Can the United States Survive the Bush Administration?

Can the United States Survive the Bush Administration?

With 15 months left in this administration, one's first response would be "Uh, Yeh!" But upon a little deeper reflection, one might be tempted to say, "Well, I hope so."

However, my gut impression as I write this is: "Probably not." Logic would indicate 'yes' but my gut says 'no.'

I do have several questions regarding the current state of affairs of the American experiment.

Has American military power been enhanced during the Bush dictatorship?

Have the rights and liberties of the people been strengthened or enhanced during this period?

Has American prestige around the world been strengthened?

Has the reputation of America been uplifted internationally?

Is America safer today than at the beginning of the Bush dictatorship?

Has honesty and truth in government increased?

Has the collective voice and will of the people been heard, respected and acted upon?

Has the safety of the individual citizen been increased or enhanced?

Are we better off today than at the beginning of this nightmare?

Does the administration care about the opinions or wishes of the American people?

My answer to all of the above questions is "No!"

To the following questions I would respond "Yes."

Has the insecurity of the American people been increased?

Have the civil liberties of the American people been diminished while more power and wealth has accrued to a few?

Has torture, the loss of freedom in America, wars without justification with the killing of our innocent soldiers and the spying of and kidnapping of those speaking out against such or other crimes become a way of life for the Bushes and those in power?

Do you feel the President believes he can lie, cheat and steal and get away with anything, all at the expense of the people, our nation, our liberties, our freedoms and the Constitution?

Has military power degraded and stretched almost to the breaking point?

Has our national budget gone from a 200 billion surplus to an additional over 2 trillion dollars in debt?

And one final question: Has political power moved more toward a few wealthy powerful individuals or more toward the concept of the Founding Fathers as articulated by Abraham Lincoln "of the people, by the people, for the people?"

Dissidents & Olympics in China

The recent crackdown on human rights advocates, dissidents and those seeking justice in China seems a dry-run for the Olympics next year. To express the rights of the Chinese people which they cannot do for themselves, members of each national delegation could hold placards supporting human rights.

The American Use of Torture

George Bush today defended his administration's policy of using torture* - which he says isn't torture but rather extreme interrogation techniques including pain-inducing methods - to obtain information from those suspected of terrrorism or connected to terrorism or otherwise targeted by the Bush Administration.

This comes as a result of the recent release of a Treasury Department memo dated from early 2005 authorizing the use of such techniques after the White House denounced the use of such methods in late 2004.

The President said the American people expect the government to protect them from terrorism inferring that the American people had authorized all and every method to obtain any useful or useless information even if that method included torture or was applied against innocent civilians.

America was not founded upon the concept of applying pain to prisoners. We did not come to be the most respected and admired nation in the nation by using torture. We did not come to be perceived as that "shining light on the hill" if that light is lit by lamps from torture chambers and illegal prisons.

The use of torture, illegal kidnapping (renditions), unconstitutional wiretaps, illegal mail opening and other such techniques were once the domain solely of such nefarious nations as Red China, Communist Cuba, Pol Pot's Cambodia, the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany. Now this Administration has pushed the United States into this nether group of nations. Is it any wonder then, that people and nations around the world have come to disrespect the United States, to find it abhorrent and evil, a pariah among nations? Is it any wonder that people harbor acrimony and disgust with the actions of the United States government? Is it wonder that the actions of the Bush Administration are met with contempt and condemnation both at home and abroad?

The people of the United States expect the government to keep them safe, but not at the expense of their liberties. We expect the government to protect us from evil abroad, but not by practicing that same evil. We expect the government to thoroughly investigate those who would harm us, but not by harming others. We demand the goverment to protect us from our enemies, but not by becoming the enemy. George Bush and those within and without this Administration who wield the reins of power claim they know the thoughts of the American people, but all they really know is how to consolidate that power and wield it across all peoples at the expense of all people. All they really know how to do is to crush those who oppose their power - whether at home or abroad.

The actions of this Administration have undermined the security and reputation of the United States more than any Administration in history. Our military is in shambles, violent crime is rebounding, and the people of this nation feel we are off track. We have ceased to be a great nation because of what this Administration has done. We can do more, we can better, but only if great leaders step forward who are not afraid to act, who are not afraid to expose the secrets this Administration keeps hidden, who are courageous enough to act and speak when others cower.

We can do more and we can do better. But it is up to you. Speak the truth, act boldly, speak your conscience. There is no law against the truth. There is no law against love. America has been and will be again the greatest nation amongst all nations of Earth. Of that, I have no doubt.


* Torture - the application of pain whether physical, mental or emotional in whatever degree.

America:The New Roman Empire

http://www.bulatlat.com/news/6-44/6-44-empire.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/19/1032054915705.html

http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=2526

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0309&article=030911

http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2003/3/22/222259/991

http://www.newdawnmagazine.com/articles/George%20W%20Bush%20and%20the%20American%20Empire.html

http://syninfo.com/IAN/extra010.htm - A little far out, but still thought provoking

http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=2546

Anatomy of the American Empire

I don't agree with everything in this article, but it is thought provoking.

http://question-everything.mahost.org/Socio-Politics/American_Empire.html