I'm back

Karla, Heather, Marc, Brendan

Thank you for your posts. I spent most of December in the States (argued a bit with my hard-core Bush supporter family). I have also been rather busy with work and a new baby boy so I haven’t really done anything.

Enough on excuses already. It really saddened me how apathetic and ignorant many Americans are about what Bush has done to America’s international image (on top of his budget mess). So many Americans actually think the USA commands greater respect in the world now because of Bush! Almost enough to make one cry! We really need to do our part in getting the word out: America is less respected and less safe because of Bush.

Anyway, I welcome all advice or input any of you might have.

Tony

Comments

[abdul]

I can second that! I spent the past 6 weeks at home and was stunned by how little people know or care about anything. Is it something in the air? in the water? to tell you the truth, after about week 2 I kind of stopped paying attention myself. It's almost like we're in some sort of bubble.

[rae]

This summer I went 'home' and was also shocked at Bush's popularity. I think part of the reason our view of Bush is different is because of media coverage. American media is far too nice to Bush and his administration, they don't seem to question domestic and international policies. I think CNN Japan is also skewed, but not as heavily as CNN US. It's interesting to travel abroad and get a peek at international views of America and it's president.

[Karla]

Glad you're back, and congratulations on the new baby boy!

I think people are just worn down. You can only have no job, no insurance, no information, no security, and no truth for so long before you want to just cave in. Personally, this next election will have a lot to do with when I return to my home country. That seems really sad.

Please let me know if you plan to organize anything through this site, and if you need any help doing so. I'm just a couple hours away by train. Good luck!

[Tony]

Hi all

Thank you for your replies. The baby is doing quite well.

I am convinced the reason Bush still has as much support as he does is simple apathetic stupidity. Americans (it pains me to say) are simply ignorant of the outside world. A lot of them cannot find their own country on the map, and the most recent poll I saw said that nearly half still think Saddam had something to do with 9/11! Since the media has not doing its job and asking hard questions, people are willing to blindly follow the leader. The human instinct to rally around their leader when they have been attacked is also a powerful force the accounts for much of Bush’s support too.

I think it was too bad Clark did not have the political experience to get the nomination. I think he was the most mainstream and would have been a good example to Americans that not all those who oppose the war and Bush are far-left peaceniks.

On the brighter side of life, the truth has a way of coming out in the end. Bush really gave a lot of his supporters a real knife in the back with his WMD lies, and the media and others are finally showing a bit a backbone and questioning Bush (though not nearly as much as they should be). Lets hope people wake up before the election.

If the average American had any idea of the damage Bush has done to America’s image and how he has actually damaged US security, we would be talking about impeachment hearings and not the election now. Lets try to find ways for those of us that have a wider view of the world than most Americans can find ways to get the word out in time.

Tony

[Tom]

Greetings from the States. I just came across this page and thought I'd add a few thoughts.

I was a 10-year expat in japan before I had to
come back(due to health problems). I found and appreciated the more balanced view you get from being outside the States.

I still have culture shock when I see the conservative viciousness and screw you attitude of Bush and his cronies. If the Democrats don't replace Bush, I'm afraid of how much more American life will go downhill. So I'll do my part to initiate this. Also, I plan to go back abroad in the future. I miss my life in Japan.

Yours,
Tom(vsop@kc.rr.com)

[Gaijin]

Hmmmmm....

It's fortunate to be able to take the side that fits your views, isn't it? Unfortunately, some people insist on trying to create/stimulate an image of America as being bad or otherwise "vicious." Whereas I disagree with your views, I am not in the market to put you down or dissuade you.

I have been in Japan for close to 16 years now, and astonishingly have not met more people than my hands can count that have the same liberal temperament against our sitting President. Of course, he's only been there almost 4 years, but even so, this feeling that foreigners hold such contempt or hatred towards American politics is simply unfounded as far as my blue eyes can see...

[Tony]

Gaijin. That demonstrates the presumptuous thinking that is so common with many Bush supporters.

First of all, I do not think America is bad or vicious. That is one of the reasons I oppose Bush. He gives America that image.

Secondly, why are you calling people liberals? I do not think that is necessarily it is bad to be one, but I do not consider myself one. I believe very strongly in limited government, free markets, trade etc. That is one of the reasons I oppose Bush. He has expanded the Federal government more than any president in history.

Thirdly, Bush has done great damage to the USA, and I think someone who is truly patriotic has every right to be angry with him. While I voted for him in the last election, I do have nothing but contempt for him now. From his needless and stupid war in Iraq abroad to his spending like a drunken sailor at home, he has done great damage to the USA and its security. I think any Republican (ok, I am making an assumption here) who has a truly open minded and is more loyal to his country than his political party should feel the same about Bush.

[Gaijin]

Tony,

Thank you for your opinion. Although I disagree with what your eyes may see, and how your mind perceives, I am relieved that this is still accepted in our country. This is what drives our great people and our great land to evolve and grow. I do hope you see our country doing this. It is understandable to take a negative approach against one who does not fit your own personal standards; I do as well. But I do not let it interfere with my overall perspective on the world or world events.

Having said this, to claim Bush43 has done great damage, has waged a needless and stupid war in Iraq (it is noted Afghanistan is left out), and has spent like a drunken sailor leaves me no other choice but to consider your views in line with other left-leaning-liberals. I do not say this to offend you, only to place you in the appropriate area of our current political spectrum. I do not hold any ill feelings towards liberals or towards those who lean leftward, I too have certain views that fit this criteria. However, I do not generally associate my political views to those of the liberal standards. This does not make me wrong. And it does not make me right. It only makes me me. And I like being me. I've done well thus far and do not think my views will shift in the near future.

I also think it is arrogant to think anybody who is truly open-minded and more loyal to his country than his political party (whatever implications were meant here, I'll just ignore for the time being) should feel the same way towards Bush43 that you do.

Even as a conservative, I would not impose my views on others simply because I can. I would rather voice my views and reply to the responses I felt were worth replying to.

Like yours...

[travelling guru]

funny, funny. I have done extensive travels across Europe, Asia and Africa in the past two and half years, and anyone who tries to tell me that we are still liked ought to have his/her head examined.
I remember growing up in Germany in the 80's and, yes, we were liked back then. How quickly things change.

[tony]

First of all, I am expressing my views just as you are. How in the world can someone impose their views on a message board even if they wanted to?

Also, not to get so much into labels, but why in the world does opposing a needless war and wasteful government spending make someone a liberal?

I left Afghanistan out because I supported that war 110%. In fact, I wish Bush had done more and sent in more US troops in that conflict. If he had put more resources into it, we most likely would of got Osama years ago and al Qaeda would be much weaker.

I really do not see the point of your post. Bush clearly has done great damage to the USA. The most obvious example is the Iraq war. By rushing us into this needless war, he has killed and maimed our troops, wasted hundreds of billions of dollars, greatly increased anti-Americanism and radicalism in the Middle East, opened up Iraq to the Islamics and al Qaeda, got us into a quagmire, diverted forces from getting those who really attacked the US on 9/11 etc. I really do not understand how anyone who really cares about their country could not be upset by this mess.

War should be a last resort and only taken when all other options are exhausted, after careful consultations with advisors and with a clear plan to win the peace and not because you think God told you to!

[cat]

Tony is really correct. As a citizen of Australia, I can assure you that any time Bush's name or the USA is mentioned, eyes roll and words like "supremecy" and "arrogant" or "ignorant" are used.

My partner was utterly bemused by the attitude of an American female lawyer he chatted to online. As an educated professional, she had no interest at all in voting at the upcomming election. It seemed that she was only considering for the first time the evils (or good) of Bush being in power as my partner bought them up in conversation.

In Australia even the more uneducated bogans (yokels) have a keen interest in our government and a strong opinion on whether this is good or bad. There's no pressure from people like gaijin to shut up and be silent if we disagree with our politicians or what they are doing for our country.

And in regards to what Bush has done for America's popularity... sorry to say it Gaijin but he's definitely pushed it downhill and the fact that most Americans seem to blindly disagree or not even give a hoot makes the entire nation seem like a flock of sheep to many.

You might want to disagree with me but frankly you're looking at it from a biased stand which doesn't have the insider knowledge that I have from spending every day of my life as a foreigner viewing the USA.

[Gaijin]

You all are really funny.

By whose standards are you able to determine your "matter of fact" views? This is where our current labels come into play.

I really do not understand how anyone who really cares about their country could BE upset by these successes.

[tony]

You totally lost me with that one. What is so funny? What exactly are these matter of fact views that bother you? If there are things I said that you do not agree with, please state what they are. Also, what successes are you talking about?

Again, what bothers me about Bush more than anything is the way he got us into this needless quagmire in Iraq that is killing our troops, costing hundreds of billions of dollars, aided al Qaeda with more anti-Americanism, radicalism and recruits, turned so much of the world against us etc. all to take out some tin-pot dictator who once was our ally! Why in the world did he rush us into this mess?

That has been my point all along. Please tell us what yours is.

[j.j.]

this is to those expats who are concerned about Bush: we should not fail to register to vote. It is SO important this year. Gaijin can continue his attitude, it is not shared by most expats that I have seen.

Most overseas voters are military and voting by them is almost 100%. Not only that, but they also vote in excess of 80% for Bush, so while we will never out-do that, we can at least try to somewhat level this advantage that Bush carries. Get your friends and family to register and vote, and spread the word!

[Arthur O'Keefe]

Hi, there. It looks like the Japan site is not nearly as active as the UK site, and since I live in Japan anyway I'll put my 2 cents in. Here's a synopsis of two comments I posted on the UK site recently, and I wonder what the rest of you think: Kerry supporters, what's your view of Nader's platform (as opposed to his alleged collusion with the Republicans, reputation as a spoiler, etc.) vs. Kerry's?

Also: After the vote-suppression efforts in 2000, we might get more of the same this year, except that now the Bush camp has the power of the whole federal government to do it, not just Jeb Bush in Florida. Does anyone know if there are any measures in place to prevent a recurrence?

(If I've piqued your interest please see my comments on the UK site for more details.)

[jenn]

Have you heard? President Bush now has a lead in California!! Wow, if he wins Kali-four-nia, it's all over for that traitor Kerry.

Four more years! Four more years!

www.stolenhonor.com

[Thane]

A new thread to make it appear that things have been discussed at this site since January would probably be a good idea.

On the subject of damage done by Bush to the US, under Bush, the dollar has fallen by 10% or more against most major currencies and held there. This has not caused the US's trade balance to improve at all, despite Bush administration claims that it would do this. A second term of spend-more-take-in-less is likely to result in yet more devaluation of the dollar. Energy prices necessarily go up for the US with the dollar worth less. Interest rates to fund the deficit are likely to rise, too, as there's more deficit to fund and the weakness of the currency makes securities held in it less attractive than other securities. To the extent that American influence is dependent on its economic strength, Bush has damaged the US worldwide because of his economic policies.

Under Reagan and Bush I, the trickle-down pseudo-theory resulted in three recessions and four tax increases, three of them major. Early in the Clinton administration, there was a final tax increase to finish repairing the damage done by exactly the same guiding economic principles as Bush II operates on.
If for no other reason, one most oppose Bush for replacing economics with pure wishful thinking when recent history clearly informs us that this ecnomic policy is disastrous.