And the solution is right under your nose—it’s the FOOD!
Think about the future family of your beautiful daughters when you establish your priorities for your second term as our president.
Dear President Obama,
Congratulations on winning your second term. I concluded long ago that it would take a second-term president to make any serious headway in replacing our toxic western diet with one that actually promotes health.
If you’d tried to do that in your first term, you would’ve never been elected for a second term. But if you don’t do it now, our only chance for any kind of serious leadership from 1600 Pennsylvania avenue is about eight years away—from the next president who may win a second term.
Why is that? It’s because there is simply too much money and special interests riding on maintaining the status quo. But, you’re an honest man who doesn’t have to worry anymore about those special interests who wish to keep our healthcare, food and pharmaceutical industries just the way they are.
It is inevitable that all of those industries will change dramatically in the next fifty or sixty years, but with strong leadership from the White House, significant progress could be made in less than ten years. Not only can we save $2 trillion on heath care, but we can show the world how to curb global warming, end world hunger, reduce our carbon footprint and end the needless suffering of billions of food animals per week.
Michelle Obama seems to have the ear of the former president in this picture; just think what they could accomplish if they teamed up to tell the world the truth about nutrition.
Everyone applauds the work that Michelle has been doing with her vegetable garden, Walmart and the school lunch programs. But she is coming up way short when it comes to telling everyone EXACTLY what they should be eating to accomplish the goals outlined in the previous paragraph.
Your good friend, former President Clinton, knows all about what we should be eating, but apparently he’s not yet connected the dots when it comes to all of the other global issues that are driven by our food choices.
A little background. Last year, I published several blogs on this topic, but didn’t address any of them to you. That’s because I knew that you—just like every other first term president in history—would be spending much of his time trying to get re-elected. Unfortunately, that’s the way our system works, and that’s why you need to seize the moment NOW. Eight years from now may be too late. Too late for our nation’s bank account, too late for the planet, and too late for preserving the longterm sustainability of the human race.
I know that you care deeply about Sasha and Malia and all of their future children and grandchildren? And because of them, I urge you to make it your business to learn the “big picture” about food and how critical it is for the future of life on this planet as we know it. After you get a grasp of that big picture, you will know what you need to do. And I have confidence that as a man of great principle, you will deliver.
The Bottom Line. As you know, there is no more powerful office in the world than the one you occupy. You have the ability to influence more change in the world than any other person. As you begin to promote that urgent change, other world leaders will follow suit. I know that you have a lot on your plate right now, but just like in a business, it’s all about priorities. And what could be more important than the longterm sustainability of the human race?
One final point—if you focus on promoting health, the concerns about ObamaCare will shrink to insignificance.
The “Fabulous Five”: Al Davis, Bob Nash, Dwight Holiday,
John Penebacker and Jerome Freeman. While serving as a USCG officer at Base Honolulu, I attended almost all of their home games. I bet you did too.
From your fellow University of Hawaii basketball fan during their great 1970-71 season—Aloha and best wishes for your second term in office.
If you’d like help with that “big picture,” you can begin by reviewing a few of my previous 643 consecutive daily blogs. Then, give me a call, and I will be happy to ride Amtrak down to Washington from my seaside home in southeastern Connecticut.
Best wishes, J. Morris Hicks (917-399-9700 or jmorrishicks@me.com)
PS: Here are a few of those blogs you might wish to start with:
- 11-14-12 blog. To-do list for our president’s second term in office
- 8-21-11 blog. “One Term President” — just might be the answer
- 6-24-11 blog. Michelle, it’s time to tell the world about meat and dairy
- As for Sasha and Malia. Forget “saving the planet.” Think great grandchildren
- Presidential debate memories. Top 10 “Zingers”—food choices & the debates
Handy 4-piece take-charge-of-your-health kit—from Amazon.com
- The movie that’s changing the lives of millions: Forks Over Knives DVD
- Healthy Eating, Healthy World, The “big picture” about food (our book)
- An essential scientific resource: The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell
- Dr. McDougall’s new book, The Starch Solution, with lots of great recipes.
Want to find out how healthy your family is eating? Take our free 4Leaf Diagnostic Survey. It takes less than five minutes and you can score it yourself. After taking the survey, please give me your feedback as it will be helpful in the development of our future 4Leaf app for smartphones. Send feedback to jmorrishicks@me.com
International. We’re now reaching people in over 100 countries. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or get daily blog notices by “following” us in the top of the right-hand column. For occasional updates, join our periodic mailing list.
To order more of my favorite books—visit our online BookStore now
J. Morris Hicks, working daily to promote health, hope and harmony on planet Earth.
For help in your own quest to take charge of your health, you might find some useful information at our 4Leaf page or some great recipes at Lisa’s 4Leaf Kitchen.
Got a question? Let me hear from you at jmorrishicks@me.com. Or give me a call on my cell at 917-399-9700.
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Blogging daily at hpjmh.com…from the seaside village of Stonington, Connecticut – Be well and have a great day.
—J. Morris Hicks, board member, T. Colin Campbell Foundation
J. Morris Hicks, engineer. writer. big picture guy. 
Jim,
We must have a petition to sign and for you to deliver. Getting Pres. Clinton involve and Drs. Esselyston and Campbell involved – also important! Send this letter to the head of health dept., too.
Jim – I left a message on your phone — Y-O-U CAN START A GREAT PETITION that we all can sign, like was done in Feb. 2009, and now has 2555 signatures (goal was 5000):
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/academicfreedom/
Here are two links there to get started:
http://www.ipetitions.com/
http://www.ipetitions.com/start-petition
I pondered what to put in the entries blocks — it needs to be done very polished — as you can do so frequently!!!
READERS: Give Jim your big support on this effort — encouraging many to sign it and put their own comments.
Jim, great blog. My suggestion…….Tweek your letter a bit. Contact Professor Cambpell and Dr. Esselstyn. See if they’ll agree to go with you to Washington. Perhaps the three of you could muster an appointment with either the President, Michelle or some higher up in the Administration to discuss your concerns, your programs, the research,etc. Maybe you could even lure Bill Clinton to participate. Reality, however, is that I’m sure the Dems (like Elephants, too) have ties to Big Dairy, Big Agra, Big Pharma. Who will actually stand out for change? It’s worth a try.
If you’re able, send your letter to each and every Senator (newly elected, most important!)
Keep up the fight.
In one of his speeches, he said he likes a “Good Steak.” . . . you never hear “Good Broccoli.”
Would Obama challenge the large corporations and their lobbyists?
We need Dr McDougall for the post of Surgeon General.
HAVE YOU HEARD the good news? CHECK THIS OUT! Los Angeles, CA is the largest city in the nation to embrace the MEATLESS MONDAY concept. Their city council just voted to make this a city-wide practice… no meat to be cooked, served, purchased on Mondays to embrace a movement toward better health and improved environment. WOW… BRAVO! Which city will be next? http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Los-Angeles-City-Council-Embraces-Meatless-Mondays-Vegetarian-178244541.html
Beth Perera
How is this good news? The city council spend time (which equals taxpayer money) to come up with a *suggestion*. Regardless of how you choose to eat, EVERY taxpayer should be concerned with the misuse of time and money to do this. Los Angeles has many, many more pressing issues. This is not good news — government agencies spending more tax money to suggest that businesses and private individuals go meatless one day a week. It changes nothing except that they pat themselves on the back while the crime rate, homelessness, gangs, and joblessness issues get put on a back burner for a *suggestion*. Shame on them for wasting taxpayer money.
I hope you are actually sending that letter to the President, not just hoping he will read your blog. And every single one of us who knows about the health and environmental impact of the SAD should write letters to the Obamas. I have been waiting impatiently for the election to be over to do just that because, like you, I knew their hands were almost completely tied by special interest groups in the first term. I’m going to suggest to my online “herbie” group that they each write, also.
Don’t get your hopes up … this is a President who loves “Spam” (The worst kind of meat in a can)
It’s all about awareness. And our president’s lack of awareness for this topic makes him no different than 95% of the brightest and most-educated people on the planet. They all believe that we “need” to eat animal protein to be healthy. Michelle also believes that.
But when they both “connect the dots” and fully understand how our food choices of the 21st century will impact the lives of their great-grandchildren—-like all other caring parents, they will know what to do. They are simply not AWARE that the longterm sustainability of the human race is at stake. Best, Jim
Jim, nice post and I agree it’s about awareness and it’s needed on so many different fronts. Although I went plant-based for health initially, I’ve since become more aware of the ties to the environment. As we all know from “The China Study” book, the meat/dairy industries are entrenched and fight tooth and nail. Regarding climate, Bill McKibben and his 350.org team is doing great work this Fall on their “Do the Math” tour. Bill McKibben is a huge leader in promoting awareness on the climate. His powerful article “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math” really woke me up to the urgency
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/07/24-2. He is doing a tour to follow up this piece right now, more info at 350.org. Still, 350.org needs to be encouraged to make their message on the value of plant-based stronger… this is all I’ve seen so far – http://www.350.org/en/node/3609 which is pretty weak on this important topic. Long way to go, but at least with Obama’s re-election, I think we stand a better chance for the next four years. Best wishes.
Let us hope you receive a response to this letter! Maybe it should have been sent to Michelle also? I think she has the Presidents ear!