Gee, Think.

I love Alan Grayson’s style. He has the attitude that I think has become necessary in this political climate, except he’s on the same side as I am on many issues. He’s the congressional representative of Florida’s 6th district. Yesterday he sent an email out looking for comments to pass on to President Obama. I drafted a little off the cuff litany of requests and sent it off. Who knows, maybe it was heard! Either way, it feels good to write down and express some of the frustrations I’ve had with our current political course.

Here’s what I sent:

Congressman Grayson,

Please tell President Obama that he needs to stop compromising with the Republicans because they won’t support him anyway. Compromising on good ideas like financial reform, climate legislation, and health care, just loses credibility and support within the voter base that elected him. Forget the corporate influence since you are the President. Lead us in direction of more true reforms that don’t make concessions to corporations. The media will attack you for this, but the people will support you.

End the wars now. We are losing our nations wealth in terms of human life and resources, and we are bringing devastation to the lives of families in Afghanistan and Iraq. These adventures are nothing more than imperialistic expeditions that funnel money into contractors and other companies that profit from defense spending. It has gone on long enough, we are not making any ‘progress’ and it needs to end.

Also, the gag order around reporters in the gulf region pertaining to oiled wildlife and containment booms is Orwellian and repugnant. I am glad that the President came out on the side of Religious freedom regarding the Islamic mosque at ground zero, but I think the infringement on first amendment rights in the gulf was atrocious. While we are on the topic of rights, how about reinstating habeas corpus?

Regarding energy, the support of nuclear energy is a really tremendously awful idea. The risks with nuclear are far too great. We should instead be providing these loan guarantees to developing off shore wind, for example. The oil catastrophe is a great moment to seize upon public disgust with our oil companies and move toward renewable energy sources. Just to be clear, clean coal is not one of these options.

Thank you Congressman Grayson for considering these few concerns off the top of my head.

Mr. Obama,

Please end the way in Afghanistan without adding more troops.  You still have time to listen to your heart and do what you know is right.  We the people who elected you demand that you show a difference in policy from your predecessor Mr. Bush.  We elected you because we believed that a change was coming.  If you do not end the war, how can we continue to support you?  You have started the health care reform process.  You have fostered the debate.  But that is not enough.  We need military leadership from you that focuses on peace.  Afghanistan has become our Vietnam.  Please show the courage that we know you have within you.  Please show that you are our real President of change.

Sincerely and with all due respect,

Garrett Wilkin