An open Letter you probably won't read...

[hootinholler]

Dear President Obama,

As you ponder the content of your State Of The Union speech, would you please do us all a favor and reflect back on the path that got you where you are?

Please think back to the days when you were working with the church ladies and the issues that really made their lives easier or harder. Have one of your staffers (hell an intern can do it with 15 mins on the google) go and find out what has happened to Social Security compared to the real world costs. Think back to what Millie (there had to be a Millie, right?) had to deal with in getting her rent made, in getting her meds, in feeling safe, worrying about her grandbabies' safety. Talk about it with Michelle and Mrs Robinson. Remember how large an impact many of the smallest things had on those people whom you helped to find their collective voice.

I'm thinking you have to remember, even though I don't know the particulars of the people you were helping since I know the particulars of those I have seen affected. So please, stop and think about that for a minute or two.

Once you have done that, ask yourself, what were you doing then? Were they were just a stepping stone or if you really intend to help us out here? At this point in your Presidency there are many of us who are wondering why we poked our heads from the shell of our cynicism in 2008. That is a momentary lapse I doubt will happen again soon, at least it won't happen soon for me.

If they weren't just a stepping stone, then please commit to strengthening Social Security without cutting benefits. This tax holiday thing was not a good for our safety net, and worse it was not necessary.

The money we need as a nation is not in the hands of the poor. The sacrifices have already been made by the poor over many years as the tax rates were cut, and cut again for the most wealthy. As corporations got tax cuts for sending jobs overseas. Cutting taxes did not create jobs, will not create jobs and neither will investing in the markets.

Consider a new way. We have long used tax law to shape our society. What would happen if our highest bracket was 90%? It was during and after WWII. Now to offset the outrage of the rich, offer them tax credit for job creation. The more jobs created normalized to the size of the investment, the more tax relief given.

I mean actual job creation, not investing in bonds or stocks, unless the proceeds of those investments were used to build factories and manufacture goods here.

You have smart and creative people at your disposal. You have a base that could be tapped for this effort, but, you must lead, you must call for help with a plan that is a new approach. If during the past health care debates had you called for us to be in the streets, not even traveling to DC, but just in the streets making noise, the roar would have been deafening. We are here for you, but you must ask.

So, Sir, which is it? Were those people in the church social halls merely stepping stones? I have trouble contemplating how is it possible for one who appears so loving to his wife and daughters to turn his back on America's Mothers and Fathers?

I hope not, but, I also fear it is so.

-Hoot

To DU: I am not mailing this. I am not emailing this. If it is to be read by this administration, then it will be found at the top of the greatest page and on the front of DU. It is in your hands to make a ruckus or not.
I'm nearly done.

[meegbear]

1. Bravo! K&R!

[hootinholler]

6. Thank you Meeg! n/t

[DrDan]

2. you got my K&R - well said!

[hootinholler]

29. Thank you very much. n/t

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[Angry Dragon]

4. K&R

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, hootinholler.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. I regret that I have but one R to give…

[emilyg]

9. I'll give the other R

[Bennyboy]

8. well put.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

10. I am happy to give this a Rec.

I am not feeling confident about the content of the SOTU Address. I hope that my feeling turns out to be erroneous, but I just don't know anymore.

The only problem that I have with your OP is this:



J..E..T..S JETS JETS JETS!!

[hootinholler]

11. HEY!

I didn't say anything about the Jets. I've had the Steel badge up for years now. I don't see your beloved's tag on your posts. :P

-Hoot

[Altoid_Cyclist]

24. I thought that I better brag about the Jets now. It's not very often that I get the chance.

However, I have a feeling that they are going to lose Sunday. I'm just glad that the Ravens and Patriots are out of it.

Of course if the Steelers do win on Sunday, I'll certainly hear about it since I'm in the heart of Steeler country.

:hi:

[hootinholler]

26. As always with my beloveds

It depends on which team shows up. The one that played the first half, or the one that played the second. If the team that played the second half last week ever shows up for a whole game, no team would stand :rofl:

I'm from Steeler country (Ligonier) and would move back in a heartbeat if I had a job lined up.

-Hoot

[Altoid_Cyclist]

39. Ligonier is such a nice town.

It's just too bad that there's not much in the area job wise. I used to get down there when I worked for a wholesale company and we had a few customers there. Nice people from what I remember. The only time that I get down there now is every few years we go to the Scottish Highland Games at Idlewild.

If the Steelers play like they did in the second half last week, the Jets are in for a looooong day.

[hootinholler]

47. Yeah, Family goes way back there.

Tell me is there still AlaskaLand in Altoona?

Sometimes we would visit Horseshoe Bend and then stop at AlaskaLand on the way home.

-Hoot

[Arkansas Granny]

12. K & R!

[TriMera]

13. Kick & rec. n/t

[Myrina]

14. Well said!

:patriot:

[OneGrassRoot]

15. Very well said. K&R :) n/t

[sabrina 1]

16. 'Were they just stepping stones'

How sad that would be if true.

Great letter. If he did read it, how it would affect him would depend on his answer to your question 'were they just stepping stone'.

:kick: and rec'd

[hootinholler]

18. I see that as the essential question.

I had an odd horoscope today. I am a Capricorn.

It's possible that you'll see or receive proof that something you believed was true really is, Capricorn. This information is likely to encourage you to move forward with your plans, but don't put on airs or tell others "I told you so"; they probably know you were right. Being gracious and maintaining your dignity and poise are your keys to success today. You could charm the coldness out of an ice cube if you wanted to today; use these favorable planetary configurations to your advantage.

Got me pondering what cosmic belief of mine was to be confirmed. There were many candidates, but this question bothered me all morning, so I thought I would ask. I also thought I would put its fate in the hands of the community thereby strengthening the message.

My hope is that it does find its way to his eyes.

Peace, my friend.

-Hoot

[sabrina 1]

30. Interesting.

I hope you do get an answer :-)

I agree it is an important question, one that a person would have to be very honest if he were to admit that the answer was 'yes'.

[DesertFlower]

17. K&R. nt

[JDPriestly]

19. Did Obama really work with people back then, or did he just

do legal work for a nonprofit?

I'm wondering about how much contact Obama had in the community he was supposedly serving during his "community organizer" days.

Has anyone ever heard from or talked to a poor person who says that she or he knew Obama back then and remembers how he helped?

I'm wondering whether he didn't just work on legal issues regarding getting permits to build housing or something like that. The term "community organizer" can mean anything, and I had the impression he worked more as a lawyer in community organizing than as a grassroots person who did things to help individual poor people.

[hootinholler]

21. I honestly don't know

That is certainly the unspoken image of a community organizer that was cultivated in 2008. I seem to recall photos of him in church community rooms.

I have never read either of his books. If he sends me a copy, I'd be happy to, lol.

-Hoot

[TBF]

25. The books -

you could get them from the library - I certainly donated mine away when I was done with them. The one about his father is pretty good. The audacity of hope not so good, mostly a primer on how you sell out to get into office. We all know how that works.

I think he is the sort who will try to throw a few crumbs if he gets a chance and it doesn't make him look bad, but he knows who he works for (and it ain't us).

[hootinholler]

27. Since you've read them

Can you answer the question please? Was he just a behind the scenes lawyer or was he out in front helping people to deal with issues?

-Hoot

[TBF]

31. I got the impression he worked with folks directly.

I think he took every role seriously although they were stepping stones, and I don't think he expected to run for president as young as he did. He (and others around him) saw the opportunity when Hillary was the only serious competition.

I also got the impression that he did want to help people (and was probably more left when starting out), but along the way you sell out a bit more with each level when you get into politics. At least the most successful politicians do.

The thing is he had great credentials - coming out of Harvard Law (with law review) and African American he could've named his law firm pretty much (at the top firms these days first year associates start at over $150,000K per year before their bonuses). Only select candidates get those spots at the nation's top firms (top tier schools, top of their class) and he would've been one. If he just wanted the money he would've gone in that direction.

[hootinholler]

33. Obviously, that was my impression without the benefit of reading him. n/t

[TBF]

54. Then you'll gain nothing more from the books. nt

[JDPriestly]

61. Have any people who were grateful for his help come forward

to thank him?

[TBF]

65. I gave the books to the library -

I don't remember details like that (I read these 3 years ago and don't have the greatest memory to start with - and I have to admit I didn't make it all the way through the second book because it was so sickening). By coming forward do you mean while he's been president? I'd have to do it the way you would - use google to do some searches and see what comes up.

I have to admit I don't see why this is such a critical point. Even if he revamped entire neighborhoods (which he did not) would it matter? We can tell all we need to know about this man by watching his current actions. Whether he started out as a pure communist or libertarian, he got himself into office and now he's part of the system. It is the system itself, capitalism, that we have to focus on. People like to argue that there are just "bad actors" and the system itself is fine. My reply is that this system is inherently unequal by definition and if we really want to save folks (and this planet) the best thing we can do is move on to something new.

[SalviaBlue]

20. K&R - I agree with what you have written. Thanks

[Poboy]

22. Recommend.

[webDude]

23. Amen and amen.

[Swamp Rat]

28. k&r

[Paper Roses]

32. Amen, I agree. n/t

[WinkyDink]

34. Thank you for this.

[Octafish]

35. Outstanding!

Every word, every idea, every sentiment.

Thank you, hootinholler.

[hootinholler]

36. Funny that...

When I read it, I see all the missed edits I should have made. :rofl:

I value your feedback, my friend.

-Hoot

[Octafish]

49. You get 60 minutes...

...and then that's it.



Final Edition.

[gateley]

37. Wow. K&R because he NEEDS to see this - so very well done, Hoot. nt

[hootinholler]

44. Then please share as apropos

If it gets you an invitation to the White House, then please take me along :rofl:

This is my elevator question for The President.

-Hoot

[Starry Messenger]

38. k&r

[humbled_opinion]

40. Nice Letter

But I think Obama has slowly morphed into BUSH III.... All I am waitin on is for him to utter "This Presidentin is Hard Work" and the transformation will be complete... Keep the faith.

Peace.

[treestar]

41. OK if you prefer to be a martyr

I won't read it.

[hootinholler]

46. LOL

:rofl:

On Edit, the you I referred to was POTUS.

-Hoot

[SammyWinstonJack]

42. K&R

:applause:

[dwilso40641]

43. K&R n/t

[Mojeoux]

45. Please Read President O, before you become Mister O again!!! nt.

[bluestateboomer]

48. K&R!

[OwnedByFerrets]

50. Too damn bad that he wont see it. It should be read.

[Blue-Jay]

51. You are correct.

[Dave From Canada]

52. This isn't the 1940's anymore. A 90% tax bracket would send more jobs out of America than any other

policy in the history of the country.

[hootinholler]

53. Outstanding proposal there!

What's your plan?

The thing is, if people making kaboodles of money were investing in ways that produce jobs, then they wouldn't be paying a *PUNITIVE* tax rate, now would they?

Oh, and cutting the tax rates produced soooo many jobs, right?

And another thing, how would it send jobs away? Please, be specific, I have trouble with these concepts.

-Hoot

[Dave From Canada]

86. My post wasn't a proposal. I'm just stating reality. If 90% tax rates are so great, why are no

other countries in the world doing so? I sure as hell wouldn't want 90% tax rates in Canada. Unless the goal was to kill jobs and send business elsewhere. I'm not against raising taxes, but 90%? Seriously? You do that, and you make businesses less competetive. A business that can't compete either finds a way to (ie outsourcing, cutting costs) or goes out of business. It's one thing to have extreme tax rates during the 1940's, when Europe needed rebuilding, and the only country that was able to do it was America. There was no Japan to compete with. There was no China to compete with. There was no India to compete with. And the only competition was Europe, and they were in no position to do so. You guys can keep your heads in the sand, and pretend "the good old days" would work. But things are much different. Adapt or die. America already has the highest corporate tax rate of the major industrialized countries. How's that working out for you?

[defendandprotect]

72. You would have to end the trade agreements, assert tariffs -- and close the doors ...

on those who have jumped America to "harvest slave labor all over the globe" -- !!

We were a quite prosperous country when we had much higher rates on corporations --

government creates corporations -- if these CEOs don't want to pay their share -- then

let them go and we'll create new corporations --

this time with appropriate rules and regulations back in place --

including Glass-Steagall!

[Dave From Canada]

87. Governments don't create corporations. People do. People invented Microsoft Windows. People

invented iPods. People invented the automobile. People invented televisions and radios. People invented Pop Tarts, and Minute Rice. But I still don't understand how higher corporate taxes, and higher CEO taxes translates into new jobs and lower unemployment. Perhaps you can explain.

[obxhead]

75. Not if it was coupled with tax breaks based on real US job creation. nt

[defendandprotect]

78. Exactly ... now the tax breaks work the other way, to suck jobs out of America ...

[Catherina]

55. Happily recommended! n/t

[readmoreoften]

56. K&R

[newtothegame]

57. It's an open letter to Barack Obama but you're not sending it to Barack Obama?

:shrug: Does he actually use DU?

[hootinholler]

58. I doubt he does personally

I think it's probable that communications staff does. Feel free to send it to him on my behalf, but I have no method to put it in front of him by myself.

I do have a method for some intern to look at it and think blah blah blah and tally one more for not touching Social Security, when that's not really what the letter is about.

-Hoot

[hootinholler]

59. I would like to thank the many many recommenders

Thank you all for getting my ramblings.

Where do we go from here? How can we get this seen by Mr. President?

-Hoot

[Overseas]

60. K&R ! //nt

[avaistheone1]

62. k&r

[Norrin Radd]

63. kr

[snappyturtle]

64. They were stepping stones. I'd like to think the President didn't look

upon them as such at the time. K&R

[hootinholler]

69. Do you think it ok to think of them as stepping stones now?

Is that somehow better than thinking of them as stepping stones then?

-Hoot

[snappyturtle]

85. I didn't put my thoughts out very well. What I was thinking was

if he looked at them as stepping stones to help enable his political future back 'then', he would have been using them for his political gain. In the present, if he views them as stepping stones, he may have come to realize that over time that they were stepping stones. Does that make any better sense?

[Fly by night]

66. Excellent, hoot. Happy to K&R for a fellow fly-by-nighter.

I like your new sig line. Is that original or a quote from someone?

[hootinholler]

68. Good Morning Bernie

Thank you Sir.

To answer your question, Tom Payne. I'll adjust the sig to reflect that. It really is bad form to not give the source.

-Hoot

[myrna minx]

67. K&R n/t

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hootinholler]

74. LOL --

Can you provide a better demonstration of that lack of conscience than this?

I'm hopeful that he indeed does have a conscience.

-Hoot

[defendandprotect]

79. Back room deals with PRIVATE health care industry doesn't do it for you ....?

Try this --

Rahm .... crowing about preserving "private health care industry" ... business s/b grateful!

”In a Thursday interview, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel argued that rather than recoiling against Obama, business leaders should be grateful for his support on at least a half-dozen counts: his advocacy of greater international trade and education reform open markets despite union skepticism; his rejection of calls from some quarters to nationalize banks during the financial meltdown; the rescue of the automobile industry; the fact that the overhaul of health care

preserved the private delivery system;

the fact that billions in the stimulus package benefited business with lucrative new contracts, and that financial regulation reform will take away the uncertainty that existed with a broken, pre-crash regulatory apparatus.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=B2F85DDF-18...


Or you might look to Obama's lack of conscience in the Comcast/FCC deal yesterday --

and Josh Silver's comments on it at Huffington Post --

[rhett o rick]

71. k&r

[russspeakeasy]

73. Thank you...Thank you...

[glitch]

76. Logging in from the wilderness to K & R nt

[jtown1123]

77. A very big k&r

[Ghost in the Machine]

80. Kicked and highly recommended...

I hope an Obama staffer sees this and reads it to him, but will he listen if they do?

[hootinholler]

82. It would be nice to get some actual feedback on this.

But that will never happen. My hope is that he sees it and realizes how his actions put the lie to his cultivated image.

-Hoot

[Major Hogwash]

81. The federal government doesn't work that way.

The President doesn't just say "do this", and then Congress hops to it.
Every single retired person I have talked to have said this is just the way it is, the way it has been for a very long, long time.

[hootinholler]

83. Doesn't work what way?

I agree that the President doesn't say do this. That's not what I'm suggesting he do.

I am suggesting that if the President called for us to raise a ruckus with Congress on any issue, the response would be a roar heard across the nation.

-Hoot

[Major Hogwash]

84. Well, that's a horse of a different color, isn't it?

If the President made a comment in his State of the Union speech of something of that nature, I think there would be quite a ruckus.
But, I don't think President Obama wants a ruckus.

I would have loved to have had every single item that he asked Congress to pass, to have become law, but the Republicans just put up too many road blocks for us to get there in the last 2 years.

I still think it would be a good idea if he started out his speech with "No, you lied" and look right at that Representative sitting in his chair, but he won't do that.

I do wonder if the Republicans will all pull their Blackberries out to text someone like they don't give a damn what the President is saying, like they did last year.
It's that tremendous lack of respect that has gotten us to where we are at today, in my opinion.

[mdmc]

88. ..