Dear President Obama #31: The greener grass
Reporter's Note: President Barack Obama says he wants advice. I try to oblige; so I’m writing a letter a day to the White House.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/02/17/buy.american/art.obama.walk.gi.jpg]
Tom Foreman | Bio
AC360° Correspondent
Dear Mr. President,
You realize, of course, you’ve made some new enemies? I’m not talking about Congressional Republicans. They are your old enemies. I’m not talking about those Democrats you ran against either. I’m talking about all those homeowners out there who will not directly benefit from your new Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan.
Now, I know you’re saying that we are all in this situation together and we’ll all be doing the prosperity dance, if we can just get the economy humming again. But I’m telling you there is a deep growl rising from a good number of folks who don’t feel that way. They keep whispering those ominous, ugly words that swirled around the end of the campaign: Socialism, redistribution of wealth, nationalized business, macramé. (Oh, sorry, that last one just slipped in; it’s a scary word, sure, but please disregard.)
Their fundamental complaint is that some Americans are getting a handout to help them through our tough times, and others are not; and the primary measure of who qualifies is need. “Of course it is,” some of your supporters say. “Why the heck should people who aren’t in need get something? They’re just being greedy! Is Karl Rove behind this?”
Both sides have their positions, each fills the internet with nasty comments, and somehow all that promising inaugural talk of everyone pulling in the same direction to help the country seems very, very far in the past.
Our nation has a long history of helping people in need. Most Americans see themselves as generous and empathetic, especially when it comes to the plight of others who are less fortunate. But we have an equally deep vein of personal responsibility, and this issue seems to be cutting across the grain. You are wise to keep making the point that this help will go only to the truly deserving; people who, through no real fault of their own, are caught in a pinch.
But be careful. An awful lot of folks, who don’t yet qualify for help, are feeling the pinch too; and fearful that before it is all over, your generosity may make them wind up in need, too. Right now, what they need is convincing, and you haven’t accomplished that yet.
You’ve got my phone number. I’ve got the time. Call when you can.
Regards,
Tom
For more of the Foreman letters, click here.
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Filed under: First 100 Days • Letters to the President • Tom Foreman |
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I think your letter to the President is GREAT–I thought it was totally unbiased,I wish I was not as biase as I am,I fit in the category of enemy, I keep whispering those ominous, ugly words that swirled around the end of the campaign: Socialism, redistribution of wealth, nationalized business, nationalized banks,lose of freedoms.
Why do Democrats and the president keep bringing up the last eight years as justification for this final blow to our economy?After Bush screwed everything up,Democrats are just going to continue destroying our country because the Republicans did a lousy job?We did not need another idiot,we needed somebody that knows what they are doing.
——-Two wrongs do not make a right people !!!We cannot afford any more spending because of Bush and congress the last 8 years,we can not keep failing and expect to survive.
The debt load we just took on will hurt future generations for decades as our currency is diminished against all other currencies of the world, making our country's exports worth far less, while making all imports (including oil and cars) far more expensive for all of us. With Social Security estimated to go negative in 2017, our country is facing bankruptsy.
These new idiots are just getting started too.
US Employment Stimulus Plan:
The Federal government should restore lost investments and savings retirement accounts brought on by the existing financial crisis for employed people 60-years old and older, add into the formula a onetime benefit let’s say of ≥$500,000 to entice those people still working into early retirement.
Under this employment stimulus plan, vacated jobs for those already employed would mean advancement opportunities in a “Fill Forward” concept, and thereby open jobs for unemployed and new hires to fill the openings created by the early retirees.
Funding the plan by redirecting part of Trillion dollar bailout money intended for the troubled Financial, Banking and Automotive Companies, major Corporations, etc. seems reasonable.
The newly added retirees, workers advancing up the employment stimulus ladder, newly employed and reemployed Americans would invigorate our economy by the availability of their money for buying or trading-up homes, purchasing an automobile and/or RV, and so forth to move the country out of deep recession to trigger an upturn.
This plan just might benefit those that have worked all their adult lives, those who are working now, and those who are ready and able to work but need a job.
On February 4, 2009 I respectfully communicated this suggestion to President Obama. Knowing that he is busy stimulating a lot of things his first month in office I still have confidence that he get to this Employment Stimulus Plan. I am hoping this idea stimulates some thought with others!
What good is the stimulus package for low-income people.
GOV. PAWLENTY of Minnesota is trying to pass a proposal to
take 27% of the RENTERS CREDIT away. This is a way to tax low-income people as far as I'm concerned.
President Obama,
Given the mess that you inherited, you are doing an outstanding job. Continue to put God first, stay focused, and keep on pushing forward. After all, trying to get something positive done is better than not doing anything at all.
Tom ~ You've nearly reached the 1/3 mark with "Dear Mr. President" letters ~ congratulations. Your daily entries have made it seem like the days have passed in a blink of an eye. Looking forward to reading all the rest. Let us know if any of your requests for a phone call from the President are acknowledged by the White House.
Can't wait to find your "Dear Mr. President" book on store bookshelves. I just hope they don't compete with Jack Grey's upcoming NYT Bestseller, "CNN AP (and they me let blog too.)" ~ L.C.
Here here Jose. A common sense idea to get money into the economy but it will not happen for that very reason. It is common sense.
@ ANDREW NITSA: loved yer post. What is the solution though? I would love to have read your plan for the homeowners.
I have found this method to work: Post your wonderful brilliant IDEA on the blog sites.. anywhere. Pretty soon: you will hear YOUR plan / solution coming out of one of the Media's talking heads. yes, they will claim your solution as thier own ! So, if you are merely wanting to tell your plan, POST IT. But, if you want RECOGNITION... well now, fella, that simply aint gonna happen. I'm tempted to call you, but you might answer. I would reply to you by email, but I dont know what service you use.
@lynn: re: "The media is the one that is destroying this country! " I agree, but only if we let them : )
MR. PRESIDENT: WHY NOT MANDATE THOSE SAME BANKS THAT ACCEPT BAIL OUT MONEY TO LOWER INTEREST RATES ON CREDIT CARDS SO IT CAN BE PAID OFF QUICKLY THEREFORE TO STIMULATE CONSUMER SPENDING?
Hello Anderson:
You're president has Graced our Presence with his Visit today...and we have noticed ALMOST NOTHING on CNN....
We were so excited and happy to have him....and honoured that he Chose Canada as his first visit....
For the first time, I am actually disappointed in you President Obama. My husband and I took the 7500$ tax "credit" that will be payed back over the next 15 years. We bought our house in September of 2008. So we missed it by 4 months! So now, we have to pay our credit back AND the guy who moves in up the street! It is unbelieveable to me that someone under your administration gets a free 8,000$ without having to pay back, but we do. It's infuriating actually.
Dear Mr. President,
Let me begin by saying, "Congratulations!" it is an honor to call you "My President," and although the challenges and obstacles you will encounter will not be easy, and the solutions far from being overnight miracles, your integrity, open mindedness, strength spirtuality, will always be scrutinized and put to the test. However, it is one's character that determines a true individual, and you, Mr. President, possessing all of the above will surely shine through. In due time, most of the people (as one can not please all the people all of the time,) will come to see this.
For in order to be true to others, one must be true to oneself. In time people will see this too!
Awilda from Houston
i have a plan that all homeowners will be happy with but no one answer me as a live talk back and forth; only cnn sends the usual tape recorded reply. A SAD YEAR FOR AMERICA BECAUSE CNN DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO GET BREAKING SOLUTIONS FOR THE PRESENT ECONOMIC RECESSION...CNN CAN'T UPDATE THEIR WAY THEY REPLY ON NEWS SOLUTIONS.... I THINK CNN SHOULD GOFE OFF THE AIR AND LET ANOTHER STATION MORE TRUSTED BRING EFFECTIVE AND DIRECT RESPO NSE TO A RELIEF SOLUTION TO THE BEST IDEAS BEING PROCESSED FASTER THAT THE FORMER CNN... MAYBE I SHOULD TRY RUSH LIMBOUGH BY PHONE OR EMAIL. THIS MIGHT BE MY LAST TRY TO HELP DESPERATE AMERICA BEFORE THEY GO INTO FULL BLOWN DEPRESSION...... AND IT IS COMMING SOONER THAN LATER.... BY 2009 JULY IT WILL BE INTO OUR POCKETBOOKS. AND STINGING AND HURTING EVERONE.... DESPERATE FOR A REPLY FROM ANYONE..... ANDREW NITSA AS PER MY EMAIL FEB 18TH, 2009
P.S. MY PHONE NUMBER IS 727-595-8109 UNIT 107
This is the absolute worst economic plan i have ever seen. President Obama is nothing more than spend and tax liberal. I work hard for I have and just recently bought a home. It took a long time to be able to afford to buy one. I see nothing in this stimulus package that is going to help the people who actually are working and being responsible. The only thing i see this stimulus package doing is helping the ones that don't want to help themselves. since when should someone who does not even pay into the system get a check from it???
When are the hard working American people going to get a break from shouldering the burden of the people who constantly make bad decisions.
Obama is bad for the economy and bad for America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
President Obama does not care how much we dislike his actions and policies, or how much we complain about them; tomorrow will be another new action that we do not like, and we'll forget about the other one's, and get on with the newest one. This way he can do anything he wants and it'll all be forgotten.
I am just furious that I, along with other taxpayes who have made their mortgage payments and abided by the rules, have to pick up the tab for the people that did not. We are being encouraged by you, Mr. President, to just leave everything to the government(which means other taxpayers) and let them take care of us. I know that's a good way to get their vote, but surely self reliance is the only way we can be successful in the long run.
You can help some of the people some of the times-–but you can't help all of the people all of the times--no good deed goes unpunished-right Mr. President?
I agree the help should only go to the persons that show a lost to no fault of their own. I also feel that every loan should be investigated and judged according to stability before the economy became bad with housing. I know of home owners that where given loans and the two people where not married and both only brought in 48,000 a year but their home was valued at 180,000 and they owe 200,000 and they only put down 5,000 and their monthly pay ment was 1,500 to start but ended up with the flex at 2,000 and up. I my self saw a wave of people given the opportunity to purchase homes that they actually could not afford and the guide lines of qualifications to purchase flew out the window. So if you are one of those people hanging by a thread and you showed from the very start that you could not maintain owning a home then by all means move out and let the people that need it honestly recieve it.
I am one of the homeowners Tom is talking about.
My family and I are sacrificing, saving and meeting our obligations through second jobs and reduced spending. My family and I are being responsible obligation holders and yet there is nothing in TARP, the Recovery Plan or this new Homeowner Stability Plan that rewards our behavior. Instead, we are being asked to do more.
It is disheartening to be forced to shoulder more of a burden when we are already treading water. Place too much on my shoulders and I will drown! I am EXHAUSTED and thoroughly unconvinced that Washington is doing the right thing.
When will my responsible financial behavior be rewarded with a handout because if I have to listen to Rick Wagoner ask for more money for his poor decisions and lack of foresight, the bile I've been swallowing might erupt in an all out wretching session!
..And how much do you and your constant sarcasm and flaming controversy to improve ratings. CNN's coverage of the stimulous plan was so one sided it defied the name of "journalism". Now you are all whining about the cost of fixing the mortgage crisis but at the same time says it doesn't go far enough.
What exactly are your qualifications to presume that you should be writing letters to a President? Where are your solutions in all your whining. The media is the one that is destroying this country!