THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF CHANGE

The current administration has initiated a number of promised positive changes to give America back to the people (middle class) but one major problem remains in force --The Government continues to support Wall Street at the Expense of the Middle Class.

America's obsession with investment as the answer to a successful economy continues to cause a neglect of the basic force for success in our Republican Democracy - -the Middle Class. It is the energy of the middle class that fuels our economy.

The solution to the crisis presented by the Secretary of the Treasury was consistent for what one would expect from a former President of a Federal Reserve Bank (NY) --Bailout the Banks at the expense of the Taxpayers. (All the hype about putting the tax burden on the rich is a subterfuge. A small percentage of the ill gotten gains of the rich will go toward the enormous debt undertaken. The middle class will bear the huge burden that will be taken out of their modest income, requiring extensive restraint and hardship.

Why not consider the middle class in the bailout picture "for a change." A Patriot Bond Issue similar to the Savings Bonds that financed WWII could switch the bailout from the Government to a loan to the Banks and the Auto Industry from the taxpayers. Banks and Auto Manufacturers could pay back the taxpayers with interest in a secured program that would be more compatible with the Private Free Market Business Enterprise System than the present program of government intervention (Nationalizing the Banks and Auto Industry.)

Perhaps we could continue the change to "transparency" and "Reform" and add a change to recognizing the middle class as the driving force in our economy. Let Wall Street make their honest gains and take their losses as the middle class is forced to do. Hold Ceo's responsible for their management of the people's investment in the corporations and more responsible management will result. Enact reasonable credit restrictions on loans and a more reasonable rate of mortgages will be foreclosed.

Gambling should only be allowed with "cash in the hand of the gambler that belongs solely to the gambler!

A TAXPAYER BAILOUT!

The Government has tried unconditional bailouts, loans and investment in stock to benefit Wall Street, the Banks and the Auto Companies in trying to solve the credit crisis; and reportedly some progress is being made, all at the expense of the taxpayer. Perhaps we should try a plan that would also be a benefit to the taxpayers? Perhaps something like a "Patriot Bond Issue" backed by the government and drawn on the bailout recipients. The bonds could yield reasonable interest (3-4% paid by the bailout recipients) with the interest tax exempt to a reasonsable annual limit of $10,000 or so, and the bonds would be made available for purchase by US taxpayers.

This private investment could wipe out the enormous debt the government has taken on and it would be more compatible with our private business enterprise system while affording the taxpayers a safe investment opportunity to supplement social security.

It is obvious that the stock market is not a reliable plan for retirement security and perhaps a safer, less ambitious investment plan would be a more realistic approach.

PULL OUT OF IRAQ

There is little to be gained by leaving "Advisors" in Iraq. Combat troops could at least try to protect themselves, but advisors are just sitting ducks.

There are extreemists that will resist until they are put under control by the Iraqi Government. These extreemists consider the US as their main enemy and will not yield as long as we are in Iraq. Our presence simply gives them another cause to pursue.

Every country has its Rebels and it is an internal problem that each country has to solve for itself.

The Mexican drug problem is another issue. Gun dealers and drug pushers in the US have caused the problem and continue to contribute to the problem. Actually, we are one of the main contributers to the drug problem in Afghanistan as well; and ironically the Teliban would probably do a better job of controlling this problem than we have done, or will do.

God help us to tackle the problems that we can solve and stay away from the problems that we cannot solve; and help us to know which is which.