The U.S., weaker or stronger since Bush?

Question

Has Bush made America weaker or stronger since he became president?

How strong will america look if we are being fired upon by insurgents even as we are pulling out of their country? Do we just tell them that we would really like to stay and fight but we really have to go?

Is the economy really doing as good as they say, or is it just being propped up by the war and the tax cuts and will collapse when the war is over?

Answer 1

The US is weaker.
Insurance companies profit billions and refuse to pay out for Katrina victims even though they paid for insurance.
Tax cuts for the rich, while the middle class see their income shrink and expenses go up.
Our small town has an average of 6 sheriff sales of homes a week.
Over 300 billion in debt for a war we never should have started. The terrorists didn't come from Iraq.
Now the president wants to cut social security and medicare to pay for his war. While giving benefits to illegals.
Border guards in jail, while drug smugglers go free.
Corporations making money for their investors in foreign countries, while good jobs leave at a record pace.
Administration so corrupt it has destroyed the Republican party.
Our sons and daughters are not raised to be fodder for the Fuhrer. We love our troops. Bring them home!

Answer 2

This is a truly simple, basic and obvious issue.
As is well known now, we blew it when we had the world behind us on 9/11. When Bush made his "Axis of Evil" speech and sent our troops into a situation that just wasn't what they tried so desperately to paint, that was the start of real hatred for us. Granted there were those in the East who already had a major dislike for the US, BUT not anywhere near the level we have today. What the US has done by invading Iraq and so ineptly I might add, was give those fringe groups that were really a minor faction, the opportunity to promote their hatred with examples of what they perceive the US to be. The problems have been huge and mistakes were simply to much to overcome over time. The torture and secret prisons among so many other problems like the pictures of Abu Graib simply jurt us to much. The ideals we held so dearly have been tossed out the window in favor of "win" or crush the enemy at all costs.
As for being fired upon by insurgents as we pull out, that is literally and factully important to this cause. The so called "insurgents" are now many and growing with the ability to use our own actions against us. We may not or even possibly should not just pull out. What do we do from here? Bush and Cheney put us in such a mess, it is truly difficult to find the right answers. We just can't continue to allow our young men and women get killed, wounded and maimed in a situation that at this point has no answers or viable defense.This is a Civil War. It is civilians killing civilians. No better description can fit. However, the war on words for definition are meaningless. We need to do something and worry about what adjectives and nouns we would like to apply to this quagmire, later... This administration has been to uppity and secretive. The idea the President can just come up with his own interpretations of his powers and implement whatever he feels like is literally the first time in our History a President has abused so much of these interpretations. This is a scary group who has literally made the US out to be a major bully and power that now could take years to overcome if we get the right people in office.
The economy has rebounded as long as you have the money to know and see it. The stocks are doing well and investments have moved a bit. As for the middle class or lower middle class, there simply is no visible improvement. I talk to people everyday who wonder where this good economy is and where are they supposed to see it if they are not feelling it themselves. This tax deal of Bush is a joke. It is like trickle down economics all over again. Those with the money are keeping it. The biggest farce is claiming double tax is how to describe the Estate Tax. People who have $4 million single or $8 million couple are the only ones affected by this particular tax. When I hear Sean or Rush use the small farmers having to pay a double tax just for inheriting a small working farm as a general description of what this tax is, is a joke. A "small working" farm would have to have a value as noted above before it is even considered for any tax in that class. When a person gets an increase in their income, and again only if it is at a certain level, is a person taxed. It is not double since the person inheriting has only just obtained that property or money and it has increased their income for that year. That is a spoof to try calling it double tax.
The property is nopt being taxed, the individuals are and based on many variables. Even if the value is $8 million, there are other issues, credits etc that can prevent any tax implications. Nothing is cut and dried.

Answer 3

War strengthens the economy, always has. However with the American people being so divided we are "weaker". It was fine when everyone saw the Americans go in and kick butt at first, everyone thought it would be over quickly, now that some time has passed and the war is still ongoing, we just want it to be over. I will continue to support my President, his plan isn't finished. My personal feelings don't always matter. I don't believe that we can just pull out our troops, we have to finish what we started. We cannot appear to be weak by the other countries whether they like us or not. America has always been disliked by everyone, why? JEALOUSY! We are the greatest nation on earth. I am proud to be an American. I wish things would have been done a little differently but I didn't ask any of the terrorists to come here and take lives, that is crossing the line!! They should be warned, don't tread on the American people because we will rise to protect our own just as we have risen to protect others against injustice. Don't like us, we don't care. Stay away or suffer the consequences. I have lived abroad 3 times in my life and I can tell you that you can't or shouldn't behave as an American on foreign soil because you are an automatic target. That is sad to me, we open our doors for everyone and offer them our best, all you have to do is want it and it is your for the taking. Americans must look out for the land that we love and for the freedoms that have been bought for us with our own blood. We make America great!!!!! We will protect the people that live here at all costs!!!

Answer 4

Weaker by far. The problem is that under Bush the USA has managed to establish a reputation for being a bully and not being very competent at it, and for getting into traps that it can't get out of. So it's almost impossible to think of a scenario in Iraq that doesn't have things get worse before they get better, and it's the loss of reputation that has done the most damage.

And the economy may be performing 'well' but only by a very limited range of standards: as long as so many citizens lack the basics of health care, decent education, and the possibility of raising themselves out of poverty by their own efforts then it's doubtful whether the economy could be considered to be doing well. Plus the way that people are turning their back on global warming to an extent that will have the 'economy' in tatters within the lifetime of today's children and I don't think you could judge it as healthy. Don't confuse the economy with the share market or the exchange rate.

Sad to say, for a country that was built upon an ideal that has lit the world for two centuries, it's been done terrible damage by the worst president (and his cohorts) in history. When one thinks of all the good things that the USA has done - just think of the Marshall Plan, 'the least sordid act in human history,' as Churchill put it - those of us who have loved the best it has to offer are having our hearts broken as well as our safety put at risk.

Answer 5

I think we are weaker. Not because of the military, but the fact that most of the world can't stand us and we haven't lessened the terrorist threat by going to war with Iraq.

What to do about Iraq? That's the million dollar question. We buggered out of Vietnam and left things in their own hands. We lost and we sucked it up because the American people wanted their kids home. One of the most unpopular wars, now it's Iraq. We leave, we may appear weaker. We stay, we lose more American lives. The war doesn't seem to be accomplishing anything because we are too busy fighting insurgents instead of getting the country in order. I think no matter the decision, it's going to be a bad one. I don't think there is one good answer to solve this problem.

As for the economy, it is doing fine for now, but they are expecting it to dwindle. I don't think when the war is over is going to cause our economy to colapse.

Answer 6

Bush made us much weaker. We were paying down our debt and getting ready to protect our nation when Bush turned that around to make us borrow $trillions and blocked the anti-terror ideas Clinton put in. The economy isn't good. It's only helping the wealthy not the real Americans.

Bush ignored the real threats and warnings and let us get attacked on 9/11, then he attacked Iraq that had nothing to do with 9/11 and didn't threaten us at all costing us 3000+ troops and more $billions. Bush lied about all of this and keeps making it all worse!

Answer 7

Of course weaker. We aren't only deep in National Debt, but the wealth, assets, and resources are no longer 100% under American ownership.

Besides, the high percentage of our finest warriors are not even in the U.S. protecting Americans, but are left to face death in Iraq. Many of our finest warrios who returned are either in coffins, or having to live life maimed and needing continuing medical treatment. We're also 5 helicopters short, and those that finally return may be needing a lot of repair work! We still can't get back the missing money we sent to Iraq. And our intelligence? So flawed because it has been infiltered with foreign-*** kissing spies cooking up false information to mislead Americans. And our leadership has weakened universally while those who hate America have increased because of the Iraq War.

By the way, I find it very amusing when people talk about the growth of our economy without even researching into how much of our economy is now realistically under the ownership of foreign investors!

Answer 8

He has weakened our world position. It's hard to continue being the watchdog of democracy when other countries lose all respect for you. Terrorism cells are multiplying like cockroaches all over the world thanks to George Bush. It isn't hard these days to find new malcontents who are eager to join the ranks of terrorists out of a fresh hatred created by this debacle in Iraq.

We can't just up and leave Iraq, I think most people realize that. But we can't continue on this same course, and most people in this country realize that as well. We need a new direction in Iraq and it's not going to be possible as long as The Decider continues to be obtuse and arrogant about his failed policies. He's going to force Congress to cut funding in the end and he knows it. He also knows it will make them look like they are deserting the troops, no matter the direction those cuts take.

The economy is stagnant for the middle class. We know that someone has to pay for those tax cuts and my oldest son is old enough to ask why he and his children are going to have to pay for Bush's War when we should be paying for a real War on Terror. He's 21 and pretty angry that instead of really going after the terrorists, we're spending billions to be policemen in a civil war.

Answer 9

At home, we are definitely stronger. While it is true that the country has typically done well financially during wartime, overcoming 9/11 and its financial impact within 5 years is phenomenal. Although the majority of the country may oppose the war, the vast majority supports the troops. Consider the alternative, for instance, during the Viet Nam years.
More Americans own homes now than ever in history. Unemployment is practically non-existent, if someone really wants a job, in spite of the fact we are hiring illegal aliens by the thousands to do menial jobs in construction and restaurant work.

I think we are weaker, on the whole, in the world-wide perspective. We once had a respected leadership role. It seems as though there are few countries that respect the USA today, unless there is a major catastrophe, at which time the USA is among the first to come to aid.

Our friendship with Israel has seriously hurt our world standing, and not only in the Middle East.

Answer 10

Definitely weaker! We have our military spread all over the globe rather than at home defending us.

Bush was warned on 8/6/01 that Bin Laden was determined to attack in the United States and he took no precautions to prevent 20 men with boxcutters hijacking 4 commercial airplanes to blow up major American landmarks. Who cares how strong we look? We already look like a predatory empire ruled by a moron. How much worse can it be?

The economy is propped up by huge debt. It is like the guy who buys a big house, flashy car and designer clothes on credit. When it comes due and he has no money, it is all going to be taken away.