The President" is "El Presidente"

[03rav4inPA]

The letter basically sympathizes with the President and actually encourages him to keep his current stance of ignoring/battling/tuning-out the opinions of Republican-party members.

Was a letter really necessary? Sounds more like a 'stay on your current course and something might change' type of message.

[vanion2]

I admit it. I only skimmed it until I hit the 1st real point at which I completely lost interest.

I lament the simple fact that as a "middle class" citizen my combined taxes (fed, state, etc) of the "fiscal cliff" will be just shy of 50% of my income. Yep...sounds like a solid plan to me in the efforts of going after the "rich".

And this is simple non-partisan facts. I am not interested in pointing fingers (that's what we over pay our politicians to do) just making an observation.



Here's an open letter I would love to send to DC:
The Federal Political Accountability Act of the United States.

Dear All House, Senate, and President Politicians,

1. Please reduce your salary to no more than $30K (taxable) per year.
2. Immediately end your tax free pension programs for all active politicians or those who have been recently lost re-election bids in the past 4 years.
3. End your current health care program and join the rest of the citizens of this great country by being required to participate in the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare if you aren't sure because 2700 pages are a lot to read).
4. All expenses related to your time in office is at your expense (no housing, travel, etc covered by the tax payers money). The exception being the President living in the White House. Any damage done during your stay though you are required to pay for including pet damages.
5. Eliminate the "Ethics Committee" and require all acts of misconduct investigated by the FBI and IRS where guilt is suffered under penalty of law and your term in office is immediately terminated.
6. Require all Federal politicians to undergo (at their expense) a full back ground check. No persons found guilty of past criminal activities being allowed to run for office.
7. Require clearance back ground checks for members equal to the material they will be exposed to suffering all penalties of law should they violate ("leak") information damaging to the security of the United States.
8. Pass into law it being illegal to receive gifts of any kind from any person in your official capacity (donations, trips, etc).
9. Pass into law that any legislation (past, present, and future) passed you are fully required to abide by (as in no exemptions).
10. Pass into law that any changes to any of thee above requires a separate popular vote by all eligible US citizens every two years during the re-election process in plain language and in plain site on the voting ballots.

Sincerely,

Every Concerned US Citizen.


Feel free to reword certain portions to clear up the language but I can't imagine any politically active person seeing something wrong with this considering our current economy and the need to hold those who would lead accountable for their actions regardless of party.

[Dr. Dyno]

Originally Posted by doane2u

Hehe... yeah, I didn't think you would agree with any of it, I'm surprised you even read it.. or part of it.

Moore has made lots of money off his films, but he's also donated a lot of it to charities and other worth while social causes. And, don't you think it's strange that he would make films that go against greed and corruption when there is nothing in it for himself anymore? Why didn't he, like many other very rich people, back Romney? It would have made him a lot more money if he had decided to go in that direction.

Right-wing critics attack Moore ....

Hey, I'm doing better. I got as far as I quoted with yours. But it's just after lunch so, sorry, I had to stop.

Originally Posted by doane2u

"Presiden" It was a typo. Oh, and you better hope those 'Spanish types' don't take over.. the spelling for "The President" is "El Presidente"

I knew it was typo. Should we ask James to fix it?
But you do have a thought. Maybe an "El Presidente" would be better. Not sure how he or she could be worse.

[dtalk]

"Half of it, the Fox network, isn't even based on legitimate investigative news. And almost all of our news is total propaganda and is now full of corruption and venality. It's main task has been concealment and finding ways of preventing the population from discovering the truth about its government and society."
And you think CNN is any better, like the time they reported that Israeli military killed a Palestinian child. The photo was sent from Hamas. Turn out the photo was of a child in Syria. Then CNN showed a video of a man killed by Israeli bomb. Ten minutes later the guy got up and walk away.

[JuneBug]

Originally Posted by dtalk

And you think CNN is any better, like the time they reported that Israeli military killed a Palestinian child. The photo was sent from Hamas. Turn out the photo was of a child in Syria. Then CNN showed a video of a man killed by Israeli bomb. Ten minutes later the guy got up and walk away.

Yeah, I was watching CNN when they reported that the Supreme Court had overturned Obamacare. I even called my wife to tell her. A few minutes later they said "OOPS--we meant to say the Supreme Court UPHELD Obamacare." Great journalism.

[doane2u]

Originally Posted by vanion2

I admit it. I only skimmed it until I hit the 1st real point at which I completely lost interest.

I lament the simple fact that as a "middle class" citizen my combined taxes (fed, state, etc) of the "fiscal cliff" will be just shy of 50% of my income. Yep...sounds like a solid plan to me in the efforts of going after the "rich".

I agree, and meanwhile, those at the very top don't face this burden because in relation to our incomes, it's a much smaller hit. The "fiscal cliff," if it indeed happens, will only add to the amount of taxes the middle class will have to pay. Yep, the rich's taxes will go up too, but they have enough money it really doesn't affect them materially. It's a relationship between those who live with bare necessities and very few small luxuries and those who's "bare necessities" look like luxuries to the majority of the rest of the population, and who then have 60-80% of their "income" available for playtime.

And this is simple non-partisan facts. I am not interested in pointing fingers (that's what we over pay our politicians to do) just making an observation.

Here's an open letter I would love to send to DC:
The Federal Political Accountability Act of the United States.

Dear All House, Senate, and President Politicians,

1. Please reduce your salary to no more than $30K (taxable) per year.
2. Immediately end your tax free pension programs for all active politicians or those who have been recently lost re-election bids in the past 4 years.
3. End your current health care program and join the rest of the citizens of this great country by being required to participate in the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare if you aren't sure because 2700 pages are a lot to read).
4. All expenses related to your time in office is at your expense (no housing, travel, etc covered by the tax payers money). The exception being the President living in the White House. Any damage done during your stay though you are required to pay for including pet damages.

1. I think, instead, we need to bring our general worker population benefits up to the level of what government works get along with workers wages reflecting the inflation that the rich have enjoyed..and who can live on $30,000 these days unless you live in the back woods somewhere. Don't you want people to live semi comfortably and without worrying about getting sick, or losing their jobs?

   Eliminate the "Ethics Committee" and require all acts of misconduct investigated by the FBI and IRS where guilt is suffered under penalty of law and your term in office is immediately terminated.

   Interesting, as long as there is a fair trial and things aren't a witch hunt.
   

   Require all Federal politicians to undergo (at their expense) a full back ground check. No persons found guilty of past criminal activities being allowed to run for office.

   They do that already, sort of.. it's called vetting? McCain should have paid more attention to Pailen. And however much some of you would like to believe "King" Trump, Obama was thoroughly vetted.
   

   Require clearance back ground checks for members equal to the material they will be exposed to suffering all penalties of law should they violate ("leak") information damaging to the security of the United States.

   We already have that and it is yet to be proven that Bradly Manning is guilty of releasing any threatening, secure data.

   Pass into law it being illegal to receive gifts of any kind from any person in your official capacity (donations, trips, etc).

   That would be great if you could include that it includes Lobbyists contributions and PAC money.

   Pass into law that any legislation (past, present, and future) passed you are fully required to abide by (as in no exemptions).

   Not sure what you refeering to there.

   Pass into law that any changes to any of thee above requires a separate popular vote by all eligible US citizens every two years during the re-election process in plain language and in plain site on the voting ballots.

   That might take up a huge amount of time, energy missed other duties to accomplish. We already have the voting setup and I think it works pretty well.

Sincerely,

Every Concerned US Citizen.


Feel free to reword certain portions to clear up the language but I can't imagine any politically active person seeing something wrong with this considering our current economy and the need to hold those who would lead accountable for their actions regardless of party.

Thanks,