An Open Letter to George Bush

Dear Mr. Bush,

Frankly, I don't know if I can stand the fact that you plan on holding news conferences every month of your second term. Just because you repeat your inane comments incessantly doesn't make them true. Let's look at some of the larger points of your address.

True, Social Security needs tweaking to keep it solvent. But your plan is **not** the answer. If government officials were to pay into Social Security like the rest of us do, I suspect an answer would present itself sooner than later. And your assertion that the American people deserve private savings plans along the lines that congressional members are eligible for, makes no sense since congressional members (and YOU) do not receive Social Security! Even so, your ridiculous tax cuts, illegal war costs and other poor budget plans have done more damage for the future of Social Security than anything else in recent history. If you really are committed to solving what you call a major problem, you'd tackle some of the causes instead of reshaping one of the most successful government programs we have. Furthermore, I sincerely doubt anyone is, as you say, wishing you hadn't brought up the topic for discussion. Like me, they probably just don't like your pushing for a rotten "fix."

Do we really have a strong economy? You speak of the millions of jobs created under your term. But you conspicuously left out the number of jobs lost; as well, you did not indicate that these millions of jobs are not of the same caliber as those that have been lost. The majority of these new jobs are part-time and low wage positions that do not adequately cover the needs of the people who hold them. Plus, if we have a strong economy, why has poverty increased, especially childhood poverty, under your watch?

Amnesty International does not make unfounded claims. When it declares that the U.S. has established gulags around the globe that are out of the reach of the law, they are making substantiated accusations. Face up to it. Your regime is guilty of contracting abuse from other nations in order to escape the letter of the law restricting such under U.S. and/or Geneva Convention legislation.

Your nomination of Bolton to the United Nations shows that you still do not understand international and intercultural diplomatic protocol. Has it ever dawned on you that those who oppose his nomination have legitimate concerns? Stop stalling and answer the questions asked and provide the information that the opposition requests.

Terrorists do not hate freedom or fear democracy. Maybe in your fantasy realm this is true, but not in the real world. Of course, I do not think terrorism is an acceptable matter. However, terrorists generally have more complicated reasoning for their acts of desperation. Besides, you seem to have the mistaken notion that democracy and popularism are synonymous with one another. As such, you are not interested in democracy; you want popularism (as long as you can manipulate things to appear in your favor). And I suspect the terrorists despise being in an occupied territory where popularism outplaces true democracy.

In conclusion, I still find it hard to believe that you were re-elected legitimately. And based on the polls regarding the topics you addressed today, my suspicion only grows stronger.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Scott Alan Nesbitt

P.S. Even though you did not speak of it, I feel compelled to mention "No Child Left Behind." This program penalizes teachers unfairly, is significantly underfunded, and is a sham because students are "coached" prior to the "testing." How do I know this? Because I am aware of children being passed on to higher grades despite the fact that they are relatively illiterate--and such a tragedy made possible by your poor program and the things I described about it. And do you still think you have no mistakes from which to learn?