Policy Causes Energy Costs to Go Up: Stop it

Ref: Letter to congress entitled, "Letter from the President to Congressional Leadership Regarding Oil Subsidies", published April 26th, 2011, and your weekly radio address on the same subject.

Dear Mr. President.

I believe your advisers are leading you astray in this area. Ostensibly, the purpose is to influence congress to help curtail the skyrocketing cost of energy in this country and spend it instead on green technologies by removing tax incentives.

The recommendation to remove $4 billion in business expense tax credits can only have one affect on consumer prices. The oil industry will do as all businesses do when their expenses increase: they will raise their prices. This will drive up the cost of living for every day Americans.

Oil is the primary mover of American economy. When its costs go up, so do the cost of every product and service Americans use and need. The problem will affect the working poor the hardest.

We will only produce more jobs and reduce dependency on foreign oil by tapping into our own mineral resources, not by making it more expense.

Investing in green energy, something that has been going on in earnest for over 30 years has yet to produce a reliable and relatively inexpensive alternative to oil. Even the ethanol project has proven to be a near zero sum gain while driving up the cost of food and the taxpayers are paying extra for it twice (taxes and retail). Spending should be ended on ethanol related subsidies.

We need energy now and experts agree: encouraging domestic production will have an immediate lowering effect on market prices.

America was the land of opportunity, but the continued anti-business, anti-opportunity and anti-success rhetoric and policies, in addition to the devalued US dollar due to unprecedented deficit spending, has greatly reduced our ability to create enough jobs to gainfully employ our citizens.

I urge you to reverse your position on legitimate business tax credits and open up ANWR and other areas to drilling and mining to ensure that this country remains the leader in this world and once more becomes the land of opportunity.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

President Calderón of Mexico Vists, Demands Change to US Border Crossing Laws

Dear Mr. President,

I see that the Mexican President believes that our illegal immigration laws are discriminatory.

I believe we should try to get along with Mexico and Mexicans by changing our border crossing laws and consequences to mirror Mexico's border laws and consequences.

Please let me know what you think of this idea.

Thank you for your service.

Remarks by President Calderón of Mexico at Official Arrival Ceremony
"I know that we share the interest in promoting dignified, legal and orderly living conditions to all migrant workers. Many of them, despite their significant contribution to the economy and to the society of the United States, still live in the shadows and, occasionally, as in Arizona, they even face discrimination."

UPDATE: I have received a response to my question. Only, it looks a lot like a form letter with the standard marketing that we've become used to and it made no mention of the subject of my email to the President.

PS: It;s kind of disappointing to see that the President's staff cannot spell the word "advisers" correctly. But at the same time, it does reveal the overall lack of professionalism of the Obama Administration.

You may read it if you like...

-------------------Begin-------------------

Thu 5/20/2010 2:45 PM

Dear Friend:

Thank you for writing me. Each day, I hear from
concerned Americans who are struggling in this economy.
Their stories encourage me to work harder to ensure every
American can find a good job so they can support their
families and their communities.

I have listed below just a few of the actions we are
taking to help hard-working American families get through
these tough economic times.

CREATING JOBS AND GROWING OUR ECONOMY

My Administration has taken critical steps to get us
back on our feet. Our economy is growing again, and last
year's flood of job losses has slowed considerably. These
are good signs for our future, yet they are little comfort to
those who are out of work or struggling to keep their home.
We are working tirelessly to push our recovery forward and
promote economic growth, accountability, and
transparency. To follow developments and track local
projects, visit: www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy and
www.recovery.gov.

ENACTING TOUGH WALL STREET REFORM

There were many causes of the turmoil that ripped
through our economy over the past two years. But above
all, this crisis was caused by failures in the financial
industry. It could have been avoided if Wall Street firms
were more accountable, if financial dealings were more
transparent, and if consumers and shareholders were given
more information and authority to make decisions.

But that did not happen. Special interests have
waged a relentless campaign to thwart even basic,
common-sense rules--rules to prevent abuse and protect
consumers. In fact, the financial industry and its powerful
lobby have opposed modest safeguards against the kinds of
reckless risks and bad practices that led to this very crisis.

The consequences of this failure of responsibility-
-from Wall Street to Washington--are all around us: 8
million jobs lost, trillions in savings erased, countless
dreams diminished or denied. We must do everything we
can to ensure that no crisis like this ever happens again.
That is why I am fighting to pass a set of Wall Street
reforms that would put an end to taxpayer bailouts; bring
complex financial dealings out of the shadows; protect
consumers; and give shareholders more power in the
financial system. To learn more, I encourage you to read
my April 22 remarks given at Cooper Union, just a few
blocks from Wall Street.

ENDING CREDIT CARD COMPANY ABUSES

My Administration is also working to help
Americans who have had their credit lines reduced or
interest rates increased without clear justification. Last
year, I partnered with Congress to pass the Credit Card
Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD)
Act. This landmark law took effect in February, and
promotes greater fairness, transparency, and accountability
in credit card practices. It requires companies to inform
credit card holders of payment timetables and accrued
interest, and it ends retroactive rate hikes and sudden
changes to terms and conditions. To read more about
CARD and how it affects you, please visit:
www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Fact-Sheet-
Reforms-to-Protect-American-Credit-Card-Holders and
www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy.

These reforms will have a tangible impact on the
ability of American families and businesses to achieve their
goals. For information on credit and consumer protections,
please visit: www.hud.gov/foreclosure or call 1-
888MYMONEY.

ASSISTING HOMEOWNERS

Many Americans are also struggling to stay in their
homes. Access to the American Dream is being tested by a
mortgage crisis that threatens the stability of families,
neighborhoods, and our entire economy. While many
Americans have received help, far too many are still unable
to refinance their mortgages or obtain loan modifications.
This crisis has not only hurt home values nationwide, it has
also had a dramatic effect on the credit Americans need to
purchase cars, pay college tuition, and grow small
businesses.

For assistance with a home foreclosure or to find a
local housing counselor, I encourage you to call your
mortgage servicer directly, speak with a housing specialist
at 1-888-995-HOPE, or contact the Department of Housing
and Urban Development at 1-800-569-4287. You can also
visit www.hud.gov/foreclosure or
MakingHomeAffordable.gov.

HELPING STRUGGLING FAMILIES

As our economy recovers, we must continue to help
those who are losing their jobs and struggling to pay their
bills. Every day, I meet with my economic advisors to
make sure we are doing all we can to create good jobs and
help Americans support their families and pursue the
American Dream.

My Administration is helping Americans return to
work by emphasizing job training in industries that cannot
be outsourced. Recently laid-off workers receiving
unemployment benefits have new opportunities to pursue
higher education and job training programs, including
easier access to Pell Grants. To encourage job creation in
the United States, I am replacing tax laws that send jobs
overseas with new incentives to create them here at home.
Available assistance can be found online at:
www.dol.gov/recovery/implement.htm or
www.Opportunity.gov.

Together, we can help more Americans find and
keep good jobs and enjoy a healthy standard of living. To
locate an employment center near you, select your state at:
http://www.dol.gov/dol/location.htm. For information on
benefits and opportunities for those out of work, I
encourage you to visit:
http://www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-unemployed.htm. To
find career resources, you may call 1-877-872-5627 or
visit: www.careeronestop.org.

While it will take time to turn our economy around,
I am confident that we will emerge from this crisis stronger
than before. For more information on jobs, health benefits,
housing assistance, and other public resources call 1-800- FEDINFO or visit: www.usa.gov. Thank you again for
writing.


Sincerely,

Barack Obama


To be a part of our agenda for change, join us at www.WhiteHouse.gov

------------------End of correspondence-------------------

Obama Keeps Tainted Goldman-Sachs Campaign Contributions

Thursday, April 22, 2010, 12:06 PM
Subject: Goldman Sachs Campaign Donations

Dear Mr. President

Recent reports disclose that Goldman-Sachs is being accused of securities fraud by the S.E.C. If Goldman-Sachs did profit from illegal actions, then any money they have is tainted. This includes money they have given to political campaigns.

Other reports tell us that your campaign received close to a million dollars from Goldman-Sachs and that you have said that you are not going to return the tainted money to them.

It seems that you are unaware of the incredibly bad message it sends to your fellow Americans. Keeping the tainted money sends the message that you either do not care what Americans feel about this, as if you believe it is none of our business, or that you believe this money, your money, is somehow compartmentalized and away from their tainted money. Just as with the federal government, all their money goes into the same account and can be earmarked for different projects. But, it still comes from the same pile.

No matter how it is nuanced, if Goldman-Sachs had not padded their accounts with illegal money, they would not been as generous to congressional and presidential campaigns. This much like giving tax dollars to Planned Parenthood and then claiming it does not go to pay for abortions. It’s all one pot.

Mr. President, please send the correct message and return Goldman-Sachs ill gotten gains and bring leadership, respect and responsibility to the Whitehouse.

Thank you for your service.

Sincerely yours

Israel is Constructing Homes: Oh the Pain

March 24th, 2010, 12:55 PM

Ref: Israeli homes construction

Dear Mr. President

I find the caterwauling by this administration concerning Israeli "settlements" in Israel to be offensive and harmful to our nation.

It is necessary to understand that the announced construction plans were to build apartments in an existing Jewish neighborhood, in a predominantly Jewish section of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. How that translates as a "new settlement" is beyond me. The issue seems to be fear of Israel expanding into Palestinian territories. Most intelligent Americans see that it does nothing of the sort. This would be a non-issue except for the ongoing statements to the media by your staff and the Secretary of State.

The Vice President's attitude towards the unplanned announcement looks very much like a diversion to his insulting 90 minute late arrival to a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. The coinciding announcement by a low level administrator had nothing to do with the Vice President’s visit. As far as I'm concerned, the prime minister’s apology was altogether unnecessary.

If there are apologies due, they would be from us to the Israelis for causing such a stir that resulted from an uninformed knee-jerk reaction.

This is a continuation of the unwarranted animus towards Israel displays a curious disregard for another of our allies in this trying world. The record is now clear that we are alienating our friends while coddling those regimes that will never be friendly towards the United States and even call for our destruction. I have no doubt that at some point, this approach will come back to haunt the American people in very deadly ways.

Mr. President, those who are advising you on this and other foreign affairs need to find an occupation where they will less dangerous to Americans. It is very obvious that they have little concern for international relations while ignoring the history of our interaction with other nations.

Finally,
Thank you for your support.

Sincerely yours