Do The Right Thing

I saw something that really touched my heart. President Obama's team responded to a classroom of children who had produced a video from the Village School in Pomona. I'm not exactly sure what the video was about, but I believe it was about the needs of the people in the area and when President Obama visited Pomona last week, he made it a point to invite that classroom of underprivileged kids to attend his meeting and gave them VIP treatment.

Afterwards these children met with the President for 15 minutes. That meeting transformed their lives and perhaps their future. We have to give our President "kudos" for taking the time to touch the lives of these kids. Also, thanks to their teacher who inspire them to make that video and send it to the President.

Because of this extraordinary visit, these children will never be the same again. They have hope and they are thrilled. Instead of gangs and drugs, they are looking for opportunities to help and encourage one another and families in the community.

Thank you President Obama, you surely did the right thing!

Huck Town

On St. Patrick's Day, we had the opportunity to visit Nixon's Library and hear Governor Mike Huckabee speak as he was introducing his new book, "Do the Right Thing."

It was refreshing to hear someone who thinks and speaks for the silent majority who remember what it was to live in a place similar to "Huck's Town," where the neighbors knew each other's names and the names of the kids in the neighborhood; where you could ride your bicycle to school without fear of being mugged or abducted; where parents took on the responsibility of their children.

I remember if someone would complain to my folks about us kids, we would not only hear about it and get a scoulding, but sometimes a spanking as well.

I remember we never locked our car doors or our front door. And we loved to welcome newcomers into the neighborhood.

The message at the foot of the Statue of Liberty I believe is, "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Often I do think of those who are escaping to America with these same dreams that our forefathers had from the 1600's to the early 1920's. How many of our citizens today were children holding hands of their parents who sold everything to get a ticket to board an old freighter to make that journey to America. And upon landing at Ellis Island were greated by that great and beautiful lady, our Statue of Liberty with a Torch in hand held high to greet them with an open arms and heart of welcome.

These people laid a good foundation and helped build the American brand of "hard work and hard play."

As I listened to the Governor speak, I remembered those wonderful times in our history. Can this be achieved again? Yes, Only when the principles of "doing the right thing" are reinitiated back into the life of our society.

I'd recommend picking up a copy of the Governor's latest book.

The Right Stimulus

I think that all Americans were very hopeful that President Obama would bring to the White House a fresh look at how business in done in Washington. However, after we are nearing the first 100 days of his administration, we the people, the ordinary, working middle class people, cannot feel any change except that we are beginning to see the middle class working people host more anti-tax rallies, anti- lay off rallies and we have seen the cost of living rise, from McDonalds to the price we pay to go into Disneyland.

People are now using their limited resources to pay the rent, utility bills, and eat.
That's why the economy is still in the dumps.

Now we see that the so-called "smart" guys are beginning to voice their doubts about President Obama's administration's ability to lead America and renew trust and prosperity to the people. Instead, we the people, the ordinary people, are not hearing words of hope but words of blame, "blaming the Bush administration, blaming world leaders for not taking care of their financial business, blaming the Iragis, blaming the Rush Limbaughs."

Another $800 billion stimulus package that saves big mega corporations who's failed policies led to this gigantic collapse of our economy and yet leaves the little guy on main street with evictions, loss of jobs, huge 30% interest rates charged by credit card companies that in the past days would put these people jail for usury, and slapping the little guy who can hardly make ends meet with increased car taxes, property taxes, utility taxes, phone taxes, sales taxes, income taxes.

As a middle class America who earns way below $50,000 we are hurting. We are hurting and we see those around us hurting.

Not living in Beverly Hills but in the suburbs where real people live, we can see the increased crime rate, the frustrations and pain of the people on main street.

The "RIGHT STIMULUS" includes releasing the people on main street from the huge burden of tax, spending and fee hikes. Give the people $25,000 per family and you will see the economy rise. Give the money to the Big corporations, and they will continue to pay the salaries of their big nonproductive staff, luxury vacations etc.

And, everyone believes that "rich people" don't pay taxes. They know how to shelter their money. The ultimate burden of paying back the mess that these "stimuli packages" have brought to Americans is the American tax payer.

And don't blame our friends across the seas. Because they believed in America's hope they invested their money in our nation. If we don't keep their friendship, and they move their loyalties to another major nation such as Russia or China, then
ultimately Americans will suffer again.