Banana Fruit Toast on Labor Day

Good morning breakfastpoppers. Today is Monday, September, 6, 2010 and it is Labor Day. President Obama focused his weekend address on our economy and his economic record. Before we all lose our appetites, let's prepare some Banana Fruit Toast for this morning's meal. You will need 2 slices of homemade bread or store bought "home made" bread. Zucchini bread is really fine for this recipe. You also need 1 banana, 10 or so chopped almonds and some cinnamon. Toast bread to a light golden brown. Peel and mash the banana and spread it on the toast. Sprinkle the chopped almonds on top and dust with cinnamon. Put the toasts in the toaster oven for a few minutes. Serve warm. Sit back and relax with a drink of your choice. I feel a letter coming on.

Dear President Obama:

You gave quite the rousing Labor Day weekend radio address to defend your economic record. Of course, what would any of your speeches be like if you didn't always begin them with blaming former President Bush. This week-end you laid the recession at his door. Over and over again you remind us that you inherited the recession. Over and over again we try to remind you that we are sick of the blame game and that if anything, it diminishes you as a President. This is your recession, your problem to deal with and the more you blame President Bush, the more we miss him. Surely, at least one of your advisors has suggested you stop pinning all our problems and your lack of success on President Bush. I have a feeling you don't take advice very well. You probably see advice as as veiled criticism and we all know how much you hate that.

You told the nation that middle class families have felt the "sting" of stagnant incomes and declining economic security for ten years. You once more demonized companies for receiving tax breaks and Wall Street for being reckless. All of this, you pointed out, came at the expense of the middle class. Most of us didn't feel as "strapped" during this period as you would like to imagine. We made money along with the big guys. Of course, many people started to get into trouble with the approval of the government. Wasn't it President Clinton's belief that every American deserved to own a home? Wasn't it his insistence that led to mortgages being handed out to basically unqualified people that eventually broke the bubble? Wasn't it Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac who doled out money like it was growing in downtown D.C. to anyone with his or her hand out? Yes it was, no matter how hard you try to deny it.

You now suggest that we recommit ourselves to our values. You promised us that you would restore opportunity, economic security and the American Dream. And then, as expected, you regaled your listeners with proof of your success so far. You told us that investments in roads and bridges and high speed railroads have and will lead to thousands of jobs in the private sector. We're waiting, Mr. President. You patted yourself on the back for preventing the layoffs of teachers, firefighters and policeman. The unions thank you, Mr. President. You fairly glowed with pride when you reminded us of the tax cuts and loans you gave or are giving to small business to create jobs. Small business is not overly impressed when they realize that they will have to deal with the health care bill you shoved down everyone's throats. You told us that taxes have dropped for most Americans under your watch. This last claim knocked me off my feet. What taxes, sir? Income taxes, no that can't be it. Social Security taxes, no that's not it either. I repeat what are you talking about?

I know it isn't Thanksgiving Day yet, but let's talk turkey. We are not feeling your enthusiasm for your administration's efforts to stimulate the economy. The stimulus plan has failed and we know it. This Tuesday you are planning to announce an effort to reduce mortgage balances for homeowners who owe more than their houses are worth. Are you going to compensate homeowners who pay their mortgages on time and who saw the the value of their home decrease? Are you gong to compensate retired people who faithfully paid off their mortgages and now find their homes are worth a fraction of what they used to be? No, of course not and frankly you shouldn't be doing any of this. If people owe money on their homes then responsible people would just keep up with the payments. Eventually, home values will recover. You speak about responsibility but I don't think you know the meaning of the word. Not everyone deserves to own a home. Home ownership may not even be all that desirable anymore. Not everyone needs or wants a handout and not everyone wants big brother government solving all their problems. Many of us want government to stay out of our lives and out of our pockets. Stop casting blame off on President Bush, stop campaigning, stop vacationing and redecorating the Oval Office, tell the first Lady to spend her money in this country and stop taking credit for things you haven't actually accomplished like the surge in Iraq. Just stop. We're tired on this Labor Day, we are very tired and we just want you to stop!...POP...