BUSHZOMBIE

In Bush’s waning days, he has achieved a unique title: The lowest approval rating of any president – ever. Many may think that this is his badge to wear, that George is now getting exactly what he deserves for driving our country into the ditch, leaving us with a second great depression, placing us into a war of choice and giving our commons away to foreign interests.

I think George is getting a bad rap.

Why? You might ask. After all, Bush has destroyed our nation, jeopardized our future and quite possibly, played the fiddle while a nation burned to the ground.

But the question I ask is much different. I do not ask whether he destroyed our country, for that is not the question. Did Bush deliver the desires of his constituency, the conservative movement? On this point, Bush was practically flawless.

1. On Economics – Grade of B+

Bush has been in favor and delivered Lessee faire, free market economics – supply side economics. Regulations were either cut or ignored. He bragged of home ownership in his 2004 presidential race based on loosening regulations. Bush delivered a tax cut of more than 11% to those making more than $1 million per year, and shifted the tax burden to the middle class (who received about a 2.5% decrease in taxes), using borrowed dollars.

Supply side, tax cuts are the mantra of the conservatism.

2. On the Environment – Grade of A

Bush has deregulated many dozens of federal agencies, by either making them inept or de-funding them. From the USDA to the Environmental Protection Agency, they have been either stripped or rendered useless. Removing, stifling and repealing government regulation is the mantra of the conservative movement.

3. On Education – Grade of A

Bush has implemented unfunded, unworkable mandates that have rendered the education systems ineffective. No Child Left Behind has enabled private enterprise to drain off education dollars for testing, delivering those dollars to corporations. He has effectively destroyed public education, which is the mantra of the conservatives.

4. On Foreign Policy – Grade of A

George has delivered a foreign policy that directly aligns with the Project for a New American Century. In this scenario, America exerts her overwhelming military might to achieve desired policy through the world. On this point, Bush has delivered exactly what the conservatives have demanded. Bush has delivered two wars, and not brought the perpetrators to justice. This has allowed a nationalistic fervor to continue occupying and expanding America’s military might, the ability to spy on its citizens and also allowed a transfer of wealth to businesses that enrich themselves: Again, the mantra of the conservative movement.

5. On Religion, Abortion and Reproductive Rights: B-

Bush has effectively blended Government and Religion. He has brought religious leaders into the Whitehouse and allowed them to dictate policy, from increasing the power of the FCC to censor to eliminating funding for stem cell research on the basis of religious policy. He has created the Department of Faith Based Initiative, and has created stringent regulations to disallow birth control throughout the world except in cases when it aligns with his religious dogma. He has not delivered a repeal of Roe vs. Wade, thus the lower rating of B-.

In almost every way Bush has delivered exactly what his constituents wanted. He has given America conservatism, in all its unfettered glory.

It is not Bush who has betrayed America. Conservatism has delivered its true value: To shift wealth and power into the hands of a very few.

Now that America lies in tatters, do not blame Bush. For he was only the messenger.