Eight Critical Questions: Bush/Kerry
1. Health Plan: George Bush has had four years to come up with a health plan. Why did he wait until one month before the election to unveil it?
2. Service Record: How dare Bush supporters question John Kerry's war record? How dare they? Whether or not they think the medals awarded him for his service in Vietnam were deserved, at least he was there! He didn't have to go. He could have hidden out in the U.S. in some obscure National Guard unit and showed up occasionally for meetings or flying vacations. He didn't do that. His country needed him and he volunteered. Where was George Bush? He was AWOL from a small Texas National Guard unit, a draft-dodging position arranged by his powerful family.
John Kerry went to war and did his duty. By the time he returned home he had seen how foolish the Vietnam War was and he said so. Freedom of speech: That's the American way, one of the freedoms he thought he was fighting for. He wasn't considering political expediency when speaking what he believed to be true. He wasn't flipflopping. He was there; who better to assess the exigencies of a war than one who has just returned from it?
In reality Bush's military record is no better than Bill Clinton's or any of the millions of other Americans who used Guard units or deferments to avoid the war, such as Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. What right do people who never saw military service have to be sending young people to war?
3. Bush's Leadership Record: Can anyone name one thing that is better in America today than it was four years ago? Just one. In fact, name one thing that isn't worse. Name one thing George Bush has done to make America better. Oh, you say, his "leadership" during a crisis. Name one thing he did as a "leader" that anyone in that position wouldn't have done. September 11, 2001 was the best thing that ever happened for George Bush. It made him look like a leader when all he was doing was going through the motions....and that not very well.
As 9/11 unfolded, Bush was in Florida reading stories to elementary school children. When told that America was under attack, he looked down and continued to read for seven minutes. Deer caught in the headlights? He had no idea what to do. Then his actions in the next 10 hours were utter confusion. Great leader? Tell me one thing George Bush did after the 9/11 attacks that would mark him as a great leader, one thing anyone in that position wouldn't have done. Went to New York City days later and put his arm around a fireman? Pure politics. Ordered the military to take out the Taliban in Afghanistan? Who would not have done that given the circumstances? Wait more than a year, then invade a sovereign nation ruled by a nasty dictator--a nation that had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11? That was a very bad decision.
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 were in the planning stages for five years. Is it possible that the terrorists were just waiting for a weak leader to take office before carrying out their cowardly deed? The unelected Bush "administration" was just getting started on its destructive path when they struck.
4. The Iraqi War: WMD, WMD, where are they? Nowhere. Okay then, let's change the justification for the invasion to "freeing the Iraqi people" from a nasty dictator. Kim Jung-Il has killed a lot more of his people than Saddam ever did. Why not send troops into North Korea? And then there's that nasty regime in Iran. Let's send our young men and women in to give the Iranian people their "freedom", as we define it. And what about Syria, Libya, Cuba, and a dozen other countries controlled by nasty dictatorships? And what about monarchies? Americans have never been fond of monarchies. Let's use our military might to rid the world of all monarchies once and for all. In fact, we're so strong, why don't we just invade every country and install regimes devoted to making every place just like America?
So, what is the real reason George Bush decided to invade Iraq? The answer is simple: Big oil and Cheney's Halliburton. How much oil does North Korea have? Or Cuba? Does it bother anyone that Dick Cheney's company was awarded a multi-billion dollar contract to service the war in a no-bid contract? Does anyone remember the scenes and lingo used in another war less than 40 years ago: "Hearts and minds", "supreme sacrifice", body counts, body bags, flag-draped coffins... Over a thousand of America's finest young people have been lost to this rich man's war; do we want a thousand--or thousands--more?
I work with these young people every day--people with mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, children, dreams of the future, many of them U.S. Marines--and when I see a 20-year- old Marine lying face down in the Iraqi dust, I see the people I work with. They would never speak out against their "Commander in Chief" openly, but some of them have asked me to write to my Congresspersons begging them to end this fiasco. In fact, I have yet to meet one who thinks this war was a good idea.
Fifty years ago Republican President Dwight Eisenhower warned Americans to beware of the "Military-Industrial Complex". We didn't listen to this great leader and fell into the foolish Vietnam War. Desert Storm may have been the most profitable war in history for big business--a war that never would have happened but for the mixed-signal diplomatic bungling of the first Bush administration. "But we only lost less than 150 lives." Say that to their Moms and Pops. What about the tens of thousands of Iraqis who lost their lives? Aren't Iraqis people too?
To Americans sitting on their couches wrapped in their flags munching their chips, the war is just television--like watching Survivor or Fear Factor. "The Beheading of the Week". Who's up next? Celebrities and fat cats go on TV thanking the troops for their "sacrifice" (so that we can go on living the good life). Contracts with our military members are broken and tours extended. When enough of them get fed up with the deception, the Iraqi dust, and eating MREs every day, military numbers will drop. Then what will Bush do? I'll guarantee that if Bush is reelected, we'll have the draft within a year to fill out the ranks necessary to continue this rich man's war. Do we want that again?
5. The Economy: If the economy is "getting better", why did it get worse to begin with? The Bush "administration" talks about the jobs it's created; what about the jobs it lost? It's record is a net loss of millions of jobs. The jobs it claims to have created are mostly off shore; i.e., jobs created in foreign countries going to foreigners as companies outsource jobs overseas to cut costs and increase profits.
There is something in economics called "The Political Business Cycle". Everything coming out of Washington is rosy in an election year. The closer to the election, the rosier it gets. Watch out for that. I guarantee, if Bush is reelected, this time next year he'll be talking about what he's going to do to get us out of the recession.
Myth: The Bush recession actually began under the Clinton Administration.
Fact: "In the first year of the Bush presidency, Americans learned that their economy is not invulnerable to recessions. Real GDP grew very slowly in the second half of 2000 and the first half of 2001 (but it was still growing), and then actually declined in the second half of 2001, albeit very slightly. Ironically, it was the first recession in the U.S. in ten years--when President Bush's father was in office." Baumol and Blinder, Principles of Economics, 9th Ed., P. 457. (William Baumol and Alan Blinder are two of America's most noted economists.)
The Clinton Administration inherited an economy in complete disarray from the first Bush Administration. Remember Clinton's political slogan of the 1992 campaign, "It's the economy, stupid!"? Back then the poor economy did more to unseat an incumbent president than anything. Almost every economic statistic was bad under Bush I. For whatever else you might think about Bill Clinton, his administration was the most successful in history economically speaking. Over his term he gradually brought down the unemployment rate to historical lows without creating even a hint of inflation. He had above normal productivity and growth rates. The crime rate declined. He put a two-year cap on eligibility for welfare benefits. His administration created an atmosphere of economic optimism unseen since the Industrial Revolution. All that was wiped out in the first year of the second Bush's "administration".
6. The Budget Deficit: Bill Clinton took over the largest budget deficit in history from the first Bush Administration. Gradually over an eight-year period he brought the deficit down to zero and then in his final budget year, he had a substantial budget surplus, with projected surpluses enough to bring the entire National Debt down to zero over 10-20 years, without raising taxes significantly. Then the American people did something stupid. Although they had good sense enough to elect Clinton's successor, Al Gore, by popular vote, they allowed George Bush to steal the election in a state where his brother was in control of the election process. Thousands of potential voters were simply disenfranchised. A recount was ordered and begun but was stopped by a Republican dominated Supreme Court which handed the election to Bush. The American people sat by and accepted this, but the rest of the world saw it as a coup de' e-tat in America.
Doesn't anyone remember the biggest debate of the 2000 campaign: What to do with the budget surplus? The Republicans wanted to give it all to the rich, and, once in office, proceeded to do just that. These tax cuts for the rich not only eliminated the surplus but also led to the largest budget deficits in history, more than doubling those of the first Bush administration. Don't let them fool you: These budget deficits were not caused by the "War on Terrorism". The War has been costly, but the large majority of the debt was caused by the tax cuts, and most of the money from that debt ended up in the pockets of the rich, not in new investment capital.
These deficits have become dangerous for the U.S. economy. As the federal government enters the markets for investment funds, interest rates are driven up, driving out funds available for private investors. It took over 160 years for the National Debt to reach $5 trillion. The Bush "administration" has added almost $2 trillion to the debt in just four years. I'll guarantee that if Bush is given four more years, the National Debt will be more than twice what it was when he first took office, i.e., more than $10 trillion. Can we survive these kinds of deficits? Who's going to pay off the $7 trillion dollars in debt we have now? And one frightening thing is that the portion of the debt held by foreigners has grown from about 13 percent to over 40 percent in just four years. All this money has to be paid back to foreigners sooner or later. The federal government finds itself almost in the same position as California, which is technically bankrupt. Some 45 states are now facing financial difficulties similar to California's, where almost none were four years ago. Could this be a further attempt to consolidate power in the hands of a central bureaucracy controlled by an unelected despot? California's bond rating was AAA in the 1980s after Democratic Governor Jerry Brown ran budget surpluses. Then two Republican governors converted those surpluses into large deficits as they cut taxes for the rich. They were followed by a Democrat, Gray Davis, whose downfall was that he failed to bring down those enormous deficits. Now a movie star has been elected governor with a solution to the budget problems: Simply use his celebrity status to get a referendum passed that authorizes bonds to pay off the deficits. What? The solution to California's budget problem is to issue debt to pay off debt? How stupid are the voters of California to believe that? Stupid enough, apparently, to fall for it.
7. World Image: Perhaps the worst thing Bush has done is to destroy America's image abroad. I live and work overseas. I feel it every day. I estimate that America's image in the eyes of the world has fallen at least 50 percent in the last four years. Maybe you're one of the ones who says, "Who cares?" If so, you're being very short sighted. America will not survive isolated in a global environment. We cannot build a wall around America in today's world. We must learn to get along with the majority of the world--trust them as equals and not try to bully them. The "Coalition"? What coalition? We browbeat a few small countries into sending a handful of troops and call it a "coalition"? The "coalition" is just us and poor Tony Blair. How did such a brilliant man allow himself to be sucked into such an idiotic scheme, against the will of his people? Where are such major powers as France, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, the United Nations in this "coalition"? Coalition? There's no coalition. It's a war being fought almost entirely by American troops and against American troops.
The Clinton administration spent eight years laying the foundation for peace on the Korean peninsula. In the late 1990s North and South Korea were exchanging high-level diplomats, reuniting long-separated relatives, and sharing in beneficial construction projects. There was even talk of reunification. All of that was wiped out in Bush's first year. When Bush threatened North Korea in his "Axis of Evil" speech, the North Korean government once again clammed up, becoming isolated and belligerent.
Relations between the U.S. and Iran had begun to thaw significantly; all that ended in Bush's first year. Relations with many other countries deteriorated too as the world saw that America was being run by an idiot...who couldn't even name one world leader when asked by a reporter during the 2000 campaign.
I've lived 15 years outside the United States--off and on--in 15 countries, as a civilian working with the military, always with military ID and security clearance. I travel constantly and have traveled over 100 countries extensively. I think I can safely say that in just four years America has become the most hated country on earth, and there is only one way to turn that around: New leadership. Leadership that the rest of the world knows they can trust. America has a choice between a distinguished, experienced, well traveled man who speaks five languages....and a dolt. Which one should we elect? If we're all dolts, we'll elect the dolt. Then we'll get what we deserve.
Is America now on a long-term secular decline? Did we peak under Clinton? Will we follow the path of the British Empire and other historical powerhouses, sinking into relative obscurity in a world taken over by countries and ideologies now on the upswing, where democracy and freedom are given second seat? If we don't take control of our leadership soon, this will happen. It's already happening.
8. America's Wellbeing: A favorite campaign question by challengers is, "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" Reagan used it and Clinton used it. This question needs to be asked now more than ever.
"Is America better off?" Absolutely not. We are worse off in every way imaginable. Unemployment is up, the real wage is down, crime is up, real growth and productivity are down, CEOs are paying themselves enormous salaries and bonuses instead of investing their new funds in job-creating capital investments at home, the federal budget deficit has reached bankruptcy proportions, the country is divided as it hasn't been since the Civil War, we've alienated major allies, we're in an unwinable quagmire in the Middle East, we've become the most hated nation on earth, we're under constant and growing threats of terrorism, and our self image is the lowest it's ever been.
Texas based Enron--headed by one of Bush's best friends, Key Lay--Worldcom, HealthNet, Arthur Anderson and on and on; more corporate corruption has been uncovered in the last four years than in the previous 100.
Almost every environmental law and treaty passed in the last 40 years has been broken or violated in the past four years. We even refused to sign the Kyoto Agreement that we helped write. The environment is the worst it's ever been. We alone are the worst polluter in the world, by far. Major parts of our national parks and forests have been sold off to developers, never to be retrieved. The air in our national parks is so polluted that many days nothing of the beauty can be seen.
More Americans are living without any kind of health insurance than ever before.
The newly-created Office of Homeland Security is selling insurance unnecessary for most homeowners on behalf of a large corporate insurance company. (NPR news) Should a government agency be doing that?
Assault weapons are once again legal in America. Do we need this? Did you know that the Second Amendment to the Constitution does not guarantee to every American citizen the right to bear arms? It says "a well-armed militia" is desirable. Look up the definition of the word "militia": A military force that is not a part of the regular armed forces but is on call for service in an emergency. Do you really think our forefathers envisioned a bunch of halfcocked morons walking the streets armed with AK47s? In countries where guns are banned--Japan, Singapore, England, etc.--crime rates are near zero, and their citizens are much safer.
We've been fooled into believing that we have a "moral" man occupying the White House. Ask the former Police Chief of Kennebunkport, Maine about the morals of the Bush boys. Ask him about their drunken confrontations with the police, about the women flown in and put up at local motels--at a time when all three were married--and the late night parties. All of this is well known by the locals and records were kept until they mysteriously disappeared. But the one court criminal conviction of George W. could not be expunged. It's still there. I wonder how all court records of the arrests of the Bush boys in Texas disappeared too?
Do you even know about brother Neil Bush? He was indicted for his part in the Silverado Banking, Savings and Loan Association of Denver scandal back in the 1980s. That scandal cost the American taxpayer approximately $1 billion. Neil paid a $50,000 fine. In 1999 Neil made $171,370 in one day buying and selling shares in Kopin Corporation where he had worked as a consultant. (USA Today) Talk about trading on insider information!
George Bush's classmates at Yale were so angry at the free ride he was given that many of them sat on their hands in protest as he walked across the stage at graduation.
George Bush may be clean today--which is admirable--but it's no secret that in the not-so-distant past he was noted for heavy alcohol and drug use.
John Kerry has no such sordid past record. He has no criminal record. All other things aside, wouldn't it be better to have the more moral man in the White House?
Those who know me know I predicted four years ago that the unelected Bush "administration" would be a disaster. At the time I had no idea how bad it would be. How bad will it be if we give him four more years? Will you write me an email in four years saying, "I wish I had listened to you?"
The point is, the American people are too good for this and too smart. I don't see how even one thinking American could consider voting for George Bush given his record. In the depths of your soul you know the right thing to do. Put aside foolish pride and do the right thing. We have Bush's record to look at, and that record tells us clearly the wrong thing to do is to vote to keep this cocky little incompetent John Wayne wannabe in office.
This is a warning against certain disaster if Bush is reelected. But it's more than that; it's a plea. Actually I'm humbly begging you to do the right thing for the future of the country I love.
If I didn't speak out now, how could I live with myself later, after I've seen my country destroyed? The German people didn't speak out in the 1930s and their country was destroyed by an unelected cocky little despot. When some Germans saw their efforts at reason were useless, they simply left a Germany they could not live in. I could not have lived in a Germany which had accepted Hitler as its leader, and I do not want to live in the kind of America that would choose George Bush as a leader. I'm not saying George Bush is anywhere near as evil as Hitler was, but his foolish policies have the potential to kill far more people than Hitler did.
Do the right thing in November. For America, do not vote for George W. Bush.
Please pass this on to as many people as you can and ask them to pass it on. United we can save America.

About the author: Brumfield is Colegiate Professor of Economics and Business Management at a large research university.