Because we'd like to think that he would like to do the right thing for Americans, I'd urge him to devote as much effort to public financing of campaigns, and meaningful campaign finance reform, as he has commendably applied to the recently signed health care bill.

-- Nicholas Johnson, Iowa City

This feature included brief snippits from 12 local residents on the day of President Obama's Iowa City speech.

On March 24, 2010, the editorial page editor of the Iowa City Press-Citizen, wrote the author, among many others:

With President Obama coming to Iowa City on Thursday, the Press-Citizen Editorial Board is working on a "Dear Mr. President" editorial that basically represents what we would say to the president if we had five minutes with him. Any suggestions on what we should add to this editorial?

1. We very much appreciate the work he put in, and the risks he was willing to take, to get the Senate Bill approved and signed, against the incredible odds created by a political system virtually smothered with special interest money.

2. This is the reason that the solution available to every other country – universal single payer – was never even on the table, and why the “public option” fell off the table; why the pharmaceutical companies are still controlling drug prices; why Wall Street has been left to regulate itself, free to bring on yet another comparable financial disaster; and why most of the so-called “jobs programs” involved more earmarks, benefits for corporations, the rich and employers than workers, rather than the FDR solution with his WPA and CCC: jobs for the unemployed.

3. Because we’d like to believe that he would like to do the right thing for Americans, we wish he’d devote as much effort to public financing of campaigns, and meaningful campaign finance reform, as he has commendably applied to the recently signed health care bill.

We asked several local readers and writers what they would say to President Obama if they were given a minute to speak with him today. These are edited versions of some of their replies.

The president says that economic recovery can be achieved by the creation of jobs. Yet it appears that all of the newly created jobs are with the federal government (for example, there are about 16,000 agents needed by the IRS to act as watchdogs for who does and does not have health insurance as dictated by the new health care bill).

But what about jobs in the private sector?

Mindi Woods

Iowa City

• • • • •

Where did the candidate Barack Obama go? Why are you so removed from the efforts to enact core Democratic principles? Why do you take the GOP attack dog politics lying down? Do you not realize that you will suffer a Clintonesque GOP sweep in Congress in the fall if you do not start leading and making the Democratic cowards in Congress keep up?

Duncan Stewart

University Heights

• • • • •

Winning health care reform was a great step forward. The challenge, though, will be to prove that it can deliver the savings he thinks are possible, and that the lack of a public option does not lead to even more fattening of the insurance industry because everyone is required to have insurance.

Anne Tanner

Iowa City

• • • • •

Besides "Congrats on the health care win," and "Why the heck didn't I get tickets to the speech," I would remind him that education -- and with it our children's and the entire country's future -- need to be considered when jobs that will rebuild the U.S. infrastructure are being created.

Not everyone can operate a jackhammer, Mr. President; some of us are needed in the classroom. Don't forget education jobs when you attack the unemployment problem.

LuAnn Dvorak

Coralville

• • • • •

I would congratulate him on his achievement in health insurance policy. But I would echo Alan Dershowitz's column in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal and remind Obama that Neville Chamberlain was not remembered for his progressive social and economic policies, but for his failure to contain Hitler.

Depending on what he does in the near future, Obama may be remembered, not for his health care policies, but for his failure to prevent a nuclear Iran.

James Eaves-Johnson

Iowa City

• • • • •

I would ask him when he was going to quit hoping for non-existent bipartisanship and remember who elected him. The man is way too smart to think that this country has ever truly been bipartisan.

Ralph Siddall

Des Moines

• • • • •

Because we'd like to think that he would like to do the right thing for Americans, I'd urge him to devote as much effort to public financing of campaigns, and meaningful campaign finance reform, as he has commendably applied to the recently signed health care bill.

Nicholas Johnson

Iowa City

• • • • •

There are many of us who have been disillusioned with politics because of all the back biting, negativity and party line mentality that pays no attention or benefits those who did the voting. His run for and subsequent presidency has given "hope" of a different kind that perhaps through politics we might actually see a "change" in how things are decided and run.

We appreciate the many times he's extended his hand and encourage him to keep extending his hand to those who disagree and are, perhaps, disagreeable. Through constant optimism, we hope for a better world.

Terri Larson

Iowa City

• • • • •

With this recent political "win" in the bag, now champion immigration reform!

Diane Finnerty

Iowa City

• • • • •

It's been said that laws and sausage shouldn't be made in public. Yet, after the very public health care debate, the Republicans are now running around like headless chickens. With 10 percent of the country jobless, how do you plan to work with Republicans to put Americans -- especially recent graduates -- to work in living-wage jobs?

Vernon Trollinger

Rural Johnson County

• • • • •

I guess my question would be simple: Does he believe in the United States Constitution's limits on the federal government?

Gregory Roth

Iowa City

• • • • •

I am so disappointed that I think I would chose not to meet him, lest I regret my comments.

Jay Christensen-Szalanski

Iowa City