June 30, 2011
Sen. Bill Nelson
United States Senate
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Sen. Nelson,
Please find enclosed my check for the week. I am a bit disappointed not to have heard from you regarding my challenge but perhaps you have not had the opportunity to adequately peruse my proposal. Should you like to discuss this and other thoughts that I have to directly attack the debt from us Americans, please feel free to give me a call.
Thank you for your continued service.
With Best Regards, I am,
Hastings Henderson
The purpose of this blog is to follow the progress of my challange to Rep. Daniel Webster R-Fl. I have challanged him to match my donation of 1% of my income to the the US Treasury to reduce the principal of the National Debt.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
letter from Aisling Maes to Sen Marco Rubio 6/28/2011
Sen. Marco Rubio
United States Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
June 28, 2011
I have been following Hastings Henderson's blog regarding the donations he has been making to you for the reduction of the principal of the National debt.
His idea to ask one of the organizations such as the United Way to allow direct donation from their paychecks to the National Debt is a great idea. That would be an amazing opportunity to allow us, as Americans, to participate in our economic recovery. Let's face it, he's right-the debt is a clear and present danger to the United States. If 150 million people donated $1.00 a week (or more) think of the impact. What's the hold up?
To this end, here is $52.00. That's a dollar a week that I would otherwise donate to the United Way, Red Cross or the like to help reduce the principal of the National Debt. Please make sure that this gets to the US Treasury in a timely manner. Would you please let me know when you forward this to the treasury?
Also, I was curious. Have you decided to accept Mr. Henderson's challenge and donate 1% of your salary to the cause? Rep. Webster did so and also asked his staff to do the same. That would be a remarkable display public leadership and of sacrifice.
Regards and thank you for your kind attention,
Aisling Maes
United States Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
June 28, 2011
I have been following Hastings Henderson's blog regarding the donations he has been making to you for the reduction of the principal of the National debt.
His idea to ask one of the organizations such as the United Way to allow direct donation from their paychecks to the National Debt is a great idea. That would be an amazing opportunity to allow us, as Americans, to participate in our economic recovery. Let's face it, he's right-the debt is a clear and present danger to the United States. If 150 million people donated $1.00 a week (or more) think of the impact. What's the hold up?
To this end, here is $52.00. That's a dollar a week that I would otherwise donate to the United Way, Red Cross or the like to help reduce the principal of the National Debt. Please make sure that this gets to the US Treasury in a timely manner. Would you please let me know when you forward this to the treasury?
Also, I was curious. Have you decided to accept Mr. Henderson's challenge and donate 1% of your salary to the cause? Rep. Webster did so and also asked his staff to do the same. That would be a remarkable display public leadership and of sacrifice.
Regards and thank you for your kind attention,
Aisling Maes
Thursday, June 23, 2011
My letter to Sen Rubio om June 23, 2011
June 23, 2011
Sen. Marco Rubio
US Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
Sen. Rubio,
Here is my check for this week. Please make sure that it gets forwarded to the necessary agency to be applied to the principal of the National Debt.
I was thinking this week, perhaps we could eliminate a big old wad of cash by stopping the use of the $1.00 bill and go to the use of the coin. Some estimates think as much as 5.5 billion saved during the next 30 years. Now that’s a drop in the bucket.
I am still looking forward top hearing from you regarding my challenge of 1% of your income going to the US debt. IU would have thought a fiscal conservative like you would be quick to jump on the band wagon.
With kind regards, I am,
Hastings Henderson
Sen. Marco Rubio
US Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
Sen. Rubio,
Here is my check for this week. Please make sure that it gets forwarded to the necessary agency to be applied to the principal of the National Debt.
I was thinking this week, perhaps we could eliminate a big old wad of cash by stopping the use of the $1.00 bill and go to the use of the coin. Some estimates think as much as 5.5 billion saved during the next 30 years. Now that’s a drop in the bucket.
I am still looking forward top hearing from you regarding my challenge of 1% of your income going to the US debt. IU would have thought a fiscal conservative like you would be quick to jump on the band wagon.
With kind regards, I am,
Hastings Henderson
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
my response to John
I have in fact read all of your post and I actually agree with you on several points, but that is for another day or discussion. I would however, agree with you that a flat tax, be it 23% or something else is probably the fairest way to tax but he problemwith that, besides the fact that it has been tabled so much, is that we can...not begin any type of tax reform until we are rid of the debt. The debt is what is going to kill us. The debt is an immediate clear and present danger to the United States.
I do not think that the donation of my 1% of my salary is going to make a difference, However, Rep Daniel Webster (R-Fl) has decided to accept my challenge and is going to donate (according to Elizabeth in his office) 1% of his salary. In addition,he is going to compel his staff to do the same. As I said in one or two letters if each elected member of the legislative branch of government made a sacrifice and compelled their staff to do the same, it would be a great symbol top the American people thatthey are serious about what is happening to the United States.
We are looking for someone, eventually, in all 435 districts to challenge their Congressman, and his staff, to do the same-show some commitment to the American people.
I, we, are not under the impression that this is going to be the only thing that gets us, as a people, out of this mess. It has to a combination of sacrifices. Why are the oil companies having record profits and we give them $4 billion for research? Why are the cotton farmers getting $2 Billion in subsidies. The cotton farmers subsidy made sense when we had family farms producing out cotton but now there are multi-national corporations doing this. As with the oil companies, they can survive like I do-onmy income. I am sure there are many more but I have not gotten far enough into this to make many more intelligent comparisons.
I do not think that folks that join this cause must necessarily select 1% of their income. I work for Walt Disney World and therefore my income is small in comparison to some friends. I choose 1% because we have no children and we are a 2 income household,$400 or so is not going to kill us. Others, we hope, may just select to donate $500 over the year. The point is to send it to your congressman each week and ask, cajole, shame or demand that they and their staff do the same.
So enough of my diatribe. Shame sometimes works wonders, especially if it begins to become clear that the American people are doing more than the people we elect to represent us. At this point-I truly feel I could select a House of Representatives andSenate from the folks I have worked with and do work with that could do a better job than is being done now and-we wouldn’t act like 3 year olds!!!
One more thing-why don’t you join us? Choose an amount that you can afford and challenge your congressman to do the same. Make the check out to the US treasury and notate that it go the principal of the debt. That would just be another district with pressurebeing exerted upon its Congressman.
I do not think that the donation of my 1% of my salary is going to make a difference, However, Rep Daniel Webster (R-Fl) has decided to accept my challenge and is going to donate (according to Elizabeth in his office) 1% of his salary. In addition,he is going to compel his staff to do the same. As I said in one or two letters if each elected member of the legislative branch of government made a sacrifice and compelled their staff to do the same, it would be a great symbol top the American people thatthey are serious about what is happening to the United States.
We are looking for someone, eventually, in all 435 districts to challenge their Congressman, and his staff, to do the same-show some commitment to the American people.
I, we, are not under the impression that this is going to be the only thing that gets us, as a people, out of this mess. It has to a combination of sacrifices. Why are the oil companies having record profits and we give them $4 billion for research? Why are the cotton farmers getting $2 Billion in subsidies. The cotton farmers subsidy made sense when we had family farms producing out cotton but now there are multi-national corporations doing this. As with the oil companies, they can survive like I do-onmy income. I am sure there are many more but I have not gotten far enough into this to make many more intelligent comparisons.
I do not think that folks that join this cause must necessarily select 1% of their income. I work for Walt Disney World and therefore my income is small in comparison to some friends. I choose 1% because we have no children and we are a 2 income household,$400 or so is not going to kill us. Others, we hope, may just select to donate $500 over the year. The point is to send it to your congressman each week and ask, cajole, shame or demand that they and their staff do the same.
So enough of my diatribe. Shame sometimes works wonders, especially if it begins to become clear that the American people are doing more than the people we elect to represent us. At this point-I truly feel I could select a House of Representatives andSenate from the folks I have worked with and do work with that could do a better job than is being done now and-we wouldn’t act like 3 year olds!!!
One more thing-why don’t you join us? Choose an amount that you can afford and challenge your congressman to do the same. Make the check out to the US treasury and notate that it go the principal of the debt. That would just be another district with pressurebeing exerted upon its Congressman.
post from John Schoonover on Face Book Group "Reduce the National Debt"
Well, Haky you got me, Not really had time to do much face-booking in the last year but this is one area I am passionate about & can't resist. OMG Sorry this is so long but it is a complicated subject. I hope you all will read it through.
While I think the efforts of everyone in this group are very honorable (all politics aside), I ...believe this plan is severely flawed. Please do not take this as criticism as I see more wisdom, effort & sincerity in the below posts than in all the halls of congress. I imagine, however, that the politicians seeing these efforts of folks willing to "donate" more money to the government are now wide eyed like children on Christmas hoping that the presents will open up to something really expensive. I would not think anyone in this group would give an addict more of his vice to cure his addiction. Think about it. We give Congress more money to solve the debt issues from their overspending? The National debt is caused more from spending than from the economy or tax revenues. Besides, what's going to happen to the poor schmo at McDonald's when he gets laid off due to lost coffees sales?
My premise is this: Government will always have a tendency to do what it needs to stay in power before it does what is good for the long run. We are republic and not a true democracy partly due to this fact present in most of history since the time of early Greece.
Breaking this down further, I would reason that our debt problem & it's solution lies twofold in:
1) The natural tendency of government to take what ever money they can and use it in ways that will keep them in power ("men will resort to plunder whenever plunder is easier than work .... neither religion nor morality can stop it" F. Bastiat's "The Law")
and
2) That as long as they carry the power to tax us without fear of retribution they will. (when does "plunder stop? It stops when it becomes more painful and more dangerous than labor" F. Bastiat's "The Law")
Think back to a time in the 1800's when there was no federal income tax. People & Congress voted for what they believed in & not for tax dollars. The real power for Congress in taxation came after WW2 with the withholding's laws. Now we could be taxed and still get a steady paycheck! Tax increases could be spread out over a whole year! What's a few bucks a month to the average joe anyway? Before the time of withholding people felt that pain in March and if it the tax was not warranted SO DID CONGRESS the next November.
So what is the solution? Take The Tax Paying out of government's hands.
There is a bipartisan bill in congress right now that has been tabled for a few years now .... HR 25, S 13. This bill would eliminate ALL (yes ALL...fed inc,FICA,MEDICARE, Estate, Corporate, etc) federal taxes would be paid through a 23% retail sales tax on new purchases. This bill is neutral plus to the existing taxes, makes Medicare & SS solvent, eliminates the IRS and replaces the regressive nature of sales taxes with a prebate to all those families under a certain income. This will encourage savings for the average person (remember no taxes on what you make in interest just on what you spend) and give true incentive to make more money..... a certain boom to our economy. Major retailers (Wal Mart & Target) have already said they would immediately slash their prices by the 23% if it passed thus eliminating a lot of the hidden taxes that come down in the price of what we pay for goods & services. Now everyone has an easy understanding of what they pay in taxes. Even criminals that now mainly deal in cash would be taxed whether they liked it or not. Imagine getting a 15-20% raise next year and not doing anything differently? Now that's a stimulus to the economy
Net net, No new taxes would be levied without a lot of serious pressure and everyone pays taxes only on what they want to spend for.
The problem is that not enough of our two houses have the guts to give up the tax power and vote for it to make it out of committee.
So enough of my talk. I think you have the right idea except instead of giving back to the folks that will eventually spend it I would like to organize a PAC and give the funds to the party with the most votes to make it pass this year. Shoot, $10/week would be easy enough. We'd get it back 3 fold the next year. I am really inspired and will begin the process ASAP. What do you all think? You can read more at the below web sites. Read F. Bastiat's "The Law" written in 1850 first. then peruse the Fair Tax web site. Come on Haky...... it's your fault for getting me going....
While I think the efforts of everyone in this group are very honorable (all politics aside), I ...believe this plan is severely flawed. Please do not take this as criticism as I see more wisdom, effort & sincerity in the below posts than in all the halls of congress. I imagine, however, that the politicians seeing these efforts of folks willing to "donate" more money to the government are now wide eyed like children on Christmas hoping that the presents will open up to something really expensive. I would not think anyone in this group would give an addict more of his vice to cure his addiction. Think about it. We give Congress more money to solve the debt issues from their overspending? The National debt is caused more from spending than from the economy or tax revenues. Besides, what's going to happen to the poor schmo at McDonald's when he gets laid off due to lost coffees sales?
My premise is this: Government will always have a tendency to do what it needs to stay in power before it does what is good for the long run. We are republic and not a true democracy partly due to this fact present in most of history since the time of early Greece.
Breaking this down further, I would reason that our debt problem & it's solution lies twofold in:
1) The natural tendency of government to take what ever money they can and use it in ways that will keep them in power ("men will resort to plunder whenever plunder is easier than work .... neither religion nor morality can stop it" F. Bastiat's "The Law")
and
2) That as long as they carry the power to tax us without fear of retribution they will. (when does "plunder stop? It stops when it becomes more painful and more dangerous than labor" F. Bastiat's "The Law")
Think back to a time in the 1800's when there was no federal income tax. People & Congress voted for what they believed in & not for tax dollars. The real power for Congress in taxation came after WW2 with the withholding's laws. Now we could be taxed and still get a steady paycheck! Tax increases could be spread out over a whole year! What's a few bucks a month to the average joe anyway? Before the time of withholding people felt that pain in March and if it the tax was not warranted SO DID CONGRESS the next November.
So what is the solution? Take The Tax Paying out of government's hands.
There is a bipartisan bill in congress right now that has been tabled for a few years now .... HR 25, S 13. This bill would eliminate ALL (yes ALL...fed inc,FICA,MEDICARE, Estate, Corporate, etc) federal taxes would be paid through a 23% retail sales tax on new purchases. This bill is neutral plus to the existing taxes, makes Medicare & SS solvent, eliminates the IRS and replaces the regressive nature of sales taxes with a prebate to all those families under a certain income. This will encourage savings for the average person (remember no taxes on what you make in interest just on what you spend) and give true incentive to make more money..... a certain boom to our economy. Major retailers (Wal Mart & Target) have already said they would immediately slash their prices by the 23% if it passed thus eliminating a lot of the hidden taxes that come down in the price of what we pay for goods & services. Now everyone has an easy understanding of what they pay in taxes. Even criminals that now mainly deal in cash would be taxed whether they liked it or not. Imagine getting a 15-20% raise next year and not doing anything differently? Now that's a stimulus to the economy
Net net, No new taxes would be levied without a lot of serious pressure and everyone pays taxes only on what they want to spend for.
The problem is that not enough of our two houses have the guts to give up the tax power and vote for it to make it out of committee.
So enough of my talk. I think you have the right idea except instead of giving back to the folks that will eventually spend it I would like to organize a PAC and give the funds to the party with the most votes to make it pass this year. Shoot, $10/week would be easy enough. We'd get it back 3 fold the next year. I am really inspired and will begin the process ASAP. What do you all think? You can read more at the below web sites. Read F. Bastiat's "The Law" written in 1850 first. then peruse the Fair Tax web site. Come on Haky...... it's your fault for getting me going....
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
letter to Elizabeth at Rep. Webster's office
Rep. Daniel Webster
Attention: Elizabeth
United States Congress
1039 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
06/15/2011
Dear Elizabeth:
I have had several friends that are willing to donate to this cause (reducing the National Debt) but they have their doubt that Rep Webster and the staff are making this sacrifice of donating 1% to the debt. Is there something you can do to help me with this?
Also, FYI I have had no response for Sen. Rubio to this point.
I look forward to a rapid response.
Regards
Hastings Henderson
Attention: Elizabeth
United States Congress
1039 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
06/15/2011
Dear Elizabeth:
I have had several friends that are willing to donate to this cause (reducing the National Debt) but they have their doubt that Rep Webster and the staff are making this sacrifice of donating 1% to the debt. Is there something you can do to help me with this?
Also, FYI I have had no response for Sen. Rubio to this point.
I look forward to a rapid response.
Regards
Hastings Henderson
letter to Sen. Bill Nelson
Sen. Bill Nelson
United States Senate
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
June 15, 2011
Sen. Nelson:
I have decided to give up a cup of coffee per week or a trip to McDonalds or an extra beer at the World of Beer in Orlando and each week send a check for $5.00 to pay down the principal of the National Debt. When my taxes are complete for 2011, I will bring my donation to 1% of my income. Please send this check to the US Treasury to apply to the principal of the debt. By the way, I have included you in several e-mails regarding this.
I am going to send you ( and Sen. Rubio) checks made out to the US Treasury each week until my elected officials decide to grow up and act like adults to fix our problems.
Just to let you know, Rep Webster has accepted my challenge and has compelled his staff to do the same. I further challenge you and Sen. Rubio to do the same.
I am going to begin to encourage others to send checks to their Senators and Congressmen demanding action on our most pressing and important issue
For example, 432 congressmen make the same, $174,000, the Speaker $223.500 and the majority and minority leaders $193,400. This would come to a total of $757,783.
In the Senate, assuming similar income would come to $119,981. The President, $400,000 for $4,000.
This would be a total applied to the principal debt of $872,764.
A drop in the bucket, maybe, but how many other Americans would be willing to do this. I guess we’ll never know unless Congress takes the lead. How bout the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, Congressional staffers, State leaders……
Again, please expect this every other week and be kind enough to forward it to the appropriate location.
Hastings Henderson
United States Senate
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
June 15, 2011
Sen. Nelson:
I have decided to give up a cup of coffee per week or a trip to McDonalds or an extra beer at the World of Beer in Orlando and each week send a check for $5.00 to pay down the principal of the National Debt. When my taxes are complete for 2011, I will bring my donation to 1% of my income. Please send this check to the US Treasury to apply to the principal of the debt. By the way, I have included you in several e-mails regarding this.
I am going to send you ( and Sen. Rubio) checks made out to the US Treasury each week until my elected officials decide to grow up and act like adults to fix our problems.
Just to let you know, Rep Webster has accepted my challenge and has compelled his staff to do the same. I further challenge you and Sen. Rubio to do the same.
I am going to begin to encourage others to send checks to their Senators and Congressmen demanding action on our most pressing and important issue
For example, 432 congressmen make the same, $174,000, the Speaker $223.500 and the majority and minority leaders $193,400. This would come to a total of $757,783.
In the Senate, assuming similar income would come to $119,981. The President, $400,000 for $4,000.
This would be a total applied to the principal debt of $872,764.
A drop in the bucket, maybe, but how many other Americans would be willing to do this. I guess we’ll never know unless Congress takes the lead. How bout the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, Congressional staffers, State leaders……
Again, please expect this every other week and be kind enough to forward it to the appropriate location.
Hastings Henderson
3rd letter to Sen.Marco Rubio
June 15, 2011
Sen. Marco Rubio
US Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
Sen. Rubio,
This week, I am sending my check to Sen. Bill Nelson D-Fl, and issuing to him the same challenge I have issued to you over the last several weeks to match the 1% of your income directed to the US treasury.
Just as an aside for the seek, should all of your colleagues accept my challenge (not including your staff as Rep. Webster has done) the total donated directly to the debt principal would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $900,000. I shall alternate weekly and you may expect my check for the Treasury next week.
Until then, I await your response,
Regards,
Hastings Henderson
Sen. Marco Rubio
US Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
Sen. Rubio,
This week, I am sending my check to Sen. Bill Nelson D-Fl, and issuing to him the same challenge I have issued to you over the last several weeks to match the 1% of your income directed to the US treasury.
Just as an aside for the seek, should all of your colleagues accept my challenge (not including your staff as Rep. Webster has done) the total donated directly to the debt principal would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $900,000. I shall alternate weekly and you may expect my check for the Treasury next week.
Until then, I await your response,
Regards,
Hastings Henderson
Friday, June 10, 2011
3rd letter to Sen.Marco Rubio
June 10, 2011
Sen. Marco Rubio
US Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
Sen. Rubio,
Please find enclosed my check for the week. I am a bit disappointed not to have heard from you regarding my challenge but perhaps you have not had the opportunity to adequately peruse my proposal. Should you like to discuss this and other thoughts that I have to directly attack the debt from us Americans, please feel free to give me a call.
Thank you for your continued service.
With Best Regards, I am,
Hastings Henderson
Sen. Marco Rubio
US Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
Sen. Rubio,
Please find enclosed my check for the week. I am a bit disappointed not to have heard from you regarding my challenge but perhaps you have not had the opportunity to adequately peruse my proposal. Should you like to discuss this and other thoughts that I have to directly attack the debt from us Americans, please feel free to give me a call.
Thank you for your continued service.
With Best Regards, I am,
Hastings Henderson
1st letter to Rep Chris Smith, R-NJ from Jack Ingersol
Rep. Chris Smith
Washington DC Office
2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Rep. Smith:
Good day to you, Congressman. Allow me to begin my thanking you for taking the time to read this letter regarding an issue that I feel is of grave concern to this great nation.
As you are most certainly aware, our national debt is, to state it quite simply, out of control. For too long we have heard little more than blame and empty promises regarding our debt, but no concrete plan on how to reduce and eliminate it. A friend and former co-worker of mine has recently been in contact with your colleague Rep. Webster of Florida regarding this issue, and I have been inspired by their combined efforts to attempt to become a part of the solution.
I have decided to donate 1% of my income to the United States treasury for the reduction of the principal of our national debt. While this does not amount to much, I feel it is an important first step. The national debt is not the responsibility of any single citizen, politician, organization, or political party; it is the responsibility of every American. We all need to begin acting like adults and start paying what we owe.
As I mentioned earlier, my friend has contacted Rep. Webster, advising him of his own pledge of 1% of his income to reduce our debt. He also offered a Rep. Webster a challenge: to pledge 1% of his own income toward the same cause. Recently, Rep. Webster has accepted this challenge, and has also encouraged his staff to do the same.
Rep. Smith, today I would like to offer the same challenge to you. I believe that true leadership is demonstrated by setting examples. What better way to demonstrate to your constituents and to the nation as a whole that you are serious about fixing this problem than by directly contributing to the solution? You and I can never eliminate our national debt as individuals.. Perhaps, however, by demonstrating our combined willingness as leader and citizen to make personal sacrifice for this important cause, we can encourage more Americans to do the same.
I have included with this letter a check for $10.34, which is 1% of my latest paycheck, after taxes of course. If you would be so kind as to forward it to the appropriate authorities, it would be much appreciated. I do hope that you will accept my challenge, and perhaps encourage your own friends and colleagues to do the same. Please feel free to contact me with your response, and any ideas that you may have for further reducing our debt. Again, I thank you for your time and for all you do for New Jersey’s 4th district.
Sincerely,
John R. Ingersoll III
Washington DC Office
2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Rep. Smith:
Good day to you, Congressman. Allow me to begin my thanking you for taking the time to read this letter regarding an issue that I feel is of grave concern to this great nation.
As you are most certainly aware, our national debt is, to state it quite simply, out of control. For too long we have heard little more than blame and empty promises regarding our debt, but no concrete plan on how to reduce and eliminate it. A friend and former co-worker of mine has recently been in contact with your colleague Rep. Webster of Florida regarding this issue, and I have been inspired by their combined efforts to attempt to become a part of the solution.
I have decided to donate 1% of my income to the United States treasury for the reduction of the principal of our national debt. While this does not amount to much, I feel it is an important first step. The national debt is not the responsibility of any single citizen, politician, organization, or political party; it is the responsibility of every American. We all need to begin acting like adults and start paying what we owe.
As I mentioned earlier, my friend has contacted Rep. Webster, advising him of his own pledge of 1% of his income to reduce our debt. He also offered a Rep. Webster a challenge: to pledge 1% of his own income toward the same cause. Recently, Rep. Webster has accepted this challenge, and has also encouraged his staff to do the same.
Rep. Smith, today I would like to offer the same challenge to you. I believe that true leadership is demonstrated by setting examples. What better way to demonstrate to your constituents and to the nation as a whole that you are serious about fixing this problem than by directly contributing to the solution? You and I can never eliminate our national debt as individuals.. Perhaps, however, by demonstrating our combined willingness as leader and citizen to make personal sacrifice for this important cause, we can encourage more Americans to do the same.
I have included with this letter a check for $10.34, which is 1% of my latest paycheck, after taxes of course. If you would be so kind as to forward it to the appropriate authorities, it would be much appreciated. I do hope that you will accept my challenge, and perhaps encourage your own friends and colleagues to do the same. Please feel free to contact me with your response, and any ideas that you may have for further reducing our debt. Again, I thank you for your time and for all you do for New Jersey’s 4th district.
Sincerely,
John R. Ingersoll III
New Particiant
I would like to Welcom John (Jack) Ingersoll from New Jersey who is going to join the casue and begin to send letters and check to his Member of Congress, Rep Chris Smith, R-NJ, district 4. Thanks to Jack for joining the cause toi get our elected officials to grow up and act like adults and to do the job they have been elected to do. The following is the first letter from Jack to Rep Smith.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
none of these officials has responded to my e-mail of last week
President Barak Obama
Senator Bill Nelson
Rep Nancy Pelosi
Senator Harry Reid,Democratic National Committee
Senator Bill Nelson
Rep Nancy Pelosi
Senator Harry Reid,Democratic National Committee
Friday, June 3, 2011
letter to Elizabeth at Rep. Webster's office
Rep. Daniel Webster
Attention: Elizabeth
United States Congress
1039 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
06/03/2011
Dear Elizabeth:
I am sorry it has taken me a bit longer to put in writing both my thanks to the office of Congressman Webster and to you for informing me of the decision made my Rep. Webster (and his staff) to accept my challenge and send 1% of his congressional income to the treasury to reduce the National debt. I am impressed.
What, if you recall, I further suggested, was that (1) an organization with the ability to process contributions be approached to help with our debt solution and (2) approaching businesses to allow their employees to donate directly to the debt principal.
My vision of this is that the United Way would be your first choice because the infrastructure would be there and the vast majority of Fortune 500 companies encourage their employees to contribute to their organization. Should a number of Members of Congress (I would suggest bi-partisan) ask the United Way to help with this they may be inclined to do so. Further, if, for example, 150 million workers would contribute $1.00 (or more) a week, the immediate impact on the debt problem would show that we, as Americans, understand how important this is and would also begin to make a dent in the principal.
I believe the last number I saw was each of our portion was $43,000. Of course, this would have to be combined with other measures, from reducing earmarks and making spending cuts, to perhaps, and I realize you as Republicans are loathe to this, eliminating the $4 billion a year the oil companies receive while making record number profits (among other).
It seems like common sense to me, but alas, I am mealy a working stiff that is very concerned about the future of America.
BtW, I have written a number of other Members of Congress and the President, and have yet to receive a response.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Hastings Henderson
Attention: Elizabeth
United States Congress
1039 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
06/03/2011
Dear Elizabeth:
I am sorry it has taken me a bit longer to put in writing both my thanks to the office of Congressman Webster and to you for informing me of the decision made my Rep. Webster (and his staff) to accept my challenge and send 1% of his congressional income to the treasury to reduce the National debt. I am impressed.
What, if you recall, I further suggested, was that (1) an organization with the ability to process contributions be approached to help with our debt solution and (2) approaching businesses to allow their employees to donate directly to the debt principal.
My vision of this is that the United Way would be your first choice because the infrastructure would be there and the vast majority of Fortune 500 companies encourage their employees to contribute to their organization. Should a number of Members of Congress (I would suggest bi-partisan) ask the United Way to help with this they may be inclined to do so. Further, if, for example, 150 million workers would contribute $1.00 (or more) a week, the immediate impact on the debt problem would show that we, as Americans, understand how important this is and would also begin to make a dent in the principal.
I believe the last number I saw was each of our portion was $43,000. Of course, this would have to be combined with other measures, from reducing earmarks and making spending cuts, to perhaps, and I realize you as Republicans are loathe to this, eliminating the $4 billion a year the oil companies receive while making record number profits (among other).
It seems like common sense to me, but alas, I am mealy a working stiff that is very concerned about the future of America.
BtW, I have written a number of other Members of Congress and the President, and have yet to receive a response.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Hastings Henderson
2nd letter to Senator Rubio
June 3, 2011
Sen. Marco Rubio
US Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
Sen. Rubio,
Sorry to be a bit late in getting my week’s contribution to the National debt to you. I had an out patient surgery and have been sleeping a lot while I recover.
Enclosed, please find my check for the week. My challenge of contributing 1% of your salary (as I am doing) along with compelling your staff to do the same remains open.
I look forward to hearing a rapid response and acceptance to my challenge.
Regards,
Hastings Henderson
Sen. Marco Rubio
US Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
Sen. Rubio,
Sorry to be a bit late in getting my week’s contribution to the National debt to you. I had an out patient surgery and have been sleeping a lot while I recover.
Enclosed, please find my check for the week. My challenge of contributing 1% of your salary (as I am doing) along with compelling your staff to do the same remains open.
I look forward to hearing a rapid response and acceptance to my challenge.
Regards,
Hastings Henderson