Politics

For the most part I am not active in politics.  I vote, most of the time, but that's about the extent of my involvement.  Like most people, I dislike politics and politicians.  Furthermore, politics has little to do with my photography, so why risk offending anyone by talking about it here?  Because I have never before been so incensed over the policies and actions of my government and believe that every time we fail to speak up for what is right we give power to the forces of corruption.  We can no longer rely on the political process to provide a balance of power.  Will Rogers once said "I don't belong to any organized political party - I'm a democrat."  The modern version of this might be "I don't belong to the democratic party - I'm a liberal."

So let me present you with some simple reasons why I think that the George W. Bush administration is the most dangerous, corrupt, and evil one this country has ever seen:

1. Arrogance.  Some elements of American culture tolerate and perhaps even admire arrogance, but it is clear to anyone who has traveled abroad (well, almost anyone), that this attitude is despised in most of the world, and particularly in connection with American politics.  Ignoring the ethical issues for the moment, the arrogance of the unilateral and preemptive attack on Iraq is appalling, and that is just the most obvious example.

2. Ethics.  So attacking Iraq is a big complicated moral issue.  Here's one that is not so complicated:  Awarding lucrative contracts, without bids, to companies that have close ties to the administration, including the company that the Vice President used to run.  And then they make it difficult for companies in other countries, or even small American companies, to win contracts.  If there was any doubt over the motivations to attack Iraq the ONLY ethical thing to do afterwards would have been to make sure there was NO financial gain.  Control should have been handed over to the U.N. as soon as possible and reconstruction contracts awarded to non-U.S. companies only.  Yes, that is extreme, but when you claim to act for noble reasons you have to back it up.  Then the alternative (gaining U.N. cooperation) looks much more attractive.

3. Patriotism.  I mean this sincerely:  The so-called Patriot Act is a great danger to this country and, therefore, unpatriotic.  Recently, an amateur photographer in Portland, Oregon was harassed and detained by security guards for photographing a federal building from the street.  They told him it was illegal.  It is not, but this kind of attitude is a direct result of the Patriot Act.  I wish it had been me - I would have protested loudly and, when they threw me in jail, sued them for it.  And what is the point?  To protect us from terrorism?  It serves that purpose very poorly.  The only purpose I can see is to maintain a state of fear so that people can be more easily manipulated.  For this we give up the very freedoms that are the soul of this country?

4. Fiscal Responsibility.  Whether you believe in less government or more, lower taxes or better services, it is the duty of our government to watch out for the interests of our citizens.  Not just the wealthy citizens, and not just the ones living, voting, and paying taxes today, but the future generations as well.  It is clear that the Bush tax cuts greatly favored the rich.  It should also be clear that the cost to our country, especially when added to the cost of the war, will be an immense burden on future generations.

5. The Environment.  Since taking office Bush has systematically dismantled a wide range of environmental protections.  This would be bad enough if it were based on some misguided notion of how nature works, but there can be no doubt that it is simply the result of greed for short-term profit with no regard for future consequences.

6. Church & State.  George W. Bush apparently does not understand the principle of separation of church and state.  He doesn't understand that this doctrine is absolutely fundamental to the freedoms that define our country.  Nor does he understand that the purpose of this doctrine is to protect religion as much as anything else.

So despite some misgivings about the Democratic presidential candidates, I feel that it is imperative that Bush be defeated in the upcoming election and I urge you to join me in doing whatever you can to ensure that result.

Copyright (C) 2004 Greg Marshall

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