Letter to President Clinton
on Important Issues

NOTE FROM SITE-MASTER -- I asked Myron if I could post his letter to President Clinton on the opinion forum as I believe senior citizens have few opportunities to express their opinions and share their wisdom. I hope this letter will encourge others to speakout.

July 11, 1996

Dear President Clinton:

I hope this letter reaches you personally. It it does, and you read it all the way through, I am confident that you will agree that it contains more wisdom than the next 1,000 letter your receive put together.

When you were first running for office, I felt an enormous wave of energy gathering which was surely to introduce a new era to our nation. Never have we had a president who is so bright and so articulate, and who seemed so thoroughtly to understand the human dilemma. Notice that I did not include the characteristic wise. I was thrilled with your election, your handling of the economic conference with our nation's industrialists, with your inaugural speech. Certainly the change we longed for was coming.

I developed a new product which I envisioned would be widely sold. It was based on using some basic principles of Tibetan Buddhist meditation techniques to mobilize the energy of the nation to secure your goals, and at the same time improve the well-being and fulfillment of citizens throughout the nation. Unfortunately we ran into some initial production problems, and by the time I had found a suitable solution, my partner put the kabosh on the deal. He said, "Myron, we simply cannot mobilize cosmic energy to support someone who is so dishonest." For by this time you had revealed some basic flaws in your character, and people truly committed to honesty could not support you.

Your most serious lack of wisdom stems from your eagerness to garner votes, at almost total disregard for integrity. Why is it today's politicians cannot get it through their head that what our nation is starved for, and desperately yearning for, is leadership with integrity? Why can't our leaders form sound principles, based on the greatest good for all, and stand by them? In a nation where every piece of currency contains the words "In God We Trust," why can't there be leaders who know how to commune with the Highest and trust it? The Buddhist are extremely sound in their world view, declaring that the greatest enemy to the fulfillment of man is self-interest. Why can't we get leaders who can set aside their egos and invested desires and let the Unitive light of the transcendental levels flow through them? These would be true leaders. After all, we are all One, as sages and mystics of all times have discovered.

Many of us do not question that the way things stand, you are a much better choice than the Republican candidate. Yet we are galled at having to vote for someone so self-seeking and lacking in integrity. We hope that it elected to a second term, and no longer concerned with reelection, you will cast aside the catering for votes and commit yourself to really valuable programs. If we could only have some reassurance on this score, we would eagerly vote for you.

Let's look at some specifics. Why are almost 700,000 black behind bars, at enormous cost to taxpayers? Which, incidentally, the taxpayers don't seem to mind? With this willingness of the public to throw away billions, why in the world are the Republicans so eager to cut taxes? The War on Drugs has absolutely failed. See February 12, 1996 issue of National Review. But let's look at the real reason for the hatred that insists on locking up so many people. Adoplh Hitler was in some ways very wise. He knew how much individuals inwardly hate themselves (and why not, if the Golden Rule is a standard for human conduct, as Christians profess?) He knew his followers would feel more at ease with themselves if they could project their self-hatred outward. He chose the Jews for such a target. The same dynamic goes on in America. However, the target we have chosen is "druggies." So people everywhere claim self-righteousness by locking druggies up in jail, and thereby totally excape looking at their responsibility for helping to create the conditions that make people want to take drugs. And you buy right into it! You have not dared to stand in the way of this deep prejudice, and look for real solutions.

While we're in this general area, lets look at mandatory sentencing, where huge numbers face long years in incaraceration for non-violent crimes, and in many more cases than you'd like to admit, being the naive victims of efforts of over-eager drug-enforcers to establish guilt. Why cannot judges, supposedly the most respectable citizens in our society, use their own discretion in individual cases? Do we no longer trust anyone? We rightly preceive that they will not willingly be the instrument of our anger.

Again in this area, what's wrong with clean needle exchange? You prefer that drug users contact Aids and horribly end their life, often with huge expenditures in government sopnsored medical teratment, than give them a clean needle. With the weak, oh-so-self-righteous claim of Bill Bennett, "We don't want to send the wrong message." The message is, of course, that we'd rather see the drug user die a horrible death than risk losing a possible vote. And what person of intergrity wants the vote of a person who would rather see someone die horribly than give them a clean needle? Don't forget the words of Jesus, "As you do it to the least of them, you do it also unto me."

You have spoken eloquently on the need to balance the budget. Does it always have to be I'm right and You're wrong? Doesn't statemanship, which everyone admires, call for cooperative effort, and honestly acknowledging the contribution of others?

In this day of flagrant negative TV advertising, can't you see what an enormous merit can be gained by openly acknowledging some of the merits of your rivals? My God, shouldn't our national leader be able to discrern worthwhile qualities in an opponent? And if he can't find any, does he have the perceptive ability to be at the head of our nation?

I have cited some of my pet peeves, but I'm sure that others will find similiar wishywashiness in the area of their great concerns. I'm not overlooking the fact that many issues are difficult and controversial. But can't you see that a leader willing to employ wisdom, and hopefully some compassion for his fellow men, and that will stick up for principle, can appeal to be disillusioned voters of our nation?

Mr. President, please give us some assurance that you understand basic important priciples that mean a great deal to the American people, and that if you are elected, we can look forward to intelligent and honest action on your part. Then I'll actively campaign for you.

Most sincerely,

Myron J. Stolaroff
P.O. Box 742
Lone Pine, CA 93545

REPLY FROM THE PRESIDENT

Mr. Myron J. Stolaroff
P. O. Box 742
Lone Pine, California 93545

Dear Myron:

Thank you for sharing your views. It's important for me to know how you feel about the challenges that our nation faces.

Since taking office, my Administration had made real progress in moving America forward on the foundation of a growing economy and expanding opportunity for all Americans. As we continue to work to build a strong 21st century economy, assure quality education, enact meaningful health and welfare reform, and ensure peace and security at home and abroad, I hope that you will stay involved. Together, we can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Bill Clinton

LETTER TO SITE MASTER

Dear Walter:

I got a reply from my letter to President Clinton, and am faxing you a copy enclosed.

I must say that I was outraged when I read this letter. How stupid can a person be to respond to a heartfelt letter like mine, dealing with specific, important issues, with such an innocuous series of platitudes that are totally unresponsive. Isn't his staff smart enough to know that replying to a serious letter with such a vapid reply would simply enrage the recipient? That's the heart of the whole problem.

Upon receiving this letter, I was immediately moved to authorize you to circulate my original letter, since my letter was obviously receiving no attention in the administration. I was so mad that I wished to also release the copy of the President's letter that I received, so other could appreciate the lack of serious concern of the current administration.

But on thinking it over, I thought my letter could possibly turn others against the president. So as awful as the situation is, I still prefer to see Clinton reelected than have the presidency shift to a party of extremely narrow, dogmatic interests, total lack of vision and wisdom, and who are completely dedicated to their own self-interest. Not that the Democrats don't share the same characteristics, but I do feel the Democrats have more heart and are in general more likely to exhibit some compassion and flexibility, qualities that I haven't observed among Republicans. So I release these letters with the hope that viewers can appreciate the shortcomings of the present administration, and work with me through efforts of communication to drive some sense into the Democratic leadership -- a task that I feel is completely hopeless with a Republican administration. I have no objections to those who wish to reinforce my views referencing my original letter. Perhaps the weight of numbers can draw more attention.

Warm regards,

Myron