by Martin Heflin

Created on: October 25, 2009   Last Updated: October 27, 2009

Dear Mr. President,

The problems you inherited were substantial:

- Our Armed Forces were engaged in two shooting wars, Afghanistan and Iraq; and several non-shooting engagements, North Korea, Iran, and pressure from Russia and China.

- Our economy was in recession, with unemployment growing and confidence falling. Arguably, you won the election because you did not appear to panic the way your opponent did, when the first bailout was proposed in September.

- The price of gas was over $4 per gallon and looked like it would climb ever higher.

- As a people, we seemed to have lost our swagger tired of eight years of war and worried that the economic wonderland we inherited would be in shambles when we passed it on to our children.

You have been in office now for ten months and these three key items are worse. We are losing confidence, Mr. President, and that is reflected in your plummeting poll numbers. Allow me, therefore, to offer some advice from a humble citizen to turn this situation around.

First, tend to the troops. You announced a new strategy for Afghanistan in March and appointed General McChristol to execute it. He told you in late August what he would need to execute your strategy and as Halloween approaches, you are now re-evaluating the strategy. Leadership requires boldness and it requires trusting the men and women who have the experience to execute your plans. Either carry forward with a plan for victory in Afghanistan or get out. We Americans don't like middle-of-the-roaders.

Second, acknowledge that your efforts at engaging bad actors on the world stage are not working. They are laughing at you, sir. Russia and China have become emboldened and Iran is much closer to having a nuclear weapon. Engaging bullies in a neighborhood and getting them to buy into your plans for improving the area is one thing failing to show strength to rogue states bent on your destruction is quite another.

Third, read some history, Mr. President. Recessions, indeed, Depressions end when employment picks up and people regain confidence in the system. When they feel they have control of their own destiny is when they will put their shoulders to the wheel. How to do that you ask? Simple, stop your drive for programs that will restrict their freedom and reduce the burden we already have in government taxation. There is not a single government entitlement program that has produced the results intended and almost all are hideously over-budget. Lets stop and repair the existing programs before we massively expand the government even more. I share your noble goal to ensure health care for all Americans a decent, affluent society should strive for that. But imposition of a Federal bureaucracy is not the way to achieve this and the unintended consequence will be a greater loss of freedom for the citizens of this country and further addition to an already unsustainable level of debt.

Finally, let us seek true energy independence. Your initiatives for green industries are noble enough, but they need to be part of a package. There is not a single study done that supports the assertion that wind and solar power can somehow replace all our energy needs. Spain has engaged in a long-term strategy to green themselves and it has cost them hundreds of thousands of jobs. We have the resources in this great land - lets go get them. We can do so while being responsible stewards for future generations.

Do these steps, Mr. President, and you can reclaim the mantle of being bi-partisan and you will restore the hope you spoke of this will require you to change, sir, I pray you do.

Sincerely,

One very worried citizen

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