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The
Year that Might Have Been
January
28, 2002
by Eric Munoz
President Al Gore's first year in office began amid
controversy with the Republican Congressional Leadership conducting
investigations into Florida's election fiasco. Ironically,
the investigations uncovered a web of questionable and illegal
activities performed not on the behalf of then VP Al Gore,
but on behalf of Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Among the parties
alleged to be responsible is Kenneth Lay, former CEO of now
bankrupt Enron. Reportedly, Mr. Lay hired a group of Republican
staff members to pose as protestors and storm the Miami-Dade
recount efforts. He, along with several others face charges
of intimidation, conspiracy to commit election fraud, racketeering,
voter fraud and other corruption charges. In the aftermath,
revelations of accounting irregularities and fraud in Enron's
business practices have brought the once mighty energy trading
to the brink of collapse.
President Gore's first year in office has been marked
by a decline in economic growth from the booming 3.5-4% growth
rates of his predecessor's last years to a more modest
1.5-2% growth this year. Republican Senate Leader Trent Lott
has been the most vocal critic of President Gore's economic
program. "Significant rate cuts in the top income tax
rates would significantly grow this economy and surpass the
growth rates seen in the late 1990's. This economic
slowdown is the direct result of Al Gore's refusal to
lower rates from their ridiculously high levels to levels
more accommodating to economic growth." Coupled with
the war on terrorism, the slowdown has forced a re-evaluation
of projected surpluses over the next 10 years. Those projections
have been scaled down from the whopping $5.6 trillion dollars
forecast just over a year ago to a more modest $4.1 trillion.
Republican leaders blame Mr. Gore's budget and tax policies,
which have been more generous to environmental programs, including
a 150% increase in funding for alternative fuels.
The Democrats, faced with a slowing economy, are going into
the midterm elections hopeful that that Alan Greenspan's
recent reduction in the federal rate to 4.5% will jumpstart
the economy by the end of the summer. "The budget proposed
by the President includes significant debt reduction, because
this is relieving upward pressure on interest rates the fed's
monetary policy will provide some boost as Americans will
be able to refinance their homes saving potentially hundreds
of dollars per month, it will also encourage new home buyers
to purchase as long term rates will fall," predicted
Sen. Tom Daschle. The Democrats will need to see an increase
in the economy's growth if they hope to capture the
Senate or House this fall.
The recent economic slowdown has pushed the efforts in Afghanistan
to capture the rest of Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network
off the front pages. But the year was marked with significant
intelligence and military victories. Just days after the September
11 attack bin Laden was captured near Khandahar thanks in
large part to Mr. Gore's continued policies, including
closing down and investigating off shore accounts that have
traditionally been used by terrorists to hide, launder and
transfer money, which he inherited from President Clinton.
Tom DeLay and other Republican leaders have criticized the
President for failing to capture the rest of Al Qaeda as there
are as many as half a dozen Lieutenants still at large.
"This President has failed to capture all the Al Qaeda
operatives that may have been involved in crashing the jetliner
into the WTC, costing hundreds of lives and nearly destroying
the North tower. Americans deserve to know they are safe and
how can they be certain if there are still so many terrorists
out there," Tom DeLay recently said to a Christian Coalition
fundraiser. "These Muslim and Arab terrorists are so
fanatic in their belief they should be converted or eradicated."
President Gore has recently pressured the Saudi government
to become more involved in the capture and prosecution of
these terrorists. Saudi officials, perhaps worried about losing
the confidence of its largest market, have complied by shutting
down several known terrorist fronts. Saudi officials may also
be concerned that the United States has decided to invest
so heavily in alternative fuels, which could reduce the need
for oil, Saudi Arabia's only valuable natural resource,
quite significantly.
On the environment, President Gore, expecting stiff opposition
from auto manufacturers, was pleasantly surprised by the ease
of which Corporate Auto Fuel Efficiency, CAFE, standards were
able to pass Congress. With help from William Clay Ford, the
President was able to convince not only the American Public
but also auto manufacturers of the wisdom in increasing fuel
efficiency. New standards take effect in 2003 with an average
increase of 3%. The measure passed the House by a 247-188
margin with nearly 50 Republicans crossing party lines and
the Senate by 65-34, with 19 Republican Senators.
President Gore's first year in office has been most
notable for the success he has had in forging the broad support
he has received from the American public since 9-11 into an
ambitious 10 year plan for improving America's infrastructure.
These ambitions are the embodiment of President Gore's
vision for a stronger America. President Gore has challenged
the American Congress and the American People to build 2001
new schools, decrease high school drop out rates by 9% and
increase college attendance rates by 11%. He has also called
for 100% computer access for all of the nation's children
in public schools, 100% medical coverage for all the nation's
children and the elimination of homelessness by 2011.
Al Gore issued his challenge in his speech before Congress
shortly after the September attacks. "If we can put
a man on the moon in 10 years, surely we can put a roof over
our nation's homeless, if we can put a man on the moon
in 10 years, surely we can build enough schools for our future
generations and if we can put a man on the moon in 10 years,
surely we can provide health care for our nation's most
vulnerable."
If all goes to Mr. Gore's plan, the next 10 years will
be something special.
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