Letter to President Biden

Penny Altman <mermaidspurse70@gmail.com>

1:52 PM (4 minutes ago)

to PRESIDENT

Dear President Biden,

I am a democrat who voted for you in the last election. I am 81, a little older than you, wondering about the rest of my life, hesitating to start new projects.  Upon consideration, I realized that if you can be president, I can behave as if my age has not diminished my relevancy or intelligence. I am horrified by our future.

As a culture, we live with the consequences of our devotion to the principles of individual freedom over all (read egoism) and capitalistic economics. We cannot do anything that loses money and those who make money receive power equal to the money they make. Economics, after all is a construct, as are our founding principles.  In this age, money is not something that is exchanged for goods and services, but numbers that are manipulated in computers. Yet every discussion regarding national  and global decisions start with How does this effect the economy?.   Whose economy? That conversation is addressing the corporations that stand in for  economic health and do not take any responsibility for the economic health of those from whom they make their profits. Add the effectiveness with which our technological media sells us the rightness of profit, the easy life and individual happiness, we continue to believe that happiness, to which we have a right, is bought by achieving the most comfort and goods and are not willing to give up anything to address the coming disaster.

When you ran as a candidate, I knew that you were moderate and wished for a more activist, braver choice. But I thought you knew the territory, understood that you worked well with others, was assured that you were caring and kind (I believe that) and know that managing the political stage takes tact and sensitivity, which I believe you have.  And I really thought you were honest.
 

I am disappointed by your compromises and your apparent lack of influence. I am disappointed by your choices to settle rather than press. How  can Donald Trump terrorize republican party members into behaving as Trump loyalists rather than as servants of the people, when you can’t influence the democratic members to give you what the people want? You have my sympathy.

This morning I read the following:
         “Less than a week after COP26—where President Joe Biden promised that America  would “lead by example” in the fight against climate change—the federal government hosted an auction through which to sell to oil and gas companies more than 80 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico for the extraction of fossil fuels. The sale is the largest-ever sale of oil and gas drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico.”

Given that we all know that in order to survive climate change we must drastically reduce – if not eliminate the use of fossil fuel, how can you possibly justify this sale. Taking this action after committing to doing what is necessary to make life viable for our children and future generations challenges my belief that you are, at least, honest.

You are an old man. I am an old woman. Though we already see the changes from warming now, we will not suffer it at its worst. You are an old man, but you took this job anyway.  Now do the right thing and be remembered for doing it, before it is too late for your grandchildren and mine!

Sincerely

Penny Shaff Altman