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Edith Ann | 02/06/2009 12:45 pm

Life in the Little Lane: Edith Ann's Letter to Obama Re: Kids' Allowances

Dear President Obama:  I hope you can get this e-mail on your BlackBerry. I know you are busy — so am I, and I wouldn’t take your time or mine if I didn’t think this wasn’t important. I’m writing this from my house which is in foreclosure. If foreclosure could be made into a tourist attraction, Edgetown could be a popular place for tourists to go.

We moved to Edgetown hoping for a better life. This has not panned out. First, my dad lost his job at the outdoor-carpeting factory. But I guess that was for the best, because the factory was probably causing global warming anyway. And just last week, my mom who works nights as an airport security guard keeping us safe, got caught with a bag of confiscated cosmetics she had been saving to give, she said, to this nearby retirement home.

But looks like they don’t believe her story. Probably because her face glows now like some of those faces you see on the Red Carpet of those award shows. Those products really work! I tried some myself and even I look younger. But what good is it if mom looks five years younger but might have to waste her young looks locked up in jail. By the time she gets sprung, she’ll look about as old as she did before she started using all those confiscated cosmetics.

Anyway, our lawyer, Mr. Pro Bono, said she most likely won’t do jail time, but she could lose her job. And this is the only job my mom has ever really loved. It gave her a lot of self-esteem. Where else could she get a job where she can improve her looks and help fight terrorism at the same time?

By now, you are no doubt saying to yourself, “Get to the point, Edith.” So, OK, my main point has to do with the ‘big lack of money’ problem I see among kids today.

Don’t think I’m asking for a handout; frankly, a handout would be way too small. No, I’m asking for a Big Bank-type bailout that would go to all the kids in this country. We are, after all, a bridge to the future. So, this is one way to invest in our infrastructure.

The way this could work is the government would give kids a weekly or monthly allowance for going to school where we learn to be productive citizens. Bad students who don’t show up or refuse to study could be docked. Good students who do good deeds and study after school could get paid overtime. There would be regulations to make sure the bad, lazy kids could not award bonuses to themselves. 

In fact, maybe along with a teacher’s union, we should organize a student’s union. Right now, students, especially the young ones like me – oh, did I say I am 6 ½? – but people say I’m old for my age. Anyway, young kids have almost no rights. I’m sure your daughters complain about that. On TV, they say you have to do something bold. Well, here’s something bold: Give us pay, now, for all the work we do at school. Don’t wait until we are older and get to be CEOgres.

By the way, a big reason why kids need a bailout is there is almost no way a kid can make decent money. For example, to help out with the bills last year, I had a lemonade stand — which ended up costing me money; plus, I broke my grandmom’s beautiful cut-glass pitcher which everyone keeps saying is irreplaceable. I was just trying to make everything look nice like Martha Stewart would if she had a lemonade stand. 

120 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

N P
Edith, What a delightful, brilliant little girl you are. I’m sure President Obama will get your letter, and take it to heart. I’ve listened to you since you were a very small child. I think you have truly outdone yourself here.
By N P on 02/06/2009 1:14 pm
Maurine H
Dear Edith Ann- That’s quite a letter you wrote to President Obama. I am sure he will look at your ideas very seriously because “out of the mouths of babes, oft times come gems” really applies with what you wrote. Kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for, partly because they don’t fiddle around with trying to make themselves look important like grown-ups often do. I thought your “Piggy Bank department” idea was just great. It reminded me of when I was a little girl (about the same time your grandma was just a young thing) and every week my mom gave me a dime or a quarter to put in my “school bank account.” All of us students had savings accounts, and we were very proud of them. After a bunch of years I had almost $100 in my school account!!!! I was amazed. So I hope that President Obama talks to the banks soon and makes them tell us all how they will use every single penny of OUR bailout money. I hope you will keep writing to the President, because, Lord knows, he needs some good honest input from kids. Sincerely, Your friend, Mo
By Maurine H on 02/06/2009 1:33 pm
chef Zee
Dear Ms. Edith Ann- Once again, your brilliance shines through. Don’t ever grow up, you couldn’t possibly get any better. You certainly have my vote for Secretary of the Piggy Bank Security department. ChefZee
By chef Zee on 02/06/2009 2:12 pm
Kryssi K
WELCOME BACK, EDITH! We missed yoooouuu! *polar bear hugz* Well, your Trickle-Up theory is not only logically progressive, it’s downright genius. If I had been getting paid to attend school, I’d have a Masters (or three) by now. Maybe I’d even be that nutritionist I’ve secretly wanted to be for the last few years. Children really are getting the crappiest end of the stick with this [not-so] Grownup nonsense, when really they SHOULD be compensated. School IS work…especially when your little bodies are not equipped to wake up at 7am every day, only to be forced to FOCUS for 6 or 7 endless hours. …Ahhh, this is definitely something Mr. Prez should give heavy consideration to! Thank you, Edith. Not only did seeing your name on the homepage already warm my day up with smiles, but you gave us all yet another gem to ponder for a long time. You know what? If I saw a lemonade stand in front of a house with a Foreclosed sign, I would only feel MORE compelled to buy some of that lemonade no matter what’s in it. No one said you have to drink it…if I didn’t like it, I could take it home to water the plants with (if they feed on the sugars in 7UP, why not Crystal Lite?), or maybe help a stray dog get hydrated. Hope to catch ya in the sandbox more often! The days are getting longer again, have you noticed?? -K- P.S.- you should be on the Democratic ticket next term for Secretary of the Future. Doesn’t even have to be Democrat, actually. Yeah. I’d vote for anyone who is wise enough to employ you in their cabinet.
By Kryssi K on 02/06/2009 4:25 pm
Jane Wagner
Hi, Krissi, I’ve missed you too! But, as you can see, I have had some problems. Most of us here in Edgetown have run out of money. There is an upside to this though…they say crime is down. The paper said the cops think the crooks are moving to cities where there’s not as much unemployment and there are more people who have things worth stealing. The cops have a slogan” Crime does not pay in Edgetown” . It sounds good, but it’s just the Mayor trying to put a good spin on things. Hope you have enough money to last this out… whatever “this” is. Edith
By Jane Wagner on 02/09/2009 6:08 pm
Kryssi K
Well Edith, I know this is all too scary but I also know that this is how the universe is forced to operate at times. I think some good things will have to come out of all this — otherwise, what would have been the point if there were no lessons to be learned? When I hear about people being forced to move in with friends or relatives temporarily, to help save money, I can’t help but see that this crisis is helping unite people and motivate everyone to become more disciplined. I know I’m REALLY reaching here - not cynical enough and all that. I bet I even seem so out-of-touch to the point of DELUSIONAL. But if I didn’t have my sense of optimism (regarding the BIG picture; smaller things, on the other hand……), well, let’s just say I would not have been around long enough to meet my sandbox chums. By the way, money? What is this “money” you speak of? I think you mean “credit”…
By Kryssi K on 02/09/2009 8:17 pm
Little Fefe ~ There is nothing wrong with being too idealistic. It is just your dreams sparkling.
Hey my dear little Edith, I have idea! Maybe you and I (as well as all the others who have recently joined the ranks of the unemployed) could pool our talents together and start up a business of our own! I cook up some tasty and healthy meals to accompany the mouth-watering lemonade I’ve heard so much about. I do promise that no matter what happens hugs and smiles will always be free,pthhh I wouldn’t mind dipping into my stash of mad money (don’t worry it’s not really “mad” my mom said so) And you see, we wouldn’t be greedy like those big companies and the banks - we could spread our earnings around and help provide homes for all the little critters in need of a home. After all, many hands make for light work and pleasant work too! Hugs, smiles and everything sweet xo the fefester
Ms. Dee
Oh, dear Edith Ann, I am so sorry about your grim Lemonade experience. They used to say, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” But you did that and it made things even worse! I’m so sorry. Especially about your grandmom’s pitcher. Rats! What a tragedy. Do you have a snow shovel? Does is ever snow in Edgeville? Maybe you could make some money shoveling snow. Or if you have a broom, you could sweep off porches and sidewalks for people. I would just hate to see your enterprising spirit be squelched by all the foreclosure and bail-out nonsense the grown-ups are all so worried about. I sure do hope Obama will read your letter, and make sure some sort of interest is paid to the kids in America. Kids are really good at cleaning up a mess, sometimes. They get a lot of practice from all the times they have to clean up their bedroom and stuff. And the grown ups have sure made a big mess of things this time. We’re going to need all the help we can get. So you keep thinking. And keep writing to the President everytime you have a good idea.
By Ms. Dee on 02/06/2009 4:37 pm
Edith Ann
Ms. Dee, Yes, if you take lemons and try to make lemonade, and that doesn’t work out, it just shows you how bad things really are. Edith Ann
By Edith Ann on 02/09/2009 2:41 pm
Ms. Dee
And that’s the truth! How ‘bout ice tea? Is there a market in Edgeworth for tea? Maybe you could brew it in the sun and come up with a catchy name like “Elefunks”. If you put some old furniture out on the lawn…that might work. Oh never mind. Sooner or later someone would want lemon with their tea…grim.
By Ms. Dee on 02/09/2009 3:15 pm
Kryssi K
Time for a different drink, Edith - chuck those flippin’ lemons right back at ‘em! I always did prefer LIME-ade, anyway…
By Kryssi K on 02/09/2009 8:23 pm
phyllis Doyle Pepe
Dear Little Friend, Thank you for sending me your letter to our President. I haven’t heard from you for alooooong time and now I know why. You have been going though a really rough time or as my Daddy says, “Times like this make people want to jump off roofs or piss up trees.” I told my mommy about your idea of paying kids for going to school and she shuttered. See how I can use big words now? She said money should never enter into children’s learning in any way. But I reminded her of how she used to give me M and M’s each time I pooped–––”that’s my girl, that’s my big M and M girl!” “Candy is not money!” she shouted. So I got to thinking about this and I remembered a history lesson where a different president wanted to get a lot of money to help heal polio. It was called The March of Dimes. Thousands of people sent their dimes to the president and the cause raised millions of dollars. How about us kids doing that again and then maybe you could get some of that money and buy your house back and get some more lemons. I am sorry your Mommy and Daddy have lost their jobs. My Daddy’s patients are paying him with eggs and chickens cuz they don’t have the money. Tomorrow I’ll bring some over to you with recipes my Mommy has collected: One Hundred Ways to Cook Chicken” and “Eighty Ways With Eggs.” Love and Kisses, Phittis Doytal
By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 02/06/2009 5:53 pm
Grande Camper
Welcome back! What a cute little story.
By Grande Camper on 02/06/2009 6:05 pm
Rain in Minneapolis
HAHAHA!!! L O V E IT!
By Rain in Minneapolis on 02/06/2009 6:53 pm
Mommy Dearest
Edith, my dear, writers get money by doing exactly what you are doing. Keep it up, and some day someone called an “agent” will help you find lots of other boys and girls who will buy your work. Then other people called “critics” will tell those boys and girls that they spent their money well because you write like no one else. I’ll be first in line at your book signing, dear Edith.
By Mommy Dearest on 02/06/2009 8:14 pm