Advice for President Obama on Drawing the Big Picture

Max's advice for March 7, 2009

Dear President Obama,

Max grew up as the son of a man who knew 'ALL' the answers to the problems of the world. Max's father said so! Many times, his father let everyone know that anyone who didn't know that he had the answers was a turkey or a knucklehead.

The famous Ma Bell, the second most powerful force in the world (next to God of course), thought so much of Max's father's opinions, that she made him 'Supervisor of Troubles'. This is true!

The advice Max promised you, President Obama.

Start to put pieces in place that help people get the big picture!

Max is known for his keen ability to forget people's names. It is uncanny how quickly he can forget a person's name after he asked just the person for it.

Mr. President, in some ways the people of the nation are like Max. They chose to vote for you because they were asking you to do something for them. Then you take office and some, perhaps many, can't remember exactly what you were supposed to do for them.

Now, most have better memories than Max so they do have a hint. Others actually know what they were asking with that vote but aren't sure you were listening.

Mr. President, the people need to be reminded of what you said you were going to do and what you have done. They also need, it seems, constant reminding of what it is that you have to do that wasn't part of the deal.

Confusion of what role government is going to take in our lives is making even Max a little nervous.

You have gotten a lot more out of Congress in a manner that shows effort. You got what you asked for, but not the way you appear to have wanted it. Much of what you have gotten has no resemblance to the campaign you ran. This can lead to confusion among those who were looking for something else.

The recent stem cell decision you made makes Max happy as he has a mother with Alzheimer's and although it won't help her, it may help his seven siblings as they approach old age. Max has watched as mice studies have shown some remarkable progress, particularly with spinal cord issues. This was something many expected you to do.

The tax issues that keep coming up with candidates for high government positions is one area where Max would expect that you would look to the IRS to hold the rich (like many of your candidates) accountable on a more regular basis. Isn't that something that should come out of this? Max could be confusing what accountability means.

Many things are happening everyday in your administration. If you are true to your word, many of these things are examples that you could talk about with the American people. These things that people are doing to make government work for people are something you can use to help us form an image of where you are leading us.

Leaders sometimes have to tell the story and then tell it again for the people to get the meaning. There are so many traumas in our world happening each day that it can be difficult to keep a clear eye on the goal without being coached after every setback or pre-emptive false start.

Max wishes you well in all your efforts to make the direction clear to us.

Max writes about greenways, rare diseases, timely topics, places to eat, travel and other issues of interest. He encourages you to add your comments.

Link one is to the World Bank and economic issues.

Link two is to the IMF and economic crisis.

Link three is to a site on the oil crisis.