Open letter to Lance and Ben

Hey you guys, I really appreciate the philanthropy that both of you do when it comes to causes that effect our world. It is very responsible of the both of you to aim at the problem and not the symptom. But in the case of the "Stilller-strong" project I know that this is a misguided effort considering the gravity of the economy in the US.  For the first time since the GREAT DEPRESSION we have unemployment that is crippling our country with an estimated 15 million citizens and legal immigrants with out work.

But the both of you want to focus on Haiti as charitable cause? Do you know how many BILLIONS the IMF has given to that country with out guide lines or consequences? Ben what is the cost of having the school add new rooms and fresh water, 100 k maybe? Then raise the money from your friends or make a picture and donate that much to the school or just give it to them. Hey it's a tax write off for god's sake! http://www.stillerstrong.org/
 Lance as a Texan, an image for Trek and a business man you want to impact those who support you at home right? Then talk to the Governor of Texas and the board at Trek and get the details hammered out so jobs are brought back to the US from China in this sustainable industry.  There are lots of closed factories that could be made over green with the help of local legal jobless construction workers. The state of Texas is wanting to attract business and can help with tax incentives, training for citizens and legal immigrants and loans so Trek can once again proudly produce bikes in the US. http://txed.convio.net/flash/txed_flash3.html  In no way can they cost anymore than the Chinese made bikes unless greed is their business. In this economy it just makes dollars and cents to make a big deal out of their homecoming to 'lend a hand' with good old American know how. Just ask Henry Ford what he did to get cars in the hands of Americans in the early 1900's! Quite screwing around with this hair-brain scheme of Ben's and see the big picture. Take care of your own house first and lend a hand to the community here before we can't lend a hand to anyone else. http://www.youtube.com/livestrongarmy
 Feeling good about doing the right thing is rewarding but doing it in your home first makes you proud and those around you proud too; then helping the next door neighbor makes them proud ; then the next door neighbor and you help another and the three of you impact another. After that the work load is is a ripple that starts in the center of your community and  those ripples becomes a wave and then it can be strong enough to send around the world.  That is the legacy of early 20th century America.
 So get in touch with everyday Americans and rediscover our strength which is our pride in taking care of ourselves and then lending a hand to our  neighbor. Remember growing up in Texas and how good people looked out for each other with out the Government getting in the way with a hand out. That's the way it was  when I was growing up in the SF bay area and it's still that way if you look, even in the cities.
Just don't make an institution out of your work with a catchy motto and a big corporate building and board of directors to feel important. Don't look like a scam and a money pit with no end of donation cycle in site, that's for another 'lost cause'.Grease the wheels, step back and let everyone share in it and they will propagate it. After all we built the damns, the roads, the cities and everything here. We did it then, we can do it now with out fanfare or mug shots http://www.cyranoworks.com/HooverDam.html.
Peace to both of you and your families this holiday season.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because we are sharing the coffee.