Love Letters to Federal Employees

An old favorite refrain from Sonny and Cher says it all..."and the beat goes on."

In a post, no pun intended, from the Washington Post, today, news is out about letters President-elect Obama addressed to federal employees on how he plans to change the agencies in which they work...

offering detailed descriptions of how he intends to add muscle to specific government programs, give new power to bureaucrats and roll back some Bush administration policies.

Employees of all seven agencies were contacted...

describing Obama's intention to scale back on contracts to private firms doing government work, to remove censorship from scientific research, and to champion tougher industry regulation to protect workers and the environment. He made it clear that the Department of Housing and Urban Development would have an enhanced role in restoring public confidence in the housing market, shaken because of the ongoing mortgage crisis.

For the Social Security Administration, he plans on adding more personnel to handle the backlog of disability cases.

Now this is a good thing. I've known too many folks that continued to be denied disability, not because they were not disabled, but it has been known for years that a "quota system" had to be met...usually three to five years of applying and re-applying, to finally receive their check.

The problem is, while awaiting the approval, marriages would break up, the business undergoes hardship and closes, foreclosure of home, car repossessed...you name it, once reaching the bottom, the little health that was once there is now gone, and so is the mental health.

So this is a good thing...IF they can process more cases.

"I asked him to put it in writing, something I could use with my members, and he didn't flinch," said John Gage, president of the 600,000-member American Federation of Government Employees, who requested that Obama write the letters, which were distributed through the union. "The fact that he's willing to put his name to it is a good sign."

The letters, all but one written Oct. 20, reveal a candidate adeptly tailoring his message to a federal audience and tapping into many workers' dismay at funding cuts and workforce downsizing in the Bush years. Many of Obama's promises would require additional funding, something he acknowledged would be difficult to achieve under the current economic conditions.

Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the letters were intended to communicate to federal workers his position on their agencies.

In a letter to Labor Department employees, Obama wrote: "I believe that it's time we stopped talking about family values and start pursuing policies that truly value families, such as paid family leave, flexible work schedules, and telework, with the federal government leading by example."

Department of Defense was the only agency not promised anything, which I believe is not good. In order for us to maintain a safe country, our defense must be made stronger. Otherwise we will be stepping off into potential chaos if we were attacked and also that of our allies. We must be ready to stand. My problem with acquainting a new "civilian defense force" ... who will make up this force. Will there be an indoctrination from birth forward? What dynamics will these "forces" be comprised of and how will their roles be made?

Restructuring our nation and its people, in these times will be a very tricky strategy as there are too many variables involved.

I sure wouldn't want to be in his shoes, but then I want to know where he plans on taking us in those shoes.

Redistribution of Wealth? NOT!

I know the campaign is over with a new president being installed shortly.

All those plans and agendas that were promised, are shortly to be fulfilled, right? I want to see a show of hands who believe this.

Well, first of all...that agenda (some fifty plus (50) pages if downloaded), as defined on his website, have been scrubbed...NON-EXISTA!

Why was it scrubbed? When asked, a member of his transition team stated they were "retooling" the site.

I bet!

Seems to me that when one makes a promise, especially in an election, they should keep it. But mark my words, read my lips, there won't be a REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH!

I can hear them saying now, "Oh, Oli, you're so full of it." Actually, my eyes are green which still mean I'm a quart low.

So why am I shouting this now?

Who put this man in office? If you believe in the tooth fairy, santa claus, and the easter bunny, then you think all the little people donated under $200 to his campaign coffers. The man raised more than six hundred million dollars which didn't come from the little folks. Too many rich folks did.

Don't believe a word about this promise. The WEALTHY didn't get rich by giving it away. Most of them are misers...I know a few! There are some exceptions, but even the Bible says it will be easier for a camel to get through the eye of the needle than a rich man.

Have you EVER seen a poor man in power? Don't think there is one, however, Obama did come from "simple" means, but who is he surrounded by? Who provided for him on his climb up? Wasn't student loans (Michelle had some, but not bo), but men of power and influence.

You think these powers that be want to SHARE their wealth, by being taxed to death? NOT! You think they are going to be made to pay higher taxes and we, the little folk, reap the benefits? Won't happen...greed had taken over the white house since the beginning of the 60's, after JFK's death. All the president's in recent history, have walked out with extreme bonuses, though, little is known about that or is rarely mentioned.

The Clinton's never owned a home until they left the white house. Now they own two, one outside New York City, for Bill, and the other in Washington for Hill. And these aren't cheap hovels, so again, where did the monies come from? Who invested in them to get what they wanted?