Coded gray.

Saturday 4 September 2004

Screenshot CoH

Pic of the day: OK, probably not quite THAT bad. Unless he decides to invade China or something. (Screenshot: City of Heroes.)

4 more Bush years?

At first I was amazed to see Bush Jr soar to a definite lead in the polls. I mean, he has presided over the greatest loss of jobs in decades and done lasting damage to the US and world economy. He has thrown the country into a pointless quagmire of a war through lies and deception, upsetting the country's allies and bringing its enemies closer together. He is campaigning as a "wartime president" when his opponent is a war hero while Bush avoided getting sent to dangerous duties. And he is obviously disoriented without a manuscript and sometimes with one, struggling with long words and non-trivial facts; his high school teachers must wince to see him on TV, if they are still alive.

But then I realized, when I heard why he was so popular. It is not because of his policies, but because he is "likable". Of course he is! He may be born to riches and have been given power undeservedly, but he is stupid just like them. They don't know whether Nigeria is a continent either, and don't care. They don't know the difference between deflation and depression either, but it's a safe bet none of those are good things. So what if the Bush government gives huge tax breaks while at the same time pouring unimaginable amounts of money into the military? Everyone could use a little extra money, and the goddam heathens need to learn respect for the greatest country on Earth. Two wrongs may or may not make a right, but two rights sure don't make a wrong.

For a broad-spectrum genius like you and me it may look absurd, but most people really aren't very smart. And those who are, often use their smarts to earn more money instead of worrying about the big picture. After all, pondering the national economy won't get you a new car unless it is your work, and even then it may be more profitable to just tell people what they want to hear.

***

Among those who actually live by telling people impartial facts about the economy, Bush Jr is viewed with mixed emotions. On one side, he is stupid and his policies are damaging to the nation's long time prospects. On the other hand, the alternative is a Democrat, which is the first step toward communism, and we all know what happened to communism. If only there was a sensible Republican candidate! But alas, there are none. And it is a safe bet they would NOT been likable if they were there.

The Economist, the leading international weekly magazine for decision makers in the economy, endorsed Bush wholeheartedly four years ago. These days, they are a lot more cautious about it, clinging to the hope that he just might change to a healthy economic policy as soon as the election is over and there is no need to please the masses. But it's hardly likely. You may quote me on this: Evil may be repented, rare as that is, but what can you do about stupidity? You can hardly open an issue of the magazine anymore without finding outright insults to Bush's intelligence, and I'm not talking about CIA or FBI here. To bring a quote from the current issue, September 9: "For all the ambitious rhetoric, Mr Bush's agenda is self-contradictory." This in big, bold type. I wouldn't count "reckless nonchalance" as an endearment, either, or "refusal to acknowledge any fiscal constraints". With friends like these ...

And it is likely to grow worse, as the voluntary wartime president and his advisors randomly wreck the American economy. Others are more worried about other parts of society. Civil rights, in the broadest sense of the word. Rights such as fair trial, religious equality, freedom of speech. All of these are under attack by the current administration. America's reputation as a champion of human rights is eaten alive from within. I don't think four more years of it will be enough to send people pouring out of the country looking for freedom and safety elsewhere. Not unless things are sped up substantially. But that's the way things are moving.

Of course, regular readers will know that I'm no champion of human rights myself. Actually I think there are way too many of them. One person's right is another person's obligation, and until people actually perceive that the two are in balance, they should be adjusted accordingly. I really only acknowledge one human right: The right to not be randomly tortured or killed. Also nice to have are rights to freedom and some basic property rights, but these are routinely compromised a bit by any civilized government. Yet any war, no matter how good and holy, suspends all of them from the word go. Anyway, it's not my area of expertise.

What I can say with great certainty is: Four more years of Bushiness, and the American economy will be wrecked beyond any quick fix. Devaluation, stagflation, widespread poverty, double-digit interest rates. Cats and dogs living together! Mass hysteria! (OK, those last two were nabbed from a film, but they fit right in.) I recommend all my American friends and then some to start saving now, because the 7 lean years are coming. And the Pharaoh's right-hand man is definitely not Joseph.


Yesterday <-- This month --> Tomorrow?
One year ago: Another of those days
Two years ago: Keiko and EverCrack
Three years ago: Family affairs
Four years ago: Man without a woman
Five years ago: Soup hunting

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