OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT

July 28, 2009

Dearest President Obama,



I am truly saddened to be writing you with such disappointment in my heart. Initially, you gave me such hope...and yet I continue to be shocked with the part you're playing in perpetuating the corruption of our government. The people asked for an end to war, and yet you increased troops in Afghanistan. We asked for economic responsibility, and yet you gave the elite and richest of this country bailouts that have had ZERO trickle down impact (rather the opposite!). The people asked for better education, and yet teachers just took a cut in pay because we have more administrators. The people are hurting now, more than ever.



I see your work with serve.gov and health-care reform, and these are notable efforts that I applaud. However, I ask you to distance yourself from your advisers that have been immersed in government so many years, as their voices are not those of the people.



Please give me that hope again. I cried tears of joy on the day of your inauguration.



Yes, we still can.



Respectfully,



~Emily Richards

