Well, I failed to restore permanent peace and order in
the garden, of course, but that was a pretty good synopsis of my political
philosophy: Keep the big bullies in line to let the little guys get a chance at
the table occasionally. It’s an
ongoing process, as you well know, and though we often have different
perspectives on what it takes to maintain a balance “in the garden”, the
sharing is part of the learning and that’s why we spend our time together, isn’t
it?
Now that my early Sunday reverie is complete, here’s
something we should see more of in the coming months: alternative press journalism
that can place one statement next to another without losing corporate sponsorship
and a good indication of how the internet is changing politics and, as we’ve
seen with the impact MoveOn.org has made with getting the attention of
legislators, helping to reinvigorate public civic participation. This comes from Truthout.org and is part
of a partisan piece from Gov. Dean’s recent campaign appearance in Iowa, but I
wanted to post it for the FWers who have been making their own complaints about
the same discrepancies. I’m also
on a weekend theme about leadership, the real and the (dis)illusional, rhetorical
courage and rhetorical cowardice.
My apologies to those on this list who are not deeply
monitoring the US political scene. Thank goodness FW is a buffet, constantly changing with variety
to tempt our palates. KWC
See http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/072703B.shtml “It’s Time for the Truth”
The following information contrasts the administration's assertions with
what the administration has actually done:
ECONOMY
Assertion: President Bush: "Government cannot
manage or control the economy." (President Bush's budget message,
2/3/2003)
Truth: George W. Bush's administration cannot manage or
control the economy.
Assertion: "This budget . . . is a plan to speed
the return of strong economic growth [and] to generate jobs" (President
Bush's budget message, 2/4/2002)
Truth: Since January 2001, over three million jobs have
been lost. (WSJ, 7/24/03)
Assertion: ". . . [O]ur budget will run a deficit
that will be small and short term." (President Bush, State of the Union
address, 1/28/2003)
Truth: "... by 2013 the deficit will reach $530
billion or 3.0 of Gross Domestic product, equivalent to $2,300 for each
household in America. In addition, such a policy of amassing ever greater debt
over the next decade will cause the cost of annual interest payments on the
debt to soar to $425 billion a year by 2013. . ." (CBPP, $300 Billion
Deficits, As Far as the Eye Can See, 7/8/2003)
Assertion: "Tax relief is central to my plan to
encourage growth." (President Bush, Western Michigan University remarks,
3/27/2001)
Truth: During the first quarter of this year, GDP rose
at a sluggish rate of 1.4% (NYT, 6/27/03)
Assertion: "Now, you hear talk about deficits. And
I'm concerned about deficits. I'm sure you are as well. But this nation has got
a deficit because we have been through a war." (President Bush, Canton,
Ohio, remarks, 4/24/2003)
Truth: The CBPP reports, "Congressional Budget
Office data indicate that in 2003 and 2004, the cost of enacted tax cuts is
almost three times as great as the cost of war, even when the cost of increases
in homeland security expenditures, the rebuilding after September 11, and other
costs of the war on terrorism--including the action in Afghanistan--are counted
as 'war costs,' along with the costs of the military operations and subsequent
reconstruction in Iraq." (Richard Kogan, "War, Tax Cuts, and the
Deficit," CBPP, 8 July 2003)
Assertion: "The minute I got sworn in, we were in
a recession. And that's why I went to Congress for a tax package."
(President Bush, Canton, Ohio, remarks, 4/24/2003)
Truth: Bush was inaugurated in January 2001; the
recession began in March 2001. He did not inherit a recession. Moreover, the
tax package he took to Congress was the same one on which he had campaigned.
(National Bureau of Economic Research; Richard Kogan, "War, Tax Cuts, and
the Deficit," CBPP, 7/8/2003)
Assertion: "The growth and jobs plan I outlined
earlier this year will provide critical momentum to our economic recovery. For
every American paying income taxes, I propose speeding up the tax cuts already
approved by the Congress." (President Bush's budget message, 2/3/2003)
Truth: Ten recipients of the Nobel Memorial Prize in
Economic Science said Bush's plan would not provide a short-term boost and
would create long-term budget deficits. Franco Modigliani (MIT), who received
the Nobel in 1985, called Bush's plan "preposterous." Daniel
McFadden, the 2000 recipient, described the plan as a "weapon of mass
destruction aimed at the middle class." (Blanton, The Boston Globe, 2/12/2003)
Assertion: "My jobs and growth plan would reduce
tax rates for everyone who pays income tax." (President Bush, Radio
Address, 4/26/2003)
Truth: "Analysis shows that 8.1 million lower and
middle-income taxpayers, who pay billions of dollars a year in income taxes,
will receive no tax reduction under the legislation." (Robert Greenstein,
CBPP, 6/1/2003)
Assertion: "We have priorities at home as
well--restoring health to our economy above all. Our economy had begun to
weaken over a year before September 11th, but the terrorist attack dealt it
another severe blow. This budget advances a bipartisan economic recovery plan
that provides much more than greater unemployment benefits: it is a plan to
speed the return of strong economic growth, to generate jobs, and to give
unemployed Americans the dignity and security of a paycheck instead of an
unemployment check." (President Bush's budget message, 2/4/2002)
Truth: During the first quarter of this year, GDP rose
at a sluggish rate of 1.4% and 1.2% of mortgages were in foreclosure, setting a
record high. The unemployment rate climbed to a nine-year high of 6.4% in June.
Setting a new record, 1.6 million Americans filed for personal bankruptcy last
year. (NYT, 6/27/03; USA Today, 7/10/03; WSJ 7/24/03; U.S. News & World
Report; 7/21/03)
Assertion: In his 2003 State of the Union, Bush said,
"We will not deny, we will not ignore, we will not pass along our problems
to other Congresses, to other presidents and other generations."
Truth: The White House released a deficit projection in
July, 2003 of $455 billion. (Source: "White House Sees a 455 Billion Gap
in the 03 Budget" New York Times David E. Rosenbaum 7/16/03)
EDUCATION
Assertion: In January 2003, Bush defended No Child Left
Behind: "The main reservations we've heard in the year since we passed the
reform have come from some adults, not the children, who say the testing
requirement is an unfunded mandate on the states. Well, that's not true. We put
up $387 million to provide for testing ...We demanded excellence. We're going
to pay for the accountability systems to make sure that we do get
excellence." (Official statements, Weekly Compilation of Presidential
Documents, 1/13/03)
Truth: The GAO released a report that the new testing
will cost the states between $1.9 and $5.3 billion. (GAO Report,
"Characteristics of Tests Will Influence Expenses; Information Sharing May
Help States Realize Efficiencies, May 2003) The FY 2004 Bush budget request was
only $387 million; Congress has already appropriated $771, which still leaves a
shortfall of $742 million. (Congressional Press Release, 5/8/03)
Assertion: President Bush: "You don't teach the
test when it comes to literacy. We went to a Title 1 classroom -- or a
classroom with Title 1 students in it, where the teacher was using some of the
most advanced thought about teaching reading, a balanced approach including
phonics. You teach a child to read and he or her (sic) will be able to pass a
literacy test. I don't buy teaching the test as an excuse to have a system that
doesn't hold people accountable for results." (Townsend Elementary School,
Tennessee 2/21/2001)
Truth: In Texas, the board voted to reduce the number
of questions that students must answer correctly to pass third grade reading
exams from 24 out of 36 to 20. In Michigan, officials lowered the percentage of
students who must pass statewide tests to certify a school as making adequate
yearly progress to 42% from 75% of high school students on English tests. And
Colorado overhauled the grading system used on its tests, lumping students
previously characterized on the basis of test scores as "partially
proficient" with those called "proficient". ("States are
Relaxing Education Standards to Avoid Sanctions from Federal Law," Sam
Dillon, New York Times, 5/22/03)
Assertion: In April 2002, Bush praised Lucy Salazar, a
volunteer with the Even Start literacy program: "One of the things I try
to do when I go into communities is herald soldiers in the armies of
compassion, those souls who have heard the call to love a neighbor like you'd
like to be loved yourself, and have followed through on that call; Lucy Salazar
is a retired federal government worker. She teaches reading skills to
pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children -- incredibly important...And
oftentimes, citizens such as her never get the praise they deserve. Lucy, thank
you for coming and representing thousands of people like you."
Truth: Bush has since proposed cutting the Even Start
budget by 20% (Associated Press, 2/4/2002)
HOMELAND SECURITY
Assertion: One program, the Container Security
Initiative, which would screen cargo at foreign ports, was specifically
endorsed by Bush last June. "The Customs Service," he told an
audience in Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, "is working with overseas ports
and shippers to improve its knowledge of container shipments, assessing risk so
that we have a better feel of who we ought to look at, what we ought to worry
about."
Truth: Bush's budget provides no new funding for the
program. (New Republic, March 2003)
HEALTH CARE
Assertion: In March 2001, Bush pledged to support
children's hospitals: "This is a hospital, but it's also - it's a place
full of love. And I was most touched by meeting the parents and the kids and
the nurses and the docs, all of whom are working hard to save lives. I want to
thank the moms who are here. Thank you very much for you hospitality...There's
a lot of talk about budgets right now, and I'm here to talk about the budget.
My job as the President is to submit a budget to the Congress and to set
priorities, and one of the priorities that we've talked about is making sure
the health care systems are funded."
Truth: Bush's first budget proposed cutting grants to
children's hospitals like the one he visited by 15% ($34 million). His 2004
budget additionally proposes to cut 30% ($86 million) out of grants to
children's hospitals. ("Caught on Film: the Bush Credibility Gap,"
House Minority Appropriations Committee)
ENVIRONMENT
Assertion: On Earth Day, in April 2002, Bush said,
"Clear Skies legislation, when passed by Congress, will significantly
reduce smog and mercury emissions, as well as stop acid rain. It will put more
money directly into programs to reduce pollution, so as to meet firm national
air-quality goals."
Truth: The Clear Skies plan would "generate
millions more tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and allow three times more
mercury emissions than current law." And according to EPA estimates,
"the plan would have the effect of raising the amount of coal burned by
power companies... potentially generating 50 percent more sulfur emissions and
delaying by up to 10 years major cuts in sulfur emissions required by the Clean
Air Act." (League of Conservation Voters 2003 Presidential Report Card)
Assertion: Pres. Bush: "With the help of Congress,
environmental groups and industry, we will require all power plants to meet
clean air standards in order to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen
oxide, mercury and carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, within a reasonable period
of time." (September 29, 2000 file footage, ABC News)
Truth: Ted Koppel reported that "... the original
pledge [to regulate carbon dioxide] was written off as sloppy work by a
campaign speechwriter. The president was persuaded to drop a line restating the
pledge from his speech to Congress. Two weeks later, it was officially
dead."(Nightline, April 25, 2001)
Assertion: President Bush: "I have sent you a
healthy forest initiative, to help prevent the catastrophic fires that
devastate communities, kill wildlife, and burn away millions of acres of
treasured forests. I urge you to pass these measures for the good of both our
environment and our economy." (January 28, 2003, State of the Union
Address)
Truth: "Bush's 'Healthy Forests' initiative
likewise suffers from Orwellian doublespeak, felling Western forests to save
them. Disguised as a measure for curbing wildfires, the plan invites logging
companies to cut healthy trees in national forests while reducing public
oversight. Ironically, the probable cause of recent catastrophic fires is
global warming, a problem that most Republicans deny." (By Glen Scherer
for salon.com January 6, 2003)
AMERICORPS AND NATIONAL SERVICE
Assertion: In his 2003 State of the Union address, Bush
promised to expand AmeriCorps: "Our country also needs citizens working to
rebuild our communities. We need mentors to love children, especially children
whose parents are in prison. And we need more talented teachers in troubled
schools. USA Freedom Corps will expand and improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps
and Senior Corps to recruit more than 200,000 new volunteers." (State of
the Union Address, 1/28/2003)
Truth: The funding of AmeriCorps is currently in
conference as part of the emergency supplemental bill. Although the Senate has
moved to restore/increase funding, the House is resisting such attempts. As it
now stands, membership in AmeriCorps would be slashed by 80%. Throughout the
public debate on the subject, Bush has not taken any action to persuade the
House to increase or restore the funding. (David Broder House Senate Feuds end
up targeting innocent victims, Chicago Tribune- 7/22/03; "AmeriCorps May
Still Win Extra Funding; Associated Press,7/22/03)
Assertion: In January 2003, Bush praised the Boys and
Girls Club: "I want to thank the Boys & Girls Clubs across the
country...The Boys & Girls Club have got a grand history of helping
children understand the future is bright for them, as well as any other child
in America. Boys & Girls Clubs have been safe havens. They're little
beacons of light for children who might not see light. And I want to thank them
for their service to the country. Part of the vision for America is that we
have a mosaic of all kinds of people providing love and comfort for people who
need help." ("George W. Bush Delivers Remarks on First Anniversary of
the USA Freedom Corps," FDCH Political Transcripts, 1/30/02)
Truth: In his 2002 budget, Bush proposed cutting all
federal funding for the Boys and Girls Club.
Assertion: In January of 2002, Bush had praised Teach
for America founder Wendy Kopp while visiting Booker T. Washington High School
in Atlanta: Out of an idea came the desire to convince folks to teach in
schools that are having trouble getting teachers. And she has succeeded way
beyond what people thought a single person could do." ("Professional
Educators, Politicians and Students Show Support for Teach for America Program
in Atlanta," Minority Professional Network, 1/31/02)
Truth: On July 11, 2003, Teach for America (TFA) was
notified it would not receive any funding from the Corporation for National
Community Service, the agency responsible for AmeriCorps funds. TFA expected $2
million in grants and leaves TFA short 2,700 education awards for its teachers
out of 3,300 corps members who will be teaching this year. ("Teach for
America Shut Out of Americorps National Funding Awards," TFA web site,
7/15/03)
VETERANS AFFAIRS
Assertion: On January 17, 2003, Bush visited 5 soldiers
injured in Afghanistan at the Walter Reed Medical Center. He praised Army
doctors and said, "We should and must provide the best care for anybody
who's willing to put their life in harm's way." ("Bush Visits
Soldiers Mending from Afghanistan Wounds," Associated Press, 1/17/03)
Truth: The previous day, Bush's Department of Veterans
Affairs announced it was cutting off access to its health care system for
164,000 veterans who were expected to enroll in the current fiscal year.
("VA Cuts Some Veterans Access to Health Care," Washington Post,
1/17/03)
HOUSING
Assertion: In June 2002, Bush visited an Atlanta
housing project that used HUD's HOPE VI grants: "You know, today I went to
the -- to some of the home -- met some of the homeowners in this newly built
homes and all you've got to do is shake their hand and listen to their stories
and watch the pride that they exhibit when they show you the kitchen and the
stairs...They showed me their home. They didn't show me somebody else's home,
they showed me their home. And they are so proud to own their home and I want
to thank them for their hospitality, because it helps the American people
really understand what it means." (Remarks by President George Bush re:
Expanding Opportunities for Homeownership," Federal News Service, 6/17/02)
Truth: The President's 2004 budget cut all HOPE VI
funding.
AGRICULTURE
Assertion: In April 2002, at the South Dakota Ethanol
Plant, Bush said, "I said when I was running for President, I supported
ethanol, and I meant it. I support it now, because not only do I know it's
important for the ag sector of our economy, it's an important part of making
sure we become less reliant on foreign sources of energy."
Truth: The plant had received $602,000 in 2001 under
Clinton's Bioenergy Program. Bush cut the plant's bioenergy program in his 2004
budget. ("Ag Department Biodiesel, Ethanol Program May Be Renewed,"
Associated Press, 4/22/02)
