Has Bush's foreign policy generally represented the will of the American people?

Question

I know the Executive is in charge of foreign policy, but US citizens are often blamed for US foreign policy. Is this fair?

Answer 1

In some aspects, it does represent the will of the American people (more cheap goods, faster! I don't care what it does to my job!)

Markets in developing countries that have no workforce rules in place and are thus that much cheaper= good in the minds of many Americans.

on the other side of the coin, the Iraq quagmire and refusing to met with nations we disagree with- that dos not represent the will of the US people.

Answer 2

It is impossible for American citizens to exornorate themselves completely from the fall outs of the American foreign policies. They may not be directly responsible, but how much has the American citizens tried to put pressure on their government on the right course of their foreign policy. Lately, the only time such pressures come is only when America is being hit hard.

What is expected of any responsible society is come out in numbers and speak out against policies that alien to the aspirations of the populace. But this does not mean that Americans should be held responsible for the actions of their executive. In all fairness to Americans, the politicians have always find a way of confusing the populace to go along with their policies, no matter how poor or oppressive it could be.

The invasion of Iraqi did not recieve convincing opposition. this is understandable, because of 9/11. but at least the world would have more sympathetic if there were loud enough uproars against the invasion.

Answer 3

I guess I wasn't aware that the world blames us for government decisions that most of us disagree with. When we overwhelmingly support our government, it is probably deserved.

But to answer your question, in general, the people want a strong global presence, but more productive and inclusive than Bush has accomplished. Most Americans do not appreciate how Bush has alienated so many countries (except for France. We don't care about France.) We want a strong stance against terrorists, but we are sharply divided about how that should be accomplished. We don't want to be the world's police force, but we want to use our power and resources as a positive influence in the world. We want to be part of a global community while remaining an entirely sovereign nation.

Notice, I'm talking in general about foreign policy, not specific actions. There are certainly fringe groups at the extreme ends of each of these spectrums. Some people would like to be complete isolationsists and some would like to join a single world government and economy, but they are rare extreme fringes. The majority of Americans stand in the middle and do not approve of this administrations approach to foreign policy, but are divided about what should be done differently.

Answer 4

Bush's foreign policy has represented the will of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney - and if a few naive, gullible Americans fall in line with their thinking that's even better. Bush's foreign policy is approved of by very few people - less than 35% of the American people - does that sound like the will of the people to you? People are fed up with soldiers dying in Iraq in a no-win war which apparently has no end in sight, but the village idiot and Bozo the Clown, won't bring the troops home. Of course it isn't fair if we get blamed for it!

Answer 5

Actually, foreign policy generally has very little to do with the will of the people, because Americans are generally ill-informed and uninterested in foreign policy. Foreign policy is simply too complex to capture the average American's interest: ie, it takes longer than a two minute news story to comprehend. Foreign policy really is at the will of the executive.

Answer 6

the polls people keep stating show the fact that tormenta is saying. It says 18% agree with bush. but 16 % think the dems have a better answer. 52 % agree that what we are doing is something that needs to be done. but 70 % say we shouldnt be doing it because the cost doesnt justify the means.

let me translate. most people dont agree with bush but most people say the other side doesnt fix the problem either. (society doesnt know whats going on) most people think it is necessary but most people think it will cost too much to do what is necessary. (again conflicting)

Now some historical fact. in 1940 there was a gallop poll before pearl harbor that said the exact same thing. people were asked if we should get involved in WWII and the same exact numbers came out. It was needed but the cost wasnt worth the effort.

People agree that something needs to be done but because there is no direct effect so far we cant afford it.

Its a wait and see attitude, and it causes more death in the long run.

Answer 7

Generally so, yes, they have. As has every president's foreign policy.

This is because the presidents are elected, and their policies are generally approved by Congress, the elected representatives of the people.

Every president has many people who oppose some or even most of their policies.

Why get all hung up now because you don't agree with Bush?

A lot of us did not agree with Clinton's coddling of terrorists like Arafat, Gerry Adams or Kim Jong Il.

Answer 8

In truth i love my country and thus i love the president of this fine country. With that said, I can not say that the popularity polls which have been showing (roughly) 30% in favor and 70% not in favor for the past how many years, is a false representation of the American people. In my eyes, he has fought a war that no one understands for too long, the american people seem to be responding to this by placeing the democrats in both the house and the senate. This resopnse is not from third base, but yell's that the american people are not in agreement.

Answer 9

Mr. Bush foreign is no good

Answer 10

I thought the will of the people was adequetly explained when thousands upon thousands of people repeatedly took part in massive demonstrations in all the major cities. But obviously not.