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Dear Fellow Policyholder:
Do you have a moment to look over important disaster preparedness/recovery information? US President Obama did.
I do believe President Obama had good intentions when it comes to disaster preparedness/recovery. However, the insurance lobby may simply be too powerful for basic information to reach the public. That is my conclusion after communicating with him, please see the dialogue below. I hope you have the time to examine that revealing exchange. The public now has a better window into government on the matter of insurance consumer protection.
Antone P. Braga
The farmer imagines power and place are fine things. But the President has paid dear for his White House. It has commonly cost him all his peace, and the best of his manly attributes. To preserve for a short time so conspicuous an appearance before the world, he is content to eat dust before the real masters who stand erect behind the throne." —RALPH WALDO EMERSON
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Label/Receipt Number: 7006 2150 0000 9227 3932
Status: Delivered
Your item was delivered at 4:36 AM on February 13, 2009 in WASHINGTON, DC 20500.
Response from The White House, received April 16, 2009:
May 25, 2009 Followup to President Obama
Dear Mr. President:
I received a June 4, 2009 letter from Mr. F. Michael Keller, Special Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Correspondence, although I must say I am puzzled by his response to my February 2, 2009 letter.
As to his request for a brief, but detailed description of my issue, my letter could not be more clear. There are no government agencies providing the very basic consumer protection I have specified, even though US States' Departments of Insurance, Attorneys General, Federal Trade Commission, and Congress do exist to "protect the public."
We insurance policyholders make up the majority of the public, and deserve to have access to fundamental rights and information that affect us all. For the past thirty-two years I have been pointing that out to every government agency who could possibly help, as well as to members of congress, all to no avail.
It is time this issue is seriously addressed.
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Dear Mr. President:
The millions of people who survive disasters each year such as hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood, and fire, usually carry insurance, but they generally have no idea what they have coming, even after asking around. Just what should they expect, and how do they conceive their damage claims or partake in the process? Nearly everyone has been left out of the loop.
I hope, sooner than later, you address this issue by sanction decree.
The people are with you...they are the special interest.
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Dear Mr. President:
Can we expect your support, or is the insurance lobby just too powerful?
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Dear Mr. President:
Spreading the risk is fine, as you have proposed. However, actual basic rights and information to help disaster survivors better understand their disaster recovery is most vital and conspicuously missing from view for all insurance consumers. This issue deserves a respectful response. I agree it is time to come together as Americans...policyholders all included.
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
In times of great tragedy, Americans look out for one another. It's that core value that says, "I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper." We saw it last week in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. And because future hurricanes and other natural disasters will challenge us again, it's time to come together as Americans and create a common-sense national catastrophe insurance system, so that no family, neighborhood, city or state is left to bear the full burden of these events alone.
Floridians know as well as anyone that the current property insurance market isn't working...But disaster insurance isn't just an issue facing Floridians: It's an issue facing Americans across the country...it's the role of the federal government to step in, as we've done to insure against acts of terrorism. Because when a catastrophe strikes, we all look out for one another...
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee for president [President]."
Dear Mr. President:
I realize you have a great deal on your plate. However, what about the millions of disaster survivors (not to mention virtually all the population) who have no visible rights and information in their crucial time of need? Surely a word from you would go a long way.
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Dear Antone Braga:
Thank you for taking the time to share your views. I appreciate hearing from you and value your input.
My Administration is working to address the serious challenges our Nation faces. Some say we are moving forward on too many issues too quickly, but given our unprecedented circumstances, swift, deliberate action is needed. I am committed to taking immediate steps that generate job creation and economic recovery, and I am determined to make investments that lay a new foundation for real and lasting progress.
To build this new foundation, I have called for health care reform–this year–that reduces costs, protects health care choices, and assures quality, affordable care for all Americans. I am committed to building a clean energy economy that creates millions of jobs, helps to achieve energy independence, and reduces pollution as we tackle the effects of global warming. To prepare our children to thrive in the global economy, we must guarantee every child a complete and competitive education. We need to secure our homeland against threats by preventing terrorist attacks while planning for and responding soundly to emergencies. We also have an obligation to rein in our budget deficit by cutting wasteful spending and ineffective programs. We can do all this, and change the way business is done in Washington, by building the most open, transparent, and accountable government in our history.
Ultimately, the only way to solve the problems of our time is to involve all Americans in shaping the policies that affect our lives. Thank you again for writing. I encourage you to explore www.WhiteHouse.gov, which is regularly updated and more interactive than ever before.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
To be a part of our agenda for change, join us at www.WhiteHouse.gov
Dear Mr. President:
Thank you for your response. It is good to hear from you. Your plans are ambitious and I hope feasible.
But, now back to this matter. When might we expect an answer to the question broached many months ago: Who cares about the millions of disaster survivors (not to mention virtually all the population) who have no visible rights and information in their crucial time of need?
Is it still only up to me to rectify, or can you provide input?
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Dear Mr. President:
Access to rights and equal information truly is the benchmark of fairness...the need is genuine and affects, directly or indirectly, the vast majority of the public. Can you please address this issue?
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Dear Mr. President:
Your silence on this issue is telling...it answers, "Who Cares?" and where the government really stands with insurance policyholders and insurance companies. And, I must say, not in a very positive light for policyholders. If I'm reading that wrong, then, a penny for your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Dear Mr. President:
I feel badly that this matter seems complete based on your reticence rather than affirmative action for the people as I might have expected coming from you.
Maybe it was too much to expect, given the powerful hold on the status quo. However, the public sees in you a champion, as do I. Champions rely not on taciturnity, but affirmative action in their quest.
I say this, in the hope that this final appeal for positive action on your part will meet with your courageous statement—to give hope to all insurance policyholders by way of obvious rights and information to which they are entitled, but heretofore denied.
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Dear Mr. President:
I am sorry I must say this: you have left no doubt now, your action/inaction is most telling. However, of all the US Presidents I have written during my thirty-two year campaign, you are the only one who gave even a cursory response. So, for that I thank you.
I also thank you for the benefit from such clarification and enlightenment of laissez-faire policy—you have been most helpful: one might conclude that government really does not stand with insurance consumers, but rather complicit with insurance companies, otherwise the insurance industry would be made to provide basic rights and information to the public long ago, given such extended notice—apparently, disaster survivors need to fend for themselves against unfettered, blatant industry practices. And, government's lack of concern makes the answer more plain to the pressing question, "Who cares?"
Best of luck with your agenda.
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Dear Friend:
Thank you for writing. I have heard from many Americans who have been affected by natural disasters, and I appreciate hearing from you.
My Administration is working every day to ensure our country stands ready to respond to any disaster or emergency. Our goal is a more resilient Nation—one in which individuals, communities, and our economy can adapt to changing conditions, as well as withstand and rapidly recover from a disruption of any kind. I encourage Americans who are directly impacted by natural disasters to visit www.FEMA.gov or www.DisasterAssistance.gov for up-to-date information and to access current response and recovery information. For information on our Administration-wide response to the drought, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/Drought.
Thank you, again, for writing.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
Dear Mr. President,
Thank you for your response. When we are most vulnerable, why shouldn't crucial information reach us before too late? It should, now it does. disasterprepared.net/content
Sincerely,
Antone P. Braga
Please see Letter to President Obama
