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Not more of the same; worse
2004.11.03 — Government | Politics | George W Bush | Campaign 2004 | by Derek Jensen
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Deja vu all over again. |
With George W Bush a virtual lock for the presidency, let's take a moment to reflect not on the past four years, but on what might have been: honor, dignity, sanity, sound economic and foreign policy. We had it within our grasp, America, and we pissed it all away.
Bush/Cheney supporters like to chant "Four more years" at their rallies (actually, I think they're contractually obligated to). But four more years of what? Not more of the same. Oh no. GWB has an agenda that is going to make the last four years look like a debutante's cotillion.
GWB has an agenda that is going to make the last four years look like a debutante's cotillion. |
First of all, Bush has made it a central part of his campaign that he hates gays and abortion. With a stronger, more compliant Congress, look for draconian legislation that turns back the civil rights clock about 50 years. Take heart: he probably won't re-establish segregation. Probably.
Our standing on the world stage was already pretty poor.
Take heart: he probably won't re-establish segregation. Probably. |
Bush had made an obvious, grotesque mistake in turning away from hunting down terrorists and instead trying to forcibly establish democracy in the Middle East by bombing and invading it. For re-electing the man who engineered this debacle, instead of being a pariah in world affairs, America will now be a laughingstock.
He will continue to entrench us in Iraq by demanding more money and more troops, fearless of the American people's reaction. Hell, they re-elected him to do this, right?
[I]nstead of being a pariah in world affairs, America will now be a laughingstock. |
The president will continue to push for further "tax cuts" which are thinly-disguised moves towards a flat tax, but now he'll be bolder than ever. This will continue to stagnate the economy and turn a weak recovery into a chronic malaise.
The president will push his education agenda, which will take a decisive turn towards privatization. Likewise for Social Security. A Social Security program in which individuals get to put all their eggs in one basket is neither social nor secure. As a result, both education and retirement investing will become highly polarized, creating a divided world of haves and have-nots.
George W Bush will take his 2004 win as a sign (from the people, at least, and maybe from God).... |
George W Bush will take his 2004 win as a sign (from the people, at least, and maybe from God) that he should redouble his efforts to reshape the world to fit the neo-conservative agenda. Never mind that that agenda has already been shown to be wrong-headed and corrupt.
Bush will push forward with more PATRIOT Act-style legislation, more conservative judges—including on the Supreme Court—more bad environmental legislation, and more comically-bad press conferences. Only this time, they won't seem so funny.
f e e d b a c k
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