Transformation Of American Psyche Through Bush Essay Example for Free

Transformation Of American Psyche Through Bush Essay Very few leaders today cause as many strong feelings as President Bush.   It seems that in his years leading the United States, people either view his leadership with reverence or repulsion, but very few view him with indifference.   In a December 2006 Associated Poll, Americans showed how divisive the president’s leadership is by not only voting him the hero of the year, but also its top villain. Political division is seen as a major cause of the contradiction, as Bush was the choice of 43 percent of Democrats for villain, and 27 percent of Republicans for hero, but 25 percent of all people chose Bush, the leader of the free world, as the top villain over both Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein (â€Å"‘Hero and Villain’: President Bush Sweeps AP Poll†).    The divisiveness he causes in the country, as well as the unilateral action he takes in foreign policy, which has squandered all of the international sympathy towards the United States after 9-11, are some of his biggest shortcomings, though only a few of many.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cited by supporters and critics alike is the president’s refusal to bend on certain issues, including his religious beliefs that have continuously blurred the line between church and state.   According to former mayor of New York City, Ed Koch, â€Å"He sticks with his beliefs, no matter how intense the criticism and invective that are directed against him every day† (Koch).   While Christian conservatives support him, his personal beliefs have seriously held up scientific discoveries in the way of stem cell research by refusing to support federal funding; he has denied social advancements to gays wishing for equal rights to marry; he has spearheaded a renewed campaign to take away women’s right to choose; he has also been instrumental in creating a new paranoia over immigration, despite being the president of a country made of immigrants; and, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow, as the country finds itself poised on the brink of recession.   But, his greatest shortcomings are concerning the war on terror, which needlessly expanded, and his flippant abuse of federal power concerning the privacy of U.S. citizens.   For a president that uses the word â€Å"freedom† so frequently, he has done more than most presidents to take it away from his fellow countrymen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bush’s accomplishments are more difficult to ascertain.   The country has not had a significant terrorist attack on U.S. soil, which could be attributed to U.S. soldiers in the Middle East becoming the new terrorist targets.   The prescription drug benefit has also benefited some senior citizens, but health care reform still needs to take place.    While it would be nice to be able to list the accomplishments of President Bush, his presidency has largely been marked by war, with one necessary and one misleading. He has divided the country and relied only on his religious faith to curry favor with his base, and his performance in office is best reflected by his record low approval ratings, his fellow party members abandoning him, and the country’s fervent desire to elect a new leader that will be the complete opposite of him and usher in a new era of unity, honesty, and true freedom. The American public has loudly started to voice its opposition to the protracted war in Iraq, as recent polls and presidential approval ratings show that the public is increasingly upset with the direction the war has taken, even though support for the troops continues to remain high.   As it stands, opposition to the war also continues to grow and the polarization that marked the early days of the war is diminishing, as citizens, politicians, members of the armed forces, and even those in the Bush administration are realizing the errant decisions that led to and sustained the war have cost far too muchin billions of taxpayers’ dollars, international economic and political status, and most importantly the lives of tens thousands of Americans and many more Iraqis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Few issues have polarized the political community and general population in the United States as the sustained war in Iraq.   While most of the country agreed that invading Afghanistan was necessary to combat terrorism, the decision to invade Iraq was met with mixed feelings at best.   At the time, the Bush administration used everything in its power to convince the American public and the world of the righteousness in attacking Iraq. The many reasons, with varying degrees of honesty and accuracy, ranged from the threat of weapons of mass destruction to Iraq’s participation in terrorism to the plain fact that Saddam Hussein was a bad man.   Unfortunately, many Americans who would normally be in the middle of the road on such issues were blinded by the administration’s continued propaganda about having to support a president during wartime, regardless of the terrible decisions or unexplained actions he takes, and many also believed that Iraq was involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.    A Washington Post poll of 1,003 adults taken in August of 2003 found that nearly 70% of Americans polled believed that Saddam Hussein was personally involved in Al Qeada’s attacks on the United States; a Time/CNN poll conducted around the same time found Americans more closely split on whether the military action in Iraq was worth the price in America lives, taxpayer dollars and other costs — 49% said yes, 43% no and 8% were unsure (â€Å"Poll: 70% Believe Saddam, 9-11 Link†).   With its aims justified in the eyes of the misinformed American public, in March of 2003 the Bush administration got its wish to expand the war in the Middle East to include Iraq. This initial invasion was a showcase for the massive military industrial complex that provided scores of new technological advances in recent years designed to maximize death.   Memorable images from the invasion include the â€Å"shock and awe† campaign of large bombs and missiles tearing up Baghdad, the famous toppling of the Saddam Hussein statue by Iraqi civilians, and President George Bush landing in a fighter jet upon an aircraft carrier, only to give a speech in front of a large banner that read â€Å"Mission Accomplished!† The tragically comedic irony of that banner can only be understood in hindsight, and only by those fortunate enough not to have been in Iraq.   Over four years later, the mission has not been accomplished, unless the mission was to create the highest possible revenues for international oil companies at the expense of young American lives. Additionally, the Bush administration’s decision to invade Iraq eroded much of the international good will created by the September 11 attacks.   Many countries that supported the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan see the invasion of Iraq as unnecessary and nothing more than the act of a bully, the world’s lone superpower.   However, most Americans chose to dismiss the loud opinions of the international community as being shortsighted and not relatable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The economic impact of the war in Iraq is felt by all Americans each time they pump gas.   In the four years since the U.S. invaded Iraq, Iraqi oilfields and associated infrastructure have sustained 400 attacks, and oil production in the country has fallen from 1.95 barrels per day during the first quarter of 2007, short of the U.S. goal of 2.5 million barrels per day and the previous mark of 3.7 million under Saddam Hussein (Miller). It is also highly reported in the media and amongst citizens that companies like Haliburton, associated with Vice President Dick Cheney, have benefited immensely from the reconstruction contracts in Iraq, leading many to believe that the war is solely for oil.   The fact that oil companies are now making record profits seem to reinforce these ideas. But, another consequence of U.S. action in Iraq is that the dollar is losing its international value.   The dollar has weakened against the euro, gold, copper, and other assets, and when Bush came in to office, a dollar equated to .987 euros while now it is at .75 (Miller).   While oil gets more expensive, the dollar weakens, in large part due America’s overwhelming dependence on it and the massive expenditures of oil, resources, and money on the war in Iraq.   The business side of the war in Iraq seems to have little benefit for common Americans, who are really the ones paying the most for it in terms of dollars. Works Cited: â€Å"‘Hero and Villain’: President Bush Sweeps AP Poll.† Editor Publisher. 28 Dec 2006. 9 Jul http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id= 1003525882. Koch, Ed. George Bush is my hero. The Jerusalem Post. 31 Dec 2006. 9 Jul 2008. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFullcid=1167467631671. Miller, Ken. â€Å"Wall Street, Iraq and the Declining Dollar.† The Nation. 12 Jun 2007. 9 Jul http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070625/miller. â€Å"Poll: 70% Believe Saddam, 9-11 Link.† USA Today. 6 Sep 2003. 9 Jul 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-09-06-poll-iraq_x.htm.