This is truly outstanding. Stick with it. It is long, but nails it down at the end.

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Given the furor about 'Joe the plumber' I've written an open letter to Mr. Obama myself. I think it is worth the read. Maybe if Americans could take a closer look at what a small businessman is, they wouldn't want politicians penalizing their success. Feel free to forward it if you want…

Cory
* * * * * * * * *
Mr. Obama,

Given the uproar about the simple question asked you by Joe the plumber, and the persecution that has been heaped on him because he dared to question you, I find myself motivated to say a few things to you myself. While Joe aspires to start a business someday, I already have started not one, but 4 businesses. But first, let me introduce myself. You can call me 'Cory the well driller'. I am a 54 year old high school graduate. I didn't go to college like you, I was too ready to go 'conquer the world' when I finished high school. 25 years ago at age 29, I started my own water well drilling business at a time when the economy here in East Texas was in a tailspin from the crash of the early 80's oil boom. I didn't get any help from the government, nor did I look for any. I borrowed what I could from my sister, my uncle, and even the pawn shop and managed to scrape together a homemade drill rig and a few tools to do my first job. My businesses did not start as a result of privilege. They are the result of my personal drive, personal ambition, self discipline, self reliance, and a determination to treat my customers fairly. From the very start my business provided one other (than myself) East Texan a full time job. I couldn't afford a backhoe the first few years (something every well drilling business had), so I and my helper had to dig the mud pits that are necessary for each and every job with hand shovels. I had to use my 10 year old, 1/2 ton pickup truck for my water tank truck (normally a job for at least a 2 ton truck).

A year and a half after I started the business, I scraped together a 20% down payment to get a modest bank loan and bought a (28 year) old, worn out, slightly bigger drilling rig to allow me to drill the deeper water wells in my area. I spent the next few years drilling wells with the rig while simultaneously rebuilding it between jobs. Through these years I never knew from one month to the next if I would have any work or be able to pay the bills. I got behind on my income taxes one year, and spent the next two years paying that back (with penalty and interest) while keeping up with ongoing taxes. I got behind on my water well supply bill 2 different years (way behind the second time... $80,000.00), and spent over a year paying it back (each time) while continuing to pay for ongoing supplies C.O.D.. Of course, the personal stress endured through these experiences and years is hard to measure. I do have a stent in my heart now to memorialize it all.

I spent the next 10 years developing the reputation for being the most competent and most honest water well driller in East Texas . 2 years along the way, I hired another full time employee for the drilling business so that we could provide full time water well pump service as well as the well drilling. Also, 3 years along the path, I bought a water well screen service machine from a friend, starting business # 2. 5 years later I made a business loan for $100,000.00 to build a new, higher production, computer controlled screen service machine. I had designed the machine myself, and it didn't work out for 3 years so I had to make the loan payments without the benefit of any added income from the new machine. No government program was there to help me with the payments, or to help me sleep at night as I lay awake wondering how I would solve my machine problems or pay my bills. Finally, after 3 years, I got the screen machine working properly, and that provided another full time job for an East Texan in the screen service business.

2 years after that, I made another business loan, this time for $250,000.00, to buy another used drilling rig and all the support equipment needed to run another, larger, drill rig. This provided another 2 full time jobs for East Texans. Again, I spent a couple of years not knowing if I had made a smart move, or a move that would bankrupt me. For the third time in 13 years, I had placed everything I owned on the line, risking everything, in order to build a business.

A couple of years into this, I came up with a bright idea for a new kind of mud pump, a fundamentally necessary pump used on water well drill rigs. I spent my entire life savings to date (just $30,000.00), building a prototype of the pump and took it to the national water well convention to show it off. Customers immediately started coming out of the woodworks to buy the pumps, but there was a problem. I had depleted my assets making the prototype, and nobody would make me a business loan to start production of the new pumps. With several deposits for pump orders in hand, and nowhere to go, I finally started applying for as many credit card as I could find and took cash withdrawals on these cards to the tune of over $150,000.00 (including modest loans from my dear sister and brother), to get this 3rd business going.

Yes, once again, I had everything hanging over the line in an effort to start another business. I had never manufactured anything, and I had to design and bring into production a complex hydraulic machine from an untested prototype to a reliable production model (in six months). How many nights I lay awake wondering if I had just made the paramount mistake of my life I cannot tell you, but there were plenty. I managed to get the pumps into production, which immediately created another 2 full time jobs in East Texas . Some of the models in the first year suffered from quality issues due to the poor workmanship of one of my key suppliers, so I and an employee (another East Texan employed) had to drive across the country to repair customers' pumps, practically from coast to coast. I stood behind the product, and made payments to all the credit cards that had financed me (and my brother and sister). I spent the next 5 years improving and refining the product, building a reputation for the pump and the company, working to get the pump into drill rig manufacturers' product lines, and paying back credit cards. During all this time I continued to manage a growing water well business that was now operating 3 drill rig crews, and 2 well service crews. Also, the screen service business continued to grow. No government programs were there to help me, Mr. Obama, but that's ok, I didn't expect any, nor did I want any. I was too busy fighting to make success happen to sit around waiting for the government to help me.

Now, we have been manufacturing the mud pumps for 7 years, my combined businesses employ 32 full time employees, and distribute $5,000,000.00 annually through the local economy. Now, just 4 months ago I borrowed $1,254,000.00, purchasing computer controlled machining equipment to start my 4th business, a production machine shop. The machine shop will serve the mud pump company so that we can better manufacture our pumps that are being shipped worldwide. Of course, the machine shop will also do work for outside companies as well. This has already produced 2 more full time jobs, and 2 more should develop out of it in the next few months. This should work out, but if it doesn't it will be because you, and the other professional politicians like yourself, will have destroyed our country’s' (and the world) economy with your meddling with mortgage loan programs through your liberal manipulation and intimidation of loaning institutions to make sure that unqualified borrowers could get mortgages. You see, at the very time when I couldn't get a business loan to get my mud pumps into production, you were working with Acorn and the Community Reinvestment Act programs to make sure that unqualified borrowers could buy homes with no down payment, and even no credit or worse yet, bad credit. Even the infamous, liberal, Ninja loans (No Income, No Job or Assets). While these unqualified borrowers were enjoying unrealistically low interest rates, I was paying 22% to 24% interest on the credit cards that I had used to provide me the funds for the mud pump business that has created jobs for more East Texans. It's funny, because after 25 years of turning almost every dime of extra money back into my businesses to grow them, it has been only in the last two years that I have finally made enough money to be able to put a little away for retirement, and now the value of that has dropped 40% because of the policies you and your ilk have perpetrated on our country.

You see, Mr. Obama, I'm the guy you intend to raise taxes on. I'm the guy who has spent 25 years toiling and sweating, fretting and fighting, stressing and risking, to build a business and get ahead. I'm the guy who has been on the very edge of bankruptcy more than a dozen times over the last 25 years, and all the while creating more and more jobs for East Texans who didn't want to take a risk, and would not demand from themselves what I have demanded from myself. I'm the guy you characterize as 'the Americans who can afford it the most' that you believe should be taxed more to provide income redistribution 'to spread the wealth' to those who have never toiled, sweated, fretted, fought, stressed, or risked anything. You want to characterize me as someone who has enjoyed a life of privilege and who needs to pay a higher percentage of my income than those who have bought into your entitlement culture. I resent you, Mr. Obama, as I resent all who want to use class warfare as a tool to advance their political career. What's worse, each year more Americans buy into your liberal entitlement culture, and turn to the government for their hope of a better life instead of themselves. Liberals are succeeding through more than 40 years of collaborative effort between the predominant liberal media, and liberal indoctrination programs in the public school systems across our land.

What is so terribly sad about this is this. America was made great by people who embraced the one-time American culture of self reliance, self motivation, self determination, self discipline, personal betterment, hard work, risk taking. A culture built around the concept that success was in reach of every able bodied American who would strive for it. Each year that less Americans embrace that culture, we all descend together. We descend down the socialist path that has brought country after country ultimately to bitter and unremarkable states. If you and your liberal comrades in the media and school systems would spend half as much effort cultivating a culture of can-do across America as you do cultivating your entitlement culture, we could see Americans at large embracing the conviction that they can elevate themselves through personal betterment, personal achievement, and self reliance. You see, when people embrace such ideals, they act on them. When people act on such ideals, they succeed. All of America could find herself elevating instead of deteriorating. But that would eliminate the need for liberal politicians, wouldn't it, Mr. Obama? The country would not need you if the country was convinced that problem solving was best left with individuals instead of the government. You and all your liberal comrades have got a vested interested in creating a dependent class in our country. It is the very business of liberals to create an ever expanding dependence on government. What's remarkable is that you, who have never produced a job in your life, are going to tax me to take more of my money and give it to people who wouldn't need my money if they would get off their entitlement mentality ##### and apply themselves at work, demand more from themselves, and quit looking to liberal politicians to raise their station in life.

You see, I know because I've had them work for me before. Hundreds of them over these 25 years. People who simply will not show up to work on time. People who just will not work 5 days in a week, much less, 6 days. People always looking for a way to put less effort out. People who actually tell me that they would do more if I just would first pay them more. People who take off work to sit in government offices to apply to get free government handouts (gee, I wonder how things would have turned out for them if they had spent that time earning money and pleasing their employer?). You see, all of this comes from your entitlement mentality culture.

Oh, I know you will say I am uncompassionate. Sorry, Mr. Obama, wrong again. You see, I've seen what the average percentage of your income has been given to charities over the years of 2000 to 2004 (ignoring the years you started running for office - can you pronounce 'politically motivated'), you averaged less than 1% annually. And your running mate, Joe Biden, averaged less than ¼% of his annual income in charitable contributions over the last 10 years. Like so many liberals, the two of you want to give to the needy, just as long as it is someone else's money you are giving to them. I won't say what I have given to charities over the last 25 years, but the percentage is several times more than you and Joe Biden… combined (don't you just hate Google?). Tell me again how you feel my pain.

In short, Mr. Obama, your political philosophies represent everything that is wrong with our country. You represent the culture of government dependence instead of self reliance; Entitlement mentality instead of personal achievement; Penalization of the successful to reward the unmotivated; Political correctness instead of open mindedness and open debate. If you are successful, you may preside over the final transformation of America from being the greatest and most self-reliant culture on earth, to just another country of whiners and wimps, who sit around looking to the government to solve their problems. Like all of western Europe. All countries on the decline. All countries that, because of liberal socialistic mentalities, have a little less to offer mankind every year.

God help us...

Cory Miller

Just an ordinary, extraordinary American, the way a lot of Americans used to be.

P.S. Yes, Mr. Obama, I am a real American... [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. <[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. >

Hmm so if he had to pay less in taxes when he started his business cause they were reduced he might not have gotten behind and might have been more sucessful sooner, but what do I know simple math is out of my grasp.

Way to miss the point. Of course, I would expect no less.

__________________
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Ben Franklin

"As long as Democrats support a Presidential candidate that harbors anti-American sentiment, they can not claim to be Americans." - Joetro

"It is inexcusable that 4 million NRA members bear the load for 80 million gun owners and 20 million hunters." - John C. Sigler

I think he is saying that all his life he has worked hard on his own to make it in this world. In that time building a company into companies, to not only help himself, but to employee others as well.

In all this time he did not ask for government money, nor was offered any. He did not choose to sit on his butt at the welfare office and ask for food stamps, and waiting until the first of the month for his check to come in.

He has paid taxes not only for himself, but matching employment taxes, workers comp, and all the other taxes involved in owning a business and employing others.

He has helped the economy by purchasing trucks, equipment, tools, paying property taxes, and paying his employees who are spending money for things they could not have by being on welfare.

He has sacraficed his time and his health to acheive a goal of independence along with the satisfaction of doing something himself.

This man has worked hard, only to see 40% of his lifes work vanish because of greed and corrupt politicians such as Barney Frank and associates.

Now the presumed next president wants to come along and raise taxes on this "rich" man in order to "spread the wealth" to the lazy slobs who would not work in this mans company. Slobs who would rather watch People's Court and wait for their check at the first of the month.

I haved owned several small businesses. I have lost money, and I have made money. I have laid awake at night with a tightness in my chest wondering if I was going to lose everything. I have lost almost everything before. I have awoke at night in a sweat screaming from nightmares about the bad economy and my failing business.

There is no doubt I have taken years off of my life doing these things. These were my decisions, no others, and I am not blaming anyone. I am not asking for restitution for the bad years either.

I now find my current business in a pinch because people who are wanting to buy what I sell can not get credit.

These people are not deadbeats or bad credit risk. They are denied credit because of the acts of liberal politicians who forced institutions to loan money to people who had no intention of paying it back. We are now all paying for that ridiculious idea, as people who once could go to a bank and walk out with money are now coming out empty handed.

Now someone wants to come alone and take this man's, and also my money, that we sacraficed for, and give it to someone whos biggest contribution to society is cashing a check and playing the lottery.

Yup glossed over his point and made a point that he would have been more sucessful sooner. Dang me why do I continue to make logical sense and not base my ideology on what I may become and not what I am.

You guys keep talking about these people that get checks on the first of the month, well I have been out of work for months at a time before, before I had a cdl, and was unable to get any help at all. I have known many people who have come on hard times that see the same thing, no check on the first of the month. But I guess that office is hidden where only the super poor special moochers know where its at. Oh and they all live in your nieghborhood and shop in the same stores. Pull up in their escalades, and where awesome clothes and have jewlery right??

Or do you just assume these things because of there skin color, age, what they talk like, who is around them. Or do you ask them and have them show you there check for that month. No you just make an assumption based on the above. Don't worry we all do it, but you are judging a whole system by those that you assume are on welfare.

Damn those people that didn't want to work 6 days and work more than 40 hours, I bet he wishes it were the old days so he could hire some kids and work them to death, they don't complain as much cause they havent learned anything in those liberal schools. There should be no minimum wage either, hell they should live in company housing and go to the company store and never be able to not work for me. Oh nevermind its ok for a few business owners to control workers and production but not the workers themselves.

That is the irony of capitalism, it is the illusian of freedom but the slavery of work with only the few getting any rewards. There are plenty of people that keep working harder and never get ahead, they never will. But they keep going because they think that they are free to. Fact is it is illeagal to not have a place to live. Try and sleep on the streets sometime, you can't do it without getting in trouble. I know there are people that do and have been for years, but they have been arrested many times in the mean time, sometimes just to stay warm for the night. But your right they have the freedom to die early and hopefully sooner right?? That way that plight of society can be gone. Lets keep going though, lets get rid of any affordable housing, that way the workers that cory wants to hire and pay only the minum he can have no place to live. (I used to deliver for a water well drilling company, their employees are very poorly paid, while the owners have lots of cash on hand at anytime) Yeah no more poor houses that will raise our real estate prices.

Well hmm now no one is around to mow my lawn, or do any electrician work, or plumbing work, or frame my house, or bring my mail, clean the streets, repair the roads, fly the planes, drive the buses, work at the sanitation stations, drive a truck to bring my stuff, repair my telephone lines or fix my cable(so I can watch bill o'riley), take care of me in the hospital if I get sick, or teach my children ( I am much to busy running my super company). So I drive down the bumpy road to work, I am almost out of gas cause no one is running the service station. Its very hard to get to the office as no one has replaced the bulbs in the signals after they burnt out. I don't have anyone to write to because all the people in government quit. Once I get to the office I find no one there to do the work, they all left.

This all happened when mccain came into office, everyone just left there companys and started their own. Well now there are millions of companys but no one that wants to do the work. Nobody ever wanted to believe the old saying, To many cheifs not enough indians. So now that everyone owns there own business no work gets done cause they are the boss and they shouldn't have to "work" for their money anymore. They are all CEO's that just want to take in the money and not have to labor anymore.

Funny that without labor this country would stop, but who cares about them lets care about the few that don't do the work and get all the feast.

Ah, "more successful sooner" so that, under your messiah's administration, he could start shelling out his hard earned money to your listless buddies sooner.

Gotcha.

__________________
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Ben Franklin

"As long as Democrats support a Presidential candidate that harbors anti-American sentiment, they can not claim to be Americans." - Joetro

"It is inexcusable that 4 million NRA members bear the load for 80 million gun owners and 20 million hunters." - John C. Sigler

Okay, so help me understand what you're saying. You twisted his words, changed his point so that you would be saying what he might have been if he hadn't been what he was and is? And you think that's being logical and is the ideology of what you are and not what you may become?

Are you from Star Trek? Do you live in a parallel universe to us? It's fine if you do, I'm just asking. Are you from the episode with the little fuzzy creatures that make everyone happy? cool!

Come on over here and I will take you to several people I used to deliver heating fuel to. I know who and what these people did. I delivered for Christian Ministries and Social Services. There were some deserving people, but many were lazy moochers.

If that is just here-say, I will take you a couple states away to where I have most of my very close relatives fit the description I stated. I am not proud to say this about my own people, but the truth is the truth. And by the way, we are all white, just in case you thought I was racist too.

No wasn't accusing anyone of being racist, just stating some people may make that assumption based on skin color, its terrible I know but some people do.

Not everyone wants to own their own business. Many are not cut out for the headaches and heartaches of self employment. Some are not smart enough to own a business, just as I am not smart enough to teach physics.

Where are all the people who do not want to own a business, or can't own a business, going to work if the small business owner is taxed out of business. I work solo now because of taxes, insurance, and regulation cost. I have employed as many as eight full time and a few part time people before.

One thing I have found in common with most employees. They all think just because you own the business and give them paychecks, you are rich, and under pay them. Many weeks the employees ended up making more than me, but would never believe me, for I own the business and I am rich.

They don't think that at the end of the day they go home and don't worry until the next day. I go home and ponder how to stay in business and meet payroll and taxes.

If I go out of business, I lose everything I own, if I go out of business, the employee gets unemployment until he gets another job. I took the big risk with my whole life and everything I own. I should reap some rewards for this, not have my money taken away to be given to others who did nothing.