Allow me, my hypothetical reader, to put forth a question that has been vexing me for several days.
My friend Jonas and I were recently having a discussion on the possible improvement of the economy, and news today about the growth brought the issue to the front of my mind. Now, reader, let us leave aside, for the moment, all questions about just what today's news actually means, and what's likely to happen in the future. Imagine with me, if your imagination will bear it, that the economy improves dramatically within the next year. The unemployment numbers start dropping, and everything begins to look up.
My question, reader, is this: Would this be a net good thing, or bad? If the economy does begin to improve, we all know who is going to take the credit for it, which will mean the only thing standing between George W. Bush and a second term is Iraq, which, on its own, may not be enough to sink him. The thought of a Bush Jr. campaign unencumbered by the pressure of a future reelection campaign is a thought that chills me. I fear that, as the song goes, we "ain't seen nothin' yet".
However, the stagnant economy is genuinely hurting a great many Americans. Is it worth it, so to speak, to wish this hardship on them, even if it's with the hope of ridding America of the man who's so responsible for it? Would willfully ignoring the plight of the downtrodden for what could be viewed as political gain make us no better then those we seek to displace?
My position, my indefensible position--and I'm limiting myself to the two options I've laid out--is this:
While I cannot ignore the perils of those who suffer, I feel that they will only continue to do so, and to possibly suffer greater hardships, if Bush is reelected. A Bush & Co. team who knows their time in the Whitehouse is up will do untold harm to the economy, environment, international relationships, etc. You, reader, may think me cold. Is a mother cold, who spanks her child for running without caution into the intersection?
As the poet said, "I must be cruel, only to be kind."