19th
Open Letter to President Barack Obama
Dear Mr. President*,
Let me congratulate you on accomplishing something that no one has done—overcoming the exclusion of non-whites as the head of state in our country’s history. In a failed post-civil rights reality, this is an accomplishment long overdue and one that I applaud. You have my respect.
As you prepare to take office I am sure there are many challenges you face. Recovering the fall-out of what you are inheriting from the previous administration is no easy task. Looking into the future with hopefulness and an agenda for change is something many of us are looking forward to.
I would like to ask that you consider the following concerns as issues to make priority as your administration assumes power:
1) Balance Our Nation’s Budget: I find it shocking that America continually elects brilliant people to serve in Congress and the Senate—people who have graduated from our country’s most prestigious universities, people who have successfully run businesses (let alone their campaigns) and people who are able to manage a staff to support their professional careers—yet these people can’t seem to balance a budget. Serioulsy? I’m sure these folks are able to balance their personal budgets, so could you ask them to help balance America’s. It’s sort of a no-brainer. If we don’t do this, we’re in big trouble.
2) Pay Down the Deficit: I am so convinced that our country should not be in debt that I sent a contribution to the Bureau of the Public Debt’s gift account, (sorry it wasn’t much) to help pay down the deficit. Once you get Congress and Senate to balance the budget, could you ask them to start paying off our nation’s debt? Not sure if you’ve heard, but it’s a little out of control.
3) Bail the People Out: Rather than give Freddie Mac and Fannie May absurd amounts of fake money that we have to borrow from China, how about the government forgive the actual citizens who are paying debts back to Fannie and Freddie? Sounds crazy, but Fannie and Freddie still get the bailout money and then the government doesn’t have to print more fake money and send everyone a $600 stimulus check so they can go and buy stuff made in China to get the economy started. Once the people get bailed out, they’ll actually have thousands of dollars a year they were paying in debt that they can now save, invest, or go out and buy stuff made in China. Same thing about all the financial institutions holding mortgages. Don’t bail them out, help people pay off their mortgages so the banks get the money and people’s debt is reduced.
4) End the Wars: A lot of us are confused. Why are still fighting in Iraq and what is the objective for maintaining the war in Afghanistan? There are people dying every day in Iraq and Afghanistan, people whose lives shouldn’t be cut short. You said a lot in your campaign about getting us out of Iraq and Afghanistan, would you follow-up on those promises? Please?
5) Protect the Environment: Somehow, as progressive as we want to think America is, we’re still far behind much of the rest of the world when it comes to understanding the impact our consumption and waste has on the environment. I bet you know some pretty smart people yourself who could advise you on simple yet effective steps to make some progress in this area. Your children and their children will thank you.
6) Naturalize Relations with Cuba: When America granted China “Most-Favored Nation Trading” status I didn’t understand. For decades our country has had an embargo against Cuba because of their human rights abuse record—one that looks squeaky clean compared to China’s human rights abuse record. I guess we’re also a little concerned about Cuba’s communist government—why not China’s? It is shamelessly inconsistent to punish Cuba and reward China. Plus, our little grudge against the Castro brothers is actually felt more by the poor of Cuba. Stop hurting the people. Get over it. Work this one out.
7) Hold Israel Accountable: I know this is controversial, and people get really fired up about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But no country in the world is able to get away with what Israel gets away with. The human rights abuses need to end—these crimes are not even permitted during times of wars that are recognized by the U.N. or deemed as “just wars” by theologians, and shouldn’t be permitted under any circumstances.
8) Close Guantanamo Bay: A couple years ago, Michael Vick got in trouble for dog fights. It was all over the news. People were furious. Sadly, there were human beings being held in Guantanamo Bay who were treated about the same way Michael Vick was taking care of his dogs. Many of those held in Guantanamo Bay have not been given a trial; this is an assault on the integrity of our judicial system. Close it. Give the detainees a fair and open trail. And release those who are not found guilty.
I understand you’ll have a lot to do your first couple months on the job, but please consider putting these things on your “to-do” list.
And if you have any questions feel free to call me. I’d be more than happy to talk about this,
Sincerely,
Christopher L. Heuertz
*this letter was e-mailed to the White House on January 19, 2009
