Sent to Congress today

Dear [Sen. Akaka/Sen. Inouye/Rep. Hirono/Rep. Hanabusa],

I am writing to ask you, in the strongest possible terms, to stand firm with President Obama on the issue of raising the national debt ceiling. In the first place, raising the debt ceiling should not be held hostage to major budget restructuring - it should be, as it has been in the past, a simple housekeeping measure. Given that the Republicans in Congress have forced this wholly avoidable crisis on us, it is extremely important that any budgetary adjustments must include a revenue-enhancing component.

Those of us in the working class have been "sacrificing" for years - although not by choice. We have seen our incomes stagnate, or even decrease, while the prices for everything we need in our daily lives (food, fuel, utilities - especially here in Hawai`i) keep going up. Yet, we see hedge fund managers making billions and only paying a 15% tax rate, and major corporations, also making billions, and paying no taxes at all. How can this be fair?

Please, [$NAME], do not let the Republicans press us into a cuts-only solution here. Personally, I would like to see a dollar-for-dollar match between actual spending (appropriations) cuts and revenue enhancements. Actually, I'd like to see a clean bill to simply raise the debt ceiling, and deal with the deficit reductions later. Of course, I know that if you did that, Congress would never get around to doing that work - it seems that only a deadline with dire consequences can force action.

Sincerely,

Henry Stilmack

On a Personal Note...

Dear Mr. President,

I've been contacting you frequently of late with my thoughts regarding the nation's debt limit "crisis". Today, I'd like to express my concerns on a somewhat more personal level.

My wife and I form a middle class family unit. We are definitely in one of the bottom tranches of what can be considered middle class - my salary is a little less than $100,000 per year, and my wife gets a whopping $650 per month from Social Security. I have good health insurance coverage through my employer (and thanks to Hawaii's health insurance laws), and my wife is covered by Medicare.

Mr. President, we are hurting. Five years ago, we were able to make our mortgage, utility and consumer credit payments, buy groceries and gasoline, and occasionally splurge a little on small luxuries. We both drive older, paid-for vehicles. In those five years, my salary has increased less than 3% in total, while nearly all of our costs (food, utilities, insurance, fuel) have increased by 15% or more. At this point, we are lucky to have as much as $100 left in disposable income at the end of the month after paying bills and purchasing necessary food, fuel, etc.

Economists might say that inflation has been low, but they factor housing costs into their calculations - and we don't buy houses every year. In fact, the equity in our home has shrunk by at least 30% since 2005. The fact is (and as you know, especially in Hawaii where a small increase in fuel prices gets multiplied into an increase in the price of everything) that the cost of everything we need to live has been going up while our income has been steady, which translates to a net decrease in disposable income for people like us.

Right now, my wife's Social Security income, small as it is, is the only thing that is helping us keep our heads above water. Yet, you now say you are willing to consider cutting even that meager amount. Mr. President, we and those even less fortunate cannot afford any reduction in our income - especially while the top 1% of earners in this economy are amassing over 90% of the wealth.

Please, Mr. President, please defend these minimum safety-net programs. They are, literally, the difference between life and death for many of our citizens. Don't throw away the legacy of FDR, JFK, and even LBJ for some short-term political gain.

(Out of space again - this 2500 character limit is junk.)

Malama ka aina. Malama na kanaka.

Just Raise the Debt Limit, Already.

Dear Mr. President,

As we get closer to the deadline to raise the nation's debt ceiling, I am watching with dismay as all of the involved parties continue posturing without anyone producing a reasonable plan. As I have previously expressed to you, I wish you would insist on a "clean bill" to raise the debt limit - which we have to do - and then use the normal budget process to work out a deal to get the nation's deficit under control. It is shameful if the only way Congress can be persuaded to work constructively on a budget is to hold the process hostage to artificial deadlines that have nothing to do with it.

Really, Sir, we know that the debt limit has been raised twelve times in the last ten years. We know it is simply a bookkeeping measure. You and the congressional leaders are really not fooling any of us that this is some kind of dire, unprecedented emergency.

I am also dismayed by the idea that, once again, the most vulnerable among us are, based on all the proposals being discussed, going to be bearing the brunt of any spending cuts. We know, Mr. President, that Social Security is NOT a contributor to the deficit. We know that simply removing the FICA and Medicare payroll tax caps would make both those programs solvent well into the future, with plenty of time to seriously consider any needed modifications. Many of us feel that cutting student loans is one of the worst things we can possibly do. We do not want the Government to stop ensuring we have clean air, clean water, wholesome food, and safe drugs. We do not want the Government to stop enforcing safety practices for mines, offshore oil platforms, or any other industries.

What we want is for all Americans to pay their fair share. Eliminate the capital gains carry loophole, and tax all income as, well, income. Eliminate the subsidies and exemptions that allow major corporations to pay a lower effective tax rate than the average citizen. End the wars - NOW. Bring the troops home, and start closing overseas bases - we can no longer afford a huge military presence in Germany, Japan, and other places.

As a good starting point, why not revert the budget and the tax code to what they were in 2000? This would be before the Bush tax cuts, and before the doubling of the defense budget. Things weren't so bad then.

I've hit my 2500 character limit.

Malama ka aina. Malama na kanaka.

Some Advice

Dear Mr. President,

In my letter from yesterday, I admit I took you to task for your performance in office, and for your negotiating stance on the debt ceiling. Today, I'd like to offer some concrete suggestions.

First, go back to the normal process; that is, push for a bill to increase the debt ceiling (because it is necessary), and move all the negotiation over deficit reduction into the normal budgeting process, where it belongs (I realize we haven't had a budget for several years, but that's another topic). Please do not fall for Sen. McConnell's latest proposal - it's a trap. The Republicans would block any of your proposed spending cuts under that plan, and portray you as a "tax-and-spend Democrat" - as usual. Don't fall for it.

You could make a public statement that, if the debt ceiling is not raised, we will pay military and railroad pensions, Social Security, Medicare, and interest on outstanding debt instruments, because that is required by the Fourteenth Amendment. What will stop immediately are payments to non-essential Federal Employees - which includes all Congressional staff, Customs Inspectors (no imports), air traffic controllers (no flying at all), Interior Department employees (no mining, drilling, or forestry permits), Patents and Trademarks Office (no patents), etc. Maybe even announce a freeze to military salaries. Let the people, and more importantly, the Republicans' campaign contributors, know exactly how they will be affected. I bet the Congressional Republicans' tune would change, quickly.

Mr. President, you talk about "shared sacrifice" - but it always seems that the only ones sacrificing are those of us at the middle to bottom of the economic ladder. Let's eliminate all Tax Code spending first, then look at what else needs doing to reduce the long-term deficit. In any case, increasing the debt ceiling should not be held hostage to deficit reduction negotiations.

Please, Mr. President, stand firm on this issue. You have, too often, given up too much to the Republicans' extortive tactics. You need to tell them, this time, that it's not going to work. If you do, and explain it to the people, you will come out ahead. If you give in, you will be blamed for the inevitable hardships that will follow an "austerity" program - and that could lead to a Republican victory in 2012. I can't imagine what shape the country would be in after that - no matter which of them won.

Malama na kanaka. Malama ka aina.

Please, get your act together!

Dear Mr President,

I was an early supporter in 2008. I had the first "Obama '08" yard sign in my neighborhood. For the first time in my life, I contributed my own money to your campaign. I had high hopes that, after the Bush decade, you would finally be able to start bringing this country back to what I've always thought were its core values - individual liberty, personal responsibility, respect for basic human rights, and compassion for the less fortunate among us.

I have to say I have been disappointed. You have failed to close the prison at Guantanamo; you have increased the US military presence in Afghanistan and have committed us to participate in a new war against Libya; you (in my opinion) squandered the opportunity provided by strong majorities in both Houses of Congress to pass a comprehensive universal health care program; you allowed the Bush tax cuts to be renewed; we still do not have any meaningful energy policy; and over 14 million Americans are still unemployed.

Now, the Republicans in Congress are threatening to bring about a potential financial catastrophe unless you agree to forgo any revenue-enhancing measures. Mr. President, we all know that the nation's deficit can never be decreased by spending cuts alone. They are trying to pressure you into draconian cuts to many important programs, after which they may, grudgingly, accept the elimination of some small tax expenditures.

Before considering cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs which primarily help those of us at the middle to bottom of the economic scale, please fight to eliminate all tax credits, allowances, and subsidies to corporations. Eliminate the capital gains loophole for hedge fund managers. Roll back the Bush tax cuts - on everyone, if that's the only way to do it. Bring the troops home. END THE DAMN WARS! Eliminate the FICA salary cap.

Mr. President, I will probably vote for you in 2012. I would like to do so because I think you are the best candidate, rather than the less disastrous alternative. I know that several people who were enthusiastic about your 2008 candidacy are feeling lukewarm, about 2012. I am afraid that, if you continue your current course, a large number of "natural Democrats" will just sit out the election, which could lead to your defeat. I don't want to see that, and I presume you don't either.

Remember: Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono. Malama na kanaka. Malama ka aina.

(You know, the 2500 character limit on the White House contact page SUX!)