After watching the news this evening and an commercial by BP that indicates it was their idea to pay out the $20 billion in relief, I felt I needed to get verbal and sent the following missive to the President. I doubt if it will do any good or if I will get a response but at least it allowed me to vent, and they haven't taken that right away yet.
The letter follows.
Dear President Obama,
When are you going to take charge in the Gulf? BP is looking out for BP they have no interest in the fate of thousands of Americans or the precious natural resources their greed is destroying. Watching the news tonight raises the questions - where are the skimmer boats, there should be thousands but the few seemingly available are spread out.
How effective are the booms? Why did it take so long for Louisiana to receive permission to send out the barges to protect the outer islands? What is being done to block the oil invasion of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida not to mention Louisiana? Please do not say everything is being done because if that is the case all is lost.
Your administration has to prevent our nation's Gulf States from losing their livelihoods, their history and their uniqueness, not to mention their natural resources and ecosystems. Lack of leadership will only lead to the USA becoming dependent on others for all matters of seafood, the destruction of an entire unique ecosystem, and once again showing the American people that the folks in D.C. are big on talk but slow on action. Its time to take the initiative away from BP and take control.
What immediate steps is your administration going to do to protect the Gulf? Thus far you have held back on the initiatives and plans of the governors and mayors of the area, what do you have to offer that they haven't?
I would greatly appreciate a response.
Thank you.
Michael Wolfe
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Protect USA from Off Shore Drilling
As the situation worsens in the Gulf and one judge - who just happens to have oil stocks and investments - said the government's six month ban on off shore drilling is unconstitutional, I thought it was time to write to the President and my Senators to make sure they were doing everything possible to insure that no further disasters of this kind occur.
My letter to the Senators follows. As always feel free to use all or part when contacting your representatives.
If we the people keep silent, the Washington gang will continue to do whatever the hell they want.
Its Common Sense!
Dear Senator
As the tragedy of the Gulf continues to worsen and with the possibility of hurricanes making this tragedy a probable epic catastrophe, I want to know what you and your colleagues in the Senate are doing to insure that nothing like this occurs in the future.
Specifically, even though there is currently a six month halt to off shore drilling, the reality is that between the influence of the oil companies, their lobbyist and people in power - be they judges, in Congress etc - the drilling will continue. Is Congress going to make it a mandatory law that all primary drilling platforms have two functioning relief platforms ready to take over in case of an emergency, such as the one the nation has been watching for the past several months? Is Congress taking the necessary steps to insure that our coastlines will never again be placed in the jeopardy facing the coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and possibly Texas?
Please provide the specific measures Congress is enacting to protect our country from greedy oil companies, who care only for profit, not people or environment. The actions and statements of the BP leadership have clearly shown that what is taking place is the Gulf is clearly an embarrassment and financial drain to them, but I have yet to get a sense that they really care about all of the damage - short term and long term - they caused. They just want it over so it can be business as usual.
Is Congress going to protect the citizens of the United States from that greedy/profit mentality? Or, does Congress plan on simply offering words of consolation while doing nothing concrete?
What is being done? How will the measures be enforced? Will the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice be given the teeth to attack these corporate terrorists who are destroying our country? Look at the damage to the Gulf - this is an act of terrorism because the lack of responsibility on the part of BP is clearly an attack on our country, making it a terrorist act - going to be allowed to continue?
Looking forward to your response.
Michael Wolfe
My letter to the Senators follows. As always feel free to use all or part when contacting your representatives.
If we the people keep silent, the Washington gang will continue to do whatever the hell they want.
Its Common Sense!
Dear Senator
As the tragedy of the Gulf continues to worsen and with the possibility of hurricanes making this tragedy a probable epic catastrophe, I want to know what you and your colleagues in the Senate are doing to insure that nothing like this occurs in the future.
Specifically, even though there is currently a six month halt to off shore drilling, the reality is that between the influence of the oil companies, their lobbyist and people in power - be they judges, in Congress etc - the drilling will continue. Is Congress going to make it a mandatory law that all primary drilling platforms have two functioning relief platforms ready to take over in case of an emergency, such as the one the nation has been watching for the past several months? Is Congress taking the necessary steps to insure that our coastlines will never again be placed in the jeopardy facing the coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and possibly Texas?
Please provide the specific measures Congress is enacting to protect our country from greedy oil companies, who care only for profit, not people or environment. The actions and statements of the BP leadership have clearly shown that what is taking place is the Gulf is clearly an embarrassment and financial drain to them, but I have yet to get a sense that they really care about all of the damage - short term and long term - they caused. They just want it over so it can be business as usual.
Is Congress going to protect the citizens of the United States from that greedy/profit mentality? Or, does Congress plan on simply offering words of consolation while doing nothing concrete?
What is being done? How will the measures be enforced? Will the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice be given the teeth to attack these corporate terrorists who are destroying our country? Look at the damage to the Gulf - this is an act of terrorism because the lack of responsibility on the part of BP is clearly an attack on our country, making it a terrorist act - going to be allowed to continue?
Looking forward to your response.
Michael Wolfe
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Senator Mikulski on Immigration Reform
Senator Mikulski responded to my letter on Immigration and illegal aliens. See if her response makes you feel like me that we will never see any real reform.
Dear Mr. Wolfe:
Thank you for contacting me about immigration and the current debate about immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you about this issue.
I absolutely agree with you that our nation's immigration system is broken and must be repaired. I believe that comprehensive immigration reform must protect our borders, protect American jobs and not penalize those who have played by the rules. It is important that we adopt a sensible approach to dealing with the illegal immigrants who are currently in the country.
As Congress continues to work on immigration reform, I will continue to work on finding sensible, bipartisan solutions to fix the immigration system. I appreciate hearing your views on immigration reform and want you to know that they will be useful to me as the Senate continues to debate this issue.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator
Dear Mr. Wolfe:
Thank you for contacting me about immigration and the current debate about immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you about this issue.
I absolutely agree with you that our nation's immigration system is broken and must be repaired. I believe that comprehensive immigration reform must protect our borders, protect American jobs and not penalize those who have played by the rules. It is important that we adopt a sensible approach to dealing with the illegal immigrants who are currently in the country.
As Congress continues to work on immigration reform, I will continue to work on finding sensible, bipartisan solutions to fix the immigration system. I appreciate hearing your views on immigration reform and want you to know that they will be useful to me as the Senate continues to debate this issue.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Immigration Reform/Illegal Aliens
With all of the debate regarding Arizona's "immigration" law and the president of Mexico voicing his objections - I understand he prefers his poor here and not there - I wrote the following suggestion to President Obama and my senators.
I am certain not everyone will be pleased with my proposal but I think it could help improve the situation.
Here's the letter, let me know what you think.
Dear President Obama
I read an article that you criticized Arizona's immigration law during a visit from Mexico's president. Imagine controversy over the Arizona law, which would make it a state crime to be in the country illegally.
My question is why isn't it the national policy that being in the country illegally is a crime?
The citizens of Arizona are seeing their state overrun by illegal workers and drug smugglers, they are seeing entire families being slaughtered along the border and the United States government has done nothing but talk. To listen to the folks in D.C. it is the illegals who are being mistreated, not American citizens.
The people of Arizona said "Enough" and took action. Maybe this is the wake up call the folks on Capital Hill need to take action.
I have the following suggestions for immigration reform.
1. Prosecute the employers of illegal aliens. I do not mean with a slap on the wrist or a petty fine. What I propose is that an employer of an illegal alien does a year of jail time for every illegal employed, as well as paying all back taxes- Federal, State, Local and Social Security/Medicare - that was stolen from the American public, as well as a ten thousand dollar fine per illegal. (If that was the law the CEO of Amour Meats would be facing life imprisonment rather than the little fine for having hundreds of illegals working in his meat packing plants.)
If there are no jobs for the illegals, then they will have no incentive to come here.
2. Amnesty. I am in favor of amnesty, if the following conditions are met. All illegals who register need to provide the name of their employer. Going on the assumption that the illegal has worked twenty years "under the table", unless proven otherwise, he needs to pay back taxes, Federal, State and Local, Social Security/Medicare, based on the salary he should have received at his profession, not on what his employer paid for "under the table". The employer needs to be penalized as explained above in number 1.
3. Work visas can be issued along our borders. Those applying for the visas, like anyone else caring a visa to come to the USA, can apply, be investigated and if they have no criminal record and have needed job skills, be allowed into the county for work purposes. Work visas should be distributed evenly to all nationalities using a quota system to insure that the USA does not show favoritism to any one nationality.
Make employers liable with stiff penalties and the illegals have no reason to come because they will not have work. If the illegal workers stop coming then our border patrol and law enforcement officials can concentrate on drug dealers and terrorists.
Congress needs to make our citizens accountable for their actions. Sadly, it is greedy employers who are responsible for the flood of illegal aliens into our country. Their greed is destroying our school systems, our health system and the status of life for legal Americans during a crisis when thousands are willing to work accepting whatever work is available.
Punish the guilty, let the Americans and legal aliens work, and allow the USA to return to its former strength when we welcomed legal immigrants who wanted to better themselves and their new county,.
I am certain not everyone will be pleased with my proposal but I think it could help improve the situation.
Here's the letter, let me know what you think.
Dear President Obama
I read an article that you criticized Arizona's immigration law during a visit from Mexico's president. Imagine controversy over the Arizona law, which would make it a state crime to be in the country illegally.
My question is why isn't it the national policy that being in the country illegally is a crime?
The citizens of Arizona are seeing their state overrun by illegal workers and drug smugglers, they are seeing entire families being slaughtered along the border and the United States government has done nothing but talk. To listen to the folks in D.C. it is the illegals who are being mistreated, not American citizens.
The people of Arizona said "Enough" and took action. Maybe this is the wake up call the folks on Capital Hill need to take action.
I have the following suggestions for immigration reform.
1. Prosecute the employers of illegal aliens. I do not mean with a slap on the wrist or a petty fine. What I propose is that an employer of an illegal alien does a year of jail time for every illegal employed, as well as paying all back taxes- Federal, State, Local and Social Security/Medicare - that was stolen from the American public, as well as a ten thousand dollar fine per illegal. (If that was the law the CEO of Amour Meats would be facing life imprisonment rather than the little fine for having hundreds of illegals working in his meat packing plants.)
If there are no jobs for the illegals, then they will have no incentive to come here.
2. Amnesty. I am in favor of amnesty, if the following conditions are met. All illegals who register need to provide the name of their employer. Going on the assumption that the illegal has worked twenty years "under the table", unless proven otherwise, he needs to pay back taxes, Federal, State and Local, Social Security/Medicare, based on the salary he should have received at his profession, not on what his employer paid for "under the table". The employer needs to be penalized as explained above in number 1.
3. Work visas can be issued along our borders. Those applying for the visas, like anyone else caring a visa to come to the USA, can apply, be investigated and if they have no criminal record and have needed job skills, be allowed into the county for work purposes. Work visas should be distributed evenly to all nationalities using a quota system to insure that the USA does not show favoritism to any one nationality.
Make employers liable with stiff penalties and the illegals have no reason to come because they will not have work. If the illegal workers stop coming then our border patrol and law enforcement officials can concentrate on drug dealers and terrorists.
Congress needs to make our citizens accountable for their actions. Sadly, it is greedy employers who are responsible for the flood of illegal aliens into our country. Their greed is destroying our school systems, our health system and the status of life for legal Americans during a crisis when thousands are willing to work accepting whatever work is available.
Punish the guilty, let the Americans and legal aliens work, and allow the USA to return to its former strength when we welcomed legal immigrants who wanted to better themselves and their new county,.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Education, Jobs, Debt?
A few days ago the news came out about how many states are cutting back (firing) teachers because the states do not have the funds for education. Classroom size in many states will escalate from 25 kids to anywhere between 40-50 kids.
To listen to representatives in Congress, regardless of which party, they are still pushing the concept that the United States is the leader of the 'Free" World. However, the sad truth of the matter is that as education standards in this country continue to fall, we will be below the majority of so called Third World countries in the area of education, not to mention manufacturing, farming etc. Our country is on a down hill slide, and our current leadership is only making it worse.
Look at education. Most of the people I know from foreign countries can not understand how a school system passes forward children who can not read or write. In their countries, if you do not meet the standard, you fail and are held back. It used to be that way here, but somehow some do gooders sold the concept that it hurt the child's self image if they failed. Don't they think it hurts their self image if they can not read and write like the kids around them?
Education in this country needs to go back to the good old days when giving the child a quality education was the goal, not worrying about their feelings.
How to do it? That is the real question, especially in this time of tight to non-existent budgets. What can government do?
The way I see it there are three options.
1. Take the money used for the bank and car bailouts that has been repaid and re-infest that money in education.
2. The government can take that same money, re-invest it in job creation and then once the work force is re-established, use their tax dollars to fund education.
3. Finally since the bail out money was borrowed from China, we pay back the loan, cut down the national debt, let a few years pass until the economy is back on a positive track and then start dealing with crisis's like education and jobs.
Sadly, there are no easy answers. Its a matter of priorities. Let your representatives know what your priorities are and push your agenda. After all, our future is tied up in all of this.
Its Common Sense!!
To listen to representatives in Congress, regardless of which party, they are still pushing the concept that the United States is the leader of the 'Free" World. However, the sad truth of the matter is that as education standards in this country continue to fall, we will be below the majority of so called Third World countries in the area of education, not to mention manufacturing, farming etc. Our country is on a down hill slide, and our current leadership is only making it worse.
Look at education. Most of the people I know from foreign countries can not understand how a school system passes forward children who can not read or write. In their countries, if you do not meet the standard, you fail and are held back. It used to be that way here, but somehow some do gooders sold the concept that it hurt the child's self image if they failed. Don't they think it hurts their self image if they can not read and write like the kids around them?
Education in this country needs to go back to the good old days when giving the child a quality education was the goal, not worrying about their feelings.
How to do it? That is the real question, especially in this time of tight to non-existent budgets. What can government do?
The way I see it there are three options.
1. Take the money used for the bank and car bailouts that has been repaid and re-infest that money in education.
2. The government can take that same money, re-invest it in job creation and then once the work force is re-established, use their tax dollars to fund education.
3. Finally since the bail out money was borrowed from China, we pay back the loan, cut down the national debt, let a few years pass until the economy is back on a positive track and then start dealing with crisis's like education and jobs.
Sadly, there are no easy answers. Its a matter of priorities. Let your representatives know what your priorities are and push your agenda. After all, our future is tied up in all of this.
Its Common Sense!!
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