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Big
Man, Little Man
October
4, 2001
by Madison
Children of the Depression and World War II remember Pearl
Harbor and the war clearly, and know there is one significant
difference for today's Americans. During WWII, the common
enemy was clearly understood by all to be foreign powers.
Today, the accepted common enemy is terrorism, wherever the
terrorists come from and wherever they live.
But -- and this is the big "but" -- during WWII Americans
did not ALSO need to fear their own government as some of
us do today. The Bush administration, and some Republican
members of Congress, see this as their Main Chance. Amendments,
such as one to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge, are stealthily added to the Defense Appropriations
bill! Yes, stealthily. Callers to Senator Murkowski's office
last week, received assurances from a Murkowski aide that
the senator would NOT add such an amendment to the Defense
bill. While factually accurate, that was a lie. Senator Murkowski
did not add the amendment; his friend Senator Inhofe did it
for him.
U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft has moved aggressively to
gain advantages over civil liberties -- all in the name of
"safety" and "patriotism," although he has failed to make
the case that surrendering civil liberties will commensurately
enhance public safety.
The Bush administration sees the combination of economic
downturn and "war" as proof we need more tax cuts for the
rich. What we need are jobs for the suddenly unemployed. President
Roosevelt would have provided jobs for the unemployed -- not
tax cuts for the rich.
President Roosevelt had the confidence of the American people,
because all Americans knew that he was there to protect them
-- not rip them off while they were grieving and feeling frightened.
Nowadays, we have two causes for fear: one foreign and the
other domestic, the Bush administration.
President Roosevelt did not see the Depression and WWII as
an opportunity to enrich his wealthy campaign contributors.
Mr. Bush sees this as his Main Chance. Big, big differences
between the two men.
And no one who was alive while Roosevelt was president would
EVER confuse the two men, their presidencies, or their ambitions.
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