Dear President-Elect Obama

Our hats are off to you for your hard work in your campaign. I don't recall seeing anyone ever work as hard as you did to win the highest office in the land. I also realize that you didn't do it by yourself. You had a lot of people working at making sure your message was heard and that people were aware of your platform.

I am writing as a member of the "baby boom" generation who are worried that our Social Security system will run out of money and that our health care system will be socialized to a point that my family can't get the care they need. I am a dad to two grown sons and I have two little girls who are going to grow up under your watch. I am asking you to listen to the voice of the average person. The powerful voice of special interests are going to call a payment due on you. I hope you don't bend to the selfish agendas they all seem to have. I hope you truly show leadership and always do what is going to serve the best interests of our country. I also have to tell you that I thought your opponent was better suited to lead our nation because he has served our country well as a pilot in the U.S. Navy and endured the nightmare of being a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. His service in the U.S. Senate with the ability to be bipartisan and always doing what he felt was best has been a source of inspiration to many Americans. Please not only don't forget Senator McCain but please don't forget many men and women like him that served in Vietnam. Seems to me the veterans of Vietnam are largely ignored because they don't have the muscle to lobby for health care and if nothing else a bit of thanks from the nation they served is in order in my opinion.

Please Mr. Obama don't ignore the people that witnessed Vietnam, Korea, and survived World War II and the Great Depression. I learned a lot from that generation. Senior citizens also don't have much of a lobbying effort and I am asking you to listen to their voices as well. Sir, I am also asking you to keep a closer eye on Wall Street and make sure the U.S. Justice Department locks away white collar thieves. Please also follow through on your promise to help the average person keep their heads above the turbulent financial waters. Keep searching for alternative forms of energy and do whatever it takes to get us from under OPEC and our dependence of foreign oil. We have been help hostage long enough.

When you take the oath of office in January I am asking you also to think about the people who served as president with honor, dignity, and truly led the United States through crisis and hardship. Sir, you have made history. I hope that you know that we are all going to get behind you and hope that your administration is one that will be remembered for leadership with values that most Americans hold dear. I hope many years from now when my daughters are in their golden years that you are remembered not by the color of your skin, but by the content of your character. A man from Georgia said that once. Good luck and God bless. Please stay in touch.

Respectfully,

Rhubarb Jones
70 Rhubarb Lane
Tallapoosa, Georgia
30176


Rhubarb Jones is a Tallapoosa native and is a Distinguished Lecturer in the Department of Communication and Director of Special Projects in the Office of Development at Kennesaw State University.
Comments are welcome via email at Rhubarbjones@aol.com or by writing P.O. Box 1001, Tallapoosa, Georgia 30176