Open Letter to President Elect Obama

Dear President Elect Obama:

As you have hopefully inspired many Afro Americans to aspire to greater goals; I have been inspired by George Bush and Sarah Palin. I now believe that I am smart enough to be President. I realize that there are many people in Congress smarter than I, but few with as much common sense. Please keep this in mind as you read my "vision" for America.

Taxes: Generally raising taxes in a bad economy is not a good idea. However, we do have a $10 trillion debt. We can't reduce the debt by lowering taxes. If you do increase taxes on the top 5% don't give it back to me. If you increase taxes for some and give it back in the form of welfare; you haven't accomplished anything. We may be a consumer economy. However, spending beyond our means got us into this mess.

A VAT may have been a good idea 30 years ago. I'm retired and living off my savings, much of it already taxed. If we switched to a national sales tax in place of income tax I would be taxed twice. Don't forget the group I'm in.

Social Security: Private accounts just like a VAT may have been a good idea 30 years. I would have opted out of Social Security if allowed. But, I wasn't and no should anyone else. Everyone should be required to participate. Benefits should be for retirement, and should be based on the amount paid in. Why should someone who paid in 40 quarters get the same as I do after paying in for 120 quarters? Benefits should be for only those citizens who paid into Social Security and definitely not for illegal aliens.

Taxing benefits is not fair unless the income threshold is so high that the recipients would not even miss their check, were it stopped. I am now receiving Social Security benefits. However, because of the unacknowledged inflation and the decline in the stock market I work part time to supplement my income. So in addition to being taxed on my benefits I must continue to pay FICA taxes, which are no benefit to me.

Free trade is a two way street. Expecting China to import our products, especially Harley Davidsons, is not protectionism.

Water: on any given day there is a flood somewhere and a drought somewhere else. We need a system to redistribute water to where it is needed. 71% of the earth's surface is covered by oceans, and if Al Gore is correct it's going higher. Not having clean drinking water anywhere in the world in unacceptable. One solution for the rising water levels is to drink it. We have the technology to turn sea water into fresh water. If we put our minds to it we can make it economically feasible to produce fresh water on a large scale. We could even sell it. There may be alternative to oil as a fuel, but there is no alternative to water.

Energy: Until ours cars run on something other than gasoline we need to drill for oil. Even though we can't drill our way out of the energy problem; it's no reason not to drill. Start in Alaska. Their governor is all for it. We also have plenty of oil shale. Let's develop it. It might cost a little more, but eliminating our dependence on middle east oil is priceless. Developing a car that is powered by the energizer Bunny is a long way off. However, there is no reason to use any oil to generate electricity. We have natural gas, wind , coat, hydro power, and nuclear power.

Ethanol and bio diesel make no sense when there are people starving in the world. Insufficient research was done when ethanol was introduced and many marine engines were damaged. Ethanol and bio diesel cost just as much and reduce the mileage. So where is the savings? We need more fuel efficient cars. The Hummer should be discontinued immediately. Regarding the marine industry: most boats are lucky to get one mpg. If we increase it to two, the cost of boating falls, and our carbon footprint is reduced by 50%.

Bailing out the auto industry: The US auto manufacturers have no one to blame but themselves. Giving them any money is a bad idea on a long term basis. On a short term basis it may be necessary. But, not unless they come up with a new business plan. Top executives should work for $1 per year until they get back on track or be replaced. Unions will never admit it but they make too much. Forget the union vote in 2012. Without concessions there won't be an UAW. Don't forget Harley Davidson. They are the only US manufacturer currently making a vehicle that gets 50mpg.

Farm Subsidies: Stop them. Just because Congress gets paid for doing nothing doesn't mean everyone else should.

Foreign Policy: Many sovereign nations have leaders that are considered dangerous or downright crazy. However, they are still sovereign nations and we can't tell everyone what to do, how to treat their residents or run their governments. This is why many countries hate us. What we can do is react when a person or country does something against our national interests.

Health care: Every US citizen should have access to quality health care. But it doesn't have to be free. If you can't afford the co-pay for the polio shot for your fourth child; maybe you shouldn't have four kids. I proposed a plan to US Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz for retired people, 55 to 65 years old, to join Medicare. Based on my circumstances I would have saved thousands and Medicare would have made millions on the 25 million Americans in my age group. Debbie Wasserman did not reply. She had more pressing issues, like speaking at a Hadassah Convention in California.

Good luck: You're going to need it.