[War] US: "Tell me your troubles"

[John Penta]

"Tell me your troubles"
4 March 2014
Pres. John Williams
USA
================
<Washington>

     As they walked towards the press for the obligatory photo op,
Williams looked apologetically towards Rev. Joshua Wilson, pastor of
the First Baptist Church, and the other representatives of the
riot-hit areas in Detroit.

    "I hate to subject people to these things," Williams noted.

    "Cardinal Flores had -told- me you were a fish out of water,"
noted Rob "Dogbone" Watson, a heavily-tattooed ex-ganger, cause of
Secret Service heart attacks....and a respectable community leader
since getting out of prison 15 years ago. "Most pols love these."

    "I am not most politicians, sir," Williams replied with a grin.

     Later, they were in the Oval Office, and Williams was in a chair,
Wilson, Watson, and the others in chairs of their choice.

     "Before you aim and fire, let me lay out something. There's only
so much I, at the federal level, can do. You might not like that, but
federalism protects you at all levels; the trade-off is that you don't
get to have the federal government tell Michigan, or Detroit, what to
do on a day-to-day basis, even when you want us to. Or when *we* want
to. But within that limit, and I'll tell you when it applies, you have
an open set of ears. Tell me your troubles. Vent. But let's try to
work together."

      And so they did. Long, vehement venting, with Williams defending
his actions with equal vigor. Polite, yet candid. Frank, yet friendly.

     And all behind closed doors.

     Exactly how a good venting should be.
---
Actions:
1. Williams....listens. Come and vent, Detroit. No promises, but he
does take copious notes.
2. Defend welfare policy: I'm not an asshole, there's good intentions here.
3. Ask Detroit community reps to help smack China for sticking its
nose in American "family issues". We may argue, but this ain't for
China to comment on! Shaddap, you!:P