Citizens must work as hard as the lobbyists

I write in reply to all those who have been critical of President Barack Obama because he has not created jobs and provided the good life for all. He never promised to complete his agenda in just a year. The acrimonious legislative morass that the economic, health-care and climate crises have produced shows how difficult the way ahead will be, even with the best intentions.

We worked hard to elect Mr. Obama and legislators to support him; then we sat down to wait -- not very patiently-- for our reward. This was a big mistake. Because, on the first day since they were sworn in -- and every day since -- they have all been pressured with money, favors, perks, etc., by an army of business and industrial lobbyists to act in favor of their interests.

We must counteract with lobbying of our own, via e-mails, letters, postcards, phone calls, even personal visits. We should be flooding our representatives' offices, pressuring them, letting them know how we want them to vote on issues important to us. We must thank them when they vote as we wish and remind them that in the end it is we, the taxpayers/voters, who gave them their jobs and will decide whether they keep them -- not the lobbyists.

We hoped President Obama could change the attitudes of Washington politicians, from self-serving fund-raisers to selfless public servants. This will take many times 12 months, if it can be done at all. The lobbyists work all day, every day, and we voters must do the same.

LUCILE WATKINS
Oakland