Tell Obama to act on his words!!!

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Ok folks, Obama gave a great speech at his inauguration.  No surprise there, we all know he can give good speeches.  His speech hinted at a lot of good progressive action and ideas.  (he was the first to use the word gay in an inaugural address and I can’t believe any before him talked about climate change, but I am not sure)

But he, by nature of his office, is more of a follower than a leader.  For the past four years we have seen him follow Wall street’s advice, follow the advice of members deep in the military industrial complex,  follow advice from Monsanto, follow advice from the fossil fuel industry.  So we need to make sure we push him to follow what the American people want, and to FOLLOW THROUGH on the things he said in this wonderful speech.

So please take every chance you get to tell him what you want him to do (his phone number is: (202-456-1111 and you can email him here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments)

Some examples of where his words offer HOPE that he may CHANGE (if pushed to do so) what he has done or failed to do during his first term in office. 

We never know when we will have a more willing ally in the White House (and the jury is still out as to how willing he is) so the time is now.

Obama’s words:     “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.” 

 My reply: 

So far his administration has done very little, they were blamed for preventing a global climate change deal from happening at COP 18, he is on the brink of allowing the XL pipeline which would be ‘game over’ for the climate according to the leading scientists, he allowed more fossil fuel extraction than any president in history, I could go on.

What he needs to do, well many, many things, really, but we need radical action, not little band-aides.  One of the best ideas – a carbon tax and dividend so each person gets a check back to make up for the rise in cost of carbon based energy as we phase out of it. 

Obama’s words:  “We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war.”

My reply: on the same day he was giving this speech a US drone strike killed people in Yemen.  A war is still a war even when our own troops aren’t being killed.  Obama has GREATLY expanded drone strikes and even assassinations of US citizens abroad.  Yes, as much as I like Obama, he too is a war criminal, and this is probably why he did not let the Bush administration be brought up on any such charges.

Obama’s words: “We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully, not because we are naïve about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear.”

My reply:  again, drone strikes are increasing suspicion and fear!  Making us less safe and terrorizing the people of foreign lands.  Obama must put an end to these.

Obama’s words: “to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on earth.”

My reply: what about all the people held without trial in Guantanamo?  Bagram?  People we admit are innocent!  What about whistle blowers like Bradley Manning – tortured for 9 months while waiting for a trial.  What about Obama’s failure to get tough with Israel over their treatment of the Palestinians, even now as they plan to build even more settlements on Palestinian land that will make a two state solution impossible. 

Obama’s words: “our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote”

My reply:  The better fix this one, as preventing poor people from voting is one of the oldest tricks in the book. 

Obama’s words:  “our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity.”

My reply:  a better way to welcome them than deporting them?  Obama deported more immigrants than any other president.  He also spent more money on law enforcement for immigration than all other law enforcement combined.  He also signed numerous free trade agreements, which harm local economies in favor of multinational corporations, driving more and more people into poverty and desperation, leading to increased waves of immigration to this country. 

It was a great speech.  Time to put his money where his mouth is…and for us to do the same.

Peace.