Bush at RNC last night...

So, I did watch Bush give his acceptance speech at the RNC last night. I decided to give some responses to some of the things he had to say. I will say, regretfully...that it was a good speech and would be an effective speech...if you didn't know the facts. I worry about middle america who doesn't really care about politics...moreso can't stand politics. I worry that they are going to take Bush at his words, even when the facts and evidence are not on his side. I worry wholeheartedly about that....

So, I decided to quote what Bush said right from his own site ...so no one could say that I am taking a democratic spin at what he had to say. I will have Dubya's quote in italics and my response below it...

"I believe every child can learn, and every school must teach -- so we passed the most important federal education reform in history."

No, he didn't. Let me say again...no he didn't. The No Child Left Behind Act...is all rhetoric and no action. It didn't help children...because it is shallow and just words. It is underfunded and therefore unaffective. It gives the Bush administration the ability to say that they care about education...without actually doing anything practical about it. Ask someone you know who is a teacher what they think about No Child Left Behind and trust me...all they will tell you about is how that act just leaves child after child behind.

"To create more jobs in America, America must be the best place in the world to do business."

Really? Then why do you give money and tax loopholes to companies which move to overseas markets.

"Another priority in a new term will be to help workers take advantage of the expanding economy to find better, higher-paying jobs."

Really? Where are these high paying jobs again?

"So we will double the number of people served by our principal job training program and increase funding for community colleges. I know that with the right skills, American workers can compete with anyone, anywhere in the world."

I am amazing at just how much Bush doesn't get it...or more likely, hopes we don't get it. It isn't about job training...which of course, is something that would be wonderful. Does he actually think job training is what will make us competitive in the world market? It doesn't matter how much training you have...if you can't compete with the wages that international companies offer. We could be the best trained in the world...but if a company needs to decide between an American worker who makes $8 an hour...or an international worker who makes 16 cents a day...who are they going to pick? The economy won't be solved...for those Americans who are losing jobs to international companies through job training.

"In these areas, we'll provide tax relief and other incentives to attract new business, and improve housing and job training to bring hope and work throughout all of America."

This will be a running theme in my response...I support this, but I am doubtful that it will actually happen. Why hasn't Bush even moved on this in the past 4 years? Did he suddenly figure this out or is this just another campaign promises that he will not keep? Bush made almost the same claims 4 years ago...and low income housing and job training has diminished under the Bush administration.

"As I've traveled the country, I've met many workers and small business owners who have told me they are worried they cannot afford health care. More than half of the uninsured are small business employees and their families. In a new term, we must allow small firms to join together to purchase insurance at the discounts available to big companies."

Bush has taken Kerry to task for his initiatives and how he is going to pay for them...and so, I must ask him how he plans on paying for this. At least Kerry and Edwards mentioned a plan on how they would pay for their initiatives. I heard a lot of plans for Bush...which many of them were the same plans from 4 years ago (which never happened), but Bush didn't talk about how the bill for all these plans was going to be paid. I think it would be great if small businesses were assisted in getting health insurance for their workers. I worked for a small non-profit...and was not able to get health insurance because of it. But, that is an expensive endeavor...not something that is an easily done as Bush indicated. And...I prefer Kerry's plan on a comprehensive plan to provide health care to all people in this nation, not just adding another segment that you care about and want to insure. Kerry has spoken about how Congress gets spectacular health insurance and he is dedicated to not have the elected officials get better health care than its people.

And we will provide low-income Americans with better access to health care: In a new term, I will ensure every poor county in America has a community or rural health center.

I have to chuckle at this and then become scared by it. I am scared that those who do not know...might think this is actually a solution. I think Bush might actually think it is too. Those clinics...are so understaffed, under-funded that they don't help much of anyone. They are just used as crisis centers because they don't have the capacity to offer comprehensive care. Additionally, the usually wait at the local clinic in Bloomington where i used to live...was close to a month. And that is the norm...not the exception. The health care crisis of the poor will not be solved by a community center. It might be a nice sound byte on the evening news, but it isn't anything that is bringing comprehensive health care to some of the most vulnerable in this country.

"To make health care more affordable and accessible, we must pass medical liability reform now. And in all we do to improve health care in America, we will make sure that health decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by bureaucrats in Washington, DC."

-and-

"Because a caring society will value its weakest members, we must make a place for the unborn child."

So, Bush wants to get bureaucrats out of health care decisions when it comes to liability insurance and practices, but in the same speech he talks about welcoming those politicians and bureaucrats right back in when it comes to reproductive rights. You can't have it both ways Mr. Bush...or at least you shouldn't be able to.

"In this time of change, government must take the side of working families. In a new term, we will change outdated labor laws to offer comp-time and flex-time. Our laws should never stand in the way of a more family-friendly workplace."

If government really wanted to take the side of working families when it comes to labor laws, it would take stand of a universal living wage. That is something Bush will never touch. Comp time would be nice, but what would be humane is to have wages and conditions that made it so that families could work no more than 40 hours a week and still be able to provide for their families.

"Thanks to our policies, homeownership in America is at an all-time high."

What policies? No, thanks to a low interest rate home ownership is at an alltime high.

"America's children must also have a healthy start in life. In a new term, we will lead an aggressive effort to enroll millions of poor children who are eligible but not signed up for the government's health insurance programs. We will not allow a lack of attention, or information, to stand between these children and the health care they need."

I agree...and where has this been for the past 4 years? Bush has shown through his first administration that issues like this is something he cares about during election time and then immediately forgets about once elected. Also, how is Bush going to afford this? I have seen cuts in children's health insurance programs. Additionally, it often is not lack of attention or information that keeps children out of these programs...it is a rigid system that drops people from the program and asks questions later...no wait, never asks questions at all.

"Because family and work are sources of stability and dignity, I support welfare reform that strengthens family and requires work."

That sentence just pisses me off. It makes the assumption that those on welfare would prefer not to work. I would like Bush to have to live the life of someone on welfare for a while and just see how he feels about it then. Welfare does need to be reformed, but in ways that help those find a sustaining way of life, instead of the reforms which seem more punishing in nature.

"Because the union of a man and woman deserves an honored place in our society, I support the protection of marriage against activist judges. And I will continue to appoint federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law."

I didn't know that marriage was under attack? In reality, what Bush and the right is doing...is not honoring the union of a man and a woman. Bush is concerned with taking away the rights of Americans with reckless abandon. This to me, is just as unjust when laws were made limiting the rights of other oppressed groups. I can feel a revolution coming...but, I hope it is not too late. And, I have to mention that Bush proclaims not wanting to appoint federal judges who use personal opinion, well..it seems like he liked people using personal opinion and not the law when they stopped the vote count in Florida. Once again, you should not be able to have it both ways.

Bush spoke more about terrorism...and the war, but I just don't have the heart to comment on it right now. People know how I feel about the war, Bush's misleading nature and how I feel that the nation and the world is more in danger than ever.

I just ask people to look at what Bush had to say with a critical eye. To look at the programs he has said are part of his plan. Wonder why those programs haven't even started to come into place in the past four years? Wonder how Bush plans on funding these programs he speaks of, as well as a full fledge war and a trip to Mars? Just take a strong look at both candidates. Make your choice and no matter what you choose...go to the polls on election day. It is more important now than ever.

Phew...can't write anymore. My heart hurts.

Shelley