We also need to look at trade imbalances, cap and trade issues, and any business obstacle pushing manufacturing away. Tough EPA restrictions, tax credits, the creation of enterprize zones for manufacturing to come back into, etc.
Most importantly, we need a reaffirmation of leadership from Washington. Our country stands fully behind you, Mr. President-elect, but you need to show us the way. We will sacrifice and we will learn to do more with less...but we need you to fully explain your expectations on us. The American people have been absolutely starving for leadership over these last eight years......nourish us.

Funding from the bottom up is as counter-productive as showering the revenue to the rich in the hopes that the money "trickles down." We need to develop a "middle and out" system that funds and bolsters the financial health of the middle class, who makes up the vast majority of the economy, and our best chances at stimulating economic growth. I, as a compassionate liberal, am not saying to completely ignore the plights of the poverty stricken. However, in a democracy, there will always be a bottom 10%, a so called poverty class, which is as inevitable as it may seem Darwinian. It is up to the top 90% to look after the bottom 10%.

Secondarily, we need school districts to be counselled in prudent ways to fund raise for their schools, as well. It extends far beyond bake sales and candy drives. They could rent out their auditoriums on the weeknights, and weekends; they could charge for social groups, athletic groups, they could provide fee based ESL classes.
Thirdly, we need to use the same innovative thinking that your campaign employed in order to fully utilize the internet to improve all sectors of American life. Head Start pre-K education should be on the internet. Each class should be encouraged to begin a blog, with hiomework assignments, reference materials, performance measurements, and motivational vlogs.
We need innovative, critical thinking in response to all of our issues, and obstacles. Together, i believe we have the answers, or at least the embers to spark solutions to all of our concerns. You need not work on the beltway to hold the answers and participate in the process.

We have a sickness based system. What we need is a wellness based healthcare system. I believe we could offer a tax break of some sort to participating physicians in a school based (student optional) wellness inspection day / night at their school, with an emphasis on elementary school aged children.
In order to cure the educational system, we need an influx of neighborhood volunteers from the professional community, and this would be the first step. Basic pulse, blood pressure, weight, height, nutritional survey, hearing and vision testing, etc.