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for larger version       The Progressive To the critics who claim progressives do not use facts when criticizing President Bush and his extreme, nationalistic, violent, and corrupt administration. Here are a few facts for conservative Kool-Aid drinkers to consider: 1.) President Bush commenced a war in Iraq that was not essential to our security or economic interests. Our blood and expenditure of billions has made terrorist groups powerful in Iraq. Many retired military leaders have expressed that the war was a mistake with enormous consequences. Ethnic and religious divisions in the entire region have worsened and become more dangerous. We are using mercenary troops and our troops were sent to Iraq without adequate support and equipment. Many corporations are enjoying exorbitant profits while young men and women die. Iraqis who we liberated from a vicious dictator now request that we leave. A civil war exists and many Iraqis lack electricity and water supplies that existed before the invasion. It is estimated that we will spend over two trillion dollars for this fiasco. 2.) The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has had no visible improvement during his administration. His unfailing support for Israel makes any diplomatic efforts futile. Our nation is not perceived as fair and balanced. 3.) A covert CIA operative was identified by prominent administration figures. 4.) Torture has become an issue and our nation uses methods that all civilized people condemn. 5.) Although the more privileged of our society have prospered and obtained gigantic tax cuts, the middle class are suffering. Family life deteriorates when two wage earners work 14-hour days and still cannot make ends meet. Income disparity is growing to levels that are similar to the turn of the last century. Our dollar is now weak. President Bush inherited a giant surplus that is now a deficit. 6.) The Gulf Region has not made any significant progress towards recovery since Hurricane Katrina. 7.) Labor unions are weaker since Mr. Bush occupied the White House. Our border is open and undocumented workers are being used as commodities. We still do not have an immigration policy that both serves our needs and is humane. 8.) More Americans do not have health insurance coverage. 9.) Our veterans do not receive the services they need. At the same time, pharmaceutical companies, oil companies and suppliers to the military prosper. 10.) Our civil liberties are under attack. I challenge Democrats and responsible Republicans in the U.S. Congress to make efforts to stop this madness. It now appears that the Democratic Party is playing it safe and not making vigorous efforts to challenge President Bush. This policy has empowered the extremely vicious attacks this administration has made against a 12-year-old cancer patient who called for health care coverage for children. Now, Bush has attacked Congress with some veracity as a "do-nothing" Congress. It is clear, this administration knows politics and is still capable of continuing the corrupt practices of the past six years. While writing this column, I heard that Bin Laden is still sending videos across the Internet threatening our lives and our way of life. Our military activities have not made us safer and our economy does not appear to be answering the needs of the American people. Why haven't terrorist groups become less of a threat? Everyday we hear of possible threats to our country. An economy that does not ensure health care delivery for all, adequate housing, and a decent living standard is an economy that serves the more privileged and needs reform. In recent days, there was a ceremony inaugurating the memorial for the African slaves who suffered in colonial New York. Today, we still treat workers as commodities. We do not truly honor the enslaved Africans and others who suffered because their labor was their only resource they could give in order to survive. We must learn to use labor as a resource to be developed and protected and not used as a commodity.
To honor our veterans we must stop using military force as the first option.
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