Don, I have written letters to every President since and including Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958. At the same times, I have written most of my Senators and Congressmen on the subject of note. I have received replies from all of them, except for the several letters I wrote to President Bill Clinton, and I am positive that he didn't want to hear anything I had to say. Many of the others didn't also, but at least I received replies even if they said they didn't agree with my point of view.

I am not egotistical enough to think that any President, Senator or Congressman actually saw/read my letters. Rather some staffer read them and made a tick mark for or against the subject I was writting about and then prepared a reply, using and AutoPen or computer in later years. However, I do believe that our elected officials will listen when there are enough tick marks for or against something and they will act accordingly.

I think your trepedation is misplaced because in spite of some of the things I wrote to Bill Clinton, the Secret Service nor FBI never contacted me. The real thing is to be respectful of THE OFFICE, and never make threats or swear or whatever. In other words, abide by the same rules we have to abide by on Fishin.com.

This is getting rather long but you asked for an example of what I wrote to Obama and here is a quote of my last email:

"Dear Mr. President,

I hear on the news that you want grass roots support for your economic recovery plans. Well, you will not get it from me.

Please stop all of these bailouts. They aren’t doing anything except driving our country further in debt. While campaigning, you blasted the Bush deficits and yet in two short months you and your administration have run up three times the debts of the Bush years. Please stop spending my money!! Please don’t bankrupt America.

Please get the government out of private industry, financial, automotive, and all others. I understand that the economy is in dire straights now but all of your ranting about how bad things are, is only making it worse, not better. People, myself included, need to hear the positive side of things not the constant doom and gloom that you are preaching.

I started working and earning my own spending money when I was twelve years old and I worked hard until I retired at 62. I would like to enjoy my retirement and not see the American financial system and America itself go broke under you massive spending and bailout plans.

Sincerely,"

Grumpy (I used my real name)

I emailed a copy of the above letter to my two Senators, my Congressman, to Nancy Pelosi and to Harry Reed. Not that I expect the latter two will listen to me any more than I expect Obama will but at least I can try. As I said before, if enough people will write letters/emails THEY WILL LISTEN.

Sorry for the long post but you asked for it,

Grumpy