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)
