The following is an open letter to President Obama. While I seriously doubt he’ll ever see this, nor will any of his staff see it, I pray I’m wrong on this and he heeds these words.
Dear President Obama,
You have passed your first 100 days and are currently dealing with quite a few crisis. Not only is our economy in shambles, but North Korea is starting their mess again. You and I have fundamental differences on how to fix the economy, and I suspect you have no interest in listening to my views on that. North Korea is just saber rattling again, but you have advisers who are telling you that too. No, today I’d like to talk to you about winning some respect from my side.
Today, you find yourself in a unique position. With your party controlling both the House and Senate, you can pretty much have your way in this nation. You are currently using this in ways that you feel will resurrect the economy, though I believe history will show the folly of your ways. However, why not roll back the clock on a few issues. You now can give us the change you promised during the campaign.
The Patriot Act is still in full effect, robbing United States citizens of their fourth amendment rights. Unconstitutional measures that were passed through Congress without so much as a read through by those sitting in either body need to be repealed. Instead, give us something that will truly make us safer. Require the CIA and FBI share information on terrorists? Absolutely. Allow wire taps without a warrant? Never.
While we’re at it, why not repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. This law does nothing more than invalidate state law in states that permit gay marriage. This yet another in a long history of assault on the tenth amendment, and to say nothing of your party’s long history of courting the homosexual vote in this nation. This is not only right, but is just good politics.
Speaking of right, why not lose the hypocrisy and put the drug legalization on the table for debate. Your own history with drug use is plain for all to see in your own words thanks to your books. You used them, and obviously you’re not still living in your mother’s basement like so many commercials would have us believe is the inevitable result of such use. Put the debate on the table at least. If it fails, so be it. I can accept then that you tried.
You like to claim great sympathy with the poor. I can certainly understand that. Once upon a time, my wife and I were so far below the poverty line that family members brought us groceries just so we could eat. I have empathy for the poor, Mr. President. So show them that you care about them. Expand school voucher programs to help more poor children escape the horrible conditions in most inner city public schools and let them get an education to be proud of. While I’d like to see taxpayer funded education go away forever, it’s here for a while longer. So why not let these poor kids go to the best schools…schools like the one your own daughters attend.
None of this betrays your principles or those of your party, unless you’ve been full of it all these months. So step up and lead. Do what so many people hoped you would do. These are simple matters for you in these days. Quit worrying about things like cap and trade schemes and health care for a bit. We can fight about that later. For now, let’s take on those things we can agree on and be allies for a little while.
What do you say Mr. President? Why don’t you bring us a little hope!
Sincerely,
Tom Knighton
