Advice for President Obama on Rebuilding

Max's advice for February 2, 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.

Begin by rebuilding!

Max has watched as nations destroy structures that have stood for years, decades and centuries. Our nation has been on the cutting edge with our use of smart bombs. Our allies have doubled our efforts by using planes built in our country to drop bombs modeled on ours.

The destruction has reduced the quality of life for people in every nation where we have had conflicts. It is not enough to say that the other guy started it or that that other countries are doing the same thing, often to their own people.

The wars we are engaged in may or may not play out well. With the degree of hatred that has grown in many areas around the world, it may be difficult to disengage from the fighting. This is a sad fact for our nation.

Fortunately the number of places where wars are destroying the fabric of society only includes some regions of the world.

This means that there are many places in the world where there is opportunity to build new and possibly prosperous societies. Of course, with the current need to rebuild our own society's infrastructure, the resources to build up those of other countries is limited.

Those who vie with the United States for control of the markets are very aware of this and have already taken advantage of the absence of a meaningful United States presence (excluding our military presence, of course).

U.S. churches and aid organizations have watched as things like micro lending have begun making a meaningful change in people's lives. Our government should look at ways to take advantage of local synergies like this to gain a presence that is visible to the people.

Most countries have an abundance of labor, so sending labor to create infrastructure for them makes little sense (more like no sense). Sending educators to show them how to use local materials to build their roads, schools, housing and businesses would be more practical.

During this time of high unemployment, there is an outside chance that there are engineers and experienced construction workers who could guide those who desire to help themselves. There may be a few things that have to be brought in. In that case, it might be possible to get the materials from neighboring nations, thus improving the business relations between them.

Max isn't suggesting that there is nothing in this for the U.S. For starters, if people are traveling to other nations to help them build, they won't be unemployed. More importantly, business (except munitions) between nations can increase as the standard of living rises.

If we show them how to build better building and cleaner water supplies, we have an opportunity to sell them solar/wind energy machines, wire for transporting it and electronics to give it a purpose.

One country that should get extra attention is Haiti. This island nation has the location of a tropical paradise and the squalor of the worst ghetto. If our unemployed brains can help this nation get up on its feet, there is no nation that we could not help rebuild.

As we begin to recognize the limits set by the environment on our way of living, we will need the lessons we can learn by helping others. Housing as designed by our fathers is not sufficient in many parts of the world for the people who live there now.

By figuring out how to reduce the land needed for people in nations near our shores, we will be able to assist other nations as the inevitable crisis reaches their shores.

By keeping the efforts to help teach people how to solve their own problems, it improves the possibility that for at least another generation or two we will have bought some time to figure out how to solve the problem or unlimited growth on a limited planet.

Max wishes you well in all your decisions.

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