Dear William and Daniel, (and Catherine, Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Yesterday we had an election for the next President of the U.S., and our current President, Barack Obama, won a second term in office. The loser of the election was Mitt Romney (a former Governor of Massachusetts).

I voted for President Obama; so, I am very happy with the outcome.

Although I a registered Republican, and a member of the Polish American Republican Caucus of New Jersey, I supported President Obama (who is a Democrat) for two reasons: First, I believe that he did a fine job during his first term in office, despite fanatical opposition from the Republican Party, which in my opinion, put their own agenda ahead of the country’s welfare. I agree with President Obama’s approach to universal health care for all Americans; and his practical approach to threats from enemies of the United States. I also support his approach to immigration reform, and the stabilization and economic expansion of the middle class.

In contrast, I opposed Mr. Romney because Mr. Romney pledged to reverse President Obama’s advances in health care reform (commonly known as “ObamaCare”). Mr. Romney also favored benefiting the middle class by first benefiting the wealthiest amongst us, and hoping that their increasing wealth will then trickle down to every one else. And, Mr. Romney favored increased spending on our military, when the need for such increased spending was not shown to be necessary. And, Mr. Romney favored a fundamental Christian viewpoint, which did not allow for gay-marriage.

The second reason I supported President Obama is because I believe that his policies are better for my family.

My brother Tom, and my sister Olenka lost their jobs four years ago, and now they are extremely under-employed.

Tom, up to August 2008, was a Vice President, Associate Creative Director (Art Director) at Young & Rubicam (a major advertising agency in N.Y. City; where Tom developed and produced print, television, interactive and on-line campaigns for Y&R clients). Since then, he takes (when available) freelance Art Director jobs; but such jobs are not easy to obtain, and they are all short-lived. Tom is married to Patty Brody, has one son, Zak, who graduated college and now lives in California; a daughter, Katrina, who recently graduated college, works, and lives at home with her parents; and another son, Cody, who is still in high-school.

Olenka, who is a widow, was an Executive Assistant to a Corporate Vice President at PAREXEL (the company provides services to the pharmaceutical industry), where Olenka served, up to April 2008, as gatekeeper and bridge between executives, company employees and clients. Recently, Olenka was hired as a part/time Church Office Manager at the Unity Center For Practical Spirituality in Norwalk, Connecticut; and, after loosing her rented apartment because she could not afford the rent, Olenka has been living with an elderly woman (Elfriede Lafferty) in Westport, Connecticut, keeping her company.

My sister Hanka is single, living with my 93-year old Mom in a rent-controlled apartment that is rented in my Mom’s name. Hanka is employed as a high-school social-sciences teacher (the school where Hanka teaches is very close to where she lives).

My sister Elzunia is a widow, living alone in the Catskills, where she struggles with post-flood and regular wear and tear maintenance issues to her home and other structures on her property.

Not all problems are caused by the economy alone; some problems are simply caused by the passage of time. Often, employers prefer to hire younger workers, who generally are better educated for the tasks at hand, and may be a cheaper labor source; more energetic; and full of ambition.

William and Daniel, as you prepare for adult live, and then as you live through it, remember to always have a plan for what to do when you loose the security of what you are comfortable doing. Think about the business you may want to start; or prepare for the profession that will allow you to be independent of the corporate world. Remember, when disaster strikes, it will often NOT be your fault, and it may be unexpected. All you can do is prepare for the unexpected – keep up with your education; keep you antennas up for new opportunities; invest your resources wisely; and maintain your contacts.

My sister Hanka benefited greatly from President Obama’s policies because he invested money in keeping teachers employed; on the other hand, Mr. Romney expressed the view that government spends too much on government employees, such as police officers, firemen and teachers.

All my siblings benefit from ObamaCare. Mr. Romney’s pledge to dismantle it, I believe, would have been a social disaster; and, of particular harm to my family.

When you are able to vote, please do so. It is a right and a responsibility. Be aware of the issues, and take an interest in the world around you. If you are so inclined, participate in politics; but, at the very least, vote!

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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