Dear Mr. Trump:
The mantra of your campaign, as we've all heard, is that you're 'going to make America great again'. I believe, of all the candidates, you are the one who can do this.
The wall is a good start - a solid and do-able start, and I look forward to seeing it happen.
That said, what's concerning to me and (I think) to many potential voters, is that you are too quiet or vague on how you're going to do the other things you've talked about. Like healthcare and cutting 'waste, fraud and abuse' in government. That's something that's been talked about by every presidential candidate since I started voting - and probably before then. Tell us how, explicitly, you're going to do this.
Regarding healthcare, you've talked about 'getting rid of the lines'. Okay, that's a good step. But tell us how you're going to do this. What will be needed? Give us some idea of what you have in your plan after the lines are gone. Will you use Medicare to cover the indigent? Will you tax people or businesses to do that? What is your ultimate goal - aside from repealing Obamacare? Tell me.
What about those Polish workers? If a contracting company your people hired was at fault, make it clear why you were sued - was it because of deep pockets and the ability to pay? Directly address this issue because it is a big question mark for a lot of people who don't understand that matter.
Directly address the issue of the foreign workers in Palm Beach. That could grow legs and be a problem. It could certainly be a problem come the Florida primary.
Be specific about government waste - how you're going to cut the fat (not just trim it, but take a chainsaw to it). There is plenty of room for doing this - but tell us your plan.
Please, for God's sake! Be explicit about Planned Parenthood. In the minds of most of us, PP is a left wing, liberal monolith that does nothing but abort children. So tell us two things:
First, tell us what you like about it. Then, in the very next breath, tell us in no uncertain terms that, despite the good things it does, it will be defunded because money is fungible. We might be the unwashed masses but we still understand that even if Planned Parenthood says it won't, it will, so stop it. Offer alternatives for low-cost women's health screenings through whatever will be the replacement of Obamacare.
Talk about the bankruptcies - what they were and why, how they were implemented. Tell us what happened after them, how sorry you are for the people left behind and what you did to help them.
Talk about the other core issues that are being raised. The tax returns are gaining momentum out here in the hinterlands - the time to do damage control is now, no matter what Romney or anyone else did.
Mr. Trump, it is time to stop side-stepping around the issues. You have got to talk about this stuff openly, directly, and without hyperbole because the media is no longer paying attention to you. Since Thursday night's debate, they are all over Rubio and Cruz and Kasich because that is who the Establishment want in the Oval Office.
Take your case to the American voter. Be clear. Be specific. Let us inside the walls enough that we, even the uneducated or those lacking big picture capacity or strategic forward-thinking can see what's planned.
You don't have to get down into the weeds - just paint in broad strokes, give the flavor of it. Have Melania and Ivanka and other proxies get out and spread the word. It's impossible to do it all yourself - so have your friends help. Christie, Arpaio, LePage and others can do wonders - and can answer the questions that Hilliary is certain to bring when you face her.
If you address these things before you face Hilliary, she will have less ammunition to use to try to bring you down.
The other thing that's getting really old, are the antics - the name calling and childish antics of throwing water around the stage.
For your disciples - me included - that's fine (although I will say I'm getting a bit weary of it), but for others who are outside the sandbox looking in, they're liable to shake their heads and go to the next sandbox to see what's going on there. If they find a more attractive sandbox, they're going to step inside, park their butts and it's game over until after the convention. Then they'll have to take another whiff and if they don't like the way the consolidated sandbox smells, they'll either defect or stay home.
Mr. Trump - this is winnable - but you have got to be a bit more clear. You have got to be more presidential - more adult than the rest of us. Stop repeating the mantra to the exclusion of hard ideas. I want a hook on which to hang a hat - please give it to me.
Thanks.
Best~
Philippa
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilippaStories
Showing posts with label Open Letter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Open Letter. Show all posts
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Thursday, September 17, 2015
An Open Letter to Donald Trump
Dear Mr. Trump:
I watched last night's debate with interest because I am one of the many in the 'silent majority' who are distressed by the interchangeability of the Washington insiders. No matter on which side of the aisle the individual sits, they are no different than those in the other banks of seats when you dig past the outer layer of skin. Even watching the candidates on the stage last night I could see both sides of their mouths working. The right side saying what they think potential voters want to hear, instead of saying what they actually think and would do.
Having someone who is as direct, as outspoken and as unapologetic as you seem to be in the race is refreshing. I cannot speak for anyone else, of course, but when you say something I know it's honest and from the heart - good, bad or ugly - it is you. With that said, however, I must also say that the empty platitudes are wearing thin.
Regarding Putin and your declaration of 'He's going to like me.' Why? How do you know? I recognize that an arrogant bully such as Putin will respect someone of equal strength and determination, but how will you confront him? How will you position yourself, as President of the United States of America, to go toe-to-toe with him?
The repetition of 'terrific' may well be true, but why? 'He's terrific.' 'She's terrific.' 'They're terrific.' That's all wonderful, but why? What makes s/he / they terrific? Are they nice or smart or... what?
I recognize full well that you are a capable manager. There is no question that you are smart, probably sometimes brilliant in your insights and understanding of the business world. That is proven by your track record. A capable manager, a successful manager must know what they don't know and must fill those gaps by surrounding themselves with strong, smart, capable people who do know. In that position, then, you need to set your staff to work on filling in the blanks you obviously have on international politics and policies. The lack of knowledge was painfully apparent on the stage last night. Generalities don't cut it at this point.
I know the election is more than a year off, but you need to impress us now. It is imperative that we, the American public who is looking for someone to make America Great Again, have confidence in the ability of our candidate to meet the challenges. Not just in the public speeches and debates - but in the larger and far more important (dare I say crucial?) realm of policies and politics.
You're a negotiator. It's your stock in trade and it's something you do exceptionally well. That's in your favor, but you have a wide swath of the country to convince that you are capable of not only negotiating, but of administering.
How will you fix the Veterans Administration?
How will you solve the problems facing this country in the realm of health care? What is your plan to replace Obamacare once it's disassembled?
How will you work around the Commerce Clause and make healthcare portable across state lines?
How will you fix the tax system that's so broken it takes a PhD to figure it out?
Personally, I am dead set against the Progressive tax system that penalizes hard work and rewards laziness. Just look at the percentage of hard working people in this country, me included, who get up every day, who go to work every day, and then see our tax dollars taken from our paychecks so they can be handed over to people who choose not to work, or who work just enough so they re-qualify for unemployment benefits. I work in manufacturing and I know that kind of thing goes on.
I would much rather see a point-of-sale flat tax based on consumption. Eighteen percent. Two percent to the local municipality. Two percent to the county. Three percent to the state and the balance to the Federal government. That way everyone pays their freight because if they buy a stick of gum or a can of beans or a Lamborghini, they pay for it right then and there.
How will you solve the problem of 'anchor babies' given the Supreme Court's past findings on the subject?
How will you resolve the issue of illegals in this country once the border is sealed? Will you dedicate resources to tracking them down, which would be wildly expensive and ridiculously inefficient? Or, will you allow local law enforcement to pick them up as they come to the attention of authorities in the course of day-to-day activities?
These are just some of the questions that have been raised in the past week for me.
As for filling in the gaps in your abundant knowledge, I suggest that you set a number of your trusted people to prepare executive summaries across a variety of sources. Read widely as you have time - even five minutes at a stretch would benefit. Prepare yourself better than you have thus far because, frankly, if you don't, I am afraid that you will be the flash in the pan that was predicted months ago.
As someone deeply concerned about this country, the direction it's heading, the political duty our current elected "representatives" owe to the PACs and unions and special interest groups and utter lack of true representation of the grass roots individual in Washington, I want someone I can trust in the White House.
You may not be the nicest person on the planet with your pointless continued ad hominem comments, but I don't need 'nice'. I need strong and trustworthy. But strong and trustworthy must be balanced by knowledgeable - and that's what has me, and I think a lot of others, concerned.
I hope you or a staffer see this and take a moment to read it, to think about it, and to address it.
I wish you all the best.
Philippa
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilippaStories
I watched last night's debate with interest because I am one of the many in the 'silent majority' who are distressed by the interchangeability of the Washington insiders. No matter on which side of the aisle the individual sits, they are no different than those in the other banks of seats when you dig past the outer layer of skin. Even watching the candidates on the stage last night I could see both sides of their mouths working. The right side saying what they think potential voters want to hear, instead of saying what they actually think and would do.
Having someone who is as direct, as outspoken and as unapologetic as you seem to be in the race is refreshing. I cannot speak for anyone else, of course, but when you say something I know it's honest and from the heart - good, bad or ugly - it is you. With that said, however, I must also say that the empty platitudes are wearing thin.
Regarding Putin and your declaration of 'He's going to like me.' Why? How do you know? I recognize that an arrogant bully such as Putin will respect someone of equal strength and determination, but how will you confront him? How will you position yourself, as President of the United States of America, to go toe-to-toe with him?
The repetition of 'terrific' may well be true, but why? 'He's terrific.' 'She's terrific.' 'They're terrific.' That's all wonderful, but why? What makes s/he / they terrific? Are they nice or smart or... what?
I recognize full well that you are a capable manager. There is no question that you are smart, probably sometimes brilliant in your insights and understanding of the business world. That is proven by your track record. A capable manager, a successful manager must know what they don't know and must fill those gaps by surrounding themselves with strong, smart, capable people who do know. In that position, then, you need to set your staff to work on filling in the blanks you obviously have on international politics and policies. The lack of knowledge was painfully apparent on the stage last night. Generalities don't cut it at this point.
I know the election is more than a year off, but you need to impress us now. It is imperative that we, the American public who is looking for someone to make America Great Again, have confidence in the ability of our candidate to meet the challenges. Not just in the public speeches and debates - but in the larger and far more important (dare I say crucial?) realm of policies and politics.
You're a negotiator. It's your stock in trade and it's something you do exceptionally well. That's in your favor, but you have a wide swath of the country to convince that you are capable of not only negotiating, but of administering.
How will you fix the Veterans Administration?
How will you solve the problems facing this country in the realm of health care? What is your plan to replace Obamacare once it's disassembled?
How will you work around the Commerce Clause and make healthcare portable across state lines?
How will you fix the tax system that's so broken it takes a PhD to figure it out?
Personally, I am dead set against the Progressive tax system that penalizes hard work and rewards laziness. Just look at the percentage of hard working people in this country, me included, who get up every day, who go to work every day, and then see our tax dollars taken from our paychecks so they can be handed over to people who choose not to work, or who work just enough so they re-qualify for unemployment benefits. I work in manufacturing and I know that kind of thing goes on.
I would much rather see a point-of-sale flat tax based on consumption. Eighteen percent. Two percent to the local municipality. Two percent to the county. Three percent to the state and the balance to the Federal government. That way everyone pays their freight because if they buy a stick of gum or a can of beans or a Lamborghini, they pay for it right then and there.
How will you solve the problem of 'anchor babies' given the Supreme Court's past findings on the subject?
How will you resolve the issue of illegals in this country once the border is sealed? Will you dedicate resources to tracking them down, which would be wildly expensive and ridiculously inefficient? Or, will you allow local law enforcement to pick them up as they come to the attention of authorities in the course of day-to-day activities?
These are just some of the questions that have been raised in the past week for me.
As for filling in the gaps in your abundant knowledge, I suggest that you set a number of your trusted people to prepare executive summaries across a variety of sources. Read widely as you have time - even five minutes at a stretch would benefit. Prepare yourself better than you have thus far because, frankly, if you don't, I am afraid that you will be the flash in the pan that was predicted months ago.
As someone deeply concerned about this country, the direction it's heading, the political duty our current elected "representatives" owe to the PACs and unions and special interest groups and utter lack of true representation of the grass roots individual in Washington, I want someone I can trust in the White House.
You may not be the nicest person on the planet with your pointless continued ad hominem comments, but I don't need 'nice'. I need strong and trustworthy. But strong and trustworthy must be balanced by knowledgeable - and that's what has me, and I think a lot of others, concerned.
I hope you or a staffer see this and take a moment to read it, to think about it, and to address it.
I wish you all the best.
Philippa
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilippaStories
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