the importance of being earnest
by John at 6/17/2004 03:37:00 PM
You know, for the last couple of months I've been trying to keep things pretty light-hearted on this blog. Even when I criticize the current administration, I've tried to do in a joking way. So I thought for a while before posting this, because it isn't funny at all. But some evenings I read the news and, at the risk of being too earnest, I just feel like I have to say something, even if no one is listening and even if I don't expect to change anyone's mind.
I don't need to tell you that our nation is facing a crisis. Anyone who has their eyes open knows that. It's not the worst crisis of our history - it's probably not even in the top ten - but from where I stand it still looks pretty serious. The Bush administration has amassed a terrible record, and they have placed the nation in a very difficult place. This administration has presided over the longest jobless recovery in modern history, created record deficits, made our nation more vulnerable to terrorism, damaged the ability of our armed forces to defend us, ruined our international credibility, threatened our constitutional freedoms in the name of security, abused and expanded the power of the Executive Branch, widened the political and cultural divisions among Americans, substantially increased government spending, put young men and women at unnecessary risk for the foreseeable future, dangerously mismanaged the occupation of a foreign nation, mislead the nation both deliberately and negligently in pursuit of their goals, and demonstrated dubious ethics and morality throughout. And there's more.
These are not the things that most conservative voters believe in, are they?
So, I say this to conservative voters: The Bush administration has given lip service to conservative ideology to get your support, but it has not delivered on conservative values. Voting for Bush-Cheney in November is a vote for ideology. It is a vote for ideology over results, ideology over competence, and ideology over ethics. Your vote is your voice, and a vote for Bush indicates explicit approval of the things his administration has done. The Bush administration is not good for you - it is not good for any of us. Vote for your ideology in 2008 if you want, but this November, vote for a change. At least think about it. Is the alternative to Bush really that frightening?
I don't need to tell you that our nation is facing a crisis. Anyone who has their eyes open knows that. It's not the worst crisis of our history - it's probably not even in the top ten - but from where I stand it still looks pretty serious. The Bush administration has amassed a terrible record, and they have placed the nation in a very difficult place. This administration has presided over the longest jobless recovery in modern history, created record deficits, made our nation more vulnerable to terrorism, damaged the ability of our armed forces to defend us, ruined our international credibility, threatened our constitutional freedoms in the name of security, abused and expanded the power of the Executive Branch, widened the political and cultural divisions among Americans, substantially increased government spending, put young men and women at unnecessary risk for the foreseeable future, dangerously mismanaged the occupation of a foreign nation, mislead the nation both deliberately and negligently in pursuit of their goals, and demonstrated dubious ethics and morality throughout. And there's more.
These are not the things that most conservative voters believe in, are they?
So, I say this to conservative voters: The Bush administration has given lip service to conservative ideology to get your support, but it has not delivered on conservative values. Voting for Bush-Cheney in November is a vote for ideology. It is a vote for ideology over results, ideology over competence, and ideology over ethics. Your vote is your voice, and a vote for Bush indicates explicit approval of the things his administration has done. The Bush administration is not good for you - it is not good for any of us. Vote for your ideology in 2008 if you want, but this November, vote for a change. At least think about it. Is the alternative to Bush really that frightening?
Well, you are right about this essay arguing for people to vote against Bush. You might have noticed that I specifically left out Bush's transgressions against liberal ideas, because this is an argument to convince conservatives to vote against Bush (liberals already have enough reasons to vote against Bush!) They most likely won't like Kerry's positions, but my argument is that even Kerry's "liberal" government (*whatever it is!*) will be better than Bush's disasterous one. And then, in 4 years, you can vote in your guy again. Voting against a bad thing is not at all a poor way to excerise your voice.
As to which of my assertions are false (they aren't all false are they?), why don't you pick the problematic ones and I can provide some support for why I believe it.
As to what Kerry's positions are, try http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/
On second thought, don't bother telling me which ones you think false. I'm pretty certain any facts or arguments I present won't change your mind.
» Post a Comment