Tuesday, May 16, 2006

On Bush


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The US dollar is in freefall. Illegal immigration is out of control. The Federal budget deficit is astronomical at $400bn, because of a trade deficit spiralling out of control. That now stands at $742bn, which equates to 7% of the US economy! The war in Iraq is going badly, attempts to gloss over the reality notwithstanding. Manufacturing and service jobs are relocating abroad, to countries where labour costs are far, far lower.

The result: The weakening of America. The United States of America is weak because it lacks strong, determined, decisive leadership, because its economy has been allowed to drift, and because it has allowed itself to get involved in a war in a far off land about which it understands little. The war has become a drain on the American economy. And there is little prospect in sight of its being brought to an end. In fact, with Iran flexing its muscles, and with that country determined to develop nuclear capabilities, the prospect for America is looking bleaker than ever.

This is a very worrying development: The free world needs a strong America. It is the free world’s only hope. If America fails, the world will be plunged into darkness.

World economic developments and changes in the balance of power mean that one has to ask the question: Are we witnessing the beginning of the end of the US as the world’s superpower. After all, China is coming up quickly and strong; it’s flourishing. Inward investment is large and valuable. It has a ready supply of cheap labour, and a ready market for its goods due to the enormous population of China. Those who work there also have to consume. After years of hardline communist rule, the Chinese have got a lot of catching up to do, too. Which can only be a boost for the Chinese economy.

One cannot help but ask one pertinent question: Has the US government deliberately turned a blind eye to the enormity of the problem with illegal aliens from Mexico till now to try and compete with the cheap labour available in China? Is it trying to make the US economy more competitive again by allowing these people into the country? There seems to be no other logical explanation for the authorities’ tardiness and reluctance to deal with the problem.

It seems to me that the US government is guilty of playing fast and loose with the country’s future. Can there really be rational, coherent, well-defined economic, foreign and immigration policies underlying all this? Or is the government simply being reactive – reactive to events, both economic and political – as they unfold? It seems to me that there is much of the latter going on. There seems to be little coordinated policy to bring the US back to the health the American people deserve.

At a time when Islam is gaining so much in strength, we need a strong America more than ever. Islamofascism is the greatest threat to the free world since Nazism and communism. The US, with the help of its die-hard and staunch allies, the British and Commonwealth nations, was able to defeat these two ‘isms’. We are showing little resolve to defeat Islamofascism. Indeed, till now, the enemy we face has not even been properly defined; instead, we are told that we are at war with Islamic terrorism. This is something else that Bush has failed to come to grips with. The nature of the enemy!

But then, what can we expect from a president who cannot even control the borders of the country he presides over? Can we really expect of him that he be able to defeat the enemy?

There needs to be a fundamental re-think by the White House staff on all these issues. Is it, perhaps, time to reintroduce the use of the P-word? For years now, protectionism has been extremely unfashionable; and it has been held in a bad light. But can America really go on trying to compete with economies, without a little help of protectionism, with countries whose economic circumstances are so totally different from its own?

How realistic is it for Americans to try and compete with the Chinese who can produce everything so much cheaper than the Americans can? Or does the US government want all jobs to be relocated to China. Does it wish to become a nation of consumers, building up ever larger national debt?

When one of our children is weak, we, as parents, shelter and protect it till it grows up to be big and strong. Why should this not be the case with economies also? After all, it’s what the Japanese did for many, many years. What makes the US so different?

You see, it’s all well and good to argue for open competition on the world markets. It’s a great idea in theory. But for that to work well, there has to be a level playing field. The Chinese, for example, are not willing to play the economic game on a level playing field. The Chinese yuan, as a case in point, needs to be revalued. But if China revalued its currency, it would make it more difficult for China to attract as much inward investment. Hence it is reluctant to do so.

It is very clear to me: President Bush needs to start getting tougher. He needs to be tougher on illegal immigrants, tougher in his foreign policy, tougher in his economic policies, tougher on Islam, tougher, actually, in all he pursues.

President Bush, unless he does a U-turn on many aspects of his policies, will leave the US much, much weaker than it was when he took office. This will not be a good legacy for him to leave the nation. As a result, history will judge him harshly on it.

Mr. President: Step up to the plate before it’s too late! Remember this: Mrs. Thatcher used to say that the best decisions are the tough decisions.

Mrs Thatcher was a great leader. Great leaders have many characteristics in common. Perhaps above all, they have vision. They are decisive. They couldn’t care less what others think of them. They have set standards, and they stick to them. They are honest. They expect a lot from the people they lead. They show those they lead what to do, and ensure these things get done. But they also listen.

How do you measure up, Mr. Bush?

15 Characteristics of Great Leadership
©Mark Alexander

11 comments:

Mark said...

To be honest, Mussolini, I think that Bush has got it ALL wrong! He doesn't have a damn clue as to the nature of Islam. How could he? He was brought up with a silver spoon in his mouth in Texas! What the hell does he know about Islam?

I am in despair with him. He has been a great disappointment to me. He is so badly informed; and so unwilling to learn.

Mark said...

Forrest:

where is everyone today laddies and lassies?

I wonder, too!

Always On Watch said...

Forrest Shalom,
where is everyone today laddies and lassies?

I'm laid up with my back problems and having to deal with a busy work-schedule, to boot. End-of-term activities and grades to do.

Mussolini,
I'm beginning to believe that GWB is himself a globalist. Remember his education at Yale!

George Mason said...

Mark,

You said it so well.

I have gone through the George Bush odyssey, starting with relief (re: Gore and Kerry), then hope (after 9-11), to unhappiness, and now to resignation. I try to stop myself from slipping into terminal cynicism, but I really think there are some things one cannot do, and expecting the appropriate and anything better from George W. Bush is right up there with trying to sew buttons on ice cream.

America is in freefall. Thank God for the great people on the blogosphere who reach out and let each other know that the good people are there. The MSM, etc., will not tell us about them, for sure.

You put it also so well elsewhere when referring to the West as having a death wish. Right now, that is certainly America's main problem.

Mark said...

Does anyone have any idea where Heather is? She seems to have disappeared off the face of the blogosphere. I hope she's hale and hearty, and not suffering from an illness.

She used to be such a regular contributor. You remember her frequent contributions, Mussolini, don't you?

Mark said...

Always:

I'm laid up with my back problems and having to deal with a busy work-schedule, to boot. End-of-term activities and grades to do.

I do hope you'll be better soon; and I hope the whacky 'end of term' period will be over for you in the very near future.

Mark said...

George Mason (PBUH):

You said it so well. ... You put it also so well elsewhere when referring to the West as having a death wish. Right now, that is certainly America's main problem.

First of all, thank you for the complement. I'm so glad you liked the piece.

George, I find it hard to understand why GWB has been so remiss as president. He has allowed such a mess to develop there in the States. And he's a Republican for God's sake! Republicans are supposed to be fiscally prudent and caring of their American heritage.

All I can say is this: This guy is an oddball! And an imprudent, fiscally reckless, and unthinking one at that!

Mark said...

Forrest:

"A NEW DARK AGE IS DAWNING"

what a chilling and foreboding thought and describing perfectly the horrible time of human suffering that is about to break upon us.


Don't tell me it's only now that you are discovering the title of my book! Goodness gracious me, Forrest! You can't have read my book then!

You should do so: I think you'd enjoy it. More than this, I think you'd actually agree with it! :-)

how come some can see and and some can't? it doesn't seem to matter what your background or beliefs are.

That's a very good question, Forrest! I wish I knew the answer to it.

there is something MYSTERIOUS going on when every single western leader and government is hamstrung, dumbstruck and blind to what's already here and gathering steam like a run away freight train!

Isn't there though?! There is much going on which we never find out. It's all going on behind the scenes.

the most powerful man who holds the most powerful office on earth: the man that could easily order a military strike on mecca and go down in history highly regarded as the man who eliminates the scourge of islam from the face of the earth instead is in league with the leaders of saudi arabia: mr kiss me on the mouth bush and abdullah.

Forrest, this is easily one of your best comments yet! I love the way you describe Bush: "Mr Kiss-Me-On-the-Mouth"! :-) The photo of him kissing Abdullah on the mouth, and holding hands to boot, will remain with me for a very long time. :-(

what's going on here? how are these two sweethearts going to be broken up from going steady?

Oh, dear! I have just got to laugh! I'm chuckling even as I write this. This is so funny!

everyone thinks i am crazy but i think what's happening is the converging of the last gentile empire as prophesied by daniel the prophet: this idea is not even advanced in conservative biblical circles of which i consider myself a part.

I can't comment on this, I'm afraid. I know far too little about Biblical prophesy. I'll leave that to you.

therefore if this is true, then this last gentile empire COMPRISED of west and arabia coming TOGETHER while mutually hating and distrusting one another: but needing one another nevertheless: the one for the oil, the other for the money and military technology to launch a final solution attack on israel.

Now that would be tragic! Perish the thought!

friends if this is the case, then nothing is going to stop it.

No, I'm afraid not.

Have you ever contemplated the idea of Bush converting ('reverting', as Muslims like to call it) to Islam? Sometimes, I think he's infatuated with the religion and the Middle East.

You must have seen the image of Bush with a turban and beard. That sticks in my mind, too. That get up somehow suits him. And you do know that eventhough he is a 'man of faith', he has changed churches about three times already, looking for his spiritual home. Who knows? There could be another change ahead!

Now that's something for you to mill over, Forrest! Especially if Mussolini's words are true, namely that Bush is a globalist, etc. What 'better' religion for a globalist than Islam?

Mark said...

Mussolini:

Been a long time since I've seen Heather anywhere.

Yes, it's strange, isn't it? I wonder if she's ill or something.

Being the anti-social fascist icon that I am, I don't keep any email contacts.

I have never had her email address. Her comments always came as "no-replies" to me.

In fact, I'm a dedicated internet troll when I'm not on my few serious political sites (yours included, of course).

Thanks for that compliment. Appreciated!

I have your book, here, but still unread. It's in the queue. Hmm... it's sitting under the egregious monster Das Kapital... going to change the order in the queue...

I'm so glad you have my book, even if it is unread as yet. I can assure you that it won't make such heavy reading as Das Kapital! And you might even enjoy it, and probably agree with it, more. Bring it ahead of the "egregious monster", my friend. Its message is more pressing than the effete message of Marx! After all, communism is an idea which has had its day (except, perhaps, in South America), whereas Islam is having its day right now!

Mark said...

Mussolini:

Islam, it seems, is "having its day" everywhere.

Yes, and the West is helping it along, too. Big time! It's certainly not thwarting its advance.

Mark said...

Forrest:

marcos: about your comment on bush converting to islam, it wouldn't surprise me one bit. he has already submitted to it in substance, unfortunately.

No, it really wouldn't surprise me one bit, either.