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Many have criticized President Bush for spending 42 percent of
his presidency on vacation, but considering the things Bush has
done while in office, it’s probably in the country’s
best interests for him to stay home on the range.
Bush started his presidency off on the wrong foot when he called
for an end to funding for family planning clinics abroad that
performed abortions. He overlooked the fact that such clinics
provide contraceptives and offer advice that helps reduce diseases,
especially for people in AIDS epidemic-stricken countries.
After that, he started destroying the environment.
Not only has Bush refused to participate in the Kyoto Treaty
““ which would reduce greenhouse gases emissions among the
industrialized nations ““ or provide an alternative for it,
he’s also pushed for oil drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge, one of the world’s largest untouched
ecosystems.
And as if threatening the atmosphere and biosphere wasn’t
enough, Bush has taken steps to jeopardize international security
by looking to break the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Sadly, when the world does try to come together to overcome
major social problems ““ like the United Nation’s World
Conference Against Racism, which included a discussion of Zionism
and reparations for slavery ““ Bush’s administration
does not want the United States to participate.
Bush has bent the Constitution to promote such things as the
White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which
allows federal tax dollars to flow into religious or
“faith-based” charities. He has also appointed
extremists to the helm of important federal departments, such as
John Ashcroft to the Justice Department, Gail Norton as the
secretary of the interior and the almost-secretary of labor, Linda
Chavez.
And when the lights were going out in California, Bush was
nowhere to be seen. Families in the lowest income brackets have not
gotten much help from Bush’s tax cut ““ even though
they’re the ones who need it most.
Admittedly, Bush has had some rare moments in his
administration, such as funding some stem cell research despite
what his conservative base would have him do. He has also split
with conservatives to support some affirmative action programs and
has expressed support for turning 50 percent of the World
Bank’s loans into grants, though he has yet to do anything
about it.
Bush’s vacation should be greeted as a break from unwise
policy making ““ not to mention an opportunity for him to
spend time with his daughters.