share.triangle.com - Dear Mr. President-elect... - Comments

From: Lowell Hoffman, Chapel Hill (no occupation given)

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:30:31 -0500

1. Come fully clean on contact between any staff member or advisor and the governor of Illinois. Set an example of complete disclosure rather than typical political attempts to spin and to reveal the minimum one can get away with. If any staff member stepped over the ethical line, terminate their services. Clearly state that this will set the standard for this administration. This is change from business as usual.
2. Speak in support of your choice of Rick Warren to participate in your inauguration. Go further and state that you were elected to be president for all Americans, that you expect civil discourse when any disagree with your policies and positions.
3. Announce 10 items you will delete from the federal budget in accord with your repeated vow to review it “line by line” and end programs that are not working. Set an example of fiscal prudence and a willingness to take on the interest groups impacted by the cuts. Go further and announce that the funds that are saved belong to the people and will be utilized to reduce total spending rather than using this portion of the people’s money for other programs.

From: Amalendu Chatterjee, 64, Morrisville

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:29:57 -0500

Vice president-technology, Eximsoft International

The Tier 1 problems are fighting economic woes, creating jobs and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here are some important Tier 2 issues.
1. Ethics and morality are evaporating due to greed, opportunity and political exploitation, especially among the rich and powerful. What can you do to remedy this, Mr. President?
2. Seek term limits for congressmen and senators. Congress has become a brokerage house for the rich and the powerful. Limit them to two or three terms so that common people can run and bring real change.
3. Keep religion in its proper place. Public religion is divisive and polarizing. Why not promote humanity for all, irrespective of ethnicity, faith, society and political affiliation? Abortions, gay rights, etc. should not be dictated by the religious beliefs of congressmen or senators. Let the public decide issues like these by referendum.

From: Randy Williamson, 42, chief financial officer, Raliegh

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:29:17 -0500

1. Require all government sponsored entities — such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — to operate as nonprofit entities. This will eliminate the greed for profit while enjoying government perks.
2. Eliminate all corporate bonus plans for banks receiving bailout funds. You can't get a government bailout and then bonus yourself.
3. Track and monitor banks who receive bailout funds for new loans. If none are being funded, call the bailout loans due and paid back immediately.

From: Alice Osborn, 36, writer, presenter, consultant and mother

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:28:26 -0500

From Raleigh

1. Get serious about Internet security. Viruses are no longer the domain of home hackers; they are now weapons of cyberterrorists and organized crime. Large businesses have tools to protect themselves, but small businesses don’t have the resources. Develop a strategy to include filtering and ISP regulation so the average person’s computer is as secure as a large organization’s.
2. Overturn your stance on clean coal technology and focus on real green technologies such as solar, water, and wind. Clean coal still produces waste products, such as CO2 emissions, no matter what the coal lobby will tell you.
3. The Obamas know the hardships faced by working parents, and I hope that translates into new childcare measures. Many mothers want to return to the workforce, but can’t afford childcare. Matching state funding for early childhood education and reforming the Child and Dependent Care tax credit would be a step in the right direction.

From: Steven Waters, 32, programmer, Raleigh

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:27:33 -0500

1. Make sure the the economic recovery package gets spent on transit and maintaining the roads and bridges we already have rather than more sprawl-inducing loops and bypasses that lock us even more into auto dependence.
2. Help prepare workers for new technologies rather than trying to fight globalization.
3. Set the country up for long-term economic growth by investing in loans and grants to put people through college.

From: Gail S. Phares, 69, Raleigh of Witness for Peace Southeast

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:26:08 -0500

Witness for Peace Southeast is an advocacy group that focuses on Latin America.

I call on Mr. Obama to forge a new relationship with our Latin American neighbors that supports peace, promotes justice, respects sovereignty, and builds up sustainable economies.
Specifically, I urge him to:
1. Transform our trade policy so that it prioritizes people and the environment over corporate profit. Renegotiate NAFTA and CAFTA; reject new agreements that follow the failed NAFTA model.
2. Promote humane immigration reform that respects the dignity of immigrants and addresses the poverty and trade policies at the root of migration.
3. Rethink the failed “war on drugs” in Colombia, instead of spending billions in a failed supply-side strategy that funds human-rights abuses.

From: Rob Black, 39, lobbyist for labor unions, Apex

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:24:43 -0500

1. In 1980, the pay of the average American CEO was approximately 42 times that of the average American worker. By 2006 the ratio was 364 to 1. President Obama should put forth legislation requiring any company receiving bailout funds to reduce the disparity between top and bottom by at least 10 percentage points.
2. He should put forth legislation to federalize our presidential election system, to ensure the same standard, process and mechanism in every state.
3. He should propose a tax structure that offers credits for jobs created in the United States — the more jobs created, the more credits you get. And any company that outsources jobs overseas should have to pay a tax penalty.

From: Marvin Woll, 60, school counselor, Raleigh

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:24:22 -0500

1. Make the United States a leader in solving the problem of global warming. The infrastructure money should be used to fund projects that help reduce carbon emissions. We need to rebuild our bridges and roads, but we also need to be putting money toward mass transit.
2. Make sure the infrastructure money is not used for pork barrel projects; it must go to projects that will provide as many jobs as possible.
3. Let the world know that the United States will not torture and that this nation will uphold the rule of law. Our national image has been severely damaged over the past eight years.

From: Kirstin Garriss, 20, student at UNC-Chapel Hill, resident

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:24:02 -0500

1. Listen. If Mr. Obama listens, he will be a much better leader than our last president.
2. Look at history. There’s not a Presidency 101 class he can take, but there is documentation of 43 previous presidents. Learn from the successes and mistakes of predecessors.
3. Remember whom he represents. Obama needs to remember that many people who never voted or rarely vote voted for him, and they are looking up to him. Young children, especially African-American youth, are looking up to Barack Obama as a role model; to me, that is more important than anything else.

From: Larry Bob Evans, 71, retired, Clayton

mwilliam — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:23:02 -0500

Here are three things Obama must do before he will be able to successfully initiate economic and political changes.

1. Reunite America, since we are now a House Divided.
2. Convince our people that fellow citizens are not our worst enemy.
3. Convince Americans to stand together regardless of differences, so we can once again overcome adversity.

Dear Mr. President-elect...

Java55 — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:41:53 -0500

I am not worthy to give advice because I do not know all the inside stories behind what the general population is being told but I do know that you have one, actually many tough jobs that lay ahead, probably moreso than any incoming president ever in the past. I just pray you are granted the wisdom and the proper means neccessary to accomplish these tasks in a fair manner and that you will always put God first.

In addition I would like to thank you for hitting the ground already running even before becoming president. This is surely a sign that you mean business when it comes to tackling the problems and issues you will be facing once you are in office.

...and as always, pray for peace.

First, I'd say: If you

jabdo — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:05:05 -0500

First, I'd say:

If you cabinet represents your views, I'm a little worried. If it is as you say, that you picked people who disagree with you to bounce your ideas off of, then I say good luck! :)

Rahm Emanuel is an interesting choice... How many people, though, would be up in arms had you picked the son of a Palestinian terrorist rather than son of Israeli terrorist?? Or any Palestinian without any ties whatever to terrorism? People would be equally horrified (son of Palestinian terrorist or law abiding Palestinian) if I had to venture a guess. It's a good thing that if Israel's doing it or approves, it must be worth supporting because there's no need to think!

Then, on to an issue:

Re-examine our "special relationship" with Israel regardless of your obligatory AIPAC speech or whether they are giving you a ton of money or threaten to take you down in 4 years.

This issue is not just about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict but also:

-changing the US role in the world from an imperial power imposing democracy at gunpoint to a leader in respect for human rights and responsible foreign policy.

-the question of how much power do and should lobbies have in government. Mearshimer and Walt's paper did a lot to break down the AIPAC role, but this is something we need to think about and reform.

Dear Mr. President-elect...

mwilliam — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:58:21 -0500

Suggest the first three things Barack Obama should do when he assumes the presidency on Jan. 20.

Plus, click here to tour the White House.

Suggest the first three things Barack Obama should do when he assumes the presidency on Jan. 20. Plus, click here to tour the White House.…