2-6-2004 Bush offers the same old rhetoric, not solutions
I listened closely to the SotU, hoping for a sign for a better future. I was sadly disappointed.
The speech was all rhetoric, a rehash of the past, nothing original or inspirational. At times, President Bush sounded defensive and sanctimonious.
I strongly feel our country has lost its way. The very freedoms our forefathers fought for have been eroded beyond belief. The Patriot Act which Bush wants to renew next year has allowed government invasion into every aspect of our lives, yet he keeps the most secretive government in history.
We have lost the freedom of speech, not just the individual who is called "unpatriotic" if he disagrees with the president, but even the media whitewashes the news. The media, controlled by corporate interests in bed at the White House, carefully monitors and discards dissenting statements by any who challenge the status quo.
Bush proudly talked of the freedom "we brought" to Afghanistan and Iraq. I wonder if they feel free. We who disagree with Bush do not feel free. The freedom to peaceably assemble in disagreement with the government no longer is possible.
The horror of recent events in Miami has proven that. After getting a permit to march, the marchers, ranging in age from teen-agers through senior citizens, were beaten with clubs, shot with rubber bullets and harassed in every way possible. He spoke of giving immigrants legal rights in this country so they may take the jobs that are not filled by Americans. What jobs? Jobs such as those for corporations like Wal-Mart, which treats its employees like indentured servants? Meanwhile, the white-collar and manufacturing jobs we need here have been outsourced to cheap labor in foreign countries to increase corporate profits.
He spoke again of "no child left behind." Every educator I have spoken to has said in essence, "that's all to the good, but where is the funding for it?" Funding for education was drastically cut. The money went to corporate tax cuts, pork barrel benefits, and Pentagon funding for an illegal war.
Now, Bush says, seniors can receive a drug discount card to save them 10 to 25 percent off retail prices. He does not mention that seniors pay a high price for the card, nor does he mention that he blocked negotiation to lower prices on drugs or that he has prohibited our buying prescription drugs from Canada at a lower rate.
He also states that Americans will now be able to start a tax free health plan savings account. How? I know that the majority of low-income people, and many middle-income people, cannot afford health insurance to cover their present needs, let alone future needs.
Is this "compassionate conservatism"? I don't think so.
Elizabeth Patsis
Mount Airy
I listened closely to the SotU, hoping for a sign for a better future. I was sadly disappointed.
The speech was all rhetoric, a rehash of the past, nothing original or inspirational. At times, President Bush sounded defensive and sanctimonious.
I strongly feel our country has lost its way. The very freedoms our forefathers fought for have been eroded beyond belief. The Patriot Act which Bush wants to renew next year has allowed government invasion into every aspect of our lives, yet he keeps the most secretive government in history.
We have lost the freedom of speech, not just the individual who is called "unpatriotic" if he disagrees with the president, but even the media whitewashes the news. The media, controlled by corporate interests in bed at the White House, carefully monitors and discards dissenting statements by any who challenge the status quo.
Bush proudly talked of the freedom "we brought" to Afghanistan and Iraq. I wonder if they feel free. We who disagree with Bush do not feel free. The freedom to peaceably assemble in disagreement with the government no longer is possible.
The horror of recent events in Miami has proven that. After getting a permit to march, the marchers, ranging in age from teen-agers through senior citizens, were beaten with clubs, shot with rubber bullets and harassed in every way possible. He spoke of giving immigrants legal rights in this country so they may take the jobs that are not filled by Americans. What jobs? Jobs such as those for corporations like Wal-Mart, which treats its employees like indentured servants? Meanwhile, the white-collar and manufacturing jobs we need here have been outsourced to cheap labor in foreign countries to increase corporate profits.
He spoke again of "no child left behind." Every educator I have spoken to has said in essence, "that's all to the good, but where is the funding for it?" Funding for education was drastically cut. The money went to corporate tax cuts, pork barrel benefits, and Pentagon funding for an illegal war.
Now, Bush says, seniors can receive a drug discount card to save them 10 to 25 percent off retail prices. He does not mention that seniors pay a high price for the card, nor does he mention that he blocked negotiation to lower prices on drugs or that he has prohibited our buying prescription drugs from Canada at a lower rate.
He also states that Americans will now be able to start a tax free health plan savings account. How? I know that the majority of low-income people, and many middle-income people, cannot afford health insurance to cover their present needs, let alone future needs.
Is this "compassionate conservatism"? I don't think so.
Elizabeth Patsis
Mount Airy
Facebook
Twitter