and Finally . . .
I know that John Kerry is flawed. But I also know that George Bush is a disaster. Yes, Kerry will probably pursue a continuation of Bush's present policy in Iraq. He can do little else. He will, however, work to rebuild tattered international relationships that might get us a bigger helping hand than we're going to get under Bush. Kerry's domestic policies are going to cost money, but they're going to cost more to the people who can afford it than Bush would allow, and I'd appreciate a little help propping up the country, and I'm not getting it from Bush and his wealthy cronies. My biggest hope is that when Kerry says he's going to be smarter in combatting terrorism he means it, that he really gets it. Because George doesn't. I know George doesn't understand the post-9/11 world, a charge he levels against his opponent, because instead of using the power of the United States with an eye to the future, he applies it like a hammer. Afghanistan had to happen, but in the end, a lot more could have been accomplished even than has been so far. Iraq, however, didn't. Saddam Hussein was an evil tyrant and needed to be removed, but he was at least contained. No weapons, no hope of getting them, let alone giving them out. So yes, the U.S. military is mighty, but it isn't the only tool in the box. Anything else, for Bush, however, is a waste; it's spending money he'd rather go elsewhere, but not into social programs or even national infrastructure. He'd rather it goes to him and his buddies. And it will if he's re-elected. It would be nice to think Bush would see the division in America over this election as a message instead of a mandate, but if he wins, regardless of the margin, he will take it as the imprimatur of God himself. Christian fundamentalism, as practiced by Bush, among many, many others, is as dangerous to the world as any other. It's a shame that the politics of the nation have degenerated as they have, a shame on both their houses, Kerry and Bush, and a shame on everyone who has participated in the sniping, the misrepresentations, the lying. Too late to ask for a good, clean fight. The outcome will be with us shortly, and in the post-9/11 world, I want a President who will try to advance civilization into the 21st century, one who doesn't pursue a pre-Enlightment agenda of greed and oppression.