I’ve been around a long time, since Harry Truman was President as a matter of fact. I’m pretty much just a working stiff, hoping to hang on to my private sector job for a few more years and what shreds of dignity I have left. So I thought it might be worthwhile to provide you with a little perspective that you might not get back in DC.
Back in 2008 I spent quite a few weekends walking the precincts here in Washoe County. There were quite a few of us, mostly young people, but not all. Retired teachers, a railroad guy, a middle aged gay couple who came over from California for 8 weeks on their own dime to help. We were inspired by a couple of things: the dreadful former president for one, but mostly this Audacity of Hope business and your gift for rhetoric. So it came to pass that Washoe County turned blue for the first time in many years.
So I was kind of surprised this morning by a couple of things. One was the headline in our local paper that this latest tax deal would not, in fact, be of any help to those Nevadans whose unemployment had run out. Apparently there was some sort of misunderstanding. The second was that you had characterized those of us that walked those precincts for you as sanctimonious.
So shame on me, at my age, for believing in the rhetoric of anyone running for President. Sure, I expected that I would not agree with you on every policy item or everything you did but I did expect you to fight.
We’re being crushed out here, Mr. President. Home values have fallen to 50% of their 2005 level. Our 401ks are decimated. Our business here which employed about 50 people 7 years ago is down to about 8 and we have very little backlog.
You have about a year and a half of your term left. At this point, very few of those who walked those precincts with so much hope in 2008 have much optimism left. You’re at a critical fork in the road Mr. President, but most importantly, so are we.
Good Luck.