Glenn's Daily Script

Yes, as an individual I would love to have less taxes. Less taxes give me more spending and saving money which makes life simpler.

In reality though, I am a bit of an altruist. This streak in me makes me want the appropriate amount of taxes for everyone.

I bring this up for 2 reasons.

First, President-Elect Obama has a recovery plan that includes tax cuts and tax credits for most of the citizenry. Yes, money for the lowest income earners could get them to spend a bit but for the middle class it won’t. Those people will spend on mortgages, food, car payments and things they are already spending on. If there is money left, they will save it in our current environment. Obama is doing what politicians always do and giving us something that he thinks will make us happy regardless of the true impact. I think given the current situation, most voters want something that will really fix the problem and not just a sugar pill.

The second reason is that I’ve seen Pelosi bring up the tax cuts that Bush gave the wealthy. She wants them repealed right now. Obama wants to wait until he has the lay of the land. Again, most of the voters want a real solution. My favorite is to get rid of special interest in taxes and just go flat. It may not happen but let’s go do something real and change the tax code to get rid of special interest.

Listen to the people – don’t placate us!

Ok, we’ve just elected someone who defined himself and his candidacy based on change. What is it or really, what should change be?

I’ve heard and read discussion that change is about bringing new approaches to everything. I think these written and spoken conversations define new approaches as something truly new and never been tried.

I think that definition is inadequate. I think this for 2 reasons. First, new approaches that are untried and untested and by those definitions very risky. We want change not failure. Second, the last eight years and to some degree the last 16 (because Clinton exhibited some of these traits too) had an uncooperative legislative and executive branch that not only bordered on hostility but crossed that border often. I think based on that the change we want is something different that these last 8-16 years.

Now, that being said, I do believe that some new approaches that are untried and untested are good additions to a whole and complete approach that includes these new approaches as well as tested and true approaches.

What I’d like to see is a positive and cooperative Washington that looks out for it’s citizens rather than focusing on corporations. What I’d like to see is a Washington that has some strong successes on the issues that are important to the citizens and are not overly compromised on making the results non-useful to it’s citizens.

Change needs to be something that works for our country and it’s citizens.

I voted for you.

I saw and heard lots about hope and change. I certainly believe in these times we could use both.

I saw and heard bits and pieces of your policies. Many of them sound smart.

What I hope that you can deliver on though is something else.

I would like to see and hear about integrity. I would like to see and hear that the citizens of this great country are put before the interests of large corporations or the government itself. I would like to see and hear about keeping promises that are made.

Citizens have not been supported by our elected officials for far too long. This includes areas like copyright enforcement to rights to privacy.

When you make a promise, I would like to see you keep it. And when circumstances force compromises that eliminate promises or compromise the intent of the promises, I would like to see you not go the exact direction.

Integrity is difficult when you are in the position of compromising in order to do important work but still, I would like to see you act in the highest integrity. That means not compromising in the wrong areas or compromising too much. It’s a tough balance but as has said about the job you are about to take: “The buck stops here!”

Yes, I hope that you can get our troops home and help unify the world. Yes, I hope that you can solve our financial issues.

But don’t forget that while you take on these challenges, we (Americans) are looking for a rebirth of integrity, honesty and putting our interests ahead of others.

Good luck! Sincerely,
—- Glenn