Transformation Of American Psyche Through Bush Essay Example for Free

Transformation Of Ameri bed Psyche Through furnish EssayVery few leaders today cause as more strong feelings as President Bush. It seems that in his years leading the United States, people either view his leadership with reverence or repulsion, provided truly few view him with indifference. In a December 2006 Associated Poll, the Statesns showed how divisive the presidents leadership is by not tho voting him the hero of the year, but to a fault its top villain.Political division is seen as a major cause of the contradiction, as Bush was the choice of 43 pct 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 ibn Talal ibn Talal Hussein Hussein (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 to struggleds the United States after 9-11, ar some of his biggest shortcomings, though barely a few of many. Cited by avowers and critics similar is the presidents 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, 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 marryhe has spearheaded a renewed campaign to take away womens 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 u nforesightful 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 secrecy of U.S. citizens. For a president that uses the word freedom so frequently, he has done more than most presidents to take it away from his fellow countrymen. Bushs 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 ethical drug drug benefit has also benefited some senior citizens, but health care reform still needs to take place. While it would be overnice to be able to list the accomplishments of President Bush, his presidency has grownuply 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 ships company members abandoning him, and the countrys 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 politics 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. 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 concord that invading Afghanistan was necessary to combat terrorist act, the decision to run over 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 Iraqs 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 blind by the administrations continued propaganda about having to support a president during wartime, regardless of the terrible decisions or unexplained actions h e 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 Qeadas 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 (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 tangled that provided scores of new technological advances in recent years designed to maximize death. Memorable images from the invasion include the shock and awe campai gn 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 Mission AccomplishedThe 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 cathexis 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 administrations 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 uncalled-for and nothing more than the act of a bully, the worlds lone superpower. However, most Americans chose to dismiss the loud opinions of t he international community as being forgetful and not relatable. 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. ending 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 immorality 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 like a shot 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 a gainst 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 Americas 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 lower-ranking benefit for common Americans, who are really the ones paying the most for it in terms of dollars.Works CitedHero and Villain President Bush Sweeps AP Poll. Editor Publisher. 28 Dec 2006. 9 Julhttp//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. Wall Street, Iraq and the Declining Dollar. The Nation. 12 Jun 2007. 9 Julhttp//www.thenation.com/doc/20070625/miller.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.