Hi, I'm Holly and I've dedicated some time out of my schedule to write a weekly letter to our President. We used our power at the polls to get Obama elected, but frankly I think he needs to hear from us as to our current wishes. As his constituents we need to hold him accountable for how he is spending the political capital of our votes.
To start, I'd like to share my first two letters. I encourage you to join me in this endeavor and let President Obama read your thoughts and feelings as well. Please feel free to use anything I write as inspiration or fodder. I would take it as the highest form of compliment!
The first two letters:
April 5, 2011
Dear Mr. President:
Hope this finds you and your family well. Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Holly Selden, and I am one of the millions of American citizens who voted for you in November 2008. I also donated to your campaign, wore my "Obama" shirt proudly, talked to people about your campaign, and put your sign up in my yard. My husband, Ian, campaigned for you tirelessly in his work as a Union Representative and Organizer. To sum it up, this is a letter from a supporter.
I am writing to you today as one of your constituents - a real-life, regular American. My husband and I own a modest three bedroom, one bath home California. It's about one thousand square feet. We have 3 children and a little dog. We have $1,500.00 in our savings and $75,000 worth of college loan debt, but we're lucky. Although my husband lost his job 2 years ago, he was able to find another. We're the epitome of Middle Class.
I'm hoping I can persuade you to take a different look at some of your actions as President. It concerns me that Wall Street is so well-represented in your administration, but there is little sign of Labor or other working class representattives or affiliates. It concerns me that you did not go to Wisconsin and stand up with the public sector workers, many of whom probably voted for you. I sincerely doubt that many Wall Street executives voted for you, and yet you seem to be taking very good care of them.
Frankly, many of your actions have taken me by surprise. They so greatly differ from the things you proposed during your campaign. I am not naive. I realize that some campaign rhetoric is just that - rhetoric. I know that it is not possible to fulfill all your promises. But to swerve so widely in the other direction is consternating. Where is the man we all voted for?
Taking office and discovering the real life of the American presidency must have been an eye-opener for you and your family. The full impact of that is probably beyond my imagination. I sympathize, and I realize there are many things that I won't understand as someone who has not had that experience.
However, today I'm asking you to spend some time remembering all of us: the middle-class, the working class, the union workers, the poor, the students - all different colors, genders, and religions. Your true constituents. We voted for you, we got you elected, and we need you to represent us. We need you to use your power to help us.
We are counting on you,
Sincerely,
Holly Selden
April 13, 2011
Dear Mr. President:
Today, I would like to thank you for standing up for the EPA and Women’s Health during the recent budget negotiations. As one of your supporters, I felt as though you were standing true to some of the principles you embraced during your candidacy. Thank you.
I’m urging you to continue to stand for your constituents’ well being. As Democrats, we still have a majority in the Senate and WE HAVE YOU! In your office as president, there is so much you can do to make our country a better place for regular people to live and, hopefully, thrive. All of us who voted for you are counting on you to do just that.
Please thoughtfully consider ending the two wars and Libyan military action that we are involved in. These are all a terrible drain on the human and financial resources of our country. I realize that you are privy to information that may make this seem like an impossible action to take, but it isn’t. If you set aside fear – for our security or your re-election, many options may reveal themselves. Tap into your creative thinking and allow your mind to go out of the box made by the military-industrial complex. You may be surprised by an innovative idea. War is never the answer, despite what people who are comfortable with it may advise you. Peace creates peace.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
War cannot drive out violence and terrorism. Only peace and compassion can do that.
We are counting on you.
Sincerely,
Holly Selden
Well - thanks for reading this. Hope it inspired you.
Holly
