My Fellow Citizens

Dear Mr. President,

Good luck and Godspeed. Here is more free advice:

With a stroke of a pen ~ you can close the Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp. This would be a huge public relations boast for the United States – like opening a basketball game with a 3 point pop.

Stop the construction of the Texas – Mexico border fence. If we can’t figure out a way to get along with our neighbors, how are we going to win the war in Afghanistan?

De-emphasize our role as the world’s policeman. It doesn’t work. Let someone else chase the Somali pirates.

The Arabs and Israelis are pounding each other again in Gaza. Fifty years of American involvement and billions of dollars have done nothing to bring peace to this troubled area. With the exception of the bureaucrats who issue visas, bring home the diplomats and stop funding both sides. Let’s take a ten year hiatus and force the combatants to solve their own problems. Take all that money and put it into creating a workable health care system.

Speaking of visas, you need to fix the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA does nothing to enhance security. It is all a waste of time and money. The TSA is good at barking out mindless directions and harassing ten year old girls. Our British friends flew 8 hours from London Heathrow to Washington Dulles the other day and then spent another 3 hours getting into our country. Worse, they are green card holders and are pre-registered electronically with the new ESTA system. How embarrassing. It took me two minutes to pass through customs the last time I entered Europe.

A consortium of American college presidents advocates lowering the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 to stop binge drinking. I agree. While we are at it, let’s bring into line the age of adulthood to 18. This means that upon turning eighteen, one can vote, obtain a driver’s license, serve in the military and buy booze. Put together a committee of middle school students and let them come up with a Code of Responsible Adolescent Conduct. Anyone who meets or surpasses the Code can get a driver’s license at 17.

Finally, Mr. President, play some pickup basketball each Saturday morning. Hitting the hoops will keep you energetic and fresh. You are going to need it.

The Clermont Blog