Open Letter to

President-Elect Obama

Dear Mr Obama ...

spend your way out of trouble

Our columnist pens an open letter to the next president of the US

By Zhen Ming


DEAR President-elect Obama,

My heartfelt congratulations on your election as the 44th President of the United States of America!

I was deeply moved when I watched you triumphantly proclaim live on global TV that “change has come to America”.

It was already Wednesday afternoon in Singapore. But it still felt like as if I was really there with you, and with the countless jubilant supporters who had gathered at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois on that historic Tuesday night to celebrate a truly “American moment”.

There you were, standing tall, as America’s first African-American President-to-be.

And there you were, on stage, with your lovely wife Michelle, with your two adorable daughters Malia and Sasha, and with that heart-warming promise of a cute First Puppy come Tuesday, 20 January 2009 (the day of your forthcoming inauguration).

But, amidst the euphoria, you also glumly reminded us of the tough challenges ahead:

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you — we as a people will get there."

Mr Obama, you had campaigned on a message of hope and change.

America agreed with you.

Consequently, you won 52.5 per cent of the popular vote in the largest turnout in a recent US presidential election.

We’re still 72 days away before we can officially call you “Mr President”.

Meanwhile, the US is in the midst of a painful recession, what with more than 10 million Americans out of work.

First priority

Rightfully, your first obligation is to solve the worst economic crisis the US has ever experienced in living memory.

What began with the bursting of the US housing bubble in 2007 has now unfolded into a far-reaching global crisis affecting everyone and everything — from banks to retail sales to the auto industry.

But as you set yourself to revamp the half-baked US$700 billion bailout for Wall Street and as you focus on creating more jobs for Main Street, do spare a kind thought, too, for Singapore and the rest of us who live outside the US.

So, as you tweak the US Budget for fiscal 2009, may I boldly suggest you just go ahead to pump-prime the US economy to save the world by way of racking up a deficit of US$1 trillion a year over the next four years during your first term in office.

Trust me, the US government can afford a much bigger Budget deficit — US government debt as a percentage of GDP is still way below those chalked up by the supposedly prudent governments of the European Union and even Japan.

Jobs, jobs, jobs

So, go on, spend wisely to create those five million “green jobs” you’ve promised through investment in renewable energy.

And, by all means, do create another two million new ones by rebuilding the country’s crumbling infrastructure.

Also, do overhaul the US education system so that “no child will be left behind”. (Education, by the way, is a shockingly tiny item in the US Budget whereas it is the second biggest priority for Singapore — and look where it has gotten us.)

On a brighter note, when the US economy has stabilized, we’re truly keen to welcome you to next year’s Apec Leaders Meeting in Singapore.

But if that’s still not possible, how about a whirlwind tour of Asean during the summer of 2010? That’s when Singapore will host the world’s first Youth Olympic Games.

Last but not least, may I wish you and your family a happy relocation as you prepare to move into the White House by late January!

Yours sincerely,

Zhen Ming


Source: The New Paper, Sun 09 Nov 2008