The Choice for Change – Handfuls or Millions
09/27/09 – President Obama – You were elected by millions of Americans who genuinely wanted Change. Sadly you are not delivering and America and the World are suffering.
To win last November, millions gave you handfuls of dollars while a handful of corporations gave you millions of dollars. It appears that the corporate millions actually won the election, and while average Americans fall further down the economic ladder, the corporations just grow fatter and remain unregulated.
Rather than go with Universal Health Care (Medicare for all), you have chosen to support the health insurance industry at the expense of all Americans. You say we can't start all over. Why not? And what part of starting over would be involved in simply expanding Medicare to cover all Americans? Sadly the millions from the handful are driving your decisions and the people be damned.
Rather than remove troops from Iraq and Afghanistan you have chosen to basically expand America's imperialists views. Everyday Americans are dying for a lost cause. Your government and the one before you claim it is to fight against “terrorism.” In addition to the American deaths there are thousands of civilian deaths, men, women and children slaughtered in the name of “freedom.” Unfortunately the only freedom you are protecting is that of defense contractors, arms manufacturers, and corporate hustlers who will do anything for a buck.
Rather than force Israel to toe the line by returning to the 1967 borders, accepting the Arab Peace Plan, and make peace with the Palestinians, you have chosen to support, not Israel's desires, but those of a handful of Israeli and American Zionists whose only desire is to see every Palestinian perish. Israel has violated more UN regulations than any other nation. Prime Minister Netanyahu has literally given you the finger when it comes to stopping settlements and you do nothing. How about cutting off all aid to Israel? With the possible exception of Iraq where billions have literally disappeared, Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. aid – most of it to provide the means for Israel to continue their apartheid, genocidal aggression against Palestinians. Surely this is not what you meant when you promised Change?
Rather than open relations with Latin America, you have chosen to extend the blockade against Cuba. It was fascinating the other day to see you chairing the Security Council meting, with Vietnam, China, and Libya sitting there supporting you and, yet, you can't find it in your heart to stop the madness against Cubans. The entire World, including the Organization of American States, is against you in the continuation of America's inhumane punishment of Cubans.
You have chosen to give half-hearted support to Honduran President Zelaya. While cutting some aid, you still maintain military relations and train Honduran torturers on American soil. You have chosen to limit some Honduran visas, but are doing nothing to force the handful of Honduran businessmen supporting the coup to drop their support. How about freezing their assets, and placing punishing tariffs upon their products being imported into the U.S.? How about just declaring that the coup is a military coup? How about stopping being afraid of Republican reactions? In fact, don't you think it is high time to simply stop trying to copse the Republicans into some bilateral agreements? Let's face it, the Republican Party is an impediment to every Change you have talked about.
Rather than surround yourself with people who actually care about the plight of average Americans, you have chosen to keep the very people who drove America into its current dilemma. Having anyone from Goldman Sachs in your government is like having the fox guard the hen house. The money given to the banks (much of which cannot be accounted for) has only emboldened these Wall Street thieves. While the economy needed bailing out, you chose to give the money to the wrong people.
The money currently being squandered upon the military could easily provide health care for everyone. It could also provide enough green electricity to totally eliminate America's dependence on foreign oil in as little as 10 years. The green electrification would also produce millions of new jobs.
Rather than restore freedom to Americans, you have chosen to expand the invasive policies of the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, and many other organizations who are practicing wanton spying upon innocent American civilians. Rather than cancel the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and numerous other overreactions of the American government, you have chosen take even more rights away. The handful profits while the millions suffer from made up laws and made up facts.
Rather than work for peace, you have chosen to support war to the benefit of the handful. Is this why you were elected? Or did you actually have real Change in mind when you convinced Americans to support you? While you're still trying to make nice with Joe Lieberman, he, like the rest of his Republican buddies, could care less about you and Change. They don't want Change. They want to continue the unopposed looting of everything American. They don't give a damn about the economy, the health of America, and, especially, you. While you deny it, the racist right is out to stop any Change you will ever attempt. My father taught me to turn the other cheek, but there comes a time when a person needs to fight back.
So, what will it be? Change for the millions who voted for you? Or status quo for the handful who gave you millions hoping they could wreck your train of Change? Right now, sadly, it looks like the train wreckers are winning.
Freedom has no cash value!
Thomas Daly
Retired California
Newspaper Publisher