| Wednesday, October 7, 2009 |
| An Open Letter to Barack Obama |
I am well aware and realize that it has been less than a year since Barack Obama has been in office. However, all I see happening is ego-feeding. It seems that our President has taken great pride in being a celebrity. And really, who can blame him? Is that NOT what we all dream of at one time or another in our lifetimes? I challenge you to a few things.
What about the other side, Mr. President? I wonder how Washington reps., including yourself, would feel if, instead of talking a lot of nonsense and vowing to send support, you would just take a walk down Main Street. Absorb the sounds. Absorb the sights. Go sit down and talk with a family who has been enlisted in our armed forces for generations, and struggle as they may, STILL have this sense of loyalty; a sense of being in the greatest country ever formed.
Come to Rhode Island, visit Michigan, and take a look at the people in those two places who are struggling everyday just to find a job. Have a look and a coffee with a single mother (such as myself) and her life as she strives to do all she can to raise her children with what little she has (and fathers, too).
Go and meet the children of those single parents who recite the pledge of allegiance daily in school, with their hand nestled over their hearts, knowing all too well that although they have been warned many times that it is not their concern (as it is an "adult" problem), their parents are struggling just to keep their heads above water.
Come and visit Rhode Island. Yes, we exist, sir, and explain to the people living in the shelters why there is not adequate housing available to them in this time of economic need. Explain to people looking for jobs why they have to pay close to three dollars for a measley gallon of gas to get them around, that is, if they can even afford a car. While you are there, Look around and take notice of the number of small businesses, which, at one time or another, were Rhode Island's backbone, who now have to close their doors and uproot someplace else. And with that being said, there really aren't too many choices for that uprooting is there?
I am a single parent. I do not recall things EVER being so bad in my lifetime. I wish my grand dad was still with us so that perhaps he can shed some light on how exactly they survived the great depression. I, like so many others, could certainly use all the help I could get right now, even if it is just advice on survival.
Personally, I feel the priorities are a little messed up at the moment. Perhaps if more people felt secure in their jobs, or had jobs for that matter, maybe-just maybe people would be a little more receptive to fixing the health care system. I suppose you have to fix only the things you feel confident that you can change, right?
To be quite concise, I am not at all concerned about health care right now. I am more concerned with my ability to provide for my children in a country who has let me and a lot of others down. So much for the land of opportunity. I'm just not feeling it.
I do hope that you make good on your word other than just healthcare reform and at least try to be there for "the lil guy". Bailing out the banks and car manufacturers? What good that did I will never know.
Oh...One more thing. Thanks for the extra $25 in our unemployment checks. That's a little bit more gas each week, and perhaps the occasional candy bar we like to treat our kids to once in a while.
Sincerely,
Chrissyisms |
posted by Chrissyisms @ 4:19 PM  |
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| 7 Comments: |
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I hope that President Obama reads your blog my dear friend. Best regards, Ian
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Hey Chrissy, how long you spend in radio? What calls/markets?
Guitar player, too? Cool!
-steve
Rochester, MN
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Hey Steve,
Welcome to my blog and thanks for commenting. I did my "time" (lol) in Providence, RI : ) Impressive profile you have!!
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Unemployment..What is that? I was discriminated against my own money because I am a single mother. Not a thief, liar, fraud or anything unjustice or unmorlistic, but a mother. Unemployment needs to start taking more the employees side when it's based upon a reason you had no choice over..e.g undependable weekend child-care. Especially when you had seniority in the company to get your scheduled changed. Instead they decided to go with those who were students and beneath me.
Kuddos to your Blog Chrissy. Add Tennessee to your list of states. If you need any state assistance, all they will give you is the government guideline..$142 and a bunch of headaches with it. Hopefully the Prez (as you titled him) will start opening his eyes and see who is the heart of America.
You have no idea how frustrated I am being a single mother and get the shit end of the stick in everything! I would love to be a full-time student, but how is it possible when you have a child to tend to, bills to pay (rent) and living expenses? Sure you can if you have some kind of income coming in along with family and friends to help you as well. What if you have none of the above? Going to school is that of a full-time job. Grants and federal loans are just enough to get you in school, but nothing more. I feel my brain is going to such a waste and I have no way to apply it the way I'd seek. Why can't federal loans be based the same way as a personal loan? Get all that you need. You can't bankrupt a federal loan like you can a personal. All makes no sense. 3.8 GPA from the summer I was able to go to school and unable to continue to apply my brains. Only reason I was then was because I was fortunate to live with someone as their housekeeper and that paid for my room and board.
Furthermore I'd like to add. What about short-term disability? I am in a situation now that I need it, but this state doesn't offer. They did in California. You received through the unemployment office with a legit doctors note with complete medical reasons why. This is why California is in such hurt now because it is a state based on helping out their own that and over populated, but mainly based on the first.
OK I have done my share of venting. Add those above to your Blog as well. Something needs to give for the single parent who has NO ONE and trying to do it all on her own.
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Let me clarify something else here: Someone on twitter made this comment: "@chrissyisms2 People who need to get on their feet are more important than people dying as a result of their lack of proper medical care?" And my reply to that is simply this: If there were more jobs, people would HAVE health coverage. If there were more JOBS people would BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO EAT. If there were more JOBS people would not FREEZE in the winter...It is CAUSE and EFFECT. People would be able to take care of themselves if they had the resources.
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And furthermore, people being on their feet are FAR MORE IMPORTANT than bank execs getting their bonuses.
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Chrissy, you are so right! If the president did more to make sure that there were more adequate affordable housing, then there wouldn't be so many families struggling in shelters and getting ill because of stress, lack of proper nutrition, and the close proximity of germs. The President helped out all those executives, so they can go home to their cozy, warm mansions, open their full refrigerators, and relax in their comfortable easy chair while watching their big screen tv with a million different channels. Obama should have made community service part of the deal for these people getting a bail out. Put some of these people in a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter, maybe they'd learn something about the value of a dollar.
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I hope that President Obama reads your blog my dear friend. Best regards, Ian