I nearly jumped out of my chair when I got this email from my dad, which he sent to his rather large general email list. He has been a conservative-leaning independent for my entire life. He has never felt comfortable talking openly about politics, and has historically avoided discussing his votes for Reagan, Bush I, and Dole with me (or anyone else).
I gained a little optimism today. We can only hope that he is representative of moderates in this country.
After reading the news today and seeing a series of unrelated articles that got my dander up I thought it was time I began my quest to help shape political opinion in America. To some of you what follows may come as a shock. Many of us that consider ourselves Independents are reluctant to show our politics. I think that is because they change periodically and depend on the issues.
Although after reading this some of you may disagree I do not consider myself a leftist, a radical environmentalist or a liberal. Although I spent my teenage and young adult years in the 60's and early 70's, I'm more a product of the 50's. My voting record is independent but has tended towards Republican. Why do I tell you this? Because either due to time (age) or because of the radical shifts the current administration has brought to our country, I find myself concerned for our future and what we will leave behind for our children.
I offer you my opinion as well as some reference material to support that opinion. I hope that you take the time to read it as well as do some research on your own. The Internet is a wonderful resource as long as you know the source of the material. It contains numerous reputable sites as well as sites with unsubstantiated claims and downright falsehoods, so readers beware and check your sources.
America under George W. Bush is losing respect throughout the world. We are no longer looked at as leaders. People in the rest of the world no longer admire us as a nation. The vast majority of Europe's populace has lost faith in us. This is not limited to Arab or Muslim populations but is worldwide. This article, "Poll finds widespread discontent with U.S.", exemplifies this trend:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001880913_antipoll17.html
World leaders are also finding it harder to support U.S. policy and we are fast losing our leadership edge. This article shows that even the so-called coalition that Bush put together for the war on Iraq is in fact disappearing. See "Bush works to shore up support for terror fight":
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001880948_spain17.html
I don't have to elaborate on the questionable justifications for the war in Iraq. Many have already been proven false. It does not matter to me why they are false. What matters to me is that the administration used much of it because it fit their need. There is no question we were hell bent on going into Iraq, with or without world support. After the fact justification of the "world is better off without Sadam" is easy to buy into. Who can argue with that? The question is did we commit so much in terms of dollars, military resources and world respect that we are now left with a much worse world situation? As a side note you may find the article, "Iraqi exiles fed media false information" interesting,
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001880918_inc17.html
The Bush administration record on the environment, lost in the news of terror and war, has been abysmal. In three short years he has dismantled numerous environmental protections put in place years before. From opening the Tongass National Forest in Alaska to clear-cut logging, the last of the old growth forest lands in the U.S., to placing industry lobbyists in federal positions within the EPA and Interior Departments, there has been a steady erosion of protections. These industry people, who now are federal officials, are directly responsible for these actions and have acted outside agency rules and sometimes even the law. They pay little of no attention to the government scientists and in some cases repress this information. An excellent example of the arrogance of this group can be found in "EPA let industry dictate policy on mercury, some staffers contend":
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001880929_mercury17.html
I could go on, talk about the economy, outsourcing of jobs, the Patriot Act and your civil liberties. But I have probably already lost most of you. I don't ask you to change you opinion to mine. I only ask that you look closely at what is going on. Get beyond 9-11 and take a holistic view. Are we better off? Where will we be in four more years? What kind of world do you want you children to live in? Does George Bush really practice "compassionate conservatism"? I believe that this November's elections are more important than ever before in my lifetime. I plan to vote for change.
Thanks for listening and feel free to share this.
J.B.