A note back from the President

I had no idea what I was going to write about this week for my column.

But when I went home for lunch Monday and checked my mailbox, I noticed an oversized envelope awaiting my attention with a return address of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Most of you, I'm sure, recognize that address as the White House.

When I opened it, I noticed there was a note card inside.

I took the card out and was surprised to find a hand written note from President Barack Obama.

I was thinking the same thing you're probably thinking now.

He didn't write it.

But when I read it and examined it closer, there was no doubt in my mind he actually wrote it. I've seen examples of his handwriting before and his unique signature. Plus, it was a direct answer to something I wrote to him about.

I've written to the White House before over the years. Most of the time you get a nice letter back on White House stationary with the president's "signature." While it is technically the president's signature, most of those are signed by an auto pen.

Sometimes though, letters from ordinary Americans like me do make their way to the president's desk.

Ronald Reagan was known to have several pen pals.

Anyway, back to my story.

I wrote the president a letter back in April when I paid my taxes. It was a courteous, respectful letter, but I let him know that I was dumbfounded as to why I owed taxes -- again.

If you knew what tax bracket I was in, you would understand.

I'm by no means rich by anybody's definition.

I told the president that while I don't mind paying my fair share of taxes, I was disappointed that others in his administration weren't paying theirs like Treasury Secretary Tim Geithener and just about everybody else he nominated for the health care job.

I also mentioned how the poor get all the breaks. They get every possible benefit handed to them while working people like myself foot the bill.

Again, I don't mind helping the poor. But give me a break. There are lot of people out there milking the system for all they can get when they are perfectly capable of working.

And that's not to mention all of the wasteful spending by the government and all of the giveaways to foreign nations.

I just wanted the president to know that hey, guys like me can use a break too.

I'll tell you why I get soaked when it comes to paying taxes. I'm single and I don't have any kids.

If I had a couple of kids I'd be getting back a whopping refund check. Nothing against those of you with kids, but again, why am I paying to subsidize your lifestyle? It makes no sense.

Anyway, the president wrote me back and said he agreed that I needed a break and said he signed a bill that gives people like me a $400 break that is showing up on our withholding in our paychecks.

That's true. I have noticed my paycheck lately is about $20 more than usual.

Gee, don't spent it all in once place now.

I didn't vote for Obama and I never will. I think he has done a lot of damage to this country in the short six months he has been in office and is heading us down a path toward socialism.

But I thank you, sir, for writing me back about my concern.

Now, if you really want to be a great president and get the economy moving again, follow the lead of a great president, Ronald Reagan, and enact some real tax cuts.