When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Friday, July 11, 2003
Thirty-nine of the adults in the country of Botswanna are infected with AIDS, a horrifying statistic cited in the NY Times today in an article about Pres. Bush's visit there.
The U.S. and the UN ought to do all possible to help stop this scourge.
Nevertheless, it strikes me somehow that Bush's desire to help is insincere, more of a desire to appear to help, with the ulterior motive of pulling from Democratic votes a second significant vote bloc, African Americans. (the first was the Jewish vote, pulled by the invasion of Israel enemy Iraq).
While he promotes funding anti-AIDS programs in Africa (but in Botswanna, which is among the richest nations there, not the poorest) he is building up the reason we can't have any more social programs here at home (utter bankruptcy resulting from increased war spending simultaneously with giant tax breaks for the upper income tax payers). Compassionate? I don't think so.
I have in the past argued that true altruism exists, that not all actions have self-help motives. But I do not so argue in respect to the Bushies, because they and their ilk are the grandaddies of self-interest.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Ulterior motives
Thirty-nine of the adults in the country of Botswanna are infected with AIDS, a horrifying statistic cited in the NY Times today in an article about Pres. Bush's visit there.
The U.S. and the UN ought to do all possible to help stop this scourge.
Nevertheless, it strikes me somehow that Bush's desire to help is insincere, more of a desire to appear to help, with the ulterior motive of pulling from Democratic votes a second significant vote bloc, African Americans. (the first was the Jewish vote, pulled by the invasion of Israel enemy Iraq).
While he promotes funding anti-AIDS programs in Africa (but in Botswanna, which is among the richest nations there, not the poorest) he is building up the reason we can't have any more social programs here at home (utter bankruptcy resulting from increased war spending simultaneously with giant tax breaks for the upper income tax payers). Compassionate? I don't think so.
I have in the past argued that true altruism exists, that not all actions have self-help motives. But I do not so argue in respect to the Bushies, because they and their ilk are the grandaddies of self-interest.
Palema
5:30 AM
Comments:
Post a Comment
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
|
|