Dear Obama, This is Your Chance

Dear President Obama,

Presidents are often defined by how they deal with unforeseen events. The Gulf Oil spill is now your opportunity to define your Presidency.

I voted for you and recognize many of the changes you have made in the way our government works. You have had to deal with many challenges left to you by previous administrations. In addressing these challenges you have failed to make the fundamental changes which would address the root cause of these problems. The question you need to ask yourself, is should the Federal Government fight to protect the interests of its citizens and the world in which we live or should it work to protect the unlimited power and greed of the corporate elite?

The BP Oil Spill is another example of how the past 30 years of deregulation and laissez-faire policies by the government has had devestating results. Three weeks before the blow out you said new drilling technology is safer. You failed to mention that although Canada, Norway, and Brazil require this safe technology, we do not. In fact BP admittedly did not even possess the tools to deal with an accident nor did they even have a plan of what to do.

Deregulation led to our economic crisis yet you kept those responsible for these policies in charge of our economy. The Health Insurance Industry has made health care unaffordable to many Americans yet you failed to address this problem. Massey Energy, private military contractors, the pharmaceutical industry, the energy industry. You name it, the power and control they have over the Federal Government is dangerous. Just as BP is demonstrating again (this is not their first case of criminal negligence as you must know) that left on their own, corporations do not look to the future nor do they have any reason to care about people or the environment. They care about profits. The role of the government is to make laws and make sure the corporations act responsibly.

It is time you deliver true change - especially if you want people like myself who worked hard for your election to be motivated to go to the poles in support of you and your party again. I am a green party member who may have to return to my party.

You need to return true balance to the Federal Government. This does not mean compromise with the corporate conservatives. Compromising with them basically gives them what they want. Health Care and Wall Street reform are great examples. If you want to provide balance you need to fight for the people and the environment - the corporate class and their lobbyists have more than enough power. We need you to take them head on and return reason to this country. Historically you have many bold, transformative Presidents from whom to draw inspiration.

A criminal investigation into BP is a start. Bringing back common sense regulations over industry - look at what other countries do to require safer oil drilling. But then you need to apply this across the board. Every issue facing our nation - national security, food security, water security, economic security, environmental security, energy security - they are all pitting uncontrolled corporate greed against the interests of humanity and the global environment. Corporations can still exist, do business, and make their CEOs and investors incredibly wealthy, but they need to be given LIMITS and rules under which they are allowed to operate.

Obama, it is time for you to lead, time for you to deliver the CHANGE those of us who voted for you were HOPING for. I still have the audacity to hope.

Danny Boyer
Half Moon Bay, CA