We see it all the time: “Bush won. Get over it.” It is a cry that is thrown up to put dissenters in their place. To those that tell everyone to get over it, I say this: You’ve completely missed the point. It isn’t and wasn’t a competition for the sake of declaring a winner. It was a decision by concerned citizens all over the country on whom they wanted to lead this country for the coming term. More appropriate would be the cry: “We all lost, live with it.” The closeness of the election illustrates that neither candidate was a glowing choice in his own right. Many democrats were loath to elect Gore, so George Bush’s numbers were inflated by default. Whether Bush won or not is now completely irrelevant. He’s in the Executive office, and there is no political way to change that fact.
Bush supporters always like to point to his approval ratings. They’ll assault you by pointing out that Bush has an approval rating of over eighty per cent, and “so there!” Bush’s execution of the war against terrorism has a high approval, because frankly, we all feel a bit vulnerable and frightened these days. Does that translate to an 80% approval of George Bush as our nation’s President? Oops, looks like the point was missed again! Look at the polls and read the questions that are being asked. Do Bush’s policies on tax cuts and budget deficits meet with the same approval? Wait, don’t walk away, we’re not finished discussing this yet! What was the approval rating of his economic stimulus plan? What’s Bush’s approval rating on his involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
People say they are relieved to have a man with integrity in the White House for a change. There is no denying that George Bush is a man of personal integrity. But what about ethical integrity? A man who would further tip the economic balance to the wealthy while the poor begin to intensify their suffering is not a man of ethical integrity. A man who has up until recently ignored the increasing violence in the Middle East when we have established our responsibility as the sole neutral party with the interest and resources to further the efforts of peace, is not a man of ethical integrity. A man who would just as soon see Congressional oversight disappear despite Constitutional precedence is lacking a little political integrity, don’t you think? A man who would reduce the government coffers and increase the outlay – in some questionable projects, no less – to the detriment of the country’s financial well-being, is not a man of ethical integrity. Does our nation become stronger, safer and prosperous because of one man’s personal integrity? Gosh, if that’s all it takes, why hadn’t we thought of that sooner?
Okay, so Bush was elected to / appointed to / stole / deserved the Presidency. Whatever.
But, “Get over it!” ? Not on your or my life. Thank your lucky stars that there are those of us who will not get over it. You can sleep better, knowing we’re out there. We are the vigils of ethical integrity. We are the ones who stand in the way of blind ambition and cronyism. Because of us, the Bush Administration won’t succeed at destroying ecological balance, social institutions, and constitutional freedoms. They won’t succeed at making us the most despised country in the western world, and endangering American citizens because of global hatred. Because of us this country will continue to be a beacon of freedom, fairness and respected leadership.
Sincerely and not getting over it,
