Friday, July 29, 2011

An open letter to President Obama.

President Obama, I believe you have an excellent opportunity to show true leadership in this time of crisis. You are our President, and it is your job to lead. And we must be in a crisis; you keep saying so.

Mr. President, do your fair share. After all, you keep talking about how people who have millions of dollars like yourself should share the sacrifice.

I would like to offer an idea to you, sir. I would like to propose to you a way you might score major political points and shut some people up, all at the same time.

You, sir, have the opportunity to seriously put some smack down on the likes of Glenn Back, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and perhaps some others including me.

Sir, if you do this one thing, I will believe that you are sincere in your belief system.

President Obama, I believe you should donate a large sum of your personal wealth to the government.

Maybe if you wrote a check for $5 million. We can figure out a number, the details are not important at this moment. It is important and you need to act fast – remember, we’re in crisis and must act now. That’s what you keep saying. Anyway - you get the point. Lead. Set the example.

While I know that it doesn’t fit the bill through the exact means we normally do things, a personal donation to the government of some magnitude would absolutely be the right thing to do if you truly believe those who “have” should share the sacrifice and you believe the government is the correct way to redistribute the wealth.

While you’re at it, perhaps you might make a contract with the government, and promise to donate a percentage of your future income to government. I mean, come on… you’re going to make a lot of it. Look at President Clinton if you’d like an example of what sort of career path you might be on. And truly, you’re probably going to make a lot more than him. After all, you won a Nobel Peace Prize. And you are America's first Black President. I mean besides President Clinton. Whatever. You get the point.

I know that technically makes my suggestion two things, but work with me here. After all, this is about our future, isn’t it? And clearly government knows best what to do with your money since your economic belief system is based on the theory that the system needs to do for the people, and that everything should be fair. Equality, if you will.

Certainly your money will be used more efficiently and for more common good if you spread the wealth around through taxes, since you have so much money and are certainly going to be extremely wealthy for the rest of your life.

By the way sir, I would like to offer you some advice. Do not own a corporate jet. Ever. In the words of another President (one conveniently named Bush) it "Wouldn’t be prudent” after all the flak you’ve given corporate jet owners. Just sayin’.

I can tell you with great certainty that all the aforementioned talk show hosts have suggested at one time or another that perhaps those who believe in redistributive government and have the means should do exactly what I suggest here in this proposal, but that those with that wealth and your belief system are really hypocrites who will never consider such an option. This is your moment to show exactly how wrong they are, and how committed you are to government as the solution to our problems.

Respectfully,

A concerned citizen who did not vote for you but believes you have an excellent opportunity to, as Nancy Pelosi said, "Save life on this planet as we know it today."

Follow me on Twitter if you’d like. I am having fun learning to offer brief commentary at random times. Could be interesting!

6 comments:

Woodsterman (Odie) said...

I've saying that all along myself. If you think some should pay more by all means step forward and write a check.

tammy said...

I agree!! Great post as usual.

Soloman said...

Hi Odie, long time no see! Where ya been? heh..

I am just so tired of hearing about how the "rich" need to pay their fair share. He knows he is one of the rich... let's see him do his fair share!

Soloman said...

Hi tammy..

Thanks as always for saying hello! Glad you agree.. not like I thought you wouldn't, were someone to ask me "Hey, what would Tammy think?" lol! What is it they say, great minds or something...

J.O.B. said...

I'm really not trying to start a fight. But I think I know why a 15% income tax rate would not work.

Why can we not Make taxes 15% across the board?

Seems the only ones it would affect are the ultra-rich, and the welfare- recipients.

The ladder being noone that pays taxes on their "benefits", yet votes liberal no matter what.

Noone, and I mean "Noone" looks out for the middle-class, blue-collar American.

Soloman said...

Hey J.O.B. -

I don't agree that "no none" looks out for the middle-class blue collar American. I think we have good people in office - not all, but some - who do what they can to help the "regular guy" types like you and I.

I think we'd agree that unfortunately it's not about who looks out for us as much as whether or not the system works for us or against us. And these days, it seems the system is working more against the every-day average "Joe" and more for the elites.

And as to 15%? I don't like any payroll taxes. I like the idea of the "Fair Tax" which taxes us based on our consumption. I only spend so much, so I can only be taxed so much. Those with extravagant amounts of wealth who spend money on big-ticket items will pay accordingly.