Letter to President-elect Obama
November 5, 2008 by Will Marre
Dear President Obama,
First of all, congratulations on your historic victory. Your election is a vivid affirmation of the American Dream. Anything is possible in America. Truly.
Now let me offer you a word of caution. Please don’t misread your election as a mandate for the traditional Democrat liberal agenda. What we want is real change. Change that is not a swing to the left. We don’t want a refried “Great Society.” We just want change that gives everyone an honest chance to be self-reliant and contribute to our common good. We want change from the increasingly narrow and corrupt view that creating a class of super-rich would somehow benefit all the rest of us. We don’t want to have a foreign policy based on fear. We don’t want an economy based on buying stuff made in China. We don’t want to be lied to. What we do want is a President we respect. We need to trust your judgment and your character. We hope we can. Just be what you say you are.
Here is what I’ve heard from Americans across the country over the past five years:
- We want an economy built on innovation, production and creating a sustainable future. We want to lead the world in invention and quality. (We are sick about leading the world into a world-wide recession based on a few people’s greed.)
- We want universal health care for all Americans. We don’t want a European or Canadian version. We want a uniquely American best-in-the-world answer of quality, affordability health for all. Of course it’s going to be hard, but that’s why you were elected.
- We want a strong, wise and good foreign policy. We want the world’s respect. We want to be moral leaders with moral authority. We want to respect all cultures and promote local solutions to local problems whenever possible. We want real strength against terrorists, sound intelligence and a campaign to promote pluralism, tolerance and civilization around the world.
- We want clean, renewable energy now. We want you to promote a broad-based investment to create a world-wide solution. We should lead the world to sustainable non-polluting energy.
- We want a fair, legal and smart immigration policy. We don’t want to exploit undocumented workers or build an economy that requires us to.
- We want free, quality education for every child and every student in high school and college. This is the greatest investment in our future we can make. We want education that is efficient, relevant, and engaging. We must have the best education in the world. No excuses.
- We want wise regulation to promote the healing of our environment, corporate governance, safe food and drugs and protection from financial corruption. We want to trust our banks and business leaders.
Well, we are pretty sure you know what we want. Now that you’re off the campaign trail and the immediacy of voters in your face, we want you to remember our voices. Please resist the pressures of special interests. Don’t listen to those who agree with you. Least of all those who praise you. Always reach for a higher solution. Please bring us together to create a new future. This could be a great new era for America if you make it so.
Please be the leader you’ve promised to be. You simply must. Our future depends on it. If you do your part, believe me, we will do ours. That’s something you can depend on. “Yes you can!”
It’s a great time to be an American if we make it so!
Will Marre
Feedback or additions before I send it off?
Great letter Will!
Will, Can you get this letter to President-elect Obama?
I hope you know someone who knows someone and so on, so that perhaps he, or a close advisor/friend, will have a chance to read it.
When Biden accepted the VP nomination, he provided an opportunity to write him. I sent two suggestions. The first one was that he read your blog, talk to you, and find out about the groups you’ve been meeting with and the input they’ve been providing.
I appreciate the clarity, poignancy, and power of your letter. I appreciate you.
Sincerely,
Jana
Good points. I would add that we want the war on terror to end. War is not the solution. The terrorists are criminals; not soldiers. They should not be given the honor of using that name. What does work against terrorism is police action. If we do it right we can place the criminals behind bars and stop creating more hate than we cure.
And by the way, criminals get trials and if they are guilty they are convicted, then placed in prison. Not the other way around…
WILL,
YOU’RE RIGHT — HE PROMISED US CHANGE - I HOPE THE THOUGHTS YOU WROTE HERE, THAT I KNOW ARE ECHOED BY THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, DO GET TO PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA — AND MORE IMPORTANTLY ACTS ON HIS PROMISES.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK……….
THANK YOU,
DAN
Jana has a great idea!
Lets get this to Barack WITH as many “Signatures” on it as we can…
Will, let me know how I can help.
President Elect Obama has given us hope we can be the “I can”
in AmerICAN. The overwhelming support from our nations differing ethnic majorities and minorities in participating in the election of the most qualified person was a wonderful thing to experience. We can not rely on Obama to make it all work. We must pitch in and help where and how we can. Hope can only get us so far. We all need to stay as positive as Obama has been in this election.
One of my favorite quotes is ‘”The job of leadership is to help people overcome denial and cynicism so they can close the gap between the ideal and reality…” Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor.
I applaud especially the intent and tone of your letter. On the point of *free education*, perhaps you could clarify slightly by saying *tuition-free education* if that is your intent.
A very well-written letter and I truly hope it will get to our new President elect Obama. There is too much hope in him at this point to be lost…this day marks an “anticipated” new beginning for our nation, and I truly pray that the change we need can be brought about…no more empty promises from the past…this time we want real change…if we stuck together. Yes We Can!
Wonderful letter. You have wrote what we all feel in the best way possible. Sadly special interest have taking him all the way His Biggest contribuir and fundraiser, big financier-banker Goldman Sachs, why would you think he would vote for the “big bailout”? Goldman Sachs was former Treasurer’s boss as well.
Need to say more? If you want to know where his compromises are just follow the money. Hope that he feels as responsible for the big corporations that funded his campaign as much for the individuals who voted for him. Sadly He voted for the big corporations in the big bailout not for the little guy that they screw up before and as a result of the bailout. Will he have a change of heart?
President Elect Obama has stated that he would like to give tax breaks to those companies that create jobs here in America. I like that, but I also would like to see Tax Penalties applied to those companies that continue to move jobs off shore.
I do not like speaking to “Troy” of Bombay or “Mary” “in the eastern part of India” regarding my insurance or credit issues.
I am tired of our major export being our jobs!
Further, I want to see “Made in the USA” on the products I purchase. But I do know that I can no longer pour money into the Walmarts of the country if I am truely fed up with other countries supplying most of our goods.
Will, I have been reading your election blogs with great interest.
This letter must get to Mr. Obama. The American Dream is alive and well, if only a letter tattered from neglect the past decade. Leadership is the key as a nation faces its options. We are still deeply divided. The vote count was still very close.
American Dream project has reminded often us that leadership is everyone’s job. We must be leaders within our communities.
Anything is possible, this is America. I’m grateful to be able to dream again.
we need to restored constitution and bill of rights and need to follow up to our founder fathers is very important.
Will,
I don’t know what you have been reading lately, but pretty much everything you have listed is on the current “liberal Democratic” agenda. Universal health care and public post-secondary education sounds mightily Great Society to me. I know it is not very guru-y to not be above it all, but trust me, Dems have been out of power long enough to have thought very hard about what they want to do when the chance comes.
That chance is now here. The principles of the New Deal and Great Society include the idea of investment in ordinary Americans. The deal is that if you are willing to put in the effort, the time, and the energy, then the community will be willing to put in the physical resources necessary to pull yourself up. Your individual success then becomes your responsibility, as well as the responsibility to help others.
Detaching health care from employment is just one example of that ideal … namely that you can take a risk in starting your own business, but that risk will not materially threaten your life or your family’s.
Hi Will,
This is a very well conceived and positive commentary good for all Americans to embrace. I have tried to espouse ‘evolution not revolution’
of thought. My candidate of choice acted honorably, but has fallen short.
He now returns to participate in the another smooth transition of Government. I embrace President Obama as our Country’s leader.
In this time of challenge, we must watch and participate as tradition allows. Strong adherence to the Constitution is required, leaving a better America than we now wade through.
Sincerely, Don
Great idea by Lotte. We all need to be the “I Can” in AmerICAN, and get this great country back on track again with a common purpose, strong belief and positive action.
Will, that is a wonderful letter. Last night, my first thought after “HOORAY FOR CHANGE” and “GOOD RIDDANCE TO BUSH” is that there needs to be a way for the American people to draw up our “wish list” of the things that we feel are the most important and hold our new leadership accountable. It would be a wonderful idea to flesh out this letter and get as many signatures as possible before delivering it to President Obama.
I proudly voted for Barack Obama, because of his intelligence, statesmanship, steady attitude and progressive values. I think that he chose a good running mate, and will surround himself with outstanding cabinet members.
However, I do have my doubts, as expressed by other posters. His association with corporate special interests as exemplified by his unconditional support for the bailout gave me pause. His talk of stepping up military intervention in Afghanistan and Pakistan is another huge concern. Lack of a concrete plan to turn the economy around, including how to pay for the promised tax cuts and healthcare reform is another.
Lets all work together to hold power accountable, from President Obama, to the House and Senate all the way down to our local city and state leaders.
YES WE CAN!!! But only if we stay involved and don’t expect government to “fix” things. We’ve got to “BE THE CHANGE WE WISH TO SEE”.
Obama can’t do it alone. Maybe it would be appropriate to cc: it to the Democratic Congress members too, That’s why we sent them there.
I think what you are doing is all well and fine. I hope and pray that this nation will return to being a Godly nation. Once we do then all we will start doing the right things instead of thinking of just ourselves.
But as far as the President elect is concerned. We have already given him the power. Now he can pretty much do whatever he wants. I know that this is going to probably ticked some people off. But I paid my dues to this country.
The only people that are racist as far as I am concerned are the one that continually bring it up. Now whether the President elect dicides to live up to his committments is entirely up to him. We should have learned when Cllinton was in office. How soon we forget. Until this nation decides to return morality to being one of the first ideals, we can never expect to get anything accomplished with the democratic or republican parties.
I pray that your letter will get the attention it deserves and needs. But the only way that I can tell that a politician is lying to me is when his lips are moving.
The President elect has already lied to the public and continues to do so. But he is in power now. We will see what happens.
You can shorten it:
Dear President Obama, please fulfill your plans. Sincerely, Will
I never did understand how you ever questioned Obama, other than that he is a politician, as your agenda and his have always been the same.
Will,
I absolutely agree with you on all your articulated points.
My only hope is that President-Elect Obama actually reads the letter and is able to address every point/demand you make.
Also, each and every one of us has to be a part of this change if we want to position America as a “best in class” country.
God Bless,
Vivian
Thank you for the words.
I would like to also encourage him to remember where his strength comes from, that place deep in his Soul and remind him not to forget that it is there in the days and years to come.. It appears that he has been able to keep in intact so far… I am thinking that it will become tested in the times to come.
Remind him that we the people are here,,, we know he will be tested, we know he will make errors, but WE ARE HERE… talk to us directly, let us help…even if the only way we can help him is prayer… That is powerful and it comes from all of us in many ways. Yes, he is our Chief, but we are his Nation, his Tribe together we can hold the great lights of Source, Spirit, God to level the path on which he need to walk.
Together We are Powerful
Remember… we can and will help
8. We want an overhaul of our housing market and the banking system. Wealth realized today through housing appreciation is opportunity lost for our children. With a longer life span, we no longer transfer our wealth to our children. We need to rethink how we approach home ownership. Treating houses as investment units places an unhealthy demand leading to prices that are out of range for many Americans. A “free market approach” to housing has failed and it will continue to destabilize our economy for many years to come unless we realize this and take a new approach.
9.We want leadership in Washington that promotes and provides major incentives for companies to reinvest their profits into their local communities. An investment in the local community now is preventative measure that will insure that our innovative capacity remains intact. We will not be able to capitalize indefinitely on lower foreign wages. Their living standards and technologies are quickly catching up. As they do, they will be looking at us to capitalize on our workforce and they will have NO vested interest in the quality of our lives. We must act now.
What sort of investments?
A. Companies should be serving as local business incubators.
B Companies should be investing in housing in order to deflate housing costs and stabilize salaries and ultimately to stabilize their workforce. I have more thoughts on this that are beyond the scope of this thread.
I would encourage President-Elect Obama to accept $1.00 per year as his salary and ask the American people to send their contributions to him on the Internet just like he did when he was campaigning. In fact, wouldn’t it be great if all public officials were paid directly by those who support them? A cap on contributions could be set to avoid undue influence. No contributions from corporations or special interest groups. Only contributions from verified individual citizens would be accepted. This would be truly a ‘green’ presidency.
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[...] of you have seen Will’s letter to President Obama, or perhaps you have seen my previous post If I were President. I will be sending the contents of [...]
I have a letter of my own to President Elect Obama - Mine is more focused on a single policy that addresses 3 major issues.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Letter-to-President-Elect-Obama—Localized-Clean-Renewable-Energy&id=1719592
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I see three major priorities for the Obama Administration.
1) The economy - job creation and replacement
2) Energy Independence - reducing our need on foreign sources and fossil fuels
3) Transitioning to renewable and clean energy - addressing the issues of climate change/ Global warming and increasing pollution.
There are several ways to benefit Americans and address these three priorities all in one major policy decision along with some new laws and tax breaks to home and business owners. It will also be a chance for America to once again lead the world by example instead of the do as we say not as we do policies of our past.
I see a way to do this that involves creating jobs in the manufacturing and services sectors. Start by giving tax incentives to companies that create jobs designing and building cheap and affordable solar and wind power products for homes and small business. Help a new industry to be born. This would be an investment in our future. With the proper leadership and investment strategy this technology path could be the next technology boom.
Encourage development by creating a series of X-Prize type programs for development similar to our “race to the moon” programs to encourage innovation and invention. Just look around you and you cannot see something in your room or life that is not a direct result of the space program; Velcro, wireless communications or computers might ring a bell?
Design a model of business practices that encourages inventors and manufacturers to share patents and ideas in new clean energy while guaranteeing that they get financial compensation for their ideas and labor. This will allow for a greater, regionalized manufacturing resulting in less transportation and more affordable devices.
Make a federal law that requires all utility companies to buy back excess energy produced by solar, wind power or from any other clean energy source. Give the American public a chance to earn money generating power instead of becoming energy poor.
Provide a tax credit to homeowners and business owners that give them back 90% of their investment for having their own solar or wind power. You will also need to design a tax credit plan for proper maintenance of such equipment. This will greatly increase the demand for devices, increasing demand for manufacturing and increase demand for highly skilled labor to produce the devices and support devices during their lifetime of use. All of this will generate a windfall in taxable income from multiple sectors across the United States for as long as people need energy. There will also have to be a support structure in place to train people to work with and support such devices and services.
Give tax incentives to individuals and business that buy Hybrid vehicles and extra incentives for people to upgrade their vehicles to plug-in hybrid or expand battery capacity and don’t allow car manufacturers to void warranties for an individual making such improvements to the vehicle as long as they use a certified service provider. Such improvements are for the greater good so a warranty for non-related parts should not be voided. This could help spur a cottage industry of hybrid upgrade specialist and create jobs supplying such innovators. It would also be wise to create a financial incentive with auto manufacturers motivate them to review such innovations and reward them and the inventors for incorporating changes that bring “significant improvement” to reducing emissions.
Try to imagine an America where a large percentage of the citizens drive Plug-In Hybrid Electric vehicles that they charged on power they generated at home. Can you imagine the impact that only 10% of America could make by doing that? Just imagine 20% or 50% - that is something we can all do given the right incentive and the right leadership.
All of these efforts will create jobs, generate income and help to clean up the environment. With the added bonus of reducing our dependence on foreign oil and reduce funding to terrorist organizations every time someone buys a gallon of gas.
Essentially, President Elect Obama, you have a chance to address three major issues facing this nation right now by addressing one major policy - Localized Clean Renewable Energy.