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.