Write a Letter to the (admittedly generic)President

[Hector Valdez]

I'm not talking about Barack Obama. I'm talking about a generic "President of the United States" that might be elected. What would you write. Of course, if you want to write a letter to good 'ol Obama, go ahead, but what would say to the President in general, if you could?

[ThinkAnarchy]

I can't write letters to the president. They would likely plant anthrax in the envelop to have a reason arrest me.

I always fail at being funny... 

[Hector Valdez]

Nevertheless, if you could write a letter to the president, and could be sure they wouldn't arrest you, what would you say? (Although you probably shouldn't say something that would get you arrested. This is the internet, after all.

[ThinkAnarchy]

I honestly don't know what I would say, but I doubt I would ever send a letter because I'm sure it would accomplish nothing.

If I were to though, I suppose I would touch on the following points.

1. Why does the U.S. have the largest prison population while being less safe than many other nations?

2. Quit driving the country deeper into debt. I can't survive on credit alone, so why do you politicians think the same economic principles should not apply to a nation.

3. How, as a democrat who ran on the "End the wars platform," not only continue the current wars, but use the military in new military strikes like in Libya?

I could probably write a novel, but those few are what instantly came to mind.

Also, if it were a republican in office, I would have a similar question to number 3 depending on what they lied about to get elected. 

[Sweetdeath]

Pull your military out of countries that dont want you there.

Stop trying to monopolize oil in other places.

Education is disgraceful here. Teachers deserve better.

Please stop claiming to be the number one nation as you continue to ignore raising poverty and homelessness. People are barely getting by ...

Actually do something from your campaign.

[xSilverPhinx]

Time to change tactics!

(In the very generalised sense of course, I don't have the expertise or the knowledge necessary to know exactly what I'm talking about)

[Tank]

Pull your military out of countries that dont want you there.

Stop trying to monopolize oil in other places.

Education is disgraceful here. Teachers deserve better.

Please stop claiming to be the number one nation as you continue to ignore raising poverty and homelessness. People are barely getting by ...

Actually do something from your campaign.

In other words 'Please turn us into Sweden'.

[Sweetdeath]

Pull your military out of countries that dont want you there.

Stop trying to monopolize oil in other places.

Education is disgraceful here. Teachers deserve better.

Please stop claiming to be the number one nation as you continue to ignore raising poverty and homelessness. People are barely getting by ...

Actually do something from your campaign.

In other words 'Please turn us into Sweden'.

Got something against Sweden?. :p

[xSilverPhinx]

If you don't like Sweden there's always Switzerland.

[Buddy]

Pull your military out of countries that dont want you there.

Stop trying to monopolize oil in other places.

Education is disgraceful here. Teachers deserve better.

Please stop claiming to be the number one nation as you continue to ignore raising poverty and homelessness. People are barely getting by ...

Actually do something from your campaign.

In other words 'Please turn us into Sweden'.

Not that it's a bad thing. 

[DeterminedJuliet]

"When the time comes, please do not invade us to take our fresh water."

[Amicale]

"When the time comes, please do not invade us to take our fresh water."

I'm with you on this one, and I'd say it too. The day the US invades us to take our fresh water is the beginning of the campaign to turn us into the Canadian States of America.... and that's when I pack up my family, and move to Sweden or Switzerland.  

I'd also respectfully challenge the president to really DO something about poverty, to step in and actively create programs that get people out of poverty and into living-wage sustainable jobs. Also, find a way to make certain that people don't have to choose between feeding their kids and paying their medical bills. Ugh. I have a friend whose son needs cognitive behavioral therapy, but he has to pick between paying or that or buying groceries, so his kid can't get the needed therapy. It sucks more than I can tell you, this guy works his butt off, has a few kids, and is still a few steps above poverty. There's something really broken there, in that system...

An awful lot of lip service is paid to ending poverty, but most people in the government just seem to sit around twiddling their thumbs, doing nothing. Well, maybe they're picking their noses, too.

[Firebird]

The president only has so much power. Obama's not the problem; Congress is, along with the reliance on rich donors due to the expense of running campaigns and the cannibalization of campaign finance reform laws, along with a radically conservative Supreme Court.

I would ask that he strongly push a Constitutional amendment affirming that corporations do not have the Constitutional right of freedom of expression that people do, and that Congress may pass laws restricting the amount of money they may use for political purposes. Technically the president has no part of the actual amendment process, but he has a powerful bully pulpit and a point of view most people would agree with. None of the other admirable goals puts forth so far will likely happen otherwise.
Second, when the health care reform mandate is ruled unconstitutional in June (sadly, yes, this will likely happen) he should push to expand Medicare to everyone, using the GOP and Court as a foil.

[ThinkAnarchy]

The president only has so much power. Obama's not the problem; Congress is, along with the reliance on rich donors due to the expense of running campaigns and the cannibalization of campaign finance reform laws, along with a radically conservative Supreme Court.

I would ask that he strongly push a Constitutional amendment affirming that corporations do not have the Constitutional right of freedom of expression that people do, and that Congress may pass laws restricting the amount of money they may use for political purposes. Technically the president has no part of the actual amendment process, but he has a powerful bully pulpit and a point of view most people would agree with. None of the other admirable goals puts forth so far will likely happen otherwise.
Second, when the health care reform mandate is ruled unconstitutional in June (sadly, yes, this will likely happen) he should push to expand Medicare to everyone, using the GOP and Court as a foil.

First of all, Obama is a problem just as Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, etc were a problem. Congress is also a problem, but the president is to blame as well. He holds the power to veto bills. Yes Congress, if they have a large enough majority can overrule the president, but it's a moot issue when the president fails to veto items.

Hell, Obama authorized the murder of American citizens without a trial... I would not consider that a position of limited power.

The president certainly is a problem, he simply isn't the only one.

And I can't wait for the health care bill to be overturned. I hope the court throws out the whole fucking thing. It's bullshit they write a 2,000 page bill and don't give people enough time to read it, not that most congressmen would read it anyway.

Added: Also, Bush II went to war without congressional approval, and with no repercussions. So don't try and say our presidents are not to blame.

Also, I apologize for my aggressive tone, but that seriously got under my skin.

[Tank]

Pull your military out of countries that dont want you there.

Stop trying to monopolize oil in other places.

Education is disgraceful here. Teachers deserve better.

Please stop claiming to be the number one nation as you continue to ignore raising poverty and homelessness. People are barely getting by ...

Actually do something from your campaign.

In other words 'Please turn us into Sweden'.

Not that it's a bad thing. 

I was actually saying it was a good thing!