Odessa

Who voted for you and who didn't really doesn't matter anymore - You have been elected to be our next president. Over the course of the your campaign, I developed severe reservations about whether you going to be able to help us out of the mess we seem to be in. Although I am far from astute about political matters, I'd like you to consider the following:

1) During the first debate, when asked what you would trim to get spending under control, you discussed those things you thought needed more spending. All those things you mentioned; health care, education, etc.; are all noble causes. However, you really need to think long and hard about where things can be realistically cut and your grand plans may need to be deferred in the short term.

2) You discussed taxing those folks that make more than $250K a year (then it was $150K, etc.) more to create more revenue. Please consider that “rich” is also a function of where someone lives. Someone making $250K a year in LA, Boston, NYC or Chi-town can not likely afford a second home, a housekeeper, private school for their kids or any of the amenities we like to associate with being “rich”. However, someone making $250K in Fancy Gap, VA or Newark, NY (NY, not NJ) can probably afford some amenities associated with being “rich”. The cost of living needs to be taken into consideration.

3) You might want to consider offering the old guy a cabinet position. The “old guy” means McCain. I know some nasty stuff was said during the campaign, but we both know that he was just to try to win. He has lots of experience and good ideas – basically someone that would make a good advisor. You certainly can't question the old guy's loyalty to the country. Furthermore, you shouldn't surround yourself with a bunch of boot lickers and something can be said for someone who will look you in the eye and tell you that you are wrong. (This idea came from a friend, but I think it is a pretty darn good one)

4) Please take a good long hard look at the parts of the country that did not vote for you. You won because city folks liked you. County folks were afraid to vote for you. So while you are making these broad changes, don't forget the men and women that put food on our tables. Farming is a hard way to make a living. Less and less young people are willing to farm because it is hard work and not very profitable. We already rely on foreign countries for a large portion of our fuel needs, please don't make us heavily dependent on foreign countries for food, too.

5) Lets not lose any momentum on finding alternatives to foreign produced fuels. We need to make “alternative” energy our main energy and ditch the crude oil derived energy source addiction.

I'm sure a few other suggestions will come your way, but think about these.

I also read you are going to get those adorable girls a dog. Please consider a dog from a shelter. There are so many discarded pets that would appreciate someone taking them home from the shelter.

Thanks,
Concerned American