By: Matt Margolis
Response To Punkvoter.com
Not too long ago, I was made aware of a list that appeared on the website punkvoter.com called 15 Reasons Why You Should Hate The President.
The website recently posted its “three clear objectives”: (1) To activate punks and other disenfranchised young people to participate in elections. (2) To vote Bush and the Republicans out of office, and (3) to build a coalition of informed voters who can individually and collectively influence public policy.
These objectives clearly show you the agenda of Punkvoter.com, but they show more than that. Punkvoter.com’s motives are not the pursuit of truth, but their collective contempt towards George W. Bush and all Republicans. Objectives 1 and 3 are contingent on objective 2. This explains the “15 Reasons Why You Should Hate The President” - a flawed attempt to influence the reader to despise President Bush and Republicans. Punkvoter.com would like you believe it is trying to create a coalition of “informed voters” - when in fact it is not. In an attempt to right a severe wrong done by Punkvoter.com, I have taken the site’s list called “15 Reasons Why You Should Hate The President”, done real research (which the author of the list clearly did not do) and have proved just how misleading, inaccurate, and sometimes blatantly false the author’s statements regarding President George W. Bush and his administration are.
The youth of American cannot be subjected to such leftist political diatribe anymore. They need to be shown that they are never getting the full story, or the truth from websites such as Punkvoter.com. People who author lists like “15 Reasons Why You Should Hate The President” only care about that 2nd Objective - and that to them is more important than the truth. They will twist and spin facts and make allegations to promote their beliefs and indoctrinate the impressionable minds of young people who they know will not take the time to research these statements like I did to find they have been duped.
Below you will find each item on Punkvoter.com’s despicable list (in bold)followed by my response debunking it (in blockquotes). Send this to your friends, and young people, and show them how Punkvoter.com and other sites like it have been lying to them.
1) He cut a half a BILLION dollars from the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget. Who needs to look after the environment when there’s all that oil drilling going on?
President George W. Bush’s federal budget proposal for the fiscal year 2002 to the U.S. Congress gave $7.3 billion to the Environmental Protection Agency operations and programs… which is $56 million MORE than President Bill Clinton requested in his 2001 budget.(1)
Regarding the drilling, there would be nothing but benefits if we drilled for our oil. 1.5 million acres of the total 17.5 million total (which is only 8%) is being considered for development and less than 2000 acres of that 1.5 million will be affected if oil is discovered.(2) The existence of oil pipelines in other regions of Alaska has actually helped the caribou population grow considerably.(3)
2) He approved a bill that denies financial aid to students convicted of misdemeanor drug charges (though convicted murderers are still eligible for financial aid).
This is incorrect. This is referring to an amendment of the 1998 Higher Education Act that denied financial aid to students convicted of misdemeanor drug charges.(4) Bill Clinton was president in 1998.
3) He recently sent a delegation to the UN children’s summit to declare that the use of condoms is not a valid way to fight AIDS and that abstinence is the only solution. This is the view shared by some other countries such as Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Syria, and the Vatican. It seems that his policy of, “No child shall be left behind” has a whole new meaning.
According to the White House, the goal of Federal policy should be to emphasize abstinence as the only certain way to avoid both unintended pregnancies and STDs(5) - which it undoubtedly is. The countries mentioned above are all countries with a state religion - religions that actually prohibit the use of contraceptives. This example only attempts to suggest the Bush’s policy is similar to that of countries who actually enforce religion on it citizens, and use violence as a means of enforcement. Bush’s policy merely stresses the fact that abstinence is the only 100% sure way to prevent STDs and pregnancy ? the policy of the other countries is that the use of contraceptive devices is prohibited - these are drastically different policies.
4) He wouldn’t sign the Kyoto Protocol agreement on global warming, which was ultimately signed by 178 other countries. He also told the entire European community that he would listen to their arguments, but he would not change his mind, effectively treating Europe like an 8 year old child. This may have something to do with why most of the world hates the US.
First, only 84 out of a total of 123 countries signed the treaty. And as of February 24, 2003, less than 60 have actually ratified it.(6) Can anyone trust the legitimacy of this entire list when the author invents 55 countries?
Next: Not participating in the Kyoto Treaty was not a new policy of the Bush administration, but rather a continued policy of the Clinton Administration - which sat on the Treaty for 3+ years after the conference. Since taking office, President Bush has stated his reasons for not accepting the treaty, which includes the exemption of China and India (two major population centers) from compliance with the treaty.
Also, the Senate voted 95-0 against ratifying the treaty.(7) It’s rather unfair to blame President Bush when the Senate could have approved ratification without him.
Amongst other things, CONSAD Research Corporation have concluded that if the USA ratified and implemented Kyoto: it would drive up prices on all consumer goods, 3.1 million would lose their jobs The U.S. standard of living will decrease as working families are forced to reduce consumption of goods and services in every major category-including food, energy, and health care.(8)
Not only would the Kyoto Treaty cripple the United States economy if we ratified it, according to many experts, would not have any positive effects on the environment.(9)
5) He rejected an international accord to enforce the 1972 treaty banning germ warfare. Of course that would mean that the US would have to stop producing biological agents too.
In a unanimous review by the Bush Administration’s interagency team regarding this treaty, they concluded that the current version of the protocol would be inefficient in stopping cheating, and that all its deficiencies could not be remedied by the negotiating deadline.(10)
6) And talk about the fox watching over the hen house, he nominated former mining company executive Dan Lauriski as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
Would you rather have Bush nominate someone with no experience in that field? Would you hire a doctor to defend you in court, or hire a lawyer to do open heart surgery on you?
7) He allocated only 3% of the amount requested by Justice Department lawyers in the governments continued litigation against tobacco companies.
The particular lawsuit in question here suit sought billions of dollars to cover the cost of treating sick smokers through federal health insurance programs. Which basically means that smokers think that Phillip Morris Co. and other tobacco companies should be paying for their health costs because they chose to smoke. This is grossly unjust. People have been well aware of the health risks involved in smoking tobacco products for many, many years and this is merely an attempt of extorting money from these companies.
8) He prohibited any financial aid from going to international family planning organizations that provide abortion counseling, referrals, or services with their own funds.
For the sake of consistency, how can the pro-abortion movement tell the government that their body “is their business” but then demand government money pay for their abortions? If abortion is not a government issue, then government money (a.k.a. taxpayer dollars) should not go towards funding them.
9) He provided every member of the Bin Laden family living in the U.S. a chartered plane shortly after 9/11 to fly back home to Saudi Arabia without questioning them. One of GW’s first petroleum ventures was partnered with the Bin Laden family and George Sr. has been getting filthy rich selling defense contracts to the Bin Ladens. These are just some examples of the many ties the Bush family has with the Bin Ladens.
This is referring to Bush’s connections with The Carlyle Group, a buyout firm, one of the nation’s largest defense contractors, based in Washington, D.C., which does have investors from Saudi Arabia, including Shafig bin Laden, one of Osama’s many brothers.(11) Besides the fact that the bin Laden family has “disowned” Osama, they have also severed ties with The Carlyle Group, and the company has also given the bin Laden family back about two million dollars which they had invested.(12) These connections are exaggerated and do not connect the Bush family or anyone else to terrorism.
10) He officially withdrew from the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty, gutting the landmark agreement-the first time in the nuclear era that the US renounced a major arms control accord.
Two countries signed this treaty 30 years ago. Only one of those countries still exists today. Upon the collapse of the Soviet Union, this treaty was in effect null and void. Further, the treaty prevented the United States from developing technology to PROTECT ITSELF from a missile attack. One of the jobs of the President of the United States is to be our Commander-In-Chief, which means he has an obligation to protect the citizens of America. With several countries wanting to attack us, or gaining the ability to attack us with air to ground missiles and/or nuclear weapons, (Iraq, N. Korea, & China, for example) would it not be irresponsible for a President to ensure our country is prepared for a possible missile attack on our country?
11) Refused to join 123 nations pledged to ban the use and production of anti-personnel bombs and mines, February 2001.
President Bill Clinton was the one who refused to sign the 1997 Treaty banning APMs.(13)
12) September 2001: withdrew from International Conference on Racism, bringing together 163 countries in Durban, South Africa.
The White House and the State Department specifically objected to two proposals of the conference, put forth by African and Arab nations, which politicized the conference. The first being “reparations for slavery” from America and other Western nations; the other condemned Zionism as “racist."(14)
13) Over the past 10 years, the US prison population has more than doubled. This is mainly due to unfair three strikes laws, and harsher drug penalties. OK so maybe W. wasn’t behind this one, but the Republicans are.
The “Three Strikes Law” was a provision under the 1994 Crime Bill Act, which was passed by congress (including a Democrat controlled Senate)(15) and signed by President Clinton.(16) Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with this provision, it’s quite difficult to blame this one on the Republicans isn’t it?
Also, In the year 2000, drug related crimes accounted for only 11% of all arrests.(17) The allegation that harsher drug laws had any significant affect on the US prison populations is completely absurd. In fact, drug related arrests went down from 1999-2000. An estimated 1,042,334 drug related arrests were made in 2000, while in 1999 there were 1,557,100. (18)
14) International Plan for Cleaner Energy: G-8 group of industrial nations (US, Canada, Japan, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, UK), July 2001: the US was the only one to oppose it.
This summit is not much different then the Kyoto protocol. The Bush Administration is not opposed to anyone using “cleaner energy” for anyone may choose to consume cleaner energy - but the Bush Administration feels it is irresponsible to impose it regardless of the cost to consumers. President Bush has also advocated the development of new technologies to address the issue cleaner energy.(19)
Aside from that, the methods of ?cleaner energy? include wind, water and solar energy. To generate energy from these sources requires the building of dams, covering undisturbed hillsides with windmills and solar panels - which aren’t “clean” solutions by definition of many environmentalists.
15) George replied, “Ken who?” when asked about his relationship with Kenneth Lay, the CEO of Enron, during the federal bankruptcy hearings. This was after Enron gave him their company jet to use for his presidential campaign. George and Kenny were such good friends that Ken was actually seen giving wedgies to the president in the oval office. Yet he still replied, “Ken who?”
The point of this appears to be to link President Bush with Kenneth Lay? somehow suggesting there is a damaging connection between the two. Clearly the fact is ignored that the Bush Administration chose not to bail out Enron during its troubles. Also, if a relationship between Bush and Lay is up for criticism, does the author of this list condemn Bill Clinton for taking a $100,000 donation from Enron in 1993?(20) What about the high level executives of Enron who were also were invited to the Clinton White House? The scandal-ridden Enron had closer to ties to the Clinton Administration and the DNC than to the Bush Administration. Aside from the many improprieties of the Enron-Clinton connection, Enron gave its largest single donation ever (which was over $100,000) to the Democrats in 1995.(21)
Sources:
1. http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/budget/budget.htm
2. http://www.anwr.org/topten.htm
3. http://www.anwr.org/topten.htm
4. http://www.ed.gov/legislation/HEA/sec483.html
5. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/welfare-book-06.html
6. http://unfccc.int/resource/kpstats.pdf
7. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/03/20010314.htm
8. http://www.ceednet.org/resources/pdf/981271.pdf
9. http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2002/11/14/f162.raw.html
10. http://fpeng.peopledaily.com.cn/200105/21/eng20010521_70549.html
11. http://www.fortune.com/fortune/articles/0,15114,370593-2,00.html
12. http://www.fortune.com/fortune/articles/0,15114,370593-2,00.html
13. http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9712/02/land.mine.conference/
14. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/briefings/20010727.html
15. http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Majority_Minority_Leaders.htm
16. http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/democrat/clinton/issues.shtml#Crime
17. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_00/00crime4.pdf (Table 29)
18. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/Cius_99/99crime/99c4_01.pdf (p. 217)
19. http://www.aip.org/enews/fyi/2001/029.html
20. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/2/28/12723.shtml
21. http://www.newsmax.com/showinside.shtml?a=2002/8/19/104416
Part of the category: The Right Idea ©2003-2004 MattMargolis.com
-Greg
hi[at]humans.com
Subject= humans.com
