I usually do not discuss politics, however, I feel compelled to do so now. If you intelligently think about our last four years under President Bush, you will notice how the country has steadily been spiraling down into a hole of despair. Since Bush has been in office, the economy has suffered. Most of my friends are still out of full time, permanent work and are relying on temping jobs or unemployment to try to make ends meet. There are no jobs here in America. Everything is being outsourced to other countries. Shouldn't there be a limit on how many jobs can be exported? Shouldn't there be a limit on how much of a percentage of American companies can be purchased by foreigners? Before you know it, the rest of the world will own America. What has happened to this Great Country we live in?
I usually vote for the Democratic candidate as I will do this year and have been happy with my choices throughout the years. All I know is that when there is a Democrat in office, I have a job and the economy is booming. There are many programs for the underprivileged and poor to help themselves to be better individuals or citizens. Usually, we are not invading other countries and pushing our belief systems on them. Even though, John Kerry does not have the charisma a Presidential candidate should, I don't think George Bush's smirks, confused looks and overall demeanor is that of a President either. How many times do we have to hear "No child will be left behind?" That's really a great quote, but how does that answer when we will get out of Iraq and bring our troops home? I have a few friends whose sons are in Iraq - we need to get them home as quickly as possible.
I saw him in an interview the other night and laughed when someone in the audience had to correct him when he said, "We will not have a volunteer army." He had to correct himself and say, "Let me restate that, we will not have a draft." It seems that if his advisors or writers aren't close at hand, the man can't remember what he is talking about. He not an articulate speaker and always has a ridiculously dumb look on his face when asked a difficult question to answer.
His election to office was rather dubious with the Florida fiasco as was his last four years in office. We lost the backing of The United Nations since President Bush rejected their advice for a diplomatic solution to the Iraqi war. It's interesting that President Bush thinks he is on the side of God - and apparently so does the 700 Club who is obviously a Bush supporter and Kerry basher - but that's ok. We are all entitled to our opinion; however, I have watched the 700 Club from time to time and found some interesting beliefs and comments. Now, they seem to have taken sides with Bush because he is supposed to be religious. How religious is Bush? Does anyone know? One joke I remember a few years ago was that it was understood that President Bush read the Bible every day since he was a small child. One comedian said, "Don't you think he should have finished it by now?"
I'm sure God is not telling him to send our troops to war AND whatever happened to separation of Church and State? I personally feel that he is using religion as a means of getting re-elected to office by the religious groups of this country. But how can religious groups condone war and his war-like policies? People need to re-examine their belief systems. Is war the way? Is this a Religious War we are fighting in Iraq? How many must die in the name of God?
Let's talk about Mrs. Bush for a moment as well. Is she the First Lady image we need? She is subservient to her husband and has not really done anything of note since her husband was sworn into office 4 years ago. What a disappointment she has been to the women of this Great Country. We need more women like Hillary Clinton, who are passionate about what they can contribute to the welfare of this country. Laura Bush does not have the ability or aptitude, it seems, to be a positive role model to anyone, never mind a whole country.
What's the worst that can happen if we elect Kerry? We can get rid of him in four years if he doesn't do a good job like we should get rid of Bush after these four terrible years. Let someone else try to fix the mess that the Bush administration has gotten us into.
I want a full time job, I want to be able to save money for my retirement, I want to see Social Security when I retire, and I would just like enough money to pay my bills and a little extra to spend on things like, uh, food! So many are unemployed. I was unemployed from my full time career as an Executive Assistant since the 9-11 tragedy. I can't live off of my savings any more since they are now exhausted. But of course the IRS taxes the money taken from a 401K to live off of, so for the first time in my life, I owe the government money from taking out my 401K early to be able to live in New Jersey, stay in my home and be able to pay "some" of my bills.
We need to get our troops home. We need to stop draining our financial resources by trying to rebuild every other society or country that needs help. America has more than its share of poverty, and our resources should be allotted to help Americans in America first. We need tax relief, we need jobs, we need more training and resource programs to retrain employees who can't find jobs, and we need a President who is promising change - not business as usual! Because obviously, business as usual doesn't work!
While I visited Australia two years ago to teach tarot, a few people came up to me and asked if Americans thought Bush was as horrible a President as the rest of the world. I said yes. I now have a Texan friend and I apologized for my thoughts on Bush, and he commented, "Are you kidding, we're glad we got him out of Texas. No one likes him here either."
Interestingly enough, the Libran eclipse gives Kerry a better chance to win than Bush, so I wonder just on that one point alone if it's enough to make the Cancerian President move on to other opportunities which will be in America's best interest.
Either way, Democrat or Republican - please vote this year. Your vote is important. If you don't vote, you do not deserve the right to criticize this government if you are not a part of electing the ones that run this country.